This epic and madcap episode concludes Ariadne’s story. It takes us into the heart of the labyrinth and up into the heavens
Tales
of the Night Sky
Greek and Roman Myths about the stars and constellations
Late Night Classics with Bibi Jacob.
S1 E6: For a Swarm of Bees
Bees are often linked to prophesy in Greek mythology. But when a swarm of wild bees settles in her garden, Bibi turns to Virgil’s Georgics and, surprisingly, another descent to Hades.
Extracts are from Book 4 of Virgil’s ‘Georgics’ translated by H. R. Fairclough; from Book 10 of Pausanias’, ‘Description of Greece’, translated by WHS Jones and from the Homeric Hymn to Hermes, translated by H. G. Evelyn-White.
All translations are in the public domain.
The title of this episode, ‘For a Swarm of Bees’, comes from an Anglo-Saxon metrical charm used to magically prevent bees from swarming!
The original violin compositions in this episode are by Chloe Dunn.
Sound and production by Geoff Chong.
Listen to our retelling of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth: https://bit.ly/44kYzCd
Original Audio Drama...
with spectacular soundscapes, based on the Greco-Roman myths behind the constellations. Written and directed by Bibi Jacob, these moving and sometimes humorous tales, brim with tragedy, injustice, and violence.
Tales of the Night Sky
Original audio drama with spectacular soundscapes, based on the Greco-Roman myths behind the constellations. Written and directed by Bibi Jacob, these moving and sometimes humorous tales, brim with tragedy, injustice, and violence.
S3 E4 The Labyrinth: The Constellation of Corona Borealis
This epic and madcap episode concludes Ariadne’s story. It takes us into the heart of the labyrinth and up into the heavens with the constellation of the Northen Crown – Corona Borealis.
Written and directed by Bibi Jacob. Featuring: Tom Morton as Silenus, Charlotte Donnelly as Psalakantha, Nigel Pilkington as Dionysus. Bibi Jacob as Ariadne, Rufo Quintavalle as Minos, Ciaran Cresswell as Theseus. Original violin loops by Chloe Dunn Sound and production by Geoff Chong.
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Each episode tells you the stories behind the stars and constellations, based on Greek & Roman mythology.
Season 3 is here
Pasiphaë, Queen of Crete, pays the price when her husband breaks his oath to Poseidon and refuses to sacrifice the Cretan Bull.
When Dionysus, god of wine and insanity, appears to Ariadne, determined to marry her, she tells him the tale of her ancestor
Ariadne has been abandoned on the island of Naxos by Theseus. As she battles with heartache and homesickness she remembers her grandmother
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Check out Season 2
How do a slipper and an eagle lead to love? Hermes explains all. Written by Chris Mack with Bibi Jacob. Featuring
You may know them as the Dioscuri – sons of Zeus – or as the Gemini Twins. In this episode discover the
In this final Trojan episode, the ghosts of the war rise up and tell tales of loss and consolation. Sensitive listeners be
Andromache appears in the university observatory to recount her tragic tale. 175 Andromache is a main-belt asteroid – not a Trojan in
Strange things happen one night, in a university observatory as Éloi struggles to stay awake and observe the 617 Patroclus asteroid. Written
Achilles, ‘the best of the Greeks’, slaughters Trojans mercilessly as he battles with his own grief and regrets. Starring Tom Morton.Written and
There’s an eerie stillness in the port town of Aulis when Iphigenia arrives there for her wedding. What exactly will it take
In this second Trojan episode, King Priam remembers all that was lost in the first terrible siege of Troy. This original series
In this special series, Tales of the Night Sky takes you into the heart of a large group of asteroids that orbit
She was known as Helen of Sparta until her face launched a thousand ships and started the Trojan War. Now Helen of
Where is Justice? Who is she? And what does she have to do with the Trojan war? Written and directed by Bibi
Can Eos, goddess of the dawn, really love the Trojan prince Tithonus for all eternity? Written and narrated by Bibi Jacob.Sound and
The party in the sea realm is fizzling out and the gossip Kat* finds herself left behind by her friend Lalli.* While
It’s party time in the sea realm – the Nereid Amphitrite is about to wed Poseidon – but she’s having second thoughts.
Ganymede, Prince of Troy, shuns the company of men and only finds pleasure in nature. But when his exceptional beauty comes to
Check out Season 1
In this, the final episode of Season 1, discover the surprising and shocking myth of Zagreus, the horned baby. Sensitive listeners be
Persephone, Queen of the Underworld, recounts Orpheus’ extraordinary descent into her kingdom and her own shocking abduction. Written and directed by Bibi
No sooner is he born than Baby Hermes leaps out of his cradle and embarks on a slapstick adventure to charm his
Hermes tries to make some order in the night sky in spite of Zeus’ meddling. Centuries later the Starlink mega-constellations disrupt everything….
Hera, the Queen of the Gods, is having trouble with her afternoon nap. One by one the memories of her husband’s betrayals
**SPOILER ALERT** This is an unofficial constellation myth! A strange phone call in the middle of the night leads to a conversation
Fly with me into this tapestry of tales, to mountains full of mythical beings. The winged horse Pegasus, the Muses, some gods, a
An eclectic episode about plagues, magical arrows, cyclops and writer’s block. Written and presented by Bibi Jacob. Production and sound design by
Enter the realm of dreams with Asclepius as he has to make the most difficult decision of his life. A decision that
Corvus, the crow, is set to watch Apollo’s lover, the Princess Coronis. But when boundaries are transgressed, the consequences are gruesome in
What happened to the two drops of blood Erichthonius received from Athena? This intimate and moving diary reveals all. Starring Morag Cross
A gold-tipped arrow, a gilded casket, a snake-tailed child and two drops of the gorgon’s blood. The goddess Athena narrates her tale
Perseus is not happy and he’s about to tell you why. Starring Doug Rand as Perseus Download the episode!
How does the celebrated Ancient Greek hero, Perseus, change the course of Andromeda’s destiny and seal Medusa’s fate? And what does it
At the heart of the Perseus-Andromeda myth lies the strange story of Medusa. In this in-between episode, enter Medusa’s cave, at the
Sit with Andromeda in the face of her oncoming death and witness her final moments. Her parents – King Cepheus and Queen
Who on earth was Ursa Minor before she became a constellation? Find out in this light-hearted interview. With Shelly De Vito as the
As if Callisto’s own life wasn’t tragic enough, in this episode we discover the horror that her baby son, Arcas, suffered. A
Discover the story behind one of the best known constellations: Ursa Major, the Great Bear. This is the tale of Callisto, an
Member of
Catasterism
(plural catasterisms)
- (Greek mythology) The transformation of a hero or mythological creature, after death, into a star or constellation
'A large part of Greek myth is politico-religious.'
Robert Graves, The Greek Myths
‘Greece is the home of the gods; they may have died but their presence still makes itself felt. The gods were of human proportion: they were created out of the human spirit.’ Henry Miller, The Colossus of Maroussi
Then Man was born:… though all other animals are prone, and fix their gaze upon the earth, he gave to Man an uplifted face and bade him stand erect and turn his eyes to heaven.”
Ovid, Metamorphoses
Reference material
Some of our sources
‘The Greek Myths' The Complete and Definitive Edition. Penguin 28.09.2017
‘The Library of Greek Mythology' Translatedwith introduction and notes by Robin Hard. Oxford World's Classic 01.08.2008
‘Metamorphoses’ Translated by A. D. Melville and With an Introduction and Notes by E. J. Kenney. Oxford World's Classics 15.04.2009
‘The Callisto Myth from Ovid to Atwood. Initiation and Rape in Literature' McGill-Queen's University Press 1988
‘The Mapping of the Heavens' British Library Publishing 2018.03.19
‘Constellation Myths with Aratus's Phaenomena' Oxford World's Classic 2015.08.01
‘Celestial Atlas' White Star Publishing 2018.10.09
‘Prolegomena to the Study of Greek Religion’ Cambridge University Press 1903
‘Ion' (from 'Orestes and Other Plays’). Translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford World's Classic 26.03.2009
‘The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony’ Penguin Classics 25.07.2019
‘The Homeric Gods: the spiritual significance of Greek religion' Translated by Moses Hadas. Thames and Hudson 1955
‘Star Myths of the Greeks and Romans : A Sourcebook’ Phanes Press U.S. 01.09.1997
‘Star Tales: Revised and Expanded Edition'. The Lutterworth Press 28.06.2018
‘The Iliad’ Bernard Knox (Introducer) Robert Fagles (Translator) Penguin Classics 27.02.1992
Nicholas Richardson (Introducer) Jules Cashford (Translator) Penguin Classics 24.04.2003
‘Snakes with Wings & Gold-digging Ants.’ Penguin Great Journeys 01.02.2007
The Complete Greek Tragedies.
‘Euripedes III and IV.’ Edited by Grene and Lattimore. The University of Chicago Press
2013
‘Helen, Phoenician Woman, Orestes’.
Edited and translated by David Kovacs.
Loeb Classical Library.
2002
‘Works and Days.’ Translated by A. E. Stallings. Penguin Classics
01.02.2018
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copyright ©Monkeybird Productions 2024
Credits: timelapse video by TimeLapse in Japan; background images – Haemisphaerium Stellatum Australe Antiquum & Haemisphaerium Stellatum Boreale Antiquum in Andreas Cellarius, Harmonia Macrocosmica.
Production, sound design and visuals by Geoff Chong