Pasiphaë, Queen of Crete, pays the price when her husband breaks his oath to Poseidon and refuses to sacrifice the Cretan Bull.
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 E9 Orpheus & the Argonauts: The Constellation of Argo Navis, Part 1
Join Orpheus aboard the magical ship, the Argo, from Iolchus en route to Colchis in search of the Golden Fleece.
Jason leads the expedition, but can he keep his team of heroes and demigods united as they face untold dangers?
For the full back story of the Golden Fleece, listen to our Aries episode.
The constellation of Argo Navis was one of Ptolemy’s 48 but now exists as a grouping of 3 constellations.
Written and directed by Bibi Jacob. Sound and production by Geoff Chong.
Featuring: Tercelin Kirtley as Orpheus, Ciaran Cresswell as Jason, Sophie Helsing as the Argo, Doug Rand as Heracles, David Stanley as Polydeuces and Glaucus, Kester Lovelace as Castor, Additional voices by Anton Antebi.
Original guitar compositions by Fredi Shehadi: ‘Starfish’ in the opening scene. ‘Sail Away’ instrumental version as the Argo sails towards Lemnos and the full song with the credits: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/FPRZQJVEeXg
Original guitar compositions by Tercelin Kirtley: ‘Hoffman 1968’ when the Argo sets sail. ‘Solovibrato’ when Orpheus is grieving Eurydice. ‘Fastest Cars’ in Lemnos. ‘Fire’ when they meet King Cyzicus. ‘Fragix’ when Orpheus talks about his lyre.
We recorded in the SACD podcast studio, Paris and the Argo was recorded in Mikaël Sundin’s studio in Stockholm. Thank you Micke!
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Each episode tells you the stories behind the stars and constellations, based on Greek & Roman mythology.
Season 3 is here
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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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 2025
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