Dr. Thomas Henderson and the Athenian Ephebeia

Scholar's Flask: The Podcast

Tom Henderson is an independent researcher specializing in the Athenian ephebeia. With an academic background from Florida State University and extensive research experience in ancient Athens, Tom brings a wealth of knowledge on topics such as Athenian citizenship and citizen-training. Recently, Brill published Tom’s book, “The Springtime of the People: The Athenian Ephebeia and Citizen Training from Lykourgos to Augustus,” a new history of Athens’ system of military, athletic, and moral instruction for new Athenian citizens. Characterized as a system of hoplite training with roots in ancient initiation rituals, Tom argues that the institution was a much later creation with the aim of reinvigorating Athenian civic culture. His book also presents a re-evaluation of the later Hellenistic phase of the ephebeia, which has been commonly regarded as an institution in decline, and demonstrates that the ephebeia continued to play an important role in Athens’ civic life.