John R. Hale (archaeologist)

Hale earned his undergraduate degree at Yale, where he was on the rowing team,[6] and where he was influenced by military historian Donald Kagan.[7][8] He earned his PhD at Cambridge, where his dissertation was on Viking longboats.[9]

He is an expert [10] on the ancient religion and modern science of geological fumes [11] at the ancient site of the Delphic Oracle[12] in Greece, and has spoken on the topic widely.[13][14] His research, along with that of geologist Jelle Zeilinga de Boer,[15][16] has demonstrated that the psychoactive gas ethylene[17] seeped from under the oracular site, and would have led to an "altered mental status" by the Pythia, the prophetess-priestess of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi.[11][18][19][20] Later research has further supported the geological fumes theory.[21][22]

Professor Hale's research on the geological fumes theory is recounted in The Oracle: Lost Secrets and Hidden Message of Ancient Delphi,[23] by science writer William Broad. It was also featured in the August 2003 issue of Scientific American magazine.[24][25]

John Hale has authored a number of books. His book on the Athenian navy and the birth of classical democracy was well reviewed in both popular and academic press.[1][26][27][28][29][30][31] It is entitled Lords of the Sea: The Epic Story of the Athenian Navy and the Birth of Democracy [32] (2009).

He has written a number of articles for Scientific American, including about the Viking Longship,[33] and the technology of ancient Greek rowing.[34] and has published widely in academic journals.

Professor Hale has created numerous well-reviewed [35] long-form lecture series for audio and video with The Great Courses. These include:

• Greek and Persian Wars (24 lectures) [36]
• Classical Archaeology of Ancient Greece and Rome (36 lectures) [37]
• Art of Public Speaking: Lessons from the Greatest Speeches in History (12 lectures) [38]
• Exploring the Roots of Religion (36 lectures) [39]
• Great Tours: Greece and Turkey, from Athens to Istanbul (24 lecturers) [40]

These lecture series are available both on DVD and CD,[41] and two of them are available through "The Great Courses Plus" streaming service.[42]

Professor Hale has conducted numerous archeological tours, for academic and travel institutions such as the Archaeological Institute of America,[5] Thalassa Journeys,[43] and Yale Educational Travel.[44] His tours cover extensive geography, including Northern Greece and Albania.[45]