A gaggle of geese stands guard outside a whisky distillery in Scotland. Ninjas tread carefully over creaky floorboards in Japan. A nurse in New York invents a revolutionary surveillance system. And in Ancient Greece, a guard dog’s warning goes unheeded… with disastrous consequences… A Noiser production, written by Nicole Edmunds. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started with a 7-day free trial. Or, if you’re on Spotify or Android, go to noiser.com/subscriptions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The year is 251 BC and we're a few miles outside the ancient Greek city of Sicyon, in what is now the region of Corinthia.
On the east coast, not far from the sparkling waters of the Gulf of Corinth, a lavish feast is underway.
All around, men are swinging cups of wine and diving into succulent meats as a musician strikes up a merry tune.
The air rings with laughter, and as the sun sets below the hills, the party threatens to continue well into the night.
At least that's what it looks like.
But in reality, the men are not here to celebrate, but to scheme.
You see, these men are not the drunken dinner party guests they appear to be.
They're soldiers, led by the ambitious military commander Aratus.
They're planning an invasion of the city of Sicyon to free its people from their tyrannical leader.
This faux feast has been devised to throw any spies off the scent.
The hours pass and the party continues until finally, Aratus calls his men to attention.
The spies have left.
The sun will soon rise.
It's time to attack.
Slipping out of their casual clothes, the soldiers pull on layers of heavy armor and set off into the night.
Let's follow them, shall we?
The men creep and crawl through the outskirts of the dark city, scaling walls and ducking beneath hedgerows.
When they reach the imposing stone fortress guarding Sicion with its restless watchmen and vicious guard dogs, the enormity of what these men are trying to do becomes clear.
But there's no time for fear.
Arata signals to fetch the ladders that have been hidden in the undergrowth and mount them against the walls.