Ancient history Books

Book SynopsisTrade Review"Intriguing. . . . A lucid analysis of Nero and the Great Fire, enhanced by Barrett’s clear, engaging style, his obvious love of his subject, and an extensive selection of maps, schematics and photographs. Historically minded visitors to Rome as well as Roman-history enthusiasts will appreciate the erudition and context with which he illuminates one of the great stories—and personalities—of the ancient world."---Diana Preston, Washington Post"Barrett’s central and most timely theme is the role of rumour and conspiracy theory in accelerating political change. . . . What matters for Barrett isn’t so much whether Nero started the fire as what it meant to Rome to believe that he had."---James Romm, London Review of Books"A thorough, high-quality work on Emperor Nero and the fire that destroyed Rome in 64 CE. . . . Sure to be the most enduring treatment of this major historical event for some time." * Kirkus Reviews, starred review *"Anthony Barrett has produced arguably the most comprehensive and detailed treatment of the fiery disaster. . . .Barrett’s work exemplifies the latest, most detailed and generously illustrated narrative about the Great Fire to date, and would be an asset on the shelf of anyone, scholar or enthusiast, interested in the archaeology and history of Rome." * Popular Archaeology *"[Rome Is Burning brings] together wide-ranging and up to date evidence to present the state-of-the-art view of the fire of 64, and its reception down the millennia in film and ballet etc., that will satisfy both scholar and interested layman."---Adrian Spooner, Classics for All"Rome Is Burning is a lucid analysis of Nero and the Great Fire, enhanced by Barrett’s clear, engaging style, his obvious love of his subject, and an extensive selection of maps, schematics and photographs. Any person with even a passing interest in the history of Rome will find this book interesting and illuminating."---Dr. LF Ivings, Journal of Classics Teaching

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A hugely ambitious book."---Catharine Edwards, Times Literary Supplement"[This book] is an original and subtle treatment of classical art history, full of fresh ideas and new perspectives and is sure to provide a springboard for future advances."---Brian A. Sparkes, Classics for All Reviews"The political, cerebral, aesthetic, ludic and erotic strains within classical reception are all sounded out in this sophisticated and beautifully illustrated book."---Tom Stammers, Classical Art"This is a hugely ambitious book."---Catharine Edwards, Art History"Enlightening and thought-provoking . . . show how Classical Art . . . is – however we look at it – alive and well."---Roger Williams, Minerva"With its detailed notes, extensive bibliography, and appealing visuals, this book will speak to anyone interested in the formation and reception of classical visual traditions."---Michael Squire, Greece and Rome

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A gleeful new compendium of dastardly highlights from Suetonius' The Lives of Caesars . . . Horribly fascinating." * Minerva *"[How to Be a Bad Emperor is] a look at some of the worst emperors from history and how they failed. I am a big believer in learning from cautionary tales, and while of course many of the stories from ancient Rome are extreme, there is plenty to take note of here."---Ryan Holiday, Reading List Newsletter"How to Be A Bad Emperor deftly demonstrates what tendencies make a poor leader and exposes fatal character flaws along with a good dose of humour. It's a rollicking, funny, and educational eyeopener on Roman leadership, and a great introduction for newcomers to Suetonius' work. A must-read for anyone interested in Roman History."---Sandra Alvarez, Ancient History Magazine"Fun and instructive."---Brook Manville, Forbes.com"[How to Be a Bad Emperor] cleverly reproduces the choicest bits of Suetonius’s writings."---Adrian Woolridge, Bloomberg Opinion"[In How to Be a Bad Emperor], Osgood has provided an important reminder of the delicacy of systems, and how once they are overturned, the citizenry will be eagerly and easily trammeled by power hungry narcissists."---Mary Spencer, New Criterion"A deft introduction to the world and mindset of the Caesars." * Inside Story *"How to Be a Bad Emperor is an exuberant, witty, and incisive critique of four power-hungry egomaniacal Roman emperors. . . . Superbly translated."---Antonio Battagliotti, Open History"An accessible translation. . . .there is no doubt that this volume is a timely product in our era of rising authoritarianism across the globe."---Mallory Monaco Caterine, Polis

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"One of Choice Reviews' Outstanding Academic Titles of 2018"

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Intriguing. . . . A lucid analysis of Nero and the Great Fire, enhanced by Barrett’s clear, engaging style, his obvious love of his subject, and an extensive selection of maps, schematics and photographs. Historically minded visitors to Rome as well as Roman-history enthusiasts will appreciate the erudition and context with which he illuminates one of the great stories—and personalities—of the ancient world."---Diana Preston, Washington Post"Barrett’s central and most timely theme is the role of rumour and conspiracy theory in accelerating political change. . . . What matters for Barrett isn’t so much whether Nero started the fire as what it meant to Rome to believe that he had."---James Romm, London Review of Books"A thorough, high-quality work on Emperor Nero and the fire that destroyed Rome in 64 CE. . . . Sure to be the most enduring treatment of this major historical event for some time." * Kirkus Reviews, starred review *"Anthony Barrett has produced arguably the most comprehensive and detailed treatment of the fiery disaster. . . .Barrett’s work exemplifies the latest, most detailed and generously illustrated narrative about the Great Fire to date, and would be an asset on the shelf of anyone, scholar or enthusiast, interested in the archaeology and history of Rome." * Popular Archaeology *"[Rome Is Burning brings] together wide-ranging and up to date evidence to present the state-of-the-art view of the fire of 64, and its reception down the millennia in film and ballet etc., that will satisfy both scholar and interested layman."---Adrian Spooner, Classics for All"Rome Is Burning is a lucid analysis of Nero and the Great Fire, enhanced by Barrett’s clear, engaging style, his obvious love of his subject, and an extensive selection of maps, schematics and photographs. Any person with even a passing interest in the history of Rome will find this book interesting and illuminating."---Dr. LF Ivings, Journal of Classics Teaching

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Book SynopsisThis lively and learned book traces the history of the concept of evil and its personification as the Devil from ancient times to the period of the New Testament and across cultures and civilizations.Trade ReviewAll readers... will be enriched and stimulated by this honestly presented biography of the Evil One. The Devil, in religious myth, personal vision, and mystical reality, offers invaluable material for reflection and meditation. * Studia Mystica *Russell is not only a conscientious historian, anxious to examine in texts, myths, legends, art and literature the persistence and transformation of a particular idea. He is also an introspective essayist who acknowledges his own continuing struggle to understand the nature and source of evil. -- Robert Coles * New York Times Book Review *This fascinating story of 'the Devil' explores the concept and personification of evil (defined as 'the infliction of pain on sentient beings') from its ancient beginnings into New Testament times. * Seventeenth Century News *This is a serious work by a first-rate medievalist who has turned his eyes to antiquity in order to elucidate the sources of man's experience of the evil one. The result is scholarly, readable, and comprehensive.... Russell's notations are copious and impressive, attesting to the vast amount of research that has gone into this study. The text is richly illustrated with some fifty well-chosen plates.... An exceptionally lucid study and a major contribution to the field. * Review of Books and Religion *Table of ContentsPreface1. The Question of Evil2. In Search of the Devil3. The Devil East and West4. Evil in the Classical World5. Hebrew Personifications of Evil6. The Devil in the New Testament7. The Face of the DevilSelected BibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisThis free and eloquent translation skillfully reproduces the imagery, power, and frequent irony and sarcasm of Seneca's...

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Book SynopsisEver since the rise of science and the scientific method in the seventeenth century, we have rejected mythology as the product of superstitious and primitive minds. Only now are we coming to a fuller appreciation of the nature and role of myth in human history. In these five lectures originally prepared for the CBC, Claude Lévi-Strauss, one of the world's greatest living thinkers, offers the insights of a lifetime spent interpreting myths and trying to discover their significance for human understanding.The lectures begin with a discussion of the historical split between mythology and science and the evidence that mythic levels of understanding are being reintegrated in our approach to knowledge. In an extension of his theme, Professosr Lévi-Strauss analyses what we have called 'primitive' thinking and discusses some universal features of human mythology. The final two lectures outline the functional relationship between mythology and history and the structural relationship b

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Book SynopsisA cultural history of European and Egyptian interest in ancient Egypt and its material culture, from the early nineteenth century until the mid-twentieth.Trade Review“Conflicted Antiquities is superb, the definitive work on the place of ancient Egypt in the imaginations and politics of Europe and Egypt. Elliott Colla presents translations and analyses of Arabic literature not previously available, and he brings together for the first time European and modern Egyptian appropriations of and discourses on ancient Egypt. The range of materials that he analyzes is astounding and rich; the footnotes alone are worth the price of the book.” — Lila Abu-Lughod, author of Dramas of Nationhood: The Politics of Television in Egypt“Written in an engaging, thoughtful, and provocative style, Conflicted Antiquities provides a unique perspective on the ‘consumption’ of ancient Egypt. What makes it distinctive is Elliott Colla’s focus on Egyptian readings of the ancient past, an area which has been greatly neglected. Colla has much that is fresh and new to contribute, especially since the resources on which he draws are not widely known nor easy to get hold of.”— Stephanie Moser, author of Wondrous Curiosities: Ancient Egypt at the British Museum“Conflicted Antiquities presents an exhaustively researched and sharply written account of how Egyptian Pharaonic monuments, the sites and buildings that house them, and the personnel who have worked to uncover and care for them have acquired and changed meaning over the course of the 19th and 20th centuries. . . . Anyone who picks up Conflicting Antiquities will come away from its reading with a more complete understanding of the relationship between science and colonialism, of the politics inherent to modern tourism, and of the power of the ancients to shape the governing practices of the present. In every case, readers will be delighted by Colla’s prose, impressed with his erudition, and engaged by the connections he forges between the appropriated past and the contested present.” -- Lisa Pollard * International Journal of Middle East Studies *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments ix Introduction: The Egyptian Sculpture Room 1 1. The Artification of the Memnon Head 24 Ozymandias 67 2. Conflicted Antiquities: Islam’s Pharaoh and Emergent Egyptology 72 The Antiqakhana 116 3. Pharaonic Selves 121 Two Pharaohs 166 4. The Discovery of Tutankhamen’s Tomb: Archaeology, Politics, and Literature 172 Nahdat Misr 227 5. Pharaonism after Pharaonism: Mahfouz and Qutb 234 Conclusion 273 Notes 279 Bibliography 311 Index 329

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Book SynopsisWas Plato a Platonist? While ancient disciples of Plato would have answered this question in the affirmative, modern scholars have generally denied that Plato's own philosophy was in substantial agreement with that of the Platonists of succeeding centuries. In From Plato to Platonism, Lloyd P. Gerson argues that the ancients were correct in their assessment. He arrives at this conclusion in an especially ingenious manner, challenging fundamental assumptions about how Plato's teachings have come to be understood. Through deft readings of the philosophical principles found in Plato''s dialogues and in the Platonic tradition beginning with Aristotle, he shows that Platonism, broadly conceived, is the polar opposite of naturalism and that the history of philosophy from Plato until the seventeenth century was the history of various efforts to find the most consistent and complete version of anti-naturalism.Gerson contends that the philosophical position of PlatoPlato's own PlatoniTrade Review..the book is an important achievement. It is full of precious observations and suggestions. Even if someone is not fully convinced by the application of such an historical set of criteria he will find the book a highly rewarding reading. -- Péter Lautner * The International Journal of the Platonic Tradition *Gerson's book is a highly valuable, well-written contribution to Plato nism research. It persuasively makes a case for understanding Plato's philosophy as a coherent system that has an intricate and meaningful relation to later Platonistic philosophical positions. From this point, Plato appears as a Platonist indeed. -- Claas Lattman * CLASSICAL JOURNAL *Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments Part 1. Plato and His Readers 1. Was Plato a Platonist? Plato and Platonism Ur-Platonism From Plato to Platonism 2. Socrates and Platonism The 'Socratic Problem' Gregory Vlastos Terry Penner Christopher Rowe 3. Reading the Dialogues Platonically Plato and Developmentalism Plato the Artist, Plato the Philosopher Plato’s Self-Testimony 4. Aristotle on Plato and Platonism Aristotle and Ur-Platonism Aristotle’s Testimony on the Mathematization of Forms Aristotle’s Criticism of the Mathematization of Forms Part 2. The Continuing Creation of Platonism 5. The Old Academy Speusippus and First Principles Speusippean Knowledge Xenocrates 6. The Academic Skeptics What Is Academic Skepticism? Skepticism, Rationalism, and Platonism 7. Platonism in the ‘Middle’ Antiochus of Ascalon Plutarch of Chaeronea Alcinous 8. Numenius of Apamea On the Good Part 3. Plotinus: "Exegete of the Platonic Revelation" 9. Platonism as a System The First Principle of All Intellect Soul Matter 10. Plotinus as Interpreter of Plato (1) Matter in the Platonic System Substance and Becoming Categories in the Intelligible World The One and the Indefinite Dyad The Good Is Eros 11. Plotinus as Interpreter of Plato (2) Human and Person Assimilation to the Divine Moral Responsibility Conclusion Bibliography

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Book SynopsisFor much of the last half of the twentieth century, W. G. Lambert devoted much of his research energy and effort to the study of Babylonian texts dealing with Mesopotamian ideas regarding creation, including especially Enuma Elish. This volume, which appears almost exactly 2 years after Lambert’s death, distills a lifetime of learning by the world’s foremost expert on these texts. Lambert provides a full transliteration and translation of the 7 tablets of Enuma Elish, based on the known exemplars, as well as coverage of a number of other texts that bear on, or are thought to bear on, Mesopotamian notions of the origin of the world, mankind, and the gods. New editions of seventeen additional “creation tales” are provided, including “Enmesharra’s Defeat,” “Enki and Ninmah,” “The Slaying of Labbu,” and “The Theogony of Dunnu.”Lambert pays special attention, of course, to the connection of the main epic, Enuma Elish, with the rise and place of Marduk in the Babylonian pantheon. He traces the development of this deity’s origin and rise to prominence and elaborates the relationship of this text, and the others discussed, to the religious and political climate Babylonia.The volume includes 70 plates (primarily hand-copies of the various exemplars of Enuma Elish) and extensive indexes.Trade Review“Much more might be said about this magnum opus, but suffice it to say in conclusion that just as Professor Lambert’s Babylonian Wisdom Literature enables a generation of students to understand better the Hebrew books of Job, Proverbs and Qoheleth, so his Babylonian Creation Myths will help future generations of students understand better the creation-themed texts in Genesis, Job, the Psalter and the Prophets. Students around the world will find it difficult to measure their depth of gratitude not only for this volume but also that Professor Lambert lived long enough to complete it.”—Michael S. Moore Review of Biblical Literature“Babylonian Creation Myths is an excellent book and a worthy memorial of a great Assyriologist.”—Michael P. Streck Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies

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Book SynopsisIn the annals of ancient history the lights of Alexander the Great and Gaius Julius Caesar shine brighter than any other, inspiring generations of dynasts and despots with their imperial exploits. Each has been termed the greatest military leader of the ancient world, but who actually was the best? In this new book Dr Simon Elliott first establishes a set of criteria by which to judge the strategic and tactical genius of both. He then considers both in turn in brand-new, up-to-date military biographies, starting with Alexander, undefeated in battle and conqueror of the largest empire the world had seen by the age of 26\. Next Caesar, the man who played the crucial role in expanding Roman territory to the size which would later emerge as the Empire under his great nephew, adopted son and heir Augustus. The book's detailed conclusion sets each of their military careers against the criteria set out earlier to finally answer the question: who was the greatest military leader in the ancient world?

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Book Synopsis• Shows how the archetypal symbols of the Pohnpaid petroglyphs have exact counterparts in other ancient cultures throughout the world • Provides evidence that Pohnpaid is closely related to--yet predates--neighboring Nan Madol • Includes hundreds of Pohnpaid petroglyphs and stone circle photos, many never before seen While residing on the small Pacific island of Pohnpei in the 1990s, Carole Nervig discovered that a recent brush fire had exposed hundreds of previously unknown petroglyphs carved on gigantic boulders. This portion of the megalithic site called Pohnpaid was unknown even to Pohnpei’s state historic preservation officer. The petroglyphs were unlike others from Oceania, so Nervig began investigating and comparing them with petroglyphs and symbols from around the world.In this fully illustrated exploration, Nervig documents her discoveries on Pohnpei, revealing how the archetypal symbols of the Pohnpaid petroglyphs have exact counterparts in other ancient cultures and universal motifs throughout the world, including the Australian Aborigines, the Inca in Peru, the Vedic civilization of India, early Norse runes, and Japanese symbols. She provides evidence that Pohnpaid is closely related to--yet predates--neighboring Nan Madol and shows how Pohnpaid was an outpost of the sunken Kahnihmueiso, a city of the now-vanished civilization of Mu, or Lemuria.Discussing the archaeoastronomical function of the Pohnpaid stones, the author examines how many of the glyphs symbolize celestial phenomena and clearly reveal how their creators were sky watchers with a sophisticated understanding of astronomy, geophysics, geomancy, and engineering. She shows how the scientific concepts depicted in the petroglyphs reveal how the citizens of Mu had a much deeper understanding of the living Earth than we do, which gave them the ability to manipulate natural forces both physically and energetically. Combining archaeological evidence with traditional oral accounts, Nervig reveals Pohnpaid not only as a part of a geodetic network of ancient sacred sites and portals but also as a remnant of the now submerged but once enlightened Motherland of Mu.Trade Review“One site stands out as greatly significant in our understanding of the emergence of civilization in the Pacific. That place is the enigmatic site of Nan Madol on the eastern shores of the island of Pohnpei in Micronesia. Carole Nervig not only throws new light on this mysterious place but finds its precursor in Pohnpaid, adding considerable knowledge to what we know about this much understudied part of the ancient world.” * Andrew Collins, author of Göbekli Tepe *“In her beautifully illustrated new book, The Petroglyphs of Mu, Carole Nervig provides a vivid, firsthand account of little-known sites and traditions from the Pacific island of Pohnpei that may hold the key to unraveling the mystery of Nan Madol and its unique megalithic architecture; all of this against the background of prehistoric transoceanic journeys and the possibility of a lost Pacific culture of the last ice age.” * Marco Vigato, author of The Empires of Atlantis *Table of ContentsFOREWORD Access to the Divine Feminine Barbara Hand Clow Prelude Acknowledgments INTRODUCTION Enough Legendary Smoke to Confirm Ancient Fires CHAPTER 1Pacific Petroglyphs in the RoomCHAPTER 2 Legends of Pohnpaid and Takaieu: Contradiction Reigns CHAPTER 3Dreams, Takaieu, and Little People CHAPTER 4 Madolenihmw’s Ley Lines of AntiquityCHAPTER 5Publish, or Procrastinate and Perish CHAPTER 6Pacific Crossroads: Diffusion, Migration, and Mu CONCLUSIONThe Legacy of Mu APPENDIX Symbols of Mu ReferencesIndex

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Book SynopsisDo you think that Jesus only surrounded himself with men? Think again. Inspired by their popular Channel 4 documentary Jesus' Female Disciples, historians Helen Bond and Joan Taylor explore the way in which Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, Mary, Martha and a whole host of other women - named and unnamed - have been remembered by posterity, noting how many were silenced, tamed or slurred by innuendo - though occasionally they get to slay dragons. Women Remembered looks at the representation of these women in art, and the way they have been remembered in inscriptions and archaeology. And of course they dig into the biblical texts, exposing misogyny and offering alternative and unexpected ways of appreciating these women as disciples, apostles, teachers, messengers and church-founders. At a time when both the church and society more widely are still grappling with the full inclusion and equality of women, this is a must-read for anyone interested in the historical and cultural origins of Christianity.Trade ReviewDrawing on fifty years of feminist scholarship, they now expand the story to include most of the women mentioned in Christian scripture. Importantly, they show that the movement that came to be called Christianity was fluid and unstable for its first three centuries, attracting a diversity of women whose leadership was excluded as roles became formalized. * Times Literary Supplement *Having excavated biblical texts, they expose deep-rooted misogyny and offer alternative accounts of women as apostles, teachers, messengers, and church founders. * Irish Examiner *The authors piece together the evidence that has survived about the named and unnamed women. They demonstrate the richness and range of female activity in the first-century churches... readable and engaging, opening up the complex and fluid state of women in the Early Church * The Church Times *This book nowhere seems to step beyond the limits of what can be demonstrated by actual history and real evidence, some of it of very recent discovery by scholars around the world, and much of it quite unknown to many of us in the pews... a book which can be read with the hope of learning what is really thought today by the vanguard of scholarship...They show what women were said to have done or must have done, and what an equal role they played in the early days of the new faith. Of course we know that in our heart of hearts, for we can see in our churches every week from the role of parish administrator down to altar girls ...This is a continually interesting book, full of (to me) new information.' * Irish Catholic *Another argument made to good effect by the likeable authors, in this accessible and pleasurable addition to the largely impenetrable academic literature on the subject, is that the gospels as they appear in our Bibles were subject to heavy tweaking and editing over the century or two after they were written until a definitive version was agreed * The Daily Telegraph *there is plenty of evidence that women were not only involved in Jesus' movement, but were integral to it. * All About History Magazine *It's empowering, inspiring and important to learn about the key roles women played in early Christianity, which sadly almost disappeared from historical records, as men took control of the church. * Cat Lewis, Executive Producer, Songs of Praise *This book nowhere seems to step beyond the limits of what can be demonstrated by actual history and real evidence.. a book which can be read with the hope of learning what is really thought today by the vanguard of scholarship... a continually interesting book. * The Irish Catholic *As Joan Taylor and Helen Bond explore in their new book, Women Remembered: Jesus' Female Disciples, there is plenty of evidence that women were not only involved in Jesus' movement, but were integral to it. * All About History *The authors piece together the evidence that has survived about the named and unnamed women. The demonstrate the richness and range of female activity in the first-century churches... readable and engaging, opening up the complex and fluid state of women in the Early Church. * The Church Times *Having excavated biblical texts, they expose deep-rooted misogyny and offer alternative accounts of women as apostles, teachers, messengers, and church founders. * The Irish Examiner *

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Book SynopsisPeter Adamson offers an accessible, humorous tour through a period of eight hundred years when some of the most influential of all schools of thought were formed: from the third century BC to the sixth century AD. He introduces us to Cynics and Skeptics, Epicureans and Stoics, emperors and slaves, and traces the development of Christian and Jewish philosophy and of ancient science. Chapters are devoted to such major figures as Epicurus, Lucretius, Cicero, Seneca, Plotinus, and Augustine. But in keeping with the motto of the series, the story is told ''without any gaps,'' providing an in-depth look at less familiar topics that remains suitable for the general reader. For instance, there are chapters on the fascinating but relatively obscure Cyrenaic philosophical school, on pagan philosophical figures like Porphyry and Iamblichus, and extensive coverage of the Greek and Latin Christian Fathers who are at best peripheral in most surveys of ancient philosophy. A major theme of the book is in fact the competition between pagan and Christian philosophy in this period, and the Jewish tradition also appears in the shape of Philo of Alexandria. Ancient science is also considered, with chapters on ancient medicine and the interaction between philosophy and astronomy. Considerable attention is paid also to the wider historical context, for instance by looking at the ascetic movement in Christianity and how it drew on ideas from Hellenic philosophy. From the counter-cultural witticisms of Diogenes the Cynic to the subtle skepticism of Sextus Empiricus, from the irreverent atheism of the Epicureans to the ambitious metaphysical speculation of Neoplatonism, from the ethical teachings of Marcus Aurelius to the political philosophy of Augustine, the book gathers together all aspects of later ancient thought in an accessible and entertaining way.Trade Reviewone of the most accomplished and ambitious ventures in publishing . . . from the first volume onwards, a repeated refrain has been philosophers arguing that being a philosopher is the best choice in life. These books are so engaging, instructive and diverting it might almost make you believe that is true. * The Scotsman *Adamson considers a large period of history but the chapters never seem intimidating or lacking in depth. Any reader with an interest in philosophy will find this work both entertaining and educational. * Library Journal *A volume that is both a perfect introductory work and will also help to plug some of the gaps that most of us have in our knowledge of the long span of ancient philosophical history. * James Warren, Phronesis *Table of ContentsPart I. Hellenistic Philosophy 1: Fighting over Socrates: The Hellenistic schools 2: Beware of the Philosopher: The Cynics 3: Instant Gratification: The Cyrenaics 4: The Constant Gardener: The Principles of Epicurus 5: Am I Bothered?: Epicurean Ethics 6: Nothing to Fear: Epicureans on Death and the Gods 7: Reaping the Harvest: Lucretius 8: Walking on Eggshells: Stoic Logic 9: Nobody's Perfect: The Stoics on Knowledge 10: We Didn't Start the Fire: The Stoics on Nature 11: Like a Rolling Stone: Stoic Ethics 12: Anger Management: Seneca 13: You Can Chain My Leg: Epictetus 14: The Philosopher King: Marcus Aurelius 15: Beyond Belief: Pyrrho and Skepticism 16: The Know Nothing Party: The Skeptical Academy 17: Rhetorical Questions: Cicero 18: Healthy Skepticism: Sextus Empiricus 19: The Joy of Sects: Ancient Medicine and Philosophy 20: The Best Doctor is a Philosopher: Galen Part II. Pagan Philosophy in the Roman Empire 21: Caesarian Section: Philosophy in the Roman Empire 22: Middle Men: The Platonic Revival 23: To the Lighthouse: Philo of Alexandria 24: Delphic Utterances: Plutarch 25: Lost and Found: Aristotelianism after Aristotle 26: Not Written in Stone: Alexander of Aphrodisias 27: Silver Tongues in Golden Mouths: Rhetoric and Ancient Philosophy 28: Sky Writing: Astronomy, Astrology, and Philosophy 29: A God Is My Co-Pilot: The Life and Works of Plotinus 30: Simplicity Itself: Plotinus on the One and Intellect 31: On the Horizon: Plotinus on the Soul 32: A Decorated Corpse: Plotinus on Matter and Evil 33: King of Animals: Porphyry 34: Pythagorean Theorems: Iamblichus 35: Domestic Goddesses and Philosopher Queens: The Household and the State 36: The Platonic Successor: Proclus 37: A Tale of Two Cities: The Last Pagan Philosophers 38: For a Limited Time Only: John Philoponus Part III. Christian Philosophy in the Roman Empire 39: Father Figures: Ancient Christian Philosophy 40: Please Accept our Apologies: The Greek Church Fathers 41: Fall and Rise: Origen 42: Three for the Price of One: The Cappadocians 43: Naming the Nameless: The Pseudo-Dionysius 44: Double or Nothing: Maximus the Confessor 45: Practice Makes Perfect: Christian Asceticism 46: Spreading the Word: The Latin Church Fathers 47: Life and Time: Augustine's Confessions 48: Papa Don't Teach: Augustine on Language 49: Help Wanted: Augustine on Freedom 50: Heaven and Earth: Augustine's City of God 51: Me, Myself, and I: Augustine on Mind and Memory 52: Born Again: Latin Platonism 53: Fate, Hope, and Clarity: Boethius

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Book SynopsisRichard Foltz is Professor of Religions and Cultures at Concordia University, Canada.Trade ReviewIn strategic matters small does not mean insignificant. In the Caucasus, the small nation of the Ossetes occupies the centre of the Caucasus, a strategically crucial region for the Kremlin. This book gives the most extensive and penetrating account of these people, from their origins as survivors of the ancient Scythians to their folklore and modern social dynamics. Anyone dealing with Russia should read this book. * John Colarusso, Professor, Anthropology, Linguistics and Languages, McMaster University, Canada *Anyone asking ‘The Ossetes? Who are they?!’ need look no further. Scythian-Sarmatian-Alan nomadic Aryan tribes ranged across the whole Eurasian steppe in the 2nd millennium BC, and the processes that confined their Indo-Iranian speaking Ossete descendants within a central Caucasian homeland, divided between North Ossetia (Russian Federation) and South Ossetia across the mountains, are explored, alongside examination of mythology (notably the national Nart epic), religion, customs and inter-ethnic relations (N. Ossetian-Ingush, S. Ossetian-Georgian), whilst today’s internal economic-political situation attracts trenchant criticism. The S. Ossetian-Georgian conflict occasioned the 5-day Russo-Georgian war of August 2008 – reason alone why ignorance of the Ossetes needs to be dispelled, and Folz makes an essential contribution to raising their profile. * George Hewitt, Emeritus Professor, Caucasian Languages, SOAS, UK *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Preface Acknowledgements Historical Timeline A Note on Transcriptions Introduction: The Ossetes: Caucasians, Iranians, or Both? 1. The Scythians: Mounted Archers of the Steppes 2. From Sarmatians to Alans: An Iranian Element in the History of Europe 3. The Nart Epic: A Neglected Treasure of Indo-European Mythology 4. The Ossetes and Russia: A Special Relationship 5. Religion and National Identity: The Uatsdin 6. South Ossetia: A Fragile Independence 7. Life in Ossetia Today Afterword Appendix A: Ossetian in Turkey Appendix B: Popular Ossetian Love Song Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisIn this sumptuous guide to twelve centuries of military development, Peter Connolly combines a detailed account of the arms and armies of Greece and Rome with his superb full-colour artwork. Making use of fresh archaeological evidence and new material on the manufacture and use of the weapons of the period, the author presents an attractive and impressive volume that is both scholarly and beautifully presented with illustrations that are, quite rightly, recognised as being the best and most accurate representation of how the soldiers from these formidable military empires appeared. Greece and Rome at War lucidly demonstrates the face of battle in the ancient world. Covering the wars between the Greeks and the Persians and the epic contest between the Romans and their most capable opponent, Hannibal, as well as organisation, tactics, armour and weapons, and much more, this excellent work brings the armies of Greece, Macedon and Rome vividly to life. This new revised edition contains a Preface by Adrian Goldsworthy.

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Book SynopsisBook VII of Lucan''s De Bello Ciuili recounts the decisive victory of Julius Caesar over Pompey at the Battle of Pharsalus on 9 August 48 BCE. Uniquely within Lucan''s epic, the entire book is devoted to one event, as the narrator struggles to convey the full horror and significance of Romans fighting against Romans and of the republican defeat. Book VII shows both De Bello Ciuili and its impassioned, partisan narrator at their idiosyncratic best. Lucan''s account of Pharsalus well illustrates his poem''s macabre aesthetic, his commitment to paradox and hyperbole, and his highly rhetorical presentation of events. This is the first English commentary on this important book for more than half a century. It provides extensive help with Lucan''s Latin, and seeks to orientate students and scholars to the most important issues, themes and aspects of this brilliant poem.Table of Contents1. Book VII; 2. Battle; 3. The gods and religion; 4. Stoicism and epicureanism; 5. Pompey and Caesar; 6. Sources, models, intertexts; 7. Viewing, seeing, spectatorship; 8. States of mind: madness, hope, fear, anger, joy; 9. Paradox and hyperbole; 10. Apostrophe; 11. Sententiae; 12. Diction, word order, metre; 13. Transmission and text; 14. Manuscripts cited; M. Annaei Lvcani De Bello Civili Liber Septivs; Commentary.

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Book SynopsisRavaged by civil war and pressure from the Huns to the east, in late summer AD 376 the Gothic tribe of the Theruingi up to 200,000 people under their leader Fritigern gathered on the northern bank of the River Danube and asked the Eastern Roman emperor, Valens, for asylum within the empire. After agreeing to convert to Arian Christianity and enrol in the Roman Army, the Goths were allowed to cross the Danube and settle in the province of Thrace. Far more people crossed the Danube than the Romans expected, however, and with winter approaching, the local Roman commander, Lupicinus, lacked the resources to feed the newcomers and did not possess sufficient troops to control them. Treated poorly and running out of food, the Goths very quickly lost faith in the Roman promises. Meanwhile, other Gothic tribes also sought permission to cross the Danube. The Greuthungi were refused permission, but soon learned that local Roman garrisons had been depleted to supervise the march of thTable of ContentsIntroduction The Opposing Sides Marcianopolis, AD 376 The Willows, AD 377 Adrianople, 9 August AD 378 Analysis Aftermath Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisMesopotamia produced one of the best-known ancient civilizations, with a literate, urban culture and highly-developed political institutions. In this fully revised and expanded edition of her classic text, Sumer and the Sumerians, Harriet Crawford reviews the extraordinary social and technological developments in the region from 3800 to 2000 BC. Drawing on the most up-to-date historical and archaeological sources, she provides a thematic exploration of this ancient civilization, examining its physical and historical background, changing settlement patterns, public and private architecture and cultural developments of the period. In this new edition, the chapter on Manufacturing Industries and Trade has been enlarged and divided into two chapters. In addition, a new chapter on the contemporary developments in Upper Mesopotamia is included. The final chapter reflects on the future of the heritage of Iraq in the aftermath of the second Gulf War.Trade Review'the real achievement of this slim book is that Crawford does not over-generalise, but leaves the reader with an understanding of both the broad patterns as well as the differences between regions in Mesopotamia and through time.' Bibliotheca OrientalisTable of Contents1. The rediscovery of the ancient Near East: the physical environment; 2. History, chronology and social organization; 3. Patterns of settlement and agriculture; 4. Town planning and temple architecture; 5. Public buildings and private housing; 6. Upper Mesopotamia; 7. Life, death and the meaning of the universe; 8. Manufacturing industries; 9. Trade; 10. Writing and the arts; 11. Conclusions.

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Book SynopsisIn Books 6 to 10 of his monumental history of Rome, Livy deals with the period in which Rome recovered from its Gallic disaster to impose mastery over almost the entire Italian peninsula in a series of ever greater wars. Vivid portrayals of personalities, politics, warfare, and religion bring 4th-century Italy vividly alive in this new translation.

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Book SynopsisIn this book, Roger D. Woodard argues that when the Greeks first began to use the alphabet, they viewed themselves as participants in a performance phenomenon conceptually modeled on the performances of the oral poets. Since a time older than Greek antiquity, the oral poets of Indo-European tradition had been called 'weavers of words' - their extemporaneous performance of poetry was 'word weaving'. With the arrival of the new technology of the alphabet and the onset of Greek literacy, the very act of producing written symbols was interpreted as a comparable performance activity, albeit one in which almost everyone could participate, not only the select few. It was this new conceptualization of and participation in performance activity by the masses that eventually, or perhaps quickly, resulted in the demise of oral composition in performance in Greece. In conjunction with this investigation, Woodard analyzes a set of copper plaques inscribed with repeated alphabetic series and a line oTrade Review'I strongly recommend this book … one of the most interesting and illuminating works about the copper plaques in particular, and about the emergence and adaptation of the Greek alphabet in general.' Alfredo Rizza, Bryn Mawr Classical ReviewTable of Contents1. Background; 2. The associative structure of the copper plaques; 3. Physical and chemical examination of the copper plaques David A. Scott; 4. The syntagmatic structure of the copper plaques; 5. Langue et écriture; 6. Of styluses and withes; 7. The warp and weft of writing.

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Book SynopsisImages of the Ice Age, here in its third edition, is the most complete study available of the world''s earliest imagery, presenting a fascinating and up-to-date account of the art of our Ice Age ancestors. Authoritative and wide-ranging, it covers not only the magnificent cave art of famous sites such as Lascaux, Altamira, and Chauvet, but also other less well-known sites around the world, art discovered in the open air, and the thousands of incredible pieces of portable art in bone, antler, ivory, and stone produced in the same period. In doing so, the book summarizes all the major worldwide research into Ice Age art both past and present, exploring the controversial history of the art''s discovery and acceptance, including the methods used for recording and dating, the faking of decorated objects and caves, and the wide range of theories that have been applied to this artistic corpus. Lavishly illustrated and highly accessible, Images of the Ice Age provides a visual feast and an absTrade Review...a highly recommended read on the alluring yet quietly majestic art of the Ice Age. * Antonio P. Batarda Fernandes, European Journal of Archaeology *The strength of Bahn's book is the vast canon of art it documents. * Paul Pettitt, Current World Archaeology *[A] beautifully illustrated guide to the creative endeavours of our prehistoric predecessors, which provides ample evidence of the former, and goes a long way to ameliorate the latter, combining details discussions of cave paintings and petroglyphs, decorated objects, figurines, and personal adornment with thought-provoking explorations of how they might be interpreted. * Current Archaeology *a very comprehensive guide to the art of the Ice Age * Karekiet and Meander *[In Images of the Ice Age ,Paul Bahn] offers a unique opportunity to appreciate universally important works of art, many of which can never be accessible to the public, and which represents the very earliest evidence of artistic expression. * SALON *Table of ContentsPreface and Acknowledgements ; List of Illustrations ; Introduction ; 1. The Discovery of Ice Age Art ; 2. The Oldest 'Art' in the World ; 3. A Worldwide Phenomenon ; 4. Making a Record ; 5. How Old is the Art? ; 6. Fakes and Forgeries ; 7. Portable Art ; 8. Blocks, Rock-Shelters, and Caves ; 9. Art in the Open Air ; 10. What Was Depicted? ; 11. Reading the Messages ; 12. Conclusion ; Notes ; References ; Index

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Book SynopsisThe concluding part of John D Grainger''s history of the Seleukids traces the tumultuous last century of their empire. In this period it was riven by dynastic disputes, secessions and rebellions, the religiously-inspired insurrection of the Jewish Maccabees, civil war and external invasion from Egypt in the West and the Parthians in the East. By the 80s BC, the empire was disintegrating, internally fractured and squeezed by the converging expansionist powers of Rome and Parthia. This is a fittingly, dramatic and colourful conclusion to John Grainger''s masterful account of this once-mighty empire.

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Book SynopsisComplete with new photography of the cleaned and conserved objects, showing off the stunning and intricate decoration, this book provides a fascinating account of the history and the discovery of this remarkable hoard.

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Book SynopsisCicero’s letters to friends span the period from 62 BC, when his political career was at its peak, to 43 BC, when he was put to death by the victorious Triumvirs.

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Book SynopsisThis synthesis of Greek religion aims to provide a structured survey for classical scholars and students, and provides an account of a polytheistic religious system. The text builds up a picture of the current state of knowledge about the religion of the Ancient Greeks.Trade Review"A powerful synthesis from the greatest living authority on the subject, but for all its depth and detail, it is never less than lucid and the text is constantly enlivened with vivid asides and illuminating analogies." The Times "The leading continental scholar ... his Greek Religion... already has the standing of a classic." London Review of Books "A masterpiece, packed with learning but also rich in ideas and connections of every sort ... nobody else could have produced an account of the subject of comparable range and power. This will be the best history of Greek religion for this generation." New York Review of BooksTable of ContentsIntroduction. A Survey of Scholarship. The Sources. The Scope of the Study. Part I: Prehistory and the Minoan-Mycenaean Age. 2. The Neolithic and Early Bronze Age. 3. Indo-European. 4. The Minoan-Mycenaean Religion. 5. The Dark Ages and the Problem of Continuity. Part II: Ritual and Sanctuary. 6. ‘Working Sacred Things: Animal Sacrifice. 7. Gift Offerings and Libation. 8. Prayer. 9. Purification. 10. The Sanctuary. 11. Priests. 12. The Festival. 13. Ecstasy and Divination. Part III: The Gods. 14. The Spell of Homer. 15. Individual Gods. 16. The Remainder of the Pantheon. 17. The Special Character of Greek Anthropomorphism. Part IV: The Dead, Heroes, and Chthonic Gods. 18. Burial and the Cult of the Dead. 19. Afterlife Mythology. 20. Olympian and Chthonic. 21. The Heroes. 22. Figures Who Cross the Chthonic-Olympian Boundary. Part V: Polis and Polytheism. 23. Thought Patterns in Greek Polytheism. 24. The Rhythm of the Festivals. 25. Social Functions of Cult. 26. Piety in the Mirror of Greek Language. Part VI: Mysteries and Asceticism. 27. Mystery Sanctuaries. 28. Bacchica and Orphica. 29. Bios. Part VII: Philosophical Religion. 30. The New Foundation: Being and the Divine. 31. The Crisis: Sophists and Atheists. 32. The Deliverance: Cosmic Religion and Metaphysics. 33. Philosophical Religion and Polis Religion: Plato's Laws. Notes. Bibliography. Index of Greek Words. Index.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A gem of a book. . . . Powell, who wears his learning as lightly as seersucker . . . is always sensitive to the Greek, and brings it across into clear, natural English, at the pitch-perfect register for the solemn or the ludic hymn." * Spectator *"An impressive volume that we think lovers of poetry and of classical antiquity will appreciate." * Coffee with the Poets *"This is a useful volume for the study of ancient Greek culture and, with its wealth of mythological and geographical lore, could be an illuminating companion to a tour of Greek sites and museums." * Religious Studies Review *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations List of Maps Introduction Meter and Performance Annotation; the Spelling of Ancient Names and Places; Greek Texts The Homeric Hymns The Hymns of Callimachus The Orphic Hymns The Hymns of Proclus 1. Zeus Homeric Hymn 23: To Zeus Callimachus Hymn 1: To Zeus Orphic Hymn 15: To Zeus Orphic Hymn 19: To Zeus the Thunderbolt Orphic Hymn 20: To Astrapaios Zeus 2. Hera Homeric Hymn 12: To Hera Orphic Hymn 16: To Hera 3. Poseidon Homeric Hymn 22: To Poseidon Orphic Hymn 17: To Poseidon 4. Athena Homeric Hymn 11: To Athena Homeric Hymn 28: To Athena Callimachus Hymn 5: To Athena; On the Baths of Pallas Orphic Hymn 32: To Athena Proclus Hymn 7: To Wise Athena 5. Demeter, Persephone, and Hades Homeric Hymn 2: To Demeter Homeric Hymn 13: To Demeter Callimachus Hymn 6: To Demeter Orphic Hymn 40: To Eleusinian Demeter Orphic Hymn 41: To Mother Antaia Orphic Hymn 29: To Persephone Orphic Hymn 18: To Plouton 6. Aphrodite Homeric Hymn 5: To Aphrodite Homeric Hymn 6: To Aphrodite Homeric Hymn 10: To Aphrodite Orphic Hymn 55: To Aphrodite Proclus Hymn 2: To Aphrodite Proclus Hymn 5: To the Lycian Aphrodite 7. Hephaistos Homeric Hymn 20: To Hephaistos Orphic Hymn 66: To Hephaistos 8. Apollo and the Muses Homeric Hymn 3: To Apollo Homeric Hymn 21: To Apollo Homeric Hymn 25: To The Muses and Apollo Callimachus Hymn 2: To Apollo Callimachus Hymn 4: To Delos Orphic Hymn 34: To Apollo Orphic Hymn 35: To Leto Orphic Hymn 76: To the Muses Proclus Hymn 3: To the Muses 9. Artemis Homeric Hymn 9: To Artemis Homeric Hymn 27: To Artemis Callimachus Hymn 3: To Artemis Orphic Hymn 36: To Artemis 10. Hermes and Pan Homeric Hymn 4: To Hermes Homeric Hymn 18: To Hermes Orphic Hymn 28: To Hermes Orphic Hymn 57: To Chthonic Hermes Homeric Hymn 19: To Pan Orphic Hymn 11: To Pan 11. Dionysos Homeric Hymn 1: To Dionysos Homeric Hymn 7: To Dionysos Homeric Hymn 26: To Dionysos Orphic Hymn 30: To Dionysos Orphic Hymn 45: To Dionysos Bassareus and Triennial Orphic Hymn 46: To Dionysos Liknites Orphic Hymn 47: To Dionysos Perikonios Orphic Hymn 50: To Dionysos Lysios Lenaios Orphic Hymn 52: To Dionysos, God of the Triennial Feasts Orphic Hymn 53: To Dionysos, God of Annual Feasts Orphic Hymn 44: To Semelê 12. Ares Homeric Hymn 8: To Ares Orphic Hymn 65: To Ares 13. Hestia Homeric Hymn 24: To Hestia Homeric Hymn 29: To Hestia Orphic Hymn 84: To Hestia 14. Sun, Moon, Earth, Hekatê, and All the Gods Homeric Hymns 31 and 32: To the Sun and the Moon Orphic Hymn 8: To the Sun Orphic Hymn 9: To the Moon Proclus Hymn 1: To Helios Homeric Hymn 30: To Earth Mother of All Orphic Hymn 26: To Earth Orphic Hymn 1: To Hekatê Proclus Hymn 6: To the Mother of the Gods, Hekatê, and Janus/Zeus Proclus Hymn 4: To All the Gods Bibliography Glossary/Index

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Book SynopsisA broadly-illustrated overview of the contemporary state of Greco-Roman numismatic scholarship.Trade Review"As Metcalf notes (xvii), it is over 100 years since the last single volume guide to Greek coinage was produced, and there has never been an equivalent work for Rome. This new handbook is, therefore, long overdue and hugely welcome. All involved are to be congratulated and, while in a project as broad as this there are inevitably some omissions, we now have something where there was nothing, and for that we should be very grateful. It is much to be hoped that students of the history of all periods will find their way to this rich new resource." * Andrew Meadows, Bryn Mawr Classical Review *"This book represents an unprecedented innovation in numismatic literature and is becoming widely regarded as the best introduction to classical ancient coins. It is far more than a guide written solely for collectors. Instead, it was written to serve also as an introduction for graduate or post-doctoral students in the ancient cultures who seek training in classical numismatics. As a work in the renowned Oxford Handbooks series, this volume was written to offer an authoritative and annotated state-of-the-art survey of current thinking and research in the subject area. However, it is just that focus that makes it such a valuable text for serious collectors of ancient coins." * Roger Kuntz, Rochester Numismatic Association *Table of ContentsPreface ; Abbreviations ; Introduction, William E. Metcalf ; 1. The Substance of Coinage: The Role of Scientific Analysis in Ancient Numismatics, Matthew Ponting ; Archaic and Classical Greek Coinage ; 2. The Monetary Background of Early Coinage, John H. Kroll ; 3. Asia Minor to the Ionian Revolt, Koray Konuk ; 4. The Coinage of the Persian Empire, Michael Alram ; 5. The Coinage of Athens, 6th - 1st century B.C., Peter van Alfen ; 6. Aegina, the Cyclades and Crete, Kenneth Sheedy ; 7. The Coinage of Italy, N. K. Rutter ; 8. The Coinage of Sicily, Wolfgang Fischer-Bossert ; 9. Greece and the Balkans to 360 B.C., Selene Psoma ; The Hellenistic World ; 10. Royal Hellenistic Coinages from Alexander to Mithridates, Francois de Callatay ; 11. The Hellenistic World: The Cities of Mainland Greece and Asia Minor, Richard Ashton ; 12. The Coinage of the Ptolemies, Catharine C. Lorber ; 13. The Seleucids, Arthur Houghton ; 14. Greek Coinages of Palestine, Oren Tal ; 15. The Coinage of the Parthians, Fabrizio Sinisi ; The Roman World ; 16. Early Roman Coinage and its Italian Context, Andrew Burnett ; 17. The Denarius Coinage of the Roman Republic, Bernhard E. Woytek ; 18. The Julio-Claudians, Rienhold Wolters ; 19. Ancient Spain, Pere P. Ripolles ; 20. Flavian Coinage, Ian Carradice ; 21. The Coinage of the Provinces through Hadrian, Michel Amandry ; 22. Trajan and Hadrian, Martin Beckmann ; 23. Antonine Coinage, Liv Mariah Yarrow ; 24. The Provinces after Commodus, RAnn Johnston ; 25. Syria in the Roman Period, 64 B.C. - A.D. 260, Kevin Butcher ; 26. Roman Coinages of Palestine, Haim Gitler ; 27. The Severans, Richard Abdy ; 28. From Gordian III to the Gallic Empire (A.D. 238-74), Roger Bland ; 29. The Later Third Century, Sylviane Estiot ; 30. The Coinage of Roman Egypt, Angelo Geissen ; 31. Tetrarchy and the House of Constantine, Richard Abdy ; 32. The Coinage of the Later Roman Empire, A.D. 364-498, Sam Moorhead ; 33. The Transformation of the West, Alan M. Stahl ; Appendix 1: Marks of value on later Roman coins, Roger Bland ; Appendix 2: The earliest Christian symbols on Roman coins, Richard Abdy ; Indices ; a. Mints ; b. Persons ; c. General

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Book SynopsisThe definitive guide to the life of the first woman to play a major role in Greek political history, this is the first modern biography of Olympias.Presenting a critical assessment of a fascinating and wholly misunderstood figure, Elizabeth Carney penetrates myth, fiction and sexual politics and conducts a close examination of Olympias through historical and literary sources, and brings her to life as she places the figure in the context of her own ancient, brutal political world.Individual examinations look at: the role of Greek religion in Olympias'' life literary and artistic traditions about Olympias found throughout the later ancient periods varying representations of Olympias found in the major ancient sources. An absolutely compelling read for students, scholars, and anyone with an interest in Greek, Classical, or women's history.Table of ContentsPreface. Significant Events. Aeacid Family Tree. Argead Family Tree. Abbreviations. Introduction 1. Olympias the Molossian 2. Olympias, Wife of Philip II 3. Olympias, Mother of the King, Alexander the Great 4. Olympias on Her Own, 323–316 5. Olympias and Religion 6. Olympias' Afterlife. Appendix: Olympias and the Sources. Glossary. Notes. Bibliography. Index

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Book SynopsisThe Routledge Dictionary of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses contains one of the most comprehensive listings and descriptions of Egyptian deities. Now in its second edition, it provides: a new introduction updated entries and four new entries on deities names of the deities as Hieroglyphs a survey of gods and goddesses as they appear in classical literature an expanded chronology and updated bibliography, together with a list of relevant websites drawings of the gods and emblems of each district a map of ancient Egypt and a time chart Presenting a vivid picture of the complexity and richness of imagery in Egyptian mythology, students studying Ancient Egypt, travelers, visitors to museums and all those interested in mythology will find this an invaluable resource.

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Book SynopsisSocrates'' trial and death together form an iconic moment in Western civilization. The picture we have of it - created by his immediate followers and perpetuated in countless works of literature and art ever since - is that a noble man was put to death in a fit of folly by the ancient Athenian democracy. But an icon, an image, is not reality. The trial was, in part, a response to troubled times - a catastrophic war and turbulent social changes - and so provides a good lens through which to explore the history of the period; the historical facts allow us to strip away some of the veneer that has for so long denied us glimpses of the real Socrates. Written by a scholar, but not only for scholars, this is an accessible, authoritative account of one of the defining periods of Western civilization.

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Book SynopsisDemocracy is either aspired to as a goal or cherished as a birthright by billions of people throughout the world today -- and has been been for over a century. But what does it mean? And how has its meaning changed since it was first coined in ancient Greece? Democracy: A Life is a biography of the concept, looking at its many different manifestations and showing how it has changed over its long life, from ancient times right through to the present. For instance, how did the ''people power'' of the Athenians emerge in the first place? Once it had emerged, what enabled it to survive? And how did the Athenian version of democracy differ from the many other forms that developed among the myriad cities of the Greek world? Paul Cartledge answers all these questions and more, following the development of ancient political thinking about democracy from the sixth century BC onwards, not least the many arguments that were advanced against it over the centuries. As Cartledge shows, after a golden age in the fourth century BC, there was a long, slow degradation of the original Greek conception and practice of democracy, from the Hellenistic era, through late Republican and early Imperial Rome, down to early Byzantium in the sixth century CE. For many centuries after that, from late Antiquity, through the Middle Ages, to the Renaissance, democracy was effectively eclipsed by other forms of government, in both theory and practice. But as we know, this was by no means the end of the story. For democracy was eventually to enjoy a re-florescence, over two thousand years after its first flowering in the ancient world: initially revived in seventeenth-century England, it was to undergo a further renaissance in the revolutionary climate of late-eighteenth-century North America and France -- and has been constantly reconstituted and reinvented ever since.Trade ReviewA fascinating read. * Jim Butcher, Winter reads 2018-19: the best books of the season, The Times Higher Education Supplement *Cartledge offers a compact, yet thoroughly compelling, biography on the forms of democracy from ancient to modern times. A valuable resource, this book grants every reader the timely opportunity to revaluate what they understand by the term democracy, and thus the chance to consider the implications of that understanding in a world whereby national politics can so readily be scrutinised by a global audience. Indeed, closing the final pages of his book, Cartledge's reader ought to question the very application of such a label to some societies and, more importantly, whether they can even claim to live in an actual democracy themselves. The Greeks may have invented democracy but is it now up to us to save it? * Kerry Phelan, Bryn Mawr Classical Review *The huge value of Cartledges book is the reminder that 2016 is merely a way-stop on a very long journey indeed. * Tom Holland, The Guardian *Thanks to Cartledge, Athenian democracy feels more vital than it has done for decades. It is a belter of a book. * Peter Thonemann, Books of the Year 2016, Times Literary Supplement *Paul Cartledge subtitles his new study Democracy (Oxford) A Life, and was right to do so ... The clarity and zest with which he pursues his Snark-like quarry, the breadth and variety of his reading, and his cheerful persistence against odds (matching that of his subject) combine to make this an unexpectedly enjoyable page-turner. * Peter Green, Books of the Year 2016, Times Literary Supplement *If you only ever buy one book on the history of democracy, make it this one. In this study, Paul Cartledge offers a thrilling account, based on his near legendarycourse of lectures at Cambridge, of why it matters more than ever to us today. * Edith Hall, History Today *No library should be without this wonderful book, in which Cartledge has abundantly shared his love and knowledge of ancient Greece with us. * Kirkus Reviews *A stimulating biography of democracy, both in theory and in all its practical manifestations ... also a thoughtful response to those scholars, such as Amartya Sen, who argue that democracy is not 'a quintessentially Western idea'. Cartledge's analysis suggests that it is just that. * Classics for All *a nuanced account of the meanings and meanderings of democracy. An expert in ancient history, Cartledge spends most of his time looking at the emergence of democratic ideas in Greece, but his studies of democracy's "demise" under the Roman and Byzantine empires and its "eclipse" in medieval Europe are equally well-wrought. * Catholic Herald *Cartledge provides this tour of ancient Greek democracy with the expertise that has made him an internationally recognized authority in classical history, and he does so with a literary grace that makes his presentation of classical and modern democracy inviting, engaging, and accessible. This is true for both the academic specialist, who will want this compact scholarly reference at their fingertips, and the broader public, especially those who are interested, in the words of one reader, in 'building a more democratic future.' * Bernard J. Dobski, Society *Indian secularists need to read Democracy: A Life, a delightful whistle-stop tour of ancient Greece, and ponder their position and arguments on the seperation of state and religion. * Parsa Venkateshwar Rao Jr, DNA India *Democracy: A Life is a magisterial and moving account of the fate of democracy, understood as the rule of the masses and political empowerment of the poor, on the basis of some workable definition of freedom and equality. In an easy, graceful style with flashes of revelatory personal expression, Paul Cartledge deploys his stunning mastery of several millennia of human history and deep knowledge of decades of scholarship to bring ancient democracy and its critics, modern as well as ancient, vividly to life. * Danielle Allen, author of Our Declaration: A Reading of the Declaration of Independence in Defense of Equality *Democracy: A Life is a splendid match of author and subject. Paul Cartledge has been thinking deeply about the history and meaning of democracy for most of his own life. The impressive result is a passionate and erudite biography of a revolutionary idea that became a way of life, tracing the story from democracys radical origins, to its early flourishing, multiple crises, many betrayals, and modern rebirth. Buoyed by Cartledges engaging style and complete mastery of his subject, the reader returns to our own troubled present with new appreciation for democracys deep history, and armed with fresh resources for building a more democratic future. * Josiah Ober, author of The Rise and Fall of Classical Greece *The fruit of a lifetimes learning, this passionately argued book reveals what made ancient Greek democracy so remarkable and so different from the tamer version we have today. By showing how far we have come from the ancient Greeks, Paul Cartledge reminds us how much we still have to learn from them. * David Runciman, author of The Confidence Trap: A History of Democracy in Crisis from World War I to the Present *Just what was ancient Greek democracy and why does it still matter? Scholarly giant Paul Cartledge answers those questions in this learned and readable book that glides gracefully from Aristotle and the stones of Athens to Rome, the Renaissance, the Age of Revolution, and todays era of globalization. * Barry Strauss, author of The Death of Caesar: The Story of Historys Most Famous Assassination *Table of ContentsPreface and Acknowledgements Timeline Prologue: Lost in Translation? ACT I 1: Sources, Ancient and Modern 2: The Emergence of the Polis, Politics, and the Political ACT II 3: The Emergence of Greek Democracy I: Archaic Greece 4: The Emergence of Greek Democracy II: Athens 508/7 5: The Emergence of Greek Democracy III: Athens 507-451/0 6: Greek Democratic Theory? 7: Athenian Democracy in Practice c. 450-335 8: Athenian Democracy: Culture and Society c. 450-335 9: Greek Democracy in Credit and Crisis I: The Fifth Century 10: Athenian Democracy in Court: The Trials of Demos, Socrates, and Ctesiphon ACT III 11: Greek Democracy in Credit and Crisis II: The Golden Age of Greek Democracy (c. 375-350) and Its Critics 12: Athenian Democracy at Work in the 'Age of Lycurgus' 13: The Strange Death of Classical Greek Democracy: A Retrospect ACT IV 14: Hellenistic Democracy? Democracy in Deficit c. 323-86 BCE 15: The Roman Republic: A sort of Democracy? 16: Democracy Denied: The Roman and Early Byzantine Empires 17: Democracy Eclipsed: Late Antiquity, the European Middle Ages, and the Renaissance ACT V 18: Democracy Revived: England in the Seventeenth Century and France in the Late Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Centuries 19: Democracy Reinvented: The United States in the Late Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Centuries and Tocqueville's America 20: Democracy Tamed: Nineteenth-Century Great Britain Epilogue: Democracy Now: Retrospect and Prospects Afterword Notes and References Bibliography and Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisArtemis is a literary, iconographic, and archaeological study of the ancient Greek goddess of the hunt, who presided over the transitions and mediations between the wild and the civilized, youth and maturity, life and death. Beginning with a study of the early origins of Artemis and her cult in the Bronze and Archaic Ages, Budin explores the goddess'' persona and her role in the lives of her worshippers.This volume examines her birth and childhood, her place in the divine family, her virginity, and her associations with those places where the wilds become the cities of just men. The focus then turns to Artemis' role in the lives of children and women, particularly how she helps them navigate the transition to adulthood and, perhaps too often, death. Budin goes on to reconsider some of the more harrowing aspects of Artemis' mythology, such as plague and bloodshed, while also examining some of her kinder, oft overlooked associations. Finally, the role of Artemis in theTrade Review"Stephanie Budin’s Artemis is a richly detailed and engaging study that offers a welcome contribution to the fields of Greek religion and mythology. Expertly weaving together evidence from literary texts and inscriptions, archaeology and the visual arts, Budin uncovers the many meanings and layers of Artemis through her origin stories, her iconic roles as virgin and huntress, and her mediating function as a goddess of critical female transitions. With the passion and wit of a great teacher, Budin convincingly demonstrates that the worship of Artemis was truly a life-or-death matter for the ancient Greeks." - Monica S. Cyrino, University of New Mexico"Although principally writing for undergraduates, historian Budin not only surveys the current scholarship but also argues for revisions; most compellingly, that Artemis was not associated with warfare, and that the evidence claimed for that view is from the Roman period, or is methodologically flawed. While rigorous, the volume remains clear and approachable: all Greek is translated; arguments based on Greek language are judiciously chosen and lucid. An important book for collections supporting study of mythology, religion, and literature, and likely to appeal to a broader audience...Summing Up: Highly recommended." - P. E. Ojennus, Whitworth University, CHOICETable of ContentsIntroduction: Why Artemis?1 An Early History of Artemis2 The Childhood and Perpetual Virginity of Artemis3 Artemis of the Wilds4 Artemis and Children5 Artemis and Women6 Artemis as Goddess of Plague and Cruelty7 Some Underappreciated Aspects of Artemis8 Artemis Afterwards

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsPrefaceIntroductionList of AbbreviationsThe TheogonyTheogonyNotesThe Works and DaysWorks and DaysNotesThe ShieldShieldNotesSelect BibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisThe Emperors of Rome charts the rise and fall of the Roman Empire through profiles of the greatest and most notorious of the emperors, from the autocratic Augustus to the feeble Claudius, the vicious Nero to the beneficent Marcus Aurelius, through to the maniac Commodus and beyond. Interwoven with these are vivid descriptions of sports and art, political intrigues and historic events. In this entertaining and erudite work, acclaimed classical scholar David Potter brings Imperial Rome, and the lives of the men who ruled it, to vivid life.Trade Review'This is a useful guide to the men who were elevated to command Rome and rule the Roman Empire' Good Book Guide. * Good Book Guide *Table of ContentsPrologue: Being Caesar. GREAT CAESAR'S GHOST: A Succession of Strong Men - Rome from Gaius Marius to Caesar 107-44 BC. A Time of Turmoil - Octavian and Antony 44-30 BC. Foundations of the Empire - The House of Augustus 29 BC-AD 14. Eccentric Stability - Emperors from Tiberius to Nero AD 14-68. CAESARS AND THEIR SUBJECTS: New Dynasties - From the Flavians to the Antonines AD 68-180. Running the Empire - Emperors and Administrators AD 68-180. Civic Pride - Caesars and Their Cities AD 68-180. The Imperial Melting Pot - Roman Culture AD 68-180. REINVENTING CAESAR: The Slippery Slope - The Beginnings of Rome's Decline AD 180-211. Inadequates and Misfits - Emperors of the Early Third Century AD 211-238. Anarchy and Disorder - The Crisis of the Third Century AD 239-270. Steadying the Ship of State - Restoration of the Imperial Office AD 270-305. Beginnings of the Christian Empire - The Reign of Constantine AD 305-337. LOSING CAESAR: Carving up the Empire - From Constantine's Sons to Valens AD 337-375. Enemies at the Gate - The Barbarian Invasions AD 376-411. Final Decline and Fall - The Collapse of the Western Empire AD 411-476. Epilogue: Dido's Revenge. Glossary. Index.

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Book SynopsisM. Porcius Cato (234–149 BC) remains legendary for his political and military career, his integrity and austere morality, his literary works, his pithy sayings, and his drive to define and to champion the Roman national character. This edition supplies all testimonia about, and all fragments by or attributed to him.

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Book SynopsisAcclaimed by critics as one of the greatest literary achievements of the Roman Empire, the Civil War is a stirring account of the war between Julius Caesar and the forces of the republican senate led by Pompey the Great. Reading Lucan's Civil War is the first comprehensive guide to this important poem.Trade ReviewReading Lucan’s Civil War is state of the art in Lucan studies. It is an extremely useful volume for scholars and students." —Neil W. Bernstein, author of Seneca: Hercules Furens

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Book SynopsisThis handbook offers both students and teachers of ancient Greek religion a comprehensive overview of the current state of scholarship in the subject, from the Archaic to the Hellenistic periods. It not only presents key information, but also explores the ways in which such information is gathered and the different approaches that have shaped the area. In doing so, the volume provides a crucial research and orientation tool for students of the ancient world, and also makes a vital contribution to the key debates surrounding the conceptualization of ancient Greek religion. The handbook''s initial chapters lay out the key dimensions of ancient Greek religion, approaches to evidence, and the representations of myths. The following chapters discuss the continuities and differences between religious practices in different cultures, including Egypt, the Near East, the Black Sea, and Bactria and India. The range of contributions emphasizes the diversity of relationships between mortals and thTrade Reviewbroadly conceived in coverage, period, approach and methodology * Gocha R. Tsetskhladze, Ancient West and East (AWE) *[T]his handbook features a dazzling array of notable contributors, writing on subjects in which they are acknowledged experts. One of the most valuable aspects of the book is its recurrent emphasis on theoretical and methodological rigor. This will be an indispensable volume for students and specialists alike. * Jennifer Larson Religious Studies Review *Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION; PART 1: WHAT IS ANCIENT GREEK RELIGION?; PART 2: TYPES OF EVIDENCE; PART 3: MYTHS? CONTEXTS AND REPRESENTATIONS; PART 4: WHERE?; PART 5: HOW?; PART 6: WHO?; PART 7: WHAT?; PART 8: WHEN?; PART 9: BEYOND?

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