Ancient history Books
British Museum Press Imagining the Divine Art in Religions of Late
Book SynopsisAn innovative approach to the study of an under-appreciated topic of the place of art in ancient religion and will be essential reading for researchers and students of the material and religious cultures of late antiquity across Eurasia.Table of ContentsIntroduction (Jaś Elsner and Rachel Wood) Chapter 1: The materiality of the divine: aniconism, iconoclasm, iconography (Salvatore Settis, with a response from Maria Lidova) Chapter 2: Bodies, bases, and borders: framing the divine in Greco-Roman antiquity (Verity Platt, with a response from Dominic Dalglish) Chapter 3: Kufa and Kells: the illuminated word as sign and presence in the 7th-9th centuries (Benjamin C. Tilghman and Umberto Bongianino, with an introduction by Katherine Cross) Chapter 4: The Jewish image of God in late antiquity (Martin Goodman, with a response from Jaś Elsner and Hindy Najman) Chapter 5: Empire and Faith: the heterotopian space of the Franks Casket (Catherine Karkov, with a response from Katherine Cross) Chapter 6: Buddhapada: The Enlightened Being and the Limits of Representation at Amarāvatī (Jaś Elsner, with a response from Alice Casalini) Chapter 7: From Serapis to Christ to the Caliph: faces as a re-appropriation of the past (Ivan Foletti and Katharina Meinecke, with an introduction by Nadia Ali) Chapter 8: Uses of decorated silver plate in Imperial Rome and Sasanian Iran (Richard Hobbs, with a response from Rachel Wood) Chapter 9: Material religion in comparative perspective: how different is BCE from CE? (Christoph Uehlinger, with a response from Stefanie Lenk) Conclusion Bibliography Index
£38.00
Orpington Publishers Rhodes The Colossus Put it in Your Pocket Series
Book SynopsisAbout Helios (The Sun) and the Colossus - why it was put up and what happened to it. About the Temple of Apollo Pythios at Rhodes, and the Temple of Athena at Lindos. One of the six 'Put it in your pocket' series on Greek Islands.
£5.62
Cambridge University Press Peasant Economies and Societies in Ancient Roman Iberia
£18.00
Pan Macmillan The Spartans
Book SynopsisThe definitive account of the extraordinary people of Sparta, from the world's leading expert.
£11.69
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Roman Empire in Transition and Crisis
Book SynopsisThis is not a success story but one of transition and ultimate fall. It is detailed, hugely researched, full of action, peronality, and a vivid narrative of political struggle for imperial power as Roman Emperor. It is especially impresive on the role of women, the tangled personal lives, of the elite family competition. And all against the backdrop of transition and decline. But struggle and competition take the Roman Empire and its agents, military and civil, to action on a global scale, to extreme northern Europe, Europe, the Balkaons, Near and Middle East, South and East Asia, Africa and even fringes of (later) America. And all to defend or extend imperial interest. But defence against declne is always presnent and a consant plea is for ''Something to be done'' to keep the show on the road. The actual history is set out in brief with the time lines, original Original Time Lines (OTL). Here is the changing and struggling Empire with Western and Eastern Empires and emperors and popes
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Ancient Germans and Rome AD 68 to 500
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£21.25
Cambridge University Press Euripides Iphigenia in Tauris
Book SynopsisEuripides' Iphigeneia among the Taurians has been a popular and influential text from antiquity onwards. It is a suspenseful drama set on the Black Sea coast in what is now Crimea, which explores themes of family loyalty, Greeks and barbarians, and the nature of the gods. The plot combines an unrecognised meeting between Iphigeneia, now a priestess of Artemis among the Taurians, and her brother Orestes, who with his friend Pylades has been captured and brought to her for sacrifice, with an exciting escape attempt for all three, ultimately brought about by divine intervention. This edition includes a full Introduction to the literary and production aspects of the play, while the Commentary elucidates problems of language as well as interpretation. These combine to make the play fully accessible to intermediate-level undergraduates and graduate students wishing to read it in the original Greek.Trade Review'Any 'intermediate level undergraduate' who is tasked with studying IT should acquaint him/herself with K.'s edition, and consider him/herself very fortunate.' Colin Leach, Classics for AllTable of ContentsIntroduction; Sigla; ΕΥΡΙΠΙΔΟΥ ΙΦΙΓΕΝΕΙΑ Η ΕΝ ΤΑΥΡΟΙΣ; Commentary; Glossary; Abbreviations; Bibliography; Index
£24.99
Cambridge University Press The Cambridge Critical Guide to Latin Literature
Book SynopsisFocusing on the texts, tools and territories of Latin literature from the classical to Neo-Latin, the Critical Guide situates classical Latin within its global context; recalibrates links with adjoining disciplines (e.g. history, philosophy, material culture, Greek); and takes a fresh look at key tools (editing, reception, intertextuality, theory).
£47.49
Cambridge University Press Greek Epitaphic Poetry
Book SynopsisThousands of Greek verse epitaphs, covering a millennium of history, survive inscribed or painted on stone. These largely anonymous poems shed rich light on areas such as ancient moral values, religious ideas, gender relations and attitudes, as well as on the transmission and reception of ''canonical'' poetry; many of these poems are of very high literary quality. This is the first modern commentary on a selection of these poems. Problems of syntax, metre and language are fully explained, accompanied by sophisticated literary discussion of the poems. There is a full introduction to the nature of these poems and to their context within Greek ideas of death and the afterlife. This comprehensive edition will be of interest to advanced undergraduates and graduate students studying Greek literature, as well as to scholars.Trade Review'… it represents extremely good value, and is strongly recommended.' Colin Leach, Classics for AllTable of ContentsIntroduction: 1. Funerary verse-inscriptions; 2. The style of Greek epitaphic verse; 3. Who wrote Greek verse-inscriptions?; 4. Ideas of death in Greek verse-inscriptions; 5. About this edition; Source Text: Greek Epitaphic Poetry. A Selection; Editorial Matter: Commentary.
£26.59
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Spear the Scroll and the Pebble
Book SynopsisThis book presents a powerful new argument for how and why the Greek city-states, including their distinctive society and culture, came to be - and why they had the highly unusual and influential form they took. After reviewing early city-state formation, and the economic underpinnings of city-state society, three key chapters examine the way the Greeks developed their unique society. The spear, scroll and pebble encapsulate the book''s core ideas. The Spear: city-state Greeks developed a citizen-militia military system that gave relatively equal importance to each citizen-warrior, thereby emboldening the citizen-warriors to demand political rights. The Pebble: the resultant growth of collective political systems of oligarchy and democracy led to thousands of citizens forming the sovereign element of the state; they made political decisions through communal debate and voting. The Scroll: in order for such systems to function, a shared information base had to be Trade ReviewThis book makes a convincing case for the primacy of education and literacy in the ancient Greek world across the whole of society. It revolutionizes our understanding of the impact this literacy had on the development of government structures and daily life. -- Gil Davis, Associate Professor in Archaeology, Australian Catholic University, AustraliaTable of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: The Origin and Early Development of the City-State Chapter 2: Economic Growth: A Necessary Condition for the City-State Chapter 3: The Spear: Warfare and the City-State Chapter 4: The Pebble: Collective Decision Making and the City-State Chapter 5. The Scroll: Literacy and the City-State Conclusion: The Literate Citizen Appendix 1: Aristotle’s Politeiai Appendix 2: Colonies and Metropoleis Notes Bibliography Index
£23.74
Amberley Publishing In Search of Aeneas
Book SynopsisThe epic story of Aeneas takes place at the time of the fall of Troy and the rise of Rome, but was Aeneas in fact a real person? In Search of Aeneas opens a fresh window onto the ancient world for all students of general history.
£21.25
Amberley Publishing Magnus Maximus
Book SynopsisAn examination of Magnus Maximus's life indicates that the Roman order survived in Britain for far longer than is usually credited, both politically and to a large extent materially.
£21.25
Amberley Publishing 50 Objects from Vindolanda
Book SynopsisPublished in partnership with the Vindolanda Trust, this book celebrates some of the most fascinating objects that have been found at Vindolanda.
£14.39
Amberley Publishing Warriors and Kings
Book SynopsisNew paperback edition - Explore the 1,500-year history of Celtic resistance. Martin Wall explores the mythology and psychology of this unyielding and insular people.
£10.44
Amberley Publishing 50 Stone Age Finds
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£14.39
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Tyrants of Syracuse War in Ancient Sicily
Book SynopsisConcludes this exciting military history of one of the most important cities in the Classical world.
£13.49
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Aurelian and Probus
Book SynopsisThis is a narrative military history of the emperors Lucius Domitius Aurelianus (Aurelian', reigned 270-275) and Marcus Aurelius Probus (276-282) which also includes the other reigns between the years 268 and 285. It shows how these two remarkable emperors were chiefly responsible for the Empire surviving and emerging largely intact from a period of intense crisis. It was Aurelian who first united the breakaway regions, including Zenobia's Palmyra, and it was Probus who then secured his achievements.The reigns of Aurelian and Probus have been subjected to many studies, but none of these have approached the extant material purely from the point of view of military analysis. Most importantly, the previous historians have not exploited the analytical opportunities provided by the military treatises that describe the strategy and tactics of the period Roman army. It is thanks to this new methodology that Ilkka Syvänne has been able to reconstruct the military campaigns of these two soldier
£20.91
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Corinthian War 395387 BC
Book SynopsisAt the end of the Peloponnesian War in 404 BC, Sparta reigned supreme in Greece. Having vanquished their rival Athens and quickly dismantled the wealthy and powerful Athenian Empire, Sparta set its sights on dominating the Mediterranean world and had begun a successful invasion of the vast Persian Empire under their legendary king Agesilaus II. But with their victory over Athens came the inheritance of governing Athens's empire - and Sparta desperately lacked both a cogent vision of empire and the essential economic and trade infrastructure to survive in the role of hegemon. Sparta's overextension of empire compounded with internal political conflict to antagonize the rest of Greece with heavy-fisted and uneven interventionism. Soon the unlikely confederacy of Athens, Corinth, Thebes, Argos, and Persia united against Sparta in a war that, despite a Spartan victory, had devastating ramifications for their empire.The Corinthian War (395 - 387 BC) was a fascinating entanglement of clashin
£18.70
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Spartan Supremacy 412371 BC
Book SynopsisDetailed, insightful analysis of a neglected period. Gripping narrative full of dramatic events, battles and great figures such as Alcibiades, Lysander, Pelopidas and Epaminondas. Explains the high point and demise of Spartan power
£13.49
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Roman Empire at War
Book SynopsisCatalogues and gives a brief description of every significant battle (and most insignificant ones too) known to have been fought by the Roman Emperors.
£13.49
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Roman Empire in Crisis 248260
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£15.29
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Alexander the Great a Battle for Truth and
Book SynopsisA long overdue new appraisal of the sources for Alexander the Great.
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Life of Cicero
Book SynopsisCicero was Rome''s greatest orator and one of the key statesmen of the late Roman Republic. He championed traditional Republican values against populist demagogues like Julius Caesar during a tumultuous period of civil war and unrest. During his term as consul (63 BCE), his decisive actions thwarted a plot to overthrow the Senate, controversially having the ringleaders executed. He outlived Caesar but then mounted a virulent opposition to Mark Antony, which led to Cicero''s proscription andexecution as an enemy of the state.The legacy of his speeches, letters and treatises on politics, law, oratory and other subjects endured, however, and was massively influential on Latin literature and, when rediscovered in the Middle Ages, formed one of the cornerstones of the Renaissance.The period in which Cicero flourished and died was one in which democracy was under attack from radical demagoguery and Philip Kay-Bujak believes his career holds important parallels and lessons for our own times.
£21.25
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Socrates in Love
Book SynopsisAn innovative and insightful exploration of the passionate early life of Socrates and the influences that led him to become the first and greatest of philosophersSocrates: the philosopher whose questioning gave birth to the ideas of Western thought, and whose execution marked the end of the Athenian Golden Age. Yet despite his pre-eminence among the great thinkers of history, little of his life story is known. What we know tends to begin in his middle age and end with his trial and death. Our conception of Socrates has relied upon Plato and Xenophon men who met him when he was in his fifties and a well-known figure in war-torn Athens. There is mystery at the heart of Socrates' story: what turned the young Socrates into a philosopher? What drove him to pursue with such persistence, at the cost of social acceptance and ultimately of his life, a whole new way of thinking about the meaning of existence? In this revisionist biography, Armand D'Angour draws on neglected sources to eTrade ReviewSympathetic and irreverent … A demythologised Socrates is revealed, not so much debunked as rendered newly human … All this is done in prose of easy elegance and authority … Socrates is one of the very few philosophers whose thoughts on love are worth reading * Daily Telegraph *In this brilliant study, Armand D’Angour refocuses the works of Socrates the Philosopher by looking afresh at the life of Socrates the Man. In doing so, he provides new insights not just into Socrates but into ancient Greek thinking as a whole -- Peter Frankopan, author of 'The Silk Roads'Write the name Aspasia on your hearts! History, as told by men, has often erased the role of women. Our new champion Armand D’Angour has pieced together the evidence – that a woman of great intellectual powers helped lay the foundations of Western philosophy. This is a delicious and exhilarating piece of serious scholarship -- Helena KennedyD’Angour sets about his task with admirable imagination, even a touch of literary flair ... Highly readable -- Patrick Kidd * The Times *A terrific read * Literary Review *A fascinating and revelatory book. A penetrating combination of tremendous scholarship, imagination and sympathetic understanding -- William BoydA learned, agile and slickly written book … [D’Angour] offers an erudite guide to the intellectual culture of the time … [I] couldn’t help admiring his grasp of the material and his ability to communicate it compactly -- Tim Whitmarsh * Guardian *Who was Socrates? D’Angour guesses that the majority of people who know something about him will answer that Socrates was ‘a thinker, wise man, or philosopher of ancient Greece.’ If your answer was along these lines, then you need to pick up this book … Not only clearly well-researched, but it is also enjoyable to read * All About History *A book that succeeds brilliantly in achieving something that I had always assumed was impossible: providing a historically grounded portrait of the man Socrates may actually have been. Not merely eye-opening, it is thrilling and moving -- Tom HollandArmand D’Angour’s new readings of Plato’s dialogues bring a new Athenian world to life … Plausible and beautifully written -- Josephine QuinnWho was Socrates? Surprising insights abound in Armand D’Angour’s new, even radical, biography of the brilliantly eccentric, earthy, and brave provocateur-philosopher. Socrates in Love is deeply thoughtful and delightfully written -- Adrienne Mayor, author of 'Gods and Robots: Myths, Machines, and Ancient Dreams of Technology'The most nourishing book I have read this year * praise for The Greeks and the New, Spectator: Book of the Year Selection *A fantastic, engaging book … Not to be missed * praise for The Greeks and the New, Bryn Mawr Classical Review *The book is well-written and fun to read—it has itself some of the gleam and glamour of the new, and I expect that its readers will give it kleos * praise for The Greeks and the New, Classical Journal Online *Engaging and aptly original study * praise for The Greeks and the New, Times Literary Supplement *A learned, agile and slickly written book … D’Angour offers an erudite guide to the intellectual culture of the time … I couldn’t help admiring his grasp of the material and his ability to communicate it compactly -- Tim Whitmarsh * Guardian *
£10.44
National Geographic Society Lost Cities Ancient Tombs
Book SynopsisBlending high adventure with history, this chronicle of 100 astonishing discoveries from the Dead Sea Scrolls to the fabulous 'Lost City of the Monkey God' tells incredible stories of how explorers and archaeologists have uncovered the clues that illuminate our past. Archaeology is the key that unlocks our deepest history. Ruined cities, golden treasures, cryptic inscriptions, and ornate tombs have been found across the world, and yet these artifacts of ages past often raised more questions than answers. But with the emergence of archaeology as a scientific discipline in the 19th century, everything changed. Illustrated with dazzling photographs, this enlightening narrative tells the story of human civilization through 100 key expeditions, spanning six continents and more than three million years of history. Each account relies on firsthand reports from explorers, antiquarians, and scientists as they crack secret codes, evade looters and poli
£24.00
Amberley Publishing The Dignity of Labour
Book SynopsisThe first book to present an analysis of images of working people in Roman society and to interpret the meaning and significance of these images. What did work mean to the Romans?
£17.00
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC War Bows
Book SynopsisWar bows were a mainstay of armies throughout the world from the earliest recorded battles over three thousand years ago to the 16th century, when firearms finally came of age. Even then, in some cultures, the bow remained in use by elite warriors. The bow gave combatants the ability to fight at distance and it played an important role in some of the most famous battles in human history. In this lively and fascinating study, Mike Loades tells the stories of four of the world''s most renowned war bow types: the iconic medieval longbow that made its mark at Crécy; the horn and sinew composite bows of the East, with their varied forms and sophisticated construction; the crossbow with its mechanical ingenuity; and the distinctively asymmetric yumi of the samurai. For each of these bows, Mike brings the insights of his long career as a historical weapons expert and archer to bear, offering a vivid understanding not only of the technology that went into its creation but alsTrade ReviewThe book can be strongly recommended to anyone interested in the use of the bow and crossbow, particularly as a military weapon. [Mike Loades] presents in a vivid and readable fashion a survey of their use over many centuries. -- Arthur Credland * Military History Matters *Anyone with an interest in war bows or the history of warfare would greatly benefit from a copy of this comprehensive work... Loades's experience with bows, both in terms of their history and real life handling, shines through in this well-researched and beautifully written and illustrated book. * History of War, February 2019 *I don't recall ever reading such a thorough analysis of a weapons system... Lavishly illustrated and engagingly written, this book could only have been written by someone who is a supreme practitioner of the subject. * Miniature Wargames *An up-to-date and super-cool book... it’s been vetted and fed into by some of the leading experts, both academics and archers, in the world today. * Schola Gladiatora *Unquestionably an essential reference work if you have any interest whatsoever in archery in all its forms. * Battlefield Magazine *Table of ContentsIntroduction CHAPTER I: THE LONGBOW Development: The longbow’s genesis and production Use: At full draw Impact: Assessing the longbow CHAPTER II: THE CROSSBOW Development: Lock, stock and lath Use: Steady, steady, steady: shoot Impact: Bolts from the blue CHAPTER III: THE COMPOSITE BOW Development: Engineering the optimal bow Use: Archery – a very martial art Impact: Different bows for different blows CHAPTER IV: THE JAPANESE YUMI Development: The asymmetric bow Use: The Way of the Bow and the Horse Impact: The sting of the samurai Conclusion Acknowledgements Bibliography
£28.00
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Legion versus Phalanx
Book SynopsisTaking a populist approach to a serious subject, Myke Cole combines a novelist''s flair for drama with an ancient historian''s eye for detail to create a unique book that delves into one of the most popular areas of the Ancient World.From the time of Ancient Sumeria, the heavy infantry phalanx dominated the battlefield. Armed with spears or pikes, standing shoulder to shoulder with shields interlocking, the men of the phalanx presented an impenetrable wall of wood and metal to the enemy. Until, that is, the Roman legion emerged to challenge them as masters of infantry battle.Covering the period in which the legion and phalanx clashed (280168 BC), Myke Cole delves into their tactics, arms and equipment, organization and deployment. Drawing on original primary sources to examine six battles in which the legion fought the phalanx--Heraclea (280 BC), Asculum (279 BC), Beneventum (275 BC), Cynoscephalae (197 BC), Magnesia (190 BC), and Pydna (168 BC)--he shows how Trade ReviewOn the face of it, this could be a turgidly dry chin-stroking look into ancient warfare tactics but, thanks the brio of author Myke Cole, it's anything but. [...] The author points out elements that are largely accepted as fact thanks to detailed reports, and others where supposition comes into play, but he does this with a skill that makes it seem like a discussion between friends, not a lecture. With an excellent colour plate section full of photos of armour, illustrations, ancient graphics and diagrams of troop dispositions you have a highly entertaining and yet worthy look into how and why the Roman Legion was so effective against the Phalanx that had previously dominated the battlefield. * The Armourer, January 2019 *Amazing, detailed, thoroughly researched and genuinely exciting. * Anna Stephens, Author of 'Godblind' *Table of ContentsPreface Chronology Maps PART I: And in this Corner . . . Examining the Legion and the Phalanx 1. Who Would Win in a Fight? The Eagle and the Lion 2. Not your Father’s Phalanx: The Legacy of Iphicrates 3. Mules that Kill: Under the Eagle of Rome PART II: Fight! The Legion versus the Phalanx in Six Battles 4. Heraclea (280 BC): Rome’s First Test 5. Asculum (279 BC): "One more such victory, and we are undone." 6. Beneventum (275 BC): Pyrrhus’ Last Gasp 7. Cynoscephalae (197 BC): The Legion Triumphant 8. Magnesia (190 BC): No Refuge for Hannibal 9. Pydna (168 BC): The Fall of the Antigonids 10. Legions and Phalanxes Glossary Bibliography Index
£13.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Caesars Civil War
Book SynopsisFully illustrated with colour maps and images, this is an accessible introduction to Julius Caesar's Civil War.Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great were two of the greatest generals Rome had ever produced. Together they had brought vast stretches of territory under Roman dominion. In 49 BC they turned against each other and plunged Rome into civil war. In this book, Adrian Goldsworthy relates the gripping story of this desperate power struggle. Drawing on original accounts of the war, he examines how legion was pitched against legion in a vicious battle for political domination of the vast Roman world. The armies were evenly matched, but in the end, Caesar's genius as a commander and his great good luck brought him victory in 45 BC. Updated and revised for the new edition, with full-colour maps and 40 new images, this is a detailed introduction to one of the last conflicts in the Roman Republic before the establishment of the Roman Empire.Table of ContentsPrologue Introduction Background to War Warring Sides Outbreak The Fighting The World Around War How the War Ended Conclusion and Consequences Chronology Glossary Further Reading Index
£12.34
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Conquerors of the Roman Empire The Goths
Book SynopsisFollows the Goths long and violent interaction with Rome (sometimes allies, often as enemies) which ultimately saw them sack Rome and establish kingdoms in France, Spain and Italy.
£16.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC In Search of the Romans Second Edition
Book SynopsisIn Search of the Romans is a lively and informative introduction to ancient Rome. Making extensive use of ancient sources and copiously illustrated with photographs, drawings, maps and plans, now for the first time in colour, its opening two chapters guide the reader through the events of Roman history, from the foundation of the city to the fall of the empire. Subsequent chapters introduce the most important aspects of the Roman world: the army and the provinces, religion, society, and entertainment; the final two chapters focus on Pompeii and Herculaneum, the two cities destroyed by Vesuvius. New to this edition are sections on the Augustan principate, on the Roman army, on life in the provinces and on engineering innovations, while the existing text is revised throughout. The narrative includes descriptions of many individuals from the Roman world, drawn from a variety of social settings. Activity boxes and further reading lists throughout each chapter aid students'' understTrade ReviewSince its initial publication in 2012, I have recommended In Search of the Romans as my first choice for introductory courses on Roman civilization… this revised second edition makes smart changes and useful improvements, making it a necessary update for every classroom. -- Robert Gurval, Associate Professor of Classics, University of California, Los Angeles, USAThe real achievement of this book is how it covers a huge range of topics in such a detailed yet unintimidating manner. It doesn’t shy away from challenging concepts, and pushes the reader to engage with ancient material and think carefully about important questions. The presentation of the second edition is especially impressive. -- Rebecca Usherwood, Assistant Professor in Late Antique and Early Byzantine Studies, Trinity College Dublin, IrelandTable of ContentsPreface Introduction 1 From Kingdom to Republic 2 The Emperors 3 Running an Empire 4 Roman Religion 5 Roman Society 6 Roman Entertainment and Leisure 7 Pompeii 8 Herculaneum Appendices 1 Roman Currency Values 2 Roman Clothing 3 Roman Names 4 Roman Time Glossary Sources of Quotations Sources of Illustrations Index
£20.89
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Byzantine Fortifications: Protecting the Roman
Book SynopsisThe Byzantine empire was one of the most powerful forces in the Mediterranean and Near East for over a thousand years. Strong military organization, in particular widespread fortifications, was essential for its defence. Yet this aspect of its history is often neglected, and no detailed overview has been published for over thirty years. That is why Nikos Kontogiannis's ambitious account of Byzantine fortifications -their construction and development and their role in times of war -is such a valuable and timely publication. His ambitious study combines the results of decades of wide-ranging archaeological work with an account of the armies, weapons, tactics and defensive strategies of the empire throughout its long history. Fortifications built in every region of the empire are covered, from those in Mesopotamia, Syria and Africa, to those in Asia Minor, the Aegean and the Balkan peninsula. This all-round survey is essential reading and reference for anyone with a special interest in the Byzantine empire and in the wider history of fortification.
£22.50
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Reign of Emperor Gallienus: The Apogee of
Book SynopsisThis is the only fully illustrated military life of the Emperor Publius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus (253-268). Considered the most blatantly military man of all of the soldier emperors of the third century, Gallienus is the emperor in Harry Sidebottom's bestselling Warrior of Rome novels. Gallienus faced more simultaneous usurpations and foreign invasions than any other emperor, but somehow he managed to survive. Dr. Ilkka Syvanne explains how this was possible. It was largely thanks to the untiring efforts of Gallienus that the Roman Empire survived for another 1,200 years. Gallienus was a notorious libertarian, womanizer, and cross-dresser, but he was also a fearless warrior, duellist and general all at the same time. This monograph explains why he was loved by the soldiers,yet so intensely hated by some officers that they killed him in a conspiracy. The year 2018 is the 1,800th anniversary of Gallienus' date of birth and the 1,750th anniversary of his date of death. The Reign of Gallienus celebrates the life and times of this great man.
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Understanding Ancient Battle: Combat in the
Book SynopsisTraditional military history of battles focussed on the strategies of great leaders, though in modern times many scholars have discussed the ‘face of battle’, describing the personal experience of the ordinary soldier. But in between, there still lies a major gap in our understanding of ancient combat: the officer’s battle. This focuses on how units actually fought and manoeuvred in battle. Hugh Elton seeks to redress this through analysis of the interaction of equipment, morale, leadership, and terrain. After discussing source material and the general model of warfare the author follows, this book outlines by major periods what we know of equipment, organization and tactics, then shows how battle worked in a series of case studies including include Marathon, Issus, Cannae, Cynoscephalae, Mons Graupius, and Adrianople. A total of twenty-four battles are analyzed between the fifth-century BCE and the sixth century CE, covering the wars described by the great historians between Herodotus and Procopius, including accounts written by the soldiers Xenophon, Julius Caesar, and Ammianus Marcellinus.
£17.00
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Egyptomaniacs: How We Became Obsessed with
Book SynopsisThe Greek historian Hecataeus of Abdera declared during the 4th century BCE that the Egyptian civilization was unsurpassed in the arts and in good governance, surpassing even that of the Greeks. During the Renaissance, several ecclesiastical nobles, including the Borgia Pope Alexander VI claimed their descent from the Egyptian god Osiris. In the 1920s, the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in the Valley of the Kings prompted one of the first true media frenzies in history. For thousands of years, the Pharaonic culture has been a source of almost endless fascination and obsession. But to what extent is the popular view of ancient Egypt at all accurate? In _Pyramidiots: How We Became Obsessed With Ancient Egypt_, Egyptologist Dr Nicky Nielsen examines the popular view of Egypt as an exotic, esoteric, mystical culture obsessed with death and overflowing with mummies and pyramids. The book traces our obsession with ancient Egypt throughout history and methodically investigates, explains and strips away some of the most popular misconceptions about the Pharaohs and their civilization
£16.99
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Seleukid Empire of Antiochus III, 223-187 BC
Book SynopsisThe second volume in John Grainger's history of the Seleukid Empire is devoted to the reign of Antiochus III. Too often remembered only as the man who lost to the Romans at Magnesia, Antiochus is here revealed as one of the most powerful and capable rulers of the age. Having emerged from civil war in 223 as the sole survivor of the Seleukid dynasty, he shouldered the burdens of a weakened and divided realm. Though defeated by Egypt in the Fourth Syrian War, he gradually restored full control over the empire. His great Eastern campaign took Macedonian arms back to India for the first time since Alexander's day and, returning west, he went on to conquer Thrace and finally wrest Syria from Ptolemaic control. Then came intervention in Greece and the clash with Rome leading to the defeat at Magnesia and the restrictive Peace of Apamea. Despite this, Antiochus remained ambitious, campaigning in the East again; when he died in 187 BC the empire was still one of the most powerful states in the world.
£18.32
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Iliad and the Odyssey: The Trojan War: Tragedy and Aftermath
The Iliad dealing with the final stages of the Trojan War and The Odyssey with return and aftermath were central to the Classical Greeks' self identity and world view. Epic poems attributed to Homer, they underpinned ideas about heroism, masculinity and identity; about glory, sacrifice and the pity of war; about what makes life worth living. From Achilles, Patroclus and Agamemnon in the Greek camp, Hektor, Paris and Helen in Troy's citadel, the drama of the battlefield and the gods looking on, to Odysseus' adventures and vengeful return - Jan Parker here offers the ideal companion to exploring key events, characters and major themes. A book-by-book synopsis and commentary discuss the heroes' relationships, values and psychology and the narratives' shimmering presentation of war, its victims and the challenges of return and reintegration. Essays set the epics in their historical context and trace the key terms; the 'Journey Home from War' continues with 'Afterstories' of both heroes and their women. Whether you've always wanted to go deeper into these extraordinary works or are coming to them for the first time, The Iliad and the Odyssey: The Trojan War, Tragedy and Aftermath will help you understand and enjoy Homer's monumentally important work.
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Roman Conquests: Egypt and Judaea
Book SynopsisEgypt was the last of the Macedonian Successor states to be swallowed up by Roman expansion. The Ptolemaic rulers had allied themselves to Rome while their rivals went down fighting. However, Cleopatra's famous love affair with Marc Antony ensured she was on the wrong side of the Roman civil war between him and Octavian (later to become Caesar Augustus). After the defeat of Antony and Cleopatra at the naval battle of Actium, Octavian swiftly brought it under direct Roman control, though it took several campaigns to fully subjugate the whole country. These campaigns have previously been largely neglected. Judaea was a constant source of trouble for the Romans, as it had been for the Seleucids, the previous overlords of the region. The Romans at first were content to rule through client kings like the infamous Herod but were increasingly sucked in to direct military involvement to suppress religiously-inspired revolts. Like the other volumes in this series, this book gives a clear narrative of the course of these campaigns, explaining how the Roman war machine coped with formidable new foes and the challenges of unfamiliar terrain and climate. Specially-commissioned colour plates by the renowned Graham Sumner bring the main troop types vividly to life in meticulously-researched detail.
£13.49
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Ancient Battle Formations
Book SynopsisJustin Swanton examines the principal battle-winning formations of the Ancient world, determining their composition, function and efficacy. An introductory chapter looks at the fundamental components of the principal battle formations of heavy and light infantry, cavalry, elephants and chariots, showing how they bolstered the individual soldier's willingness to fight. The rest of the book focuses on massed infantry that reigned supreme in this era: the heavily armoured Greek hoplite phalanx that was immune to the weaponry of its non-Greek opponents; the Macedonian pike phalanx that was unbeatable against frontal attacks so long as it kept order; the Roman triplex acies which, contrary to popular opinion, consisted of continuous lines in open order, with file spaces wide enough to allow embattled infantry to fall back after which those files closed up instantly against the enemy. A careful study of the Greek and Latin of the sources sheds fresh light on how these formations were organized and worked, re-evaluating many conventional notions and leading to some surprising conclusions.
£14.39
Smithsonian Books Vikings: The North Atlantic Saga
Book SynopsisReplete with color photographs, drawings, and maps of Viking sites, artifacts, and landscapes, this book celebrates and explores the Viking saga from the combined perspectives of history, archaeology, oral tradition, literature, and natural science. The book''s contributors chart the spread of marauders and traders in Europe as well as the expansion of farmers and explorers throughout the North Atlantic and into the New World. They show that Norse contacts with Native American groups were more extensive than has previously been believed, but that the outnumbered Europeans never established more than temporary settlements in North America.
£26.95
Reaktion Books The Greeks: Lost Civilizations
Book SynopsisThis is ancient Greece - but not as we know it. Few people today appreciate that Greek civilization was spread across the Middle East, and that there were Greek cities in the foothills of the Himalayas. This book tells the story of the Greeks outside Greece, such as Sappho, the poet from Lesbos; Archimedes, a native of Syracuse; and Herodotus, who was born in Asia Minor as a subject of the Persian Empire. From the earliest times of prehistoric Greek colonies around the Black Sea, through settlements in Spain and Italy, to the conquests of Alexander and the glories of the Hellenistic era, Philip Matyszak illuminates the Greek soldiers, statesmen, scientists and philosophers who, though they seldom - if ever - set foot on the Greek mainland, nevertheless laid the foundations of what we call 'Greek culture' today. Instead of following the well-worn path of describing Athenian democracy and Spartan militarism, this book offers a fresh look at what it meant to be Greek by telling the story of the Greeks abroad, from India to Spain.
£16.20
Profile Books Ltd The Dawn of Christianity: People and Gods in a
Book SynopsisExploring the origins of Christianity, this book looks at why it was that people first in Judea and then in the Roman and Greek Mediterranean world became susceptible to the new religion. Robert Knapp looks for answers in a wide-ranging exploration of religion and everyday life from 200 BC to the end of the first century. Survival, honour and wellbeing were the chief preoccupations of Jews and polytheists alike. In both cases, the author shows, people turned first to supernatural powers. According to need, season and place polytheists consulted and placated vast constellations of gods, while the Jews worshipped and contended with one almighty and jealous deity. Professor Knapp considers why any Jew or polytheist would voluntarily dispense with a well-tried way of dealing with the supernatural and trade it in for a new model. What was it about the new religion that led people to change beliefs they had held for millennia and which in turn, within four centuries of the birth of its messiah, led it to transform the western world? His conclusions are as convincing as they are sometimes surprising.Trade ReviewA most readable and enjoyable overview of religion in the Roman Empire ... an excellent book. -- Robert A. Segal * Times Higher Education *Praise for Invisible Romans: 'Hugely ambitious ... entertaining as well as informative * Scotsman *If you like your information to come thick and fast, this is the book for you * BBC History *Knapp discovers the hopes, dreams and lives of ordinary people living under Imperial Rome ... a remarkably kind and thoughtful book. * THES *This unusual and scholarly book is rich with revelation. * Daily Express *Fascinating ... Knapp puts [his] case forcefully and well. -- Catherine Nixey * The Times *
£11.69
Amber Books Ltd The Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt
Book SynopsisFor more than 3,000 years, Egypt was home to the greatest civilization on earth. Illustrated with more than 1,500 photographs and specially commissioned illustrations, The Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt is a celebration of the wonders of ancient Egypt, from the mask of Tutankhamun to the Valley of the Kings and the great pyramids of Giza, and from tomb hieroglyphs to golden treasures decorated with ankhs and scarabs. Exploring the history, religion, literature, and art of the ancient Egyptians, as well as the day-to-day experience of ordinary citizens such as pyramid builders, scribes, and craftsmen, this book brings to life the world of the pharaohs in vivid detail, providing a wealth of information about this fascinating and mysterious culture.Table of Contents10 History 12 Egypt, Gift of the Nile 16 Egypt before the Pharaohs 20 The ‘Zero’ Dynasty 22 King Narmer, The First Pharaoh? 24 The Thinite Period (The Early Dynastic Period) 28 The Old Kingdom 32 Pharaoh Djoser 34 Khufu- Builder of The Great Pyramid 36 The Time of Pepy I 38 First Intermediate Period 42 Herakleopolis 44 Nubia and Egypt 46 Fortresses in the South 48 The Middle Kingdom 52 Pharaoh Mentuhotep 2 54 Senusret1- Man of Character 56 Senusret III 60 Amenemhat III 62 The Hyksos 64 Second Intermediate Period 68 The New Kingdom 70 Of Workmen and Tomb Robbers 72 Thutmose 1 74 Thutmose 3 76 Hatshepsut, the Pharaoh Queen 78 Amenhotep III 80 Akhenaten’s Religious Reforms 84 Nefertiti- power and beauty 86 Tutankhamun, the boy King 88 Horemheb 90 Sety I 94 Rameses the Great 96 The battle of Qadesh 98 Sea Peoples 100 The Priest Kings 102 Libyans on the Throne 104 Taharqo, Nubian Pharaoh 106 The Persians in Egypt 108 Psamtek 1 110 Alexander as Pharaoh 112 Cleopatra- the Last Queen 114 Religion 116 The Gods of Egypt 122 The Sun Cult 126 Amun, King of the Gods 130 Osiris- God of the Afterlife 134 The Goddess Isis 138 Seth and Nephthys 142 Horus, God of the Sky 144 Hathor, Goddess of Love 148 Sekhmet: Goddess of Destruction 150 Neith, Goddess of Sais 152 Bastet- the Cat Goddess 154 Min, God of Fertility 156 The Lesser Deities 160 Foreign Gods on the Nile 164 The Creation Myth of Hermopolis 168 The sacred Apis Bull 170 The Animal Necropolises 174 Horus, the King's Protector 178 The Sed Festival 182 The Opet Festival 186 Priests, Servants of the Gods 190 God's Wife of Amun 192 Life After Death 196 The Ka, the Ba and the Akh 198 Embalming the body 202 Canopic Jars 204 Food for the Afterlife 208 The Funeral Cortege 212 The Opening of the Mouth Ceremony 216 The Weighing of the Heart 220 Art 222 Art in Ancient Egypt 224 Painters and Paintings 226 Relief-carving Techniques 232 Stelae, Books of Stone 238 Royal Statues 242 Coffins and Sarcophagi 248 The Magic of Jewels 250 Ceramics 256 Funerary Masks 260 Furniture for the Afterlife 264 Rahotep and Nofret 266 Building the Pyramids 272 The Sphinx 278 The Triad Statues of Menkaure 280 The Statue of Ka-aper 282 Seneb and his Family 284 The Temples of Deir el Bahri 290 Thebes, ‘City of 100 Gates’ 296 The Valley of the Kings 298 The Settlement of Deir el-Medina 304 The Tomb of Nakht 308 The Colossi of Memnon 312 The Temple at Luxor 318 The Art of Akhenaten 322 Tell el-Amarna 324 The Mask of Tutankhamun 326 The Tombs of Horemheb 332 The Monuments of Rameses 2 338 The Temples of Abu Simbel 342 Nefertari’s Tomb 346 The Temple of Khons in Karnak 350 Alexandria, the Royal Dream 356 The Fayum Portraits 362 Everyday Life 364 Childhood in Ancient Egypt 368 Children’s Education 372 Marriage 376 Ancient Egyptian Houses 380 Town and City Life 384 Egyptian Society 388 Divine and Worldly Law 392 The Role of Women 396 Clothes and Fashion 400 Cosmetics and Perfumes 404 Hygiene and Body Care 408 goldsmiths and Jewellers 410 Civil Servants 414 Workers and Patrons 416 Fruits of the Soil 420 Keeping and Breeding Animals 424 The Slaughter of Animals 428 Vines and Wine 432 The Brewing of Beer 436 The Hunt 440 Music in Egyptian Life 442 Life in the Oases 446 The War Chariot 452 The Nilometer 456 Egyptian Astronomy 460 Mathematics and Measurement 464 Ancient Egyptian Numbers 466 Applied Physics 470 The Egyptian Calendar 474 Measuring Time 476 Medicine 480 Textile Production 484 Boats in Ancient Egypt 488 Weapons 492 Metalworking 496 Mining and Quarrying 502 The Rosetta Stone 504 Reading Hieroglyphs 506 Hieroglyphs from Life 510 The Egyptian Alphabet 514 Hieratic Writing 518 Coptic, the Script of the Christians 522 Writing Materials 526 Making Papyrus 530 Temple Inscriptions 534 Coffin Texts 538 Administrative Papyri 540 Index
£21.24
Europa Editions (UK) Ltd The Art of Running
Book SynopsisIn 490 BCE the indefatigable Athenian herald Philippides made his legendary 26 mile run to deliver to the people of Athens news of their city's victory over the Persians. Each year, all over the world, thousands of athletes and millions of enthusiasts replicate Philippides's marathon.Why do we run? To what end all the effort and pain? The Greeks were the first to ask these questions and to wonder why we choose to measure ourselves against others; they were also the first to suspend war, politics, and the daily workings of the state to enjoy days' long public celebrations of athletic prowess.As the pandemic entered its second year, internationally renownedscholar and best-selling author Marcolongo discovers running. In this spirited, generous, and erudite book, she shares not only her scholarship but her own journey to understanding that a healthy body is a healthy mind.
£11.69
Reaktion Books The Persians: Lost Civilizations
Book SynopsisNow available in paperback, The Persians tells the story of this cultured ancient civilization, tracing the unique features of Persian life as well as their influence down the centuries. The book describes the difficulties early Persians encountered and how these contributed to their unique character and the establishment of the Achaemenid Empire. It recounts the keenly fought conflicts with the Greeks for mastery of the Eastern Mediterranean, a contest which was to dominate the geopolitics of the ancient world, and it paints a vivid picture of the many great Persian cities and their spectacular achievements: an efficient road system that linked an empire together; respect for their subject peoples; and advances in irrigation techniques which created a 'paradise' envied by their neighbours.Trade Review'The second in the Lost Civilizations series, The Persians is also a compact, concise history of a whole civilisation - from its nomadic origins in the 1st and 2nd millennia BC to its new role as a tourist destination as modern-day Iran . . . Tellingly, the book's useful chronology ends in 2001 with the destruction of the Twin Towers. Today, Iran's power and influence is far from waning' - Minerva Magazine; 'Anyone looking for a concise overview of Iranian history from pre-Islamic times to the present could do worse than consult this elegantly written volume' - ChoiceTable of ContentsChronology Preface: lost and found Origins: the land and the people The achaemenid dynasty The achievements of the achaemenids Cyrus the Great in history and legend Persepolis: city, throne and power Thus Spake Zarathustra: religion and empire Paradise gained Alexander of Macedon and the Hellenistic interlude Empire revived: the Sasanids Islamic Persia and Persian Islam From Persepolis to Samarkand: the Persian legacy in central Asia Paradise if Bliss: the Persian Legacy in India from the Timurids to the Mughals Cyrus with Golden Caviar: the Last dynasty salutes the first From Shahyad to Azadi: the Islamic Republic and the Ancient Legacy Lost in Translation? The first superpower? Conclusion: power and paradise References Bibliography Acknowledgements Photo acknowledgements Index
£12.30
Reaktion Books The Assyrians
Book SynopsisAn archaeological history of ancient Assyria, showcasing its superb buildings, art and literature.
£16.20
Reaktion Books The Phoenicians
Book SynopsisThe history and artistic heritage of the much-mythologized ancient Phoenicians.
£11.66
Flame Tree Publishing North America Ancient Origins
Book SynopsisThe history of the American continent stretches back over 30,000 years, when the Bering Strait was a land bridge that allowed hunters and gatherers to migrate across. Archeology has revealed the extent of the many cultures that grew in the 4500 years before the European invasions, highlighted in this new edition by historian James Ball.
£10.44
