Description

Book Synopsis
Polemon of Laodicea's Physiognomy explains how to detect someone's character from their appearance. The original 2nd-century text has been lost, but this collection of essays presents translations of the surviving Greek, Latin, and Arabic versions together with a series of masterly studies on the Physiognomy's origins, function, and legacy.

Trade Review
A huge effort...has gone into this beautifully produced, collaborative project on ancient Greek physiognomy and its reception in medieval Islamic society. * M F Burnyeat, Times Literary Supplement *
Their book is many steps forward in the research on physiognomy in Classical Antiquity and the European and Islamic Middle Ages. From a number of different disciplines they have brought together, in one impressive volume, a great number of primary sources about Polemons work on physiognomy. They have excellently edited and translated these sources and they have evaluated them in a number of most enlightening essays. * Jan Just Witkam, Bibliotheca Orientalis *

Table of Contents
I. ANTIQUITY; II. ISLAM; III. TEXTS AND TRANSLATIONS

SEEING THE FACE SEEING THE SOUL Polemons Physiognomy from Classical Antiquity to Medieval Islam

Product form

£211.50

Includes FREE delivery

RRP £235.00 – you save £23.50 (10%)

Order before 4pm today for delivery by Thu 18 Dec 2025.

A Hardback by Antonella Ghersetti, George Boys-Stones, Jas Elsner

15 in stock


    View other formats and editions of SEEING THE FACE SEEING THE SOUL Polemons Physiognomy from Classical Antiquity to Medieval Islam by Antonella Ghersetti

    Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
    Publication Date: 3/8/2007 12:00:00 AM
    ISBN13: 9780199291533, 978-0199291533
    ISBN10: 0199291535
    Also in:
    ELT & Literary Studies Literary studies: ancient, classical Divination from physical attributes

    Description

    Book Synopsis
    Polemon of Laodicea's Physiognomy explains how to detect someone's character from their appearance. The original 2nd-century text has been lost, but this collection of essays presents translations of the surviving Greek, Latin, and Arabic versions together with a series of masterly studies on the Physiognomy's origins, function, and legacy.

    Trade Review
    A huge effort...has gone into this beautifully produced, collaborative project on ancient Greek physiognomy and its reception in medieval Islamic society. * M F Burnyeat, Times Literary Supplement *
    Their book is many steps forward in the research on physiognomy in Classical Antiquity and the European and Islamic Middle Ages. From a number of different disciplines they have brought together, in one impressive volume, a great number of primary sources about Polemons work on physiognomy. They have excellently edited and translated these sources and they have evaluated them in a number of most enlightening essays. * Jan Just Witkam, Bibliotheca Orientalis *

    Table of Contents
    I. ANTIQUITY; II. ISLAM; III. TEXTS AND TRANSLATIONS

    Recently viewed products

    © 2025 Book Curl

      • American Express
      • Apple Pay
      • Diners Club
      • Discover
      • Google Pay
      • Maestro
      • Mastercard
      • PayPal
      • Shop Pay
      • Union Pay
      • Visa

      Login

      Forgot your password?

      Don't have an account yet?
      Create account