The Oxford Companion to Classical Civilization

Book Description

CIVILIZATION IN ALL ITS ASPECTS For more than 2000 years the civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome have captivated our collective imagination and provided fresh inspiration for every age. Now, for the first time, The Oxford Companion to Classical Civilization distils the fruits of recent scholarship to provide the most up-to-date and authoritative survey of the Greek and Roman worlds in all their aspects. Drawing on the latest edition of the highly praised Oxford Classical Dictionary, this new illustrated Oxford Companion offers unrivalled access to the latest knowledge of classical civilization, making it the perfect guide for general readers interested in learning more about the very bedrock of Western culture. HISTORY AND POLITICS the events, achievements, and personalities of 2500 years of history of Greece and Rome and their immediate neighbours, as well as the underlying issues from democracy to propaganda, famine and finance, Hellenization and mercenaries, population, and slavery ETHICS AND MORALS, LAW AND PUNISHMENT individual philosophers and their schools, and ethical issues, such as corruption; prison; torture; abortion; attitudes to animals, to wealth, or to warfare; suicide; freedom; and intellectual or religious intolerance SOCIAL AND FAMILY LIFE food and drink, cookery, houses, and dress; childbirth; sexual behaviour, including rape and incest; and broader social topics such as status, kinship and the family, ritualized friendship, tourism, and urbanization LANGUAGE, LITERATURE, ART AND SCHOLARSHIP writers and poets, orators and playwrights, literacy and books, archives and education, literary genres, painting and sculpture, and the writing of history RELIGION AND MYTHOLOGY Greek, Roman, and Egyptian beliefs, cults, and rituals, from oracles and curses, to sacred prostitution, together with their attendant deities and mythological creatures, mingle with Judaism and early Christianity TECHNOLOGY, SCIENCE, AND MEDICINE the birth of the scientific method in experiment, and all manner of discovery , exploration, treatment, and theorizing on disease, geography, climate, astronomy, mineralogy, navigation, sanitation, vivisection MAJOR ESSAYS and BRILLIANT ILLUSTRATION Specially designed articles on the individuals and themes of central importance provide a useful overview for the modern reader from Alexander to Xenophon, Cicero and Hannibal; and from the histories of Greece and Rome, to Christianity, and architecture. Imaginatvely chosen and striking illustrations underline further the sophistication and complextity of classical civilization, making the ancient world dramatically present.

Customer Reviews:

The Oxford Companion to Classical Civilization.......2003-06-19

A stunning revelation to the classical world . this book is more of a classical hero than herakles was

A necessary resource for the student of early christianity.......2001-04-09

This book is indispendable for a person like myself who got a degree in world religions in general, and early christianity in particular, and who, therefore, lacks an in-depth background in the secular history of Greece and Rome. I hesitated a while before writing a review because I had not read a sufficient number of articles. However, the time has come for comment. I find the shorter articles informative, but at times leaving me waanting more. The longer ones are more satisfying. I was tempted to buy the longer version of The Companion (The Oxford Classical Dictionary), but decided against it after reading the reviews. I am happy with my decision. If I want more information on a topic, I can find it elsewhere. I find that The Companion covers more topics than I need, but I enjoy randomingly paging through the book, selecting what strikes my fancy before going to sleep at night. This is a treasured resource that enhances my understanding of the milieu of early christianity.

"Condensed" version still weighy volume.......2000-09-01

The publication of The Oxford Classical Dictionary, weighing in at 1,640 pages and $99.95 price tag may have told many people more about the Ancient Greek and Roman worlds more than they wanted to know. To them, this companion will be of prime interest.

To pare down the selections, the same editors who updated the dictionary relied on an all or nothing rule: either an entry would be reproduced in its entirety, or it would be dropped. Of the 40 Claudius in the original dictionary, only the Roman emperor popularized in "I, Claudius" made the cut. In addition, the editors kicked the type size up a point or two and recast the longer essays into a one-column layout with the background lightly shaded. Even at half the price, it still offers nearly 800 pages and contains a selection of maps and color photographs not found in its larger brethern. For those who were reluctant to shell out a C-note, this is an appealing alternative.

A good starting place.......2000-02-27

As a standard introductory reference text, I found the Oxford Companion invaluable as a good beginning point to pursue any line of inquiry regarding the classical age. Weighing in at nearly 800 pages, this book is a weighty tome, not something to carry around lightly. Navigation within the book is easy with appropriate cross referencing, such as pointing you at GAIUS when you look up Caligula and warning you of other articles relating to the same subject. Also classical sources are clearly cited and I have followed a number of these up in standard translations to check their opinion. Spread throughout the book are numerous colour and black & white photographs of archaeological evidence and other artefacts. Also throughout the volume and are a number of special reference entries of extended length discussing in more detail important people, places or themes. Such as sections on: Homer, painting and slavery. As in any extended encyclopaedia project, the number of contributors is huge. Inevitably, given the small amount of space available for each section, each item is unlikely to offer a full range of scholarly thought, opinion and research. As with any reference text, it should be used as a starting point for research, not as a substitute.

You cannot please everybody all the time. On balance I think you have to accept that a work of this nature is going to throw up anomalies or controversial entries which not all readers will agree with. It is the nature of academic pursuit of knowledge to encounter disagreements or views which do not match your own. I very much doubt if hardly any of the contributors listed, would completely agree with each other on the articles which they have written. This is the nature of encyclopedias.

Particularly the arena of classical history, is prone to heated debate over the most simplest of issues, due to the lack of evidence or the interpretation of what exists, such as it is. In short there are no `facts' only interpretation.

Quite helpful----with at least one serious exception........1999-07-13

With one serious exception (see below) I have thus far found The Oxford Companion to Classical Civilization to be quite helpful.

Having purchased this book as a supplemental reference for my study of biblical literature, I was shocked, angered and disappointmented upon coming across the article on "Christianity," by Philip Rousseau.

The fact that Rousseau describes Christianity in unflattering terms is not nearly so significant as the fact that his "facts" appear poorly researched and loosely strung together in an obvious attempt to vilify Christianity. Summarizing the life and ministry of Jesus in terms of "the wonder-working holy man," for example, does gross injustice to both Jesus' teachings and miracle claims.

Rousseau presents Christianity as little more than an arrogant thief and counterfeiter, stealing ideas and images first from the Jews and then from secular philosophers. In so doing, Rousseau completely disregards the concept of God's progressive revelation and the fact that no one has a patent on the truth. The New Testament books, the last of which was written prior to the close of the first century A.D., are unanimous in their presentation of the gospel as God's secret plan now unveiled for all peoples in all places. Whether for good or ill, Christian apologists later sought to convey infinite Christian truths using common finite imagery. Indeed, some did try to "blend" Christian thought and secular philosophy, although even in such cases enlightenment and not deceit was their primary motivation.

Book Description

'Two things alone I long for: first, that when I die I may leave the Roman people free...and second, that each person's fate may reflect the way he has behaved towards his country.' Cicero (106-43 BC) was the greatest orator of the ancient world and a leading politician of the closing era of the Roman republic. This book presents nine speeches which reflect the development, variety, and drama of his political career,among them two speeches from his prosecution of Verres, a corrupt and cruel governor of Sicily; four speeches against the conspirator Catiline; and the Second Philippic, the famous denunciation of Mark Antony which cost Cicero his life. Also included are On the Command of Gnaeus Pompeius, in which he praises the military successes of Pompey, and For Marcellus, a panegyric in praise of the dictator Julius Caesar. These new translations preserve Cicero's rhetorical brilliance and achieve new standards of accuracy. A general introduction outlines Cicero's public career, and separate introductions explain the political significance of each of the speeches. Together with its companion volume, Defence Speeches, this edition provides an unparalleled sampling of Cicero's oratorical achievements.

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Essential reference work
Best available
All things considered, a superb reference work
Oxford Classical Dictionary - Review
very good book

The Oxford Classical Dictionary

Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 019866172X

Book Description

For almost half a century The Oxford Classical Dictionary has been the unrivalled one-volume reference work on the Greco-Roman world. Whether one is interested in literature or art, philosophy or law, mythology or science, intimate details of daily life or broad cultural and historical trends, the OCD is the first place to turn for clear, authoritative information on all aspects of the ancient world. This redoubtable resource now appears in its third edition, some twenty per cent larger than the previous edition, with virtually every entry rewritten and updated and hundreds of brand new entries added which reflect the expanded scope of classical studies. In over six thousand entries ranging from long articles to brief definitions the Third Edition provides for the insights and interests of a new generation of classical scholars. Readers will find substantial coverage of women in the ancient world with entries on abortion, breast-feeding, and motherhood; sexuality including homosexuality, love and friendship, contraception, and pornography; Asia and the far east with entries ranging from Gandhara to the Persian Gulf; Jews; and early Christians. In addition new thematic articles reflect the current emphasis on multidisciplinary approaches to classical studies. These articles include anthropology and the classics, Marxism and classical antiquity, and literary theory and classical studies, while others examine issues of general interest to modern readers such as race, class struggle, ethnicity, alcoholism, incest, propaganda, suicide, pollution, and much more. The OCDis a truly international work of collaborative scholarship with entries from the world's top classical scholars, and the very best experts providing specialist subject area knowledge. Specialist area advisers include Pat Easterling on Greek literature, Tony Honore on Roman law, Amelie Kuhrt on Near Eastern studies, John Matthews on late antiquity, and Martha Nussbaum on philosophy, making this the ultimate authority on the classical world. Contributors... Over 364 of the very best scholars in classics from all over the world, including Albert Henrichs, Fritz Graf, Gian Biagio Conte, Oswyn Murray, Elaine Fantham, Julia Annas, J.J. Pollitt, and Michael Jameson.

Customer Reviews:

Essential reference work.......2007-09-09

The Oxford Classical Dictionary is a must for those interested in Ancient history. It is well researched, thorough and easy to use. Its coverage is broad and deep and it is well referenced.

Best available.......2007-05-09

Very good dictionary for someone interested in Greek and Roman antiquity.
I especially like the sections on Greek and Latin pronunciation.

All things considered, a superb reference work.......2007-01-27

This edition (the third edition, 1996) has over 6200 entries on 1640 pages! And no, I haven't read them all... This is really wonderful for those times when you come across a new term (whether a person, place or thing) and need some idea as to who (what or where) is being discussed, indicated or alluded to. This Edition, published in 1996, was put together between 1991-1994 and contains matters (such as the Near East) that were barely touched on in earlier editions. But never fear! - The centrality of Greece and Rome has been quite correctly retained. There is, however, a much broader (and self-consciouss) inter-disciplinary focus to this edition. Older readers will likely be annoyed by long bows to feminism, Marxism and postmodernism in some of the essays. Occasionally, the tone and 'politically correct' point of view of some entries can be a bit over the top. If you are either old-fashioned or easily annoyed (and you know who you are) it might be wise NOT to toss out the second edition... But even they might find some of the new 'thematic' entries - on disease, ecology, economy, imperialism, literacy, motherhood, and technology, e.g. - more than occasionally useful. There is even good news for the under-educated - most Greek and Latin terms are translated! But I would prefer that the Greek or Latin and its translation both appear; this compromise would likely satisfy both novices and experts. Unfortunately, the cost of including the original term and the translation would likely cause the publisher to balk. Now, Roman names will probably continue to annoy everyone. If, for example, one looks up Caesar one finds 'See Iulius Caesar'. Now, as I hope we all know, the Romans had three names (using Caesar as an example): Gaius (praenomen), Iulius (nomen), Caesar (cogomen). Pretty much no one, besides Emperors and writers, is listed under the cogomen in this edition - they are almost all listed by nomen. (No, Caesar is not the exception, he was never officially Emperor.) The change of 'Julius' into 'Iulius' is also annoying - especially after being assured (Preface, viii) that "the more familiar form [...] should be preferred." But with a work of this scope and length there will always be a multitude of quibbles and annoyances. One of mine is that I wish the tiny bibliographies that follow some entries were less brief. But all things considered this is a first-rate OCD that will inevitably, after a generation and a half has passed, need to be revised. But such is the fate of all academic reference works. - They are all such slaves to fashion! That said, the general editors, Hornblower and Spawforth, and the area advisers have much to be proud of; 4.5 stars, 5 if the 'politically correct' gestures are toned down and the bibliographical data following some of the separate entries increased.

Oxford Classical Dictionary - Review.......2007-01-12

After returning the faulty bound copy, the second one we received appears ok. Thanks DWB

very good book.......2006-11-06

This is a very comphrehensive book about the classic knowledge, better than Oxford Companion to the Classic Literature.

The Oxford Dictionary of the Classical World

Average customer rating:

Essential Reference Book
Stunning Compendium
greatly improved
Stripped down

The Oxford Dictionary of the Classical World
John Roberts
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

Reference | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0192801457

Book Description

Authoritative, wide-ranging, and unrivalled in its accessibility, The Oxford Dictionary of the Classical World is a concise and lucid survey of life in ancient Greece and Rome, spanning 776 BC - AD 180, from the first Olympic games to the death of Marcus Aurelius. An approachable, user-friendly abridgement of the highly acclaimed Oxford Classical Dictionary, this book offers over 2,500 A-Z entries on aspects of life in the classical world, from politics, medicine, philosophy, art, and architecture, to history, myth and religion, mathematics, and literature, with biographical entries on the important individuals - both real and mythological - of the period. Appendices include a clear and comprehensive account of money and its value in the classical world; a chronology of events across Greece and the east and Rome and the west; maps; and a two-way quick-reference gazetteer. This invaluable resource for students and teachers of classics and classical civilization is affordable and quick and easy to use, as well as being a fascinating guide for anyone interested in learning more about the foundations of Western culture.

Customer Reviews:

Essential Reference Book.......2007-08-09

This work will be enormously helpful to all students of antiquity. In conjunction with Margaret Howatson's Oxford Companion to Classical Literature (1989), it will give readers the basic information required to understand the classical world. That said, I must point to one omission that is so strange as to be positively weird. At its beginning (pp. x-xii), the Oxford Dictionary of the Classical World contains a list of 56 "Major Authors from Homer and Hesiod to Plutarch." How, oh how, can Sappho not be on this list? Her lesser contemporaries Alcaeus and Alcman are there, but she is not--nor, for that matter, is any other woman. Perhaps a subsequent edition will right this injustice.

Stunning Compendium.......2005-12-05

For once you can judge a book by its cover: both are stunning! I know of no other scholar who has so magically wedded a meticulous eye with a continual consideration for the lay reader. Reading this book you feel the presence of an author who truly loves the Classical World, in its broadest sense: encompassing literature, history, philosophy, and sociology. Whether you've always loved the classics or always hated them, I urge you to read this book.

greatly improved.......2005-12-05

This is not a stripped down version of the old book, but contains much new material and much that has been rewritten. It is an indispensable reference book, not only for the classical student but for the general reader, and marvelous value. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Stripped down.......2005-10-29

An abbreviated version of the Oxford Classical Dictionary, stripped of many entries and all bibliographies. This is now the third repackaging of the OCD (also appearing as Oxford Companion to Classical Civilization). The price is lower, but a waste of money. Save your pennies and buy the real thing.

The Oxford Companion to Classical Literature

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A Comprehensive Survey of Classical Literature
Avocational Requirement

The Oxford Companion to Classical Literature

Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Greek | Classics | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Classics | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 019860081X

Book Description

The second edition of The Oxford Companion to Classical Literature provides enthusiasts for the classical world and its literary heritage with the complete reference guide to the subject. This book not only presents the reader with all the essential facts about the authors, tales, and characters from ancient myth and literature, but also uniquely places these details in the wider contexts of the history and society of the Greek and Roman worlds. With an extensive web of cross-references and a useful chronological table and location maps, this volume traces the development of literary forms and the classical allusions which have become embedded in our Western culture. * Accounts of the lives and works of the classical writers: poets, dramatists, historians, and philosophers from Aeschylus and Anacreon to Socrates, Xenophon, and Zeno * Character entries and plot summaries: the Labours of Hercules, the tragic fates of Oedipus and Antigone, the comic pieces by Aristophanes and Plautus, Odysseus' tussles with Polyphemus the one-eyed giant, the Sirens, and the god Poseidon * Literary styles: the development of biography, epic, rhetoric, tragedy, and lyric poetry; examples of metrical form and poetic devices: hexameters, iambic and lyric metres, assonance, metonymy * Historical, political, social, and wider cultural background: aqueducts, armies, art, education, emperors and political orators, law courts, music, position of women, religion, and vase-painting * General textual themes: Greek and Roman alphabets and language, books and writing, historiography, papyrology, transmission of ancient texts * Accessible and informative: all Latin and Greek words are translated; detailed maps pin-point places with literary connections; chronological table gives instant access to the major literary and historical events

Customer Reviews:

A Comprehensive Survey of Classical Literature.......2005-06-14

A useful reference work for anyone interested in the literature of the ancient world, The Oxford Companion to Classical Literature is arranged alphabetically and contains encyclopedic entries for all of the major authors and their particular works, Greek and Latin gods, mythological characters, histories of Greece and Rome, major historical figures, and relevant places.

The original edition of the 1930s by Sir Paul Harvey became a classic of its own and was intended by the author to be a handbook of information for readers of the Greek and Latin authors and of modern works that touched upon the classical world. The current second edition is edited by Margaret Howatson, who revises and enlarges the Harvey edition. She notes that while a few of the entries on technical subjects were written with classical specialists in mind, the book generally requires no knowledge of Greek or Latin and is intended for anyone curious to find out more about the classical world.

An ideal companion for any reader interested in Greek or Latin literature and history.

Avocational Requirement.......2004-02-13

For anyone interested in reading from Greek and Latin / Roman history, literature, philosophy, &c. this will help you through. Entries include texts, themes, authors, characters, place names, and genre discussion.

If you have always wanted to read Virgil, Homer, Julius Caesar, and were not inclined to begin with a chronological survey of culture, history, philosophy, this book will enliven and make intelligible your reading. One literary help for me was to be able to look up the name of a character, geographical location, or common noun, and find enough information to make a whole text intelligible.

Book Description

Who's Who in the Classical World offers biographical entries on nearly 500 individuals of central importance from the civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome, including writers, thinkers, artists, scientists, statesmen, kings, queens, and other historical figures; mythological figures are excluded. Entries offer far more than just biographical information: many are short essays in themselves covering major historical and cultural themes in antiquity centred round individuals as varied as Herodotus, Socrates, Plato, Alexander the Great, and Augustus. Drawing on the latest edition of the Oxford Classical Dictionary, this book offers authoritative and accessible scholarship from over 190 world-experts on their subjects, providing an invaluable guide for students and general readers alike.

Customer Reviews:

"A Great Study Companion".......2002-02-05

The Oxford's "Who's Who in the Classical World" is a quick and concise, authoritative and direct, way to understand the principle people of the age. From Lucius Accius to Zosimus the historian, this reference work covers the general milieu of Greco-Roman civilization. The detailed maps and timelines are an excellent study-aid, and also make up for the lack of illustrations throughout its duration. This is an easily accessible and convenient reference tool, and for this reason it stands out above its counter-part, "The Oxford Companion to Classical Civilization," which is more bulky, expensive, and less appealing to anyone simply ready to deal with real people and real events. However, this edition does to a certain extent deal with the many Mythological gods and heroes, with its in-depth analysis of Greek and Roman authors and their literature; for this, everyone will be satisfied. Despite the absence of a few influential people, the five hundred people excellently portrayed here will suffice. This reference work is thoroughly recommended.

Useful reference to the Classical World.......2001-08-05

Oxford provides with us concise biographies of almost 500 real (as opposed to mythical) people from the Classical Period. The biographies were written by 190 experts and range from a paragraph to several pages, covering rulers, politicians, artists, authors, philosophers and scientists. Seperate chronologies are provided for the Greece and the East and Rome and the West. Five maps are also included. An excellent reference for the student and general public.

Medical Latin in the Roman Empire (Oxford Classical Monographs)

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Medical Latin in the Roman Empire (Oxford Classical Monographs)
D. R. Langslow
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Rome | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0198152795

Book Description

Despite the ubiquitous importance of medicine in Roman literature, philosophy, and social history, the language of Latin medical texts has not been properly studied. This book presents the first systematic account of a part of this large, rich field. Concentrating on texts of `high' medicine written in educated, even literary, Latin Professor Langslow offers a detailed linguistic profile of the medical terminology of Celsus and Scribonius Largus (first century AD) and Theodorus Priscianus and Cassius Felix (fifth century AD), with frequent comparisons with their respective near-contemporaries. The linguistic focus is on vocabulary and word-formation and the book thus addresses the large question of the possible and the preferred means of extending the vocabulary in Latin at the beginning and end of the Empire. Some syntactic issues (including word order and nominalization) are also discussed, and sections on the sociolinguistic background and stylistic features consider the question to what extent we may speak of `medical Latin' in the strong sense, as the language of a group, and draw comparisons and contrasts between ancient and modern technical languages.

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The Oxford Dictionary Of The Classical World
J. W. Roberts
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OKBH6M

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