Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World
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A Companion to Roman Religion
by Various Authors
Part 78 of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
A comprehensive treatment of the significant symbols and institutions of Roman religion, this companion places the various religious symbols, discourses, and practices, including Judaism and Christianity, into a larger framework to reveal the sprawling landscape of the Roman religion.
• An innovative introduction to Roman religion
• Approaches the field with a focus on the human-figures instead of the gods
• Analyzes religious changes from the eighth century BC to the fourth century AD
• Offers the first history of religious motifs on coins and household/everyday utensils
• Presents Roman religion within its cultural, social, and historical contexts
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A Companion to Ancient Macedonia
by Various Authors
Part 84 of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
The most comprehensive and up-to-date work available on ancient Macedonian history and material culture, A Companion to Ancient Macedonia is an invaluable reference for students and scholars alike.
• Features new, specially commissioned essays by leading and up-and-coming scholars in the field
• Examines the political, military, social, economic, and cultural history of ancient Macedonia from the Archaic period to the end of Roman period and beyond
• Discusses the importance of art, archaeology and architecture
• All ancient sources are translated in English
• Each chapter includes bibliographical essays for further reading.
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A Companion to the Roman Army
by Various Authors
Part 128 of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
This companion provides an extensive account of the Roman army, exploring its role in Roman politics and society as well as the reasons for its effectiveness as a fighting force.
• An extensive account of the Roman army, from its beginnings to its transformation in the later Roman Empire
• Examines the army as a military machine — its recruitment, training, organization, tactics and weaponry
• Explores the relationship of the army to Roman politics, economics and society more broadly
• Considers the geography and climate of the lands in which the Romans fought
• Each chapter is written by a leading expert in a particular subfield and takes account of the latest scholarly and archaeological research in that area
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A Companion to the Latin Language
by Various Authors
Part 132 of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
“A Companion to the Latin Language” presents a collection of original essays from international scholars that track the development and use of the Latin language from its origins to its modern day usage.
• Brings together contributions from internationally renowned classicists, linguists and Latin language specialists
• Offers, in a single volume, a detailed account of different literary registers of the Latin language
• Explores the social and political contexts of Latin
• Includes new accounts of the Latin language in light of modern linguistic theory
• Supplemented with illustrations covering the development of the Latin alphabet
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A Companion to the Roman Republic
by Various Authors
Part 135 of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
This Companion provides an authoritative and up-to-date overview of Roman Republican history as it is currently practiced.
• Highlights recent developments, including archaeological discoveries, fresh approaches to textual sources, and the opening up of new areas of historical study
• Retains the drama of the Republic's rise and fall
• Emphasizes not just the evidence of texts and physical remains, but also the models and assumptions that scholars bring to these artefacts
• Looks at the role played by the physical geography and environment of Italy
• Offers a compact but detailed narrative of military and political developments from the birth of the Roman Republic through to the death of Julius Caesar
• Discusses current controversies in the field.
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A Companion to Tacitus
by Various Authors
Part 147 of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
A Companion to Tacitus brings much needed clarity and accessibility to the notoriously difficult language and yet indispensable historical accounts of Tacitus. The companion provides both a broad introduction and showcases new theoretical approaches that enrich our understanding of this complex author.
• Tacitus is one of the most important Roman historians of his time, as well as a great literary stylist, whose work is characterized by his philosophy of human nature
• Encourages interdisciplinary discussion intended to engage scholars beyond Classics including philosophy, cultural studies, political science, and literature
• Showcases new theoretical approaches that enrich our understanding of this complex author
• Clarifies and explains the notoriously difficult language of Tacitus
• Written and designed to prepare a new generation of scholars to examine for themselves the richness of Tacitean thought
• Includes contributions from a broad range of established international scholars and rising stars in the field
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A Companion to Livy
by Various Authors
Part 155 of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
“A Companion to Livy” features a collection of essays representing the most up-to-date international scholarship on the life and works of the Roman historian Livy.
• Features contributions from top Livian scholars from around the world
• Presents for the first time a new interpretation of Livy's historical philosophy, which represents a key to an overall interpretation of Livy's body of work
• Includes studies of Livy's work from an Indo-European comparative aspect
• Provides the most modern studies on literary archetypes for Livy's narrative of the history of early Rome
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A Companion to Greeks Across the Ancient World
by Various Authors
Part 158 of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
An innovative, up-to-date treatment of ancient Greek mobility and migration from 1000 BCE to 30 BCE
“A Companion to Greeks Across the Ancient World” explores the mobility and migration of Greeks who left their homelands in the ten centuries between the Early Iron Age and the Hellenistic period. While most academic literature centers on the Greeks of the Aegean basin area, this unique volume provides a systematic examination of the history of the other half of the ancient Greek world. Contributions from leading scholars and historians discuss where migrants settled, their new communities, and their connections and interactions with both Aegean Greeks and non-Greeks.
Divided into three parts, the book first covers ancient and modern approaches and the study of the ancient Greeks outside their homelands, including various intellectual, national, and linguistic traditions. Regional case studies form the core of the text, taking a microhistory approach to examine Greeks in the Near Eastern Empires, Greek-Celtic interactions in Central Europe, Greek-established states in Central Asia, and many others throughout Europe, Africa, and Asia. The closing section of the text discusses wider themes such as the relations between the Greek homeland and the edges of Greek civilization. Reflecting contemporary research and fresh perspectives on ancient Greek culture contact, this volume:
• Discusses the development and intersection of mobility, migration, and diaspora studies
• Examines the various forms of ancient Greek mobility and their outcomes
• Highlights contributions to cultural development in the Greek and non-Greek world
• Examines wider themes and the various forms of ancient Greek mobility and their outcomes
• Includes an overview of ancient terminology and concepts, modern translations, numerous maps, and full references
“A Companion to Greeks Across the Ancient World” is a valuable resource for students, instructors, and researchers of Classical antiquity, as well as non-specialists with interest in ancient Greek mobilities, migrations, and diasporas.
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A Companion to Late Antiquity
by Various Authors
Part 163 of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
An accessible and authoritative overview capturing the vitality and diversity of scholarship that exists on the transformative time period known as late antiquity.
• Provides an essential overview of current scholarship on late antiquity—from between the accession of Diocletian in AD 284 and the end of Roman rule in the Mediterranean
• Comprises 39 essays from some of the world's foremost scholars of the era
• Presents this once-neglected period as an age of powerful transformation that shaped the modern world
• Emphasizes the central importance of religion and its connection with economic, social, and political life
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A Companion to Women in the Ancient World
by Various Authors
Part 165 of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
“A Companion to Women in the Ancient World” presents an interdisciplinary, methodologically-based collection of newly-commissioned essays from prominent scholars on the study of women in the ancient world.
• The first interdisciplinary, methodologically-based collection of readings to address the study of women in the ancient world
• Explores a broad range of topics relating to women in antiquity, including: Mother-Goddess Theory; Women in Homer, Pre-Roman Italy, the Near East; Women and the Family, the State, and Religion; Dress and Adornment; Female Patronage; Hellenistic Queens; Imperial Women; Women in Late Antiquity; Early Women Saints; and many more
• Thematically arranged to emphasize the importance of historical themes of continuity, development, and innovation
• Reconsiders much of the well-known evidence and preconceived notions relating to women in antiquity
• Includes contributions from many of the most prominent scholars associated with the study of women in antiquity
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A Companion to Sophocles
by Various Authors
Part 171 of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
A Companion to Sophocles presents the first comprehensive collection of essays in decades to address all aspects of the life, works, and critical reception of Sophocles.
• First collection of its kind to provide introductory essays to the fragments of his lost plays and to the remaining fragments of one satyr-play, the Ichneutae, in addition to each of his extant tragedies
• Features new essays on Sophoclean drama that go well beyond the current state of scholarship on Sophocles
• Presents readings that historicize Sophocles in relation to the social, cultural, and intellectual world of fifth century Athens
• Seeks to place later interpretations and adaptations of Sophocles in their historical context
• Includes essays dedicated to issues of gender and sexuality, significant moments in the history of interpreting Sophocles, and reception of Sophocles by both ancient and modern playwrights
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A Companion to Marcus Aurelius
by Various Authors
Part 185 of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
“A Companion to Marcus Aurelius”. Considered the last of the "Five Good Emperors," Marcus Aurelius ruled the Roman Empire from ad 161 until his death in 180—yet his influence on philosophy continues to resonate in the modern age through his Meditations. “A Companion to Marcus Aurelius” presents the first comprehensive collection of essays to explore all essential facets relating to contemporary Marcus Aurelius studies. Featuring contributions from top international scholars in relevant fields, initial readings provide an overview of source material by addressing such topics as manuscript transmission, historical written sources, archaeological evidence, artifacts, and coins. Readings continue with state-of-the-art discussions of various aspects of Marcus Aurelius—his personal biography; political, cultural, and intellectual background; and aspects of his role as emperor, reformer of administration, military leader, and lawgiver. His Meditations are analyzed in detail, including the form of the book, his way of writing, and the various aspects of his philosophy. The final series of readings addresses evolving aspects of his reception. “A Companion to Marcus Aurelius” offers important new insights on a figure of late antiquity whose unique voice has withstood the centuries to influence contemporary life.
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A Companion to Roman Love Elegy
by Various Authors
Part 187 of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
“A Companion to Roman Love Elegy” is the first comprehensive work dedicated solely to the study of love elegy. The genre is explored through 33 original essays that offer new and innovative approaches to specific elegists and the discipline as a whole.
• Contributors represent a range of established names and younger scholars, all of whom are respected experts in their fields
• Contains original, never before published essays, which are both accessible to a wide audience and offer a new approach to the love elegists and their work
• Includes 33 essays on the Roman elegists Catullus, Tibullus, Propertius, Sulpicia, and Ovid, as well as their Greek and Roman predecessors and later writers who were influenced by their work
• Recent years have seen an explosion of interest in Roman elegy from scholars who have used a variety of critical approaches to open up new avenues of understanding
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A Companion to Greek Art
by Various Authors
Part 188 of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
A comprehensive, authoritative account of the development Greek Art through the 1st millennium BC.
• An invaluable resource for scholars dealing with the art, material culture and history of the post-classical world
• Includes voices from such diverse fields as art history, classical studies, and archaeology and offers a diversity of views to the topic
• Features an innovative group of chapters dealing with the reception of Greek art from the Middle Ages to the present
• Includes chapters on Chronology and Topography, as well as Workshops and Technology
• Includes four major sections: Forms, Times and Places; Contacts and Colonies; Images and Meanings; Greek Art: Ancient to Antique
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A Companion to Augustine
by Various Authors
Part 192 of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
‘A Companion to Augustine’ presents a fresh collection of scholarship by leading academics with a new approach to contextualizing Augustine and his works within the multi-disciplinary field of Late Antiquity, showing Augustine as both a product of the cultural forces of his times and a cultural force in his own right.
• Discusses the life and works of Augustine within their full historical context, rather than privileging the theological context
• Presents Augustine's life, works and leading ideas in the cultural context of the late Roman world, providing a vibrant and engaging sense of Augustine in action in his own time and place
• Opens up a new phase of study on Augustine, sensitive to the many and varied perspectives of scholarship on late Roman culture
• State-of-the-art essays by leading academics in this field
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A Companion to Archaic Greece
by Various Authors
Part 194 of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
A systematic survey of archaic Greek society and culture which introduces the reader to a wide range of new approaches to the period.
• The first comprehensive and accessible survey of developments in the study of archaic Greece
• Places Greek society of c.750-480 BCE in its chronological and geographical context
• Gives equal emphasis to established topics such as tyranny and political reform and newer subjects like gender and ethnicity
• Combines accounts of historical developments with regional surveys of archaeological evidence and in-depth treatments of selected themes
• Explores the impact of Eastern and other non-Greek cultures in the development of Greece
• Uses archaeological and literary evidence to reconstruct broad patterns of social and cultural development
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A Companion to Ancient History
by Various Authors
Part 199 of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
This Companion provides a comprehensive introduction to key topics in the study of ancient history.
• Examines the forms of evidence, problems, approaches, and major themes in the study of ancient history
• Comprises more than 40 essays, written by leading international scholars
• Moves beyond the primary focus on Greece and Rome with coverage of the various cultures within the ancient Mediterranean
• Draws on the latest research in the field
• Provides an essential resource for any student of ancient history.
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A Companion to Food in the Ancient World
by Various Authors
Part of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
“A Companion to Food in the Ancient World” presents a comprehensive overview of the cultural aspects relating to the production, preparation, and consumption of food and drink in antiquity.
• Provides an up-to-date overview of the study of food in the ancient world
• Addresses all aspects of food production, distribution, preparation, and consumption during antiquity
• Features original scholarship from some of the most influential North American and European specialists in Classical history, ancient history, and archaeology
• Covers a wide geographical range from Britain to ancient Asia, including Egypt and Mesopotamia, Asia Minor, regions surrounding the Black Sea, and China
• Considers the relationships of food in relation to ancient diet, nutrition, philosophy, gender, class, religion, and more
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A Companion to Greek and Roman Political Thought
by Various Authors
Part of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
Justice, virtue, and citizenship were at the center of political life in ancient Greece and Rome and were frequently discussed by classical poets, historians, and philosophers. This Companion illuminates Greek and Roman political thought in all its range, diversity, and depth. Thirty-four essays from leading scholars in history, classics, philosophy, and political science provide stimulating discussions of classical political thought, ranging from the Archaic Greek epics to the final days of the Roman Empire and beyond. These essays strike a judicious yet thought-provoking balance between theoretical and historical perspectives.
“A Companion to Greek and Roman Political Thought” is an authoritative guide to the ancient Greek and Roman political questions that continue to shape and challenge the modern world.
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A Companion to the Neronian Age
by Various Authors
Part of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
An authoritative overview and helpful resource for students and scholars of Roman history and Latin literature during the reign of Nero.
• The first book of its kind to treat this era, which has gained in popularity in recent years
• Makes much important research available in English for the first time
• Features a balance of new research with established critical lines
• Offers an unusual breadth and range of material, including substantial treatments of politics, administration, the imperial court, art, archaeology, literature and reception studies
• Includes a mix of established scholars and groundbreaking new voices
• Includes detailed maps and illustrations
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A Companion to Persius and Juvenal
by Various Authors
Part of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
“A Companion to Persius and Juvenal” breaks new ground in its in-depth focus on both authors as "satiric successors"; detailed individual contributions suggest original perspectives on their work, and provide an in-depth exploration of Persius' and Juvenal's afterlives.
• Provides detailed and up-to-date guidance on the texts and contexts of Persius and Juvenal
• Offers substantial discussion of the reception of both authors, reflecting some of the most innovative work being done in contemporary Classics
• Contains a thorough exploration of Persius' and Juvenal's afterlives
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A Companion to Classical Receptions
by Various Authors
Part of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
Examining the profusion of ways in which the arts, culture, and thought of Greece and Rome have been transmitted, interpreted, adapted and used, A Companion to Classical Receptions explores the impact of this phenomenon on both ancient and later societies.
• Provides a comprehensive introduction and overview of classical reception - the interpretation of classical art, culture, and thought in later centuries, and the fastest growing area in classics
• Brings together 34 essays by an international group of contributors focused on ancient and modern reception concepts and practices
• Combines close readings of key receptions with wider contextualization and discussion
• Explores the impact of Greek and Roman culture worldwide, including crucial new areas in Arabic literature, South African drama, the history of photography, and contemporary ethics.
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A Companion to Plautus
by Various Authors
Part of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
An important addition to contemporary scholarship on Plautus and Plautine comedy, provides new essays and fresh insights from leading scholars.
“A Companion to Plautus” is a collection of original essays on the celebrated Old Latin period playwright. A brilliant comic poet, Plautus moved beyond writing Latin versions of Greek plays to create a uniquely Roman cultural experience worthy of contemporary scholarship. Contributions by a team of international scholars explore the theatrical background of Roman comedy, the theory and practice of Plautus' dramatic composition, the relation of Plautus' works to Roman social history, and his influence on later dramatists through the centuries.
Responding to renewed modern interest in Plautine studies, the Companion reassesses Plautus' works-plays that are meant to be viewed and experienced-to reveal new meaning and contemporary relevance. Chapters organized thematically offer multiple perspectives on individual plays and enable readers to gain a deeper understanding of Plautus' reflection of, and influence on Roman society. Topics include metatheater and improvisation in Plautus, the textual tradition of Plautus, trends in Plautus Translation, and modern reception in theater and movies. Exploring the place of Plautus and Plautine comedy in the Western comic tradition, the Companion:
• Addresses the most recent trends in the study of Roman comedy
• Features discussions on religion, imperialism, slavery, war, class, gender, and sexuality in Plautus' work
• Highlights recent scholarship on representation of socially vulnerable characters
• Discusses Plautus' work in relation to Roman stages, actors, audience, and culture
• Examines the plot construction, characterization, and comic techniques in Plautus' scripts
Part of the acclaimed “Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World” series, “A Companion to Plautus” is an important resource for scholars, instructors, and students of both ancient and modern drama, comparative literature, classics, and history, particularly Roman history.
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A Companion to Ancient Education
by Various Authors
Part of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
“A Companion to Ancient Education” presents a series of essays from leading specialists in the field that represent the most up-to-date scholarship relating to the rise and spread of educational practices and theories in the ancient Greek and Roman worlds.
• Reflects the latest research findings and presents new historical syntheses of the rise, spread, and purposes of ancient education in ancient Greece and Rome
• Offers comprehensive coverage of the main periods, crises, and developments of ancient education along with historical sketches of various educational methods and the diffusion of education throughout the ancient world
• Covers both liberal and illiberal (non-elite) education during antiquity
• Addresses the material practice and material realities of education, and the primary thinkers during antiquity through to late antiquity
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A Companion to Ancient Near Eastern Art
by Various Authors
Part of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
Provides a broad view of the history and current state of scholarship on the art of the ancient Near East
This book covers the aesthetic traditions of Mesopotamia, Iran, Anatolia, and the Levant, from Neolithic times to the end of the Achaemenid Persian Empire around 330 BCE. It describes and examines the field from a variety of critical perspectives: across approaches and interpretive frameworks, key explanatory concepts, materials and selected media and formats, and zones of interaction. This important work also addresses both traditional and emerging categories of material, intellectual perspectives, and research priorities. The book covers geography and chronology, context and setting, medium and scale, while acknowledging the diversity of regional and cultural traditions and the uneven survival of evidence.
Part One of the book considers the methodologies and approaches that the field has drawn on and refined. Part Two addresses terms and concepts critical to understanding the subjects and formal characteristics of the Near Eastern material record, including the intellectual frameworks within which monuments have been approached and interpreted. Part Three surveys the field's most distinctive and characteristic genres, with special reference to Mesopotamian art and architecture. Part Four considers involvement with artistic traditions across a broader reach, examining connections with Egypt, the Aegean, and the Mediterranean. And finally, Part Five addresses intersections with the closely allied discipline of archaeology and the institutional stewardship of cultural heritage in the modern Middle East.
Told from multiple perspectives, A Companion to Ancient Near Eastern Art is an enlightening, must-have book for advanced undergraduate and graduate students of ancient Near East art and Near East history as well as those interested in history and art history.
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A Companion to Ancient Greek and Roman Music
by Various Authors
Part of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
A COMPANION TO ANCIENT GREEK AND ROMAN MUSIC
A comprehensive guide to music in Classical Antiquity and beyond
Drawing on the latest research on the topic, A Companion to Ancient Greek and Roman Music provides a detailed overview of the most important issues raised by the study of ancient Greek and Roman music. An international panel of contributors, including leading experts as well as emerging voices in the field, examine the ancient 'Art of the Muses' from a wide range of methodological, theoretical, and practical perspectives.
Written in an engaging and accessible style, this book explores the pervasive presence of the performing arts in ancient Greek and Roman culture-ranging from musical mythology to music theory and education, as well as archaeology and the practicalities of performances in private and public contexts. But this Companion also explores the broader roles played by music in the Graeco-Roman world, examining philosophical, psychological, medical and political uses of music in antiquity, and aspects of its cultural heritage in Mediaeval and Modern times.
This book debunks common myths about Greek and Roman music, casting light on yet unanswered questions thanks to newly discovered evidence. Each chapter includes a discussion of the tools or methodologies that are most appropriate to address different topics, as well as detailed case studies illustrating their effectiveness. This book
• Offers new research insights that will contribute to the future developments of the field, outlining new interdisciplinary approaches to investigate the importance of performing arts in the ancient world and its reception in modern culture
• Traces the history and development of ancient Greek and Roman music, including their Near Eastern roots, following a thematic approach
• Showcases contributions from a wide range of disciplines and international scholarly traditions
• Examines the political, social and cultural implications of music in antiquity, including ethnicity, regional identity, gender and ideology
• Presents original diagrams and transcriptions of ancient scales, rhythms, and extant scores that facilitate access to these vital aspects of ancient music for scholars as well as practicing musicians
Written for a broad range of readers including classicists, musicologists, art historians, and philosophers, A Companion to Ancient Greek and Roman Music provides a rich, informative and thought-provoking picture of ancient music in Classical Antiquity and beyond.
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A Companion to Cities in the Greco-Roman World
by Various Authors
Part of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
A COMPANION TO CITIES IN THE GRECO-ROMAN WORLD
A Companion to Cities in the Greco-Roman World offers in-depth coverage of the most important topics in the study of Greek and Roman urbanism. Bringing together contributions by an international panel of experts, this comprehensive resource addresses traditional topics in the study of ancient cities, including civic society, politics, and the ancient urban landscape, as well as less-frequently explored themes such as ecology, war, and representations of cities in literature, art, and political philosophy.
Detailed chapters present critical discussions of research on Greco-Roman urban societies, city economies, key political events, significant cultural developments, and more. Throughout the Companion, the authors provide insights into major developments, debates, and approaches in the field. An unrivalled reference work on the subject, the volume focusses on both the archaeological (spatial, architectural) as well as the historical (institutions, social structures) aspects of ancient cities, and makes Greco-Roman urbanism accessible to scholars and students of urbanism in other historical periods, up to the present day.
Part of the authoritative Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series, A Companion to Cities in the Greco-Roman World is an excellent resource for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, researchers, and lecturers in Classics, Ancient History, and Classical/Mediterranean Archaeology, as well as historians and archaeologists looking to update their knowledge of Greek or Roman urbanism.
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A Companion to Roman Italy
by Various Authors
Part of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
“A Companion to Roman Italy” investigates the impact of Rome in all its forms-political, cultural, social, and economic-upon Italy's various regions, as well as the extent to which unification occurred as Rome became the capital of Italy.
• The collection presents new archaeological data relating to the sites of Roman Italy
• Contributions discuss new theories of how to understand cultural change in the Italian peninsula
• Combines detailed case-studies of particular sites with wider-ranging thematic chapters
• Leading contributors not only make accessible the most recent work on Roman Italy, but also offer fresh insight on long standing debates
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A Companion to Religion in Late Antiquity
by Various Authors
Part of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
A comprehensive review of the development, geographic spread, and cultural influence of religion in Late Antiquity
“A Companion to Religion in Late Antiquity” offers an authoritative and comprehensive survey of religion in Late Antiquity. This historical era spanned from the second century to the eighth century of the Common Era. With contributions from leading scholars in the field, the Companion explores the evolution and development of religion and the role various religions played in the cultural, political, and social transformations of the late antique period.
The authors examine the theories and methods used in the study of religion during this period, consider the most notable historical developments, and reveal how religions spread geographically. The authors also review the major religious traditions that emerged in Late Antiquity and include reflections on the interaction of these religions within their particular societies and cultures. This important Companion:
• Brings together in one volume the work of a notable team of international scholars
• Explores the principal geographical divisions of the late antique world
• Offers a deep examination of the predominant religions of Late Antiquity
• Examines established views in the scholarly assessment of the religions of Late Antiquity
• Includes information on the current trends in late-antique scholarship on religion
Written for scholars and students of religion, “A Companion to Religion in Late Antiquity” offers a comprehensive survey of religion and the influence religion played in the culture, politics, and social change during the late antique period.
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A Companion to Sparta
by Various Authors
Part of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
The two-volume “A Companion to Sparta” presents the first comprehensive, multi-authored series of essays to address all aspects of Spartan history and society from its origins in the Greek Dark Ages to the late Roman Empire.
• Offers a lucid, comprehensive introduction to all aspects of Sparta, a community recognised by contemporary cities as the greatest power in classical Greece
• Features in-depth coverage of Sparta history and culture contributed by an international cast including almost every noted specialist and scholar in the field
• Provides over a dozen images of Spartan art that reveal the evolution of everyday life in Sparta
• Sheds new light on a modern controversy relating to changes in Spartan society from the Archaic to Classical periods
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A Companion to Greek Democracy and the Roman Republic
by Various Authors
Part of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
“A Companion to Greek Democracy and the Roman Republic” offers a comparative approach to examining ancient Greek and Roman participatory communities.
• Explores various aspects of participatory communities through pairs of chapters-one Greek, one Roman-to highlight comparisons between cultures
• Examines the types of relationships that sustained participatory communities, the challenges they faced, and how they responded
• Sheds new light on participatory contexts using diverse methodological approaches
• Brings an international array of scholars into dialogue with each other
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A Companion to Ancient Aesthetics
by Pierre Destrée
Part of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
The first of its kind, “A Companion to Ancient Aesthetics” presents a synoptic view of the arts, which crosses traditional boundaries and explores the aesthetic experience of the ancients across a range of media-oral, aural, visual, and literary.
• Investigates the many ways in which the arts were experienced and conceptualized in the ancient world
• Explores the aesthetic experience of the ancients across a range of media, treating literary, oral, aural, and visual arts together in a single volume
• Presents an integrated perspective on the major themes of ancient aesthetics which challenges traditional demarcations
• Raises questions about the similarities and differences between ancient and modern ways of thinking about the place of art in society
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A Companion to Greco-Roman and Late Antique Egypt
by Various Authors
Part of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
An authoritative and multidisciplinary Companion to Egypt during the Greco—Roman and Late Antique period
With contributions from noted authorities in the field, A Companion to Greco-Roman and Late Antique Egypt offers a comprehensive resource that covers almost 1000 years of Egyptian history, starting with the liberation of Egypt from Persian rule by Alexander the Great in 332 BC and ending in AD 642, when Arab rule started in the Nile country.
“The Companion” takes a largely sociological perspective and includes a section on life portraits at the end of each part. The theme of identity in a multicultural environment and a chapter on the quality of life of Egypt's inhabitants clearly illustrate this objective. The authors put the emphasis on the changes that occurred in the Greco-Roman and Late Antique periods, as illustrated by such topics as: Traditional religious life challenged; Governing a country with a past: between tradition and innovation; and Creative minds in theory and praxis. This important resource:
• Discusses how Egypt became part of a globalizing world in Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine times
• Explores notable innovations by the Ptolemies and Romans
• Puts the focus on the longue durée development
• Offers a thematic and multidisciplinary approach to the subject, bringing together scholars of different disciplines
• Contains life portraits in which various aspects and themes of people's daily life in Egypt are discussed
Written for academics and students of the Greco-Roman and Late Antique Egypt period, this Companion offers a guide that is useful for students in the areas of Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and New Testament studies.
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A Companion to Euripides
by Various Authors
Part of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
“A Companion to Euripides” is an up-to-date, centralized assessment of Euripides and his work, drawing from the most recently published texts, commentaries, and scholarship, and offering detailed discussions and provocative interpretations of his extant plays and fragments.
• The most contemporary scholarship on Euripides and his oeuvre, featuring the latest texts and commentaries
• Leading scholars in the field discuss all of Euripides' plays and their afterlife with breadth and depth
• A dedicated section focuses on the reception of Euripidean drama since the Hellenistic
• Original and provocative interpretations of Euripides and his plays forge important paths of in future scholarship
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A Companion to Ovid
by Various Authors
Part of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
A Companion to Ovid is a comprehensive overview of one of the most influential poets of classical antiquity.
• Features more than 30 newly commissioned chapters by noted scholars writing in their areas of specialization
• Illuminates various aspects of Ovid's work, such as production, genre, and style
• Presents interpretive essays on key poems and collections of poems
• Includes detailed discussions of Ovid's primary literary influences and his reception in English literature
• Provides a chronology of key literary and historical events during Ovid's lifetime
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A Companion to the Archaeology of Early Greece and the Mediterranean
by Various Authors
Part of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
A Companion that examines together two pivotal periods of Greek archaeology and offers a rich analysis of early Greek culture.
“A Companion to the Archaeology of Early Greece and the Mediterranean” offers an original and inclusive review of two key periods of Greek archaeology, which are typically treated separately-the Late Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age. It presents an in-depth exploration of the society and material culture of Greece and the Mediterranean, from the 14th to the early 7th centuries BC. The two-volume companion sets Aegean developments within their broader geographic and cultural context, and presents the wide-ranging interactions with the Mediterranean.
The companion bridges the gap that typically exists between Prehistoric and Classical Archaeology and examines material culture and social practice across Greece and the Mediterranean. A number of specialists examine the environment and demography and analyze a range of textual and archaeological evidence to shed light on socio-political and cultural developments. The companion also emphasizes regionalism in the archaeology of early Greece and examines the responses of different regions to major phenomena such as state formation, literacy, migration and colonization. Comprehensive in scope, this important companion:
• Outlines major developments in the two key phases of early Greece, the Late Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age
• Includes studies of the geography, chronology and demography of early Greece
• Explores the development of early Greek state and society and examines economy, religion, art and material culture
• Sets Aegean developments within their Mediterranean context
Written for students, and scholars interested in the material culture of the era, ‘A Companion to the Archaeology of Early Greece and the Mediterranean” offers a comprehensive and authoritative guide that bridges the gap between the Late Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age.
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A Companion to Julius Caesar
by Various Authors
Part of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
“A Companion to Julius Caesar” comprises 30 essays from leading scholars examining the life and after life of this great polarizing figure.
• Explores Caesar from a variety of perspectives: military genius, ruthless tyrant, brilliant politician, first class orator, sophisticated man of letters, and more
• Utilizes Caesar's own extant writings
• Examines the viewpoints of Caesar's contemporaries and explores Caesar's portrayals by artists and writers through the ages
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A Companion to Plutarch
by Various Authors
Part of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
“A Companion to Plutarch” offers a broad survey of the famous historian and biographer; a coherent, comprehensive, and elegant presentation of Plutarch's thought and influence.
• Constitutes the first survey of its kind, a unified and accessible guide that offers a comprehensive discussion of all major aspects of Plutarch's oeuvre
• Provides essential background information on Plutarch's world, including his own circle of influential friends (Greek and Roman), his travels, his political activity, and his relations with Trajan and other emperors
• Offers contextualizing background, the literary and cultural details that shed light on some of the fundamental aspects of Plutarch's thought
• Surveys the ideologically crucial reception of the Greek Classical Period in Plutarch's writings
• Follows the currents of recent serious scholarship, discussing perennial interests, and delving into topics and works not formerly given serious attention
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A Companion to Sport and Spectacle in Greek and Roman Antiquity
by Paul Christesen
Part of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
A Companion to Sport and Spectacle in Greek and Roman Antiquity presents a series of essays that apply a socio-historical perspective to myriad aspects of ancient sport and spectacle.
• Covers the Bronze Age to the Byzantine Empire
• Includes contributions from a range of international scholars with various Classical antiquity specialties
• Goes beyond the usual concentrations on Olympia and Rome to examine sport in cities and territories throughout the Mediterranean basin
• Features a variety of illustrations, maps, end-of-chapter references, internal cross-referencing, and a detailed index to increase accessibility and assist researchers.
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A Companion to Ancient Greece and Rome on Screen
by Various Authors
Part of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
A comprehensive treatment of the Classical World in film and television, “A Companion to Ancient Greece and Rome on Screen” closely examines the films and TV shows centered on Greek and Roman cultures and explores the tension between pagan and Christian worlds.
Written by a team of experts in their fields, this work considers productions that discuss social settings as reflections of their times and as indicative of the technical advances in production and the economics of film and television. Productions included are a mix of Hollywood and European spanning from the silent film era though modern-day television series, and topics discussed include Hollywood politics in film, soundtrack and sound design, high art and low art, European art cinemas, and the ancient world as comedy.
Written for students of film and television as well as those interested in studies of ancient Rome and Greece, “A Companion to Ancient Greece and Rome on Screen” provides comprehensive, current thinking on how the depiction of Ancient Greece and Rome on screen has developed over the past century. It reviews how films of the ancient world mirrored shifting attitudes towards Christianity, the impact of changing techniques in film production, and fascinating explorations of science fiction and technical fantasy in the ancient world on popular TV shows like “Star Trek”, “Babylon 5”, “Battlestar Galactica”, and “Dr. Who”.
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A Companion to Ancient Epigram
by Various Authors
Part of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
A delightful look at the epic literary history of the short, poetic genre of the epigram.
From Nestor's inscribed cup to tombstones, bathroom walls, and Twitter tweets, the ability to express oneself concisely and elegantly, continues to be an important part of literary history unlike any other. This book examines the entire history of the epigram, from its beginnings as a purely epigraphic phenomenon in the Greek world, where it moved from being just a note attached to physical objects to an actual literary form of expression, to its zenith in late 1st century Rome, and further through a period of stagnation up to its last blooming, just before the beginning of the Dark Ages.
“A Companion to Ancient Epigram” offers the first ever full-scale treatment of the genre from a broad international perspective. The book is divided into six parts, the first of which covers certain typical characteristics of the genre, examines aspects that are central to our understanding of epigram, and discusses its relation to other literary genres. The subsequent four parts present a diachronic history of epigram, from archaic Greece, Hellenistic Greece, and Latin and Greek epigrams at Rome, all the way up to late antiquity, with a concluding section looking at the heritage of ancient epigram from the Middle Ages up to modern times.
• Provides a comprehensive overview of the history of the epigram
• The first single-volume book to examine the entire history of the genre
• Scholarly interest in Greek and Roman epigram has steadily increased over the past fifty years
• Looks at not only the origins of the epigram but at the later literary tradition
“A Companion to Ancient Epigram” will be of great interest to scholars and students of literature, world literature, and ancient and general history. It will also be an excellent addition to the shelf of any public and university library.
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A Companion to Assyria
by Various Authors
Part of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
“A Companion to Assyria” is a collection of original essays on ancient Assyria written by key international scholars. These new scholarly contributions have substantially reshaped contemporary understanding of society and life in this ancient civilization.
• The only detailed up-to-date introduction providing a scholarly overview of ancient Assyria in English within the last fifty years
• Original essays written and edited by a team of respected Assyriology scholars from around the world
• An in-depth exploration of Assyrian society and life, including the latest thought on cities, art, religion, literature, economy, and technology, and political and military history
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A Companion to Roman Art
by Various Authors
Part of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
“A Companion to Roman Art” encompasses various artistic genres, ancient contexts, and modern approaches for a comprehensive guide to Roman art.
• Offers comprehensive and original essays on the study of Roman art
• Contributions from distinguished scholars with unrivalled expertise covering a broad range of international approaches
• Focuses on the socio-historical aspects of Roman art, covering several topics that have not been presented in any detail in English
• Includes both close readings of individual art works and general discussions
• Provides an overview of main aspects of the subject and an introduction to current debates in the field
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A Companion to Ancient Greek Government
by Various Authors
Part of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
This comprehensive volume details the variety of constitutions and types of governing bodies in the ancient Greek world.
• A collection of original scholarship on ancient Greek governing structures and institutions
• Explores the multiple manifestations of state action throughout the Greek world
• Discusses the evolution of government from the Archaic Age to the Hellenistic period, ancient typologies of government, its various branches, principles and procedures and realms of governance
• Creates a unique synthesis on the spatial and memorial connotations of government by combining the latest institutional research with more recent trends in cultural scholarship
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A Companion to Late Ancient Jews and Judaism
3rd Century BCE - 7th Century CE
by Various Authors
Part of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
An innovative approach to the study of ten centuries of Jewish culture and history
“A Companion to Late Ancient Jews and Judaism” explores the Jewish people, their communities, and various manifestations of their religious and cultural expressions from the third century BCE to the seventh century CE. Presenting a collection of 30 original essays written by noted scholars in the field, this companion provides an expansive examination of ancient Jewish life, identity, gender, sacred and domestic spaces, literature, language, and theological questions throughout late ancient Jewish history and historiography.
Editors Gwynn Kessler and Naomi Koltun-Fromm situate the volume within Late Antiquity, enabling readers to rethink traditional chronological, geographic, and political boundaries. “The Companion” incorporates a broad methodology, drawing from social history, material history and culture, and literary studies to consider the diverse forms and facets of Jews and Judaism within multiple contexts of place, culture, and history. Divided into five parts, thematically-organized essays discuss topics including the spaces where Jews lived, worked, and worshiped, Jewish languages and literatures, ethnicities and identities, and questions about gender and the body central to Jewish culture and Judaism. Offering original scholarship and fresh insights on late ancient Jewish history and culture, this unique volume:
• Offers a one-volume exploration of "second temple," "Greco-Roman," and "rabbinic" periods and sources
• Explores Jewish life across most of the geographic places where Jews or Judaeans were known to have lived
• Features original maps of areas cited in every essay, including maps of Jewish settlement throughout Late Antiquity
• Includes an outline of major historical events, further readings, and full references
“A Companion to Late Ancient Jews and Judaism: 3rd Century BCE-7th Century CE” is a valuable resource for students, instructors, and scholars of Jewish studies, religion, literature, and ethnic identity, as well as general readers with interest in Jewish history, world religions, Classics, and Late Antiquity.
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A Companion to the Political Culture of the Roman Republic
by Various Authors
Part of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
An insightful and original exploration of Roman Republic politics
In A Companion to the Political Culture of the Roman Republic, editors Valentina Arena and Jonathan Prag deliver an incisive and original collection of forty contributions from leading academics representing various intellectual and academic traditions. The collected works represent some of the best scholarship in recent decades and adopt a variety of approaches, each of which confronts major problems in the field and contributes to ongoing research.
The book represents a new, updated, and comprehensive view of the political world of Republican Rome and some of the included essays are available in English for the first time.
Divided into six parts, the discussions consider the institutionalized loci, political actors, and values, rituals, and discourse that characterized Republican Rome. The Companion also offers several case studies and sections on the history of the interpretation of political life in the Roman Republic. Key features include:
• A thorough introduction to the Roman political world as seen through the wider lenses of Roman political culture
• Comprehensive explorations of the fundamental components of Roman political culture, including ideas and values, civic and religious rituals, myths, and communicative strategies
• Practical discussions of Roman Republic institutions, both with reference to their formal rules and prescriptions, and as patterns of social organization
• In depth examinations of the 'afterlife' of the Roman Republic, both in ancient authors and in early modern and modern times
Perfect for students of all levels of the ancient world, A Companion to the Political Culture of the Roman Republic will also earn a place in the libraries of scholars and students of politics, political history, and the history of ideas.
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A Companion to the Hellenistic and Roman Near East
by Various Authors
Part of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
Discover a comprehensive and cross-disciplinary handbook exploring several sub-regions and key themes perfect for a new generation of students.
“A Companion to the Hellenistic and Roman Near East” delivers the first complete handbook in the area of Hellenistic and Roman Near Eastern history. The book is divided into sections dealing with interdisciplinary source material, each with a great deal of regional variety and engaging with several key themes. It integrates discussions of the classical Near East with the typical undergraduate teaching syllabus in the Anglo-Saxon world.
All contributors in this edited volume are leading scholars in their field, with a combination of established researchers and academics, and emerging voices. Contributors hail from countries across several continents, and work in various disciplines, including Ancient History, Archaeology, Art History, Epigraphy, Numismatics, and Oriental Studies.
In addition to furthering the integration of the Levantine lands in the classical periods into the teaching canon, the book offers readers:
• The first comprehensively structured Companion and edited handbook on the Hellenistic and Roman Near East
• Extensive regional and sub-regional variety in the cross-disciplinary source material
• A way to compensate for the recent destruction of monuments in the region and the new generation of researchers' inability to examine these historical stages in person
• An integration of the study of the Hellenistic and Roman Near East with traditional undergraduate teaching syllabi in the Anglo-Saxon world
Perfect for undergraduate history and classics students studying the Near East, “A Companion to the Hellenistic and Roman Near East” will also earn a place in the libraries of graduate students and scholars working within Near Eastern studies, as well as interested members of the public with a passion for history.
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A Companion to North Africa in Antiquity
by Various Authors
Part of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series
Explore a one-of-a-kind and authoritative resource on Ancient North Africa
“A Companion to North Africa in Antiquity”, edited by a recognized leader in the field, is the first reference work of its kind in English. It provides a comprehensive introduction to all aspects of North Africa's rich history from the Protohistoric period through Late Antiquity (1000 BCE to 800 CE).
Comprised of twenty-four thematic and topical essays by established and emerging scholars covering the area between ancient Tripolitania and the Atlantic Ocean, including the Sahara, the volume introduces readers to Ancient North Africa's environment, peoples, institutions, literature, art, economy and more, taking into account the significant body of new research and fieldwork that has been produced over the last fifty years.
“A Companion to North Africa in Antiquity” is an essential resource for anyone interested in this important region of the Ancient World.