I picked this guidebook up from the Naples Archaeological Museum in 2017 and only now, on the even of a new trip in March, sat down to read it. It is I picked this guidebook up from the Naples Archaeological Museum in 2017 and only now, on the even of a new trip in March, sat down to read it. It is a very good guidebook, not only giving the highlights of the collection, but also giving some history and context to how the collection was put together from various Renaissance antiquities collections and more recent excavations. It gives a good sense of the context of the museum.
The layout is pretty much as the Museum is laid out, of course. There is so much in the museum that it can't feature everything in every room, but includes the best known elements. It not only explains context for pieces, but also how they found their way into the collection, which is really useful for me as a teacher.
This is well worth picking up and reading, even after a visit. Oh, and visit the museum itself. If you're interested in Pompeii and Herculaneum ,much of the best known artistic works can be found here. And if you're interested in Renaissance collecting, this collection has an interesting history....more
**spoiler alert** This is a really enjoyable book which tells the story of archaeology as a discipline from the early days of genteel looting to the m**spoiler alert** This is a really enjoyable book which tells the story of archaeology as a discipline from the early days of genteel looting to the modern systematic and often non-invasive methods of learning from the material remains of the past. Fagan's book offers a vivid and enjoyable account of not only the sites, but the personalities behind the advancing science of archaeology.
Arranged in chapters coinciding with major discoveries or important personalities, Fagan tells, first and foremost, the stories of the excavators, but also the people discovered in the sites. He is enthusiastic and curious, engaging the reader with interesting details and interesting connections which characterize the archaeological world. Occasionally, his order can get confusing because it doesn't consistently follow chronological or geographical order strictly. However, each chapter is pretty self-contained and can be read in whatever order with real benefit.
This is a really enjoyable read, especially for those who are just starting their investigation of archaeology. Fagan is careful to define terms and focuses on clarity in his stories, so it is very readable....more
This is an odd review because I don't know a lot of people who read encyclopedias, but, then, apparently I do. And, really, while this is clearly a reThis is an odd review because I don't know a lot of people who read encyclopedias, but, then, apparently I do. And, really, while this is clearly a reference work, it is a good encyclopedia to read, given that it has a pretty narrow focus (ish, it is world archaeology, after all). That is, it's pretty comprehensive within a fairly narrow disciplinary focus.
The format is pretty straightforward. The guts of the encyclopedia are the entries on various of the most important archaeological sites in the world, along with short articles on various archaeological foci important to some of these sites. They are grouped geographically by region and represent a pretty thorough sampling of the most important sites and topics in archaeology from the paleolithic to the modern era. They are, of course, thumb-nail sketches, but they are written to address the main issues and questions which the reader can follow up on.
For anyone interested in archaeology, this is a very good book and well worth reading to get some familiarity with the archaeologies of various cultures and regions, as well as given the big picture look that we sometimes miss....more
This is a re-read from my patristics reading craze in the early 2000s. I've had this in my library for years and read it a few times, but never got arThis is a re-read from my patristics reading craze in the early 2000s. I've had this in my library for years and read it a few times, but never got around to reviewing here, so here we go.
This is a biography of the Church Father, theologian, Archbishop of Constantinople and, above all, sermon writer, St. John Chrysostom (the Golden-Tongued). Written by J.N.D. Kelly, a giant in patristics from the last couple of generations, this is a thorough biography of this brilliant, if controversial figure. Kelly does a good job with the abundant sources for John's life (his own sermons and treatises, the histories of the big three fourth century church historians- Socrates Scholasticus, Sozomon and Theodoret of Cirrhus, as well as assorted saint's lives etc). He pieces together John's dramatic life, especially in his dealing with the imperial court of Arcadius.
It is a good, readable biography which explains much about John's career. The reconstructions make sense, although a thorough review would involved a lot of reading. It is a good introduction to this fascinating early Christian writer. Now, go out and find some of St. John's sermons, because they are worth reading on their own....more
I ran into this book browsing the electronic offerings of my public library. I was searching for Byzantine books and this one, written by one of the mI ran into this book browsing the electronic offerings of my public library. I was searching for Byzantine books and this one, written by one of the more notable Byzantinists of this generation, leaped out at me. Ravenna,that bastion of Byzantine power in Italy, was, it turns out a labour of love for the author, who visited Ravenna when she was younger and was inspired by the fusion of Byzantine, Gothic and Roman art and architecture.
This book looks at the history of this remarkable city. That is not an easy task because, like many cities in the Mediterranean at this time, sources are lacking and there are substantial gaps in the records. Herrin uses written sources such as histories as well as inscriptions and physical evidence to produce a coherent narrative of this city from the fifth century, when it rose to prominence as the capital of the Western Roman Empire into the 9th century, as an outpost of Byzantine control until its fall to the Lombards. The story is complicated and more and more focused on the ecclesiastical politics which characterized the mediaeval era in Italy.
This is a fascinating book, which gives a clear sense of the history of Ravenna, but just as importantly, a real sense of the physical setting of the city and its art. I've never visited Ravenna on my various travels in Italy, but, I admit, this puts it firmly on my list....more
This is one of the classic biographies on Augustine of Hippo by one of the great scholars of the last generation, Peter Brown. It is also a re-read foThis is one of the classic biographies on Augustine of Hippo by one of the great scholars of the last generation, Peter Brown. It is also a re-read for me because I had to read this book as part of a course on Mediaeval History, which I unofficial termed 'Beginnings Intensive Augustine' because we read the Confessions, City of God and this biography in one term. So, twenty years later, I thought I'd go back and see how Peter Brown has faired.
Well, he faired not badly. Not that that is a surprise. Peter Brown is a superb scholar and will always be worth reading. He , along with others, spearheaded a revival of interest in Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages in the 1970s and 80s. And he's written several classic monographs, this one included. If you're interested in Augustinian studies, you'll probably want to read this one sooner or later.
That said, I have to admit that I also think that this book is showing its age a bit, in much the same way that Ronald Syme's Roman Revolution was in the 90s when I read it. The occasional intrusion of Cold War political categories can be distracting, even when we recognize that, at the time, it was topical. That's a minor point, of course- nothing ages easier than contemporary references. It doesn't invalidate the work.
I also have to admit that I think Brown's views on Augustine shift as Augustine ages. He pretty clearly likes the young Augustine, struggling with philosophy and belief, sympathizes, but is wary of the middle-aged Augustine and positively dislikes the elderly Augustine (especially of the Pelagian controversy). That is a common take on Augustine, so he comes by it honestly, although it is one that I'm wary of. The Pelagians and their talk of personal responsibility and dismissal of primal sin are congenial to our modern and post-modern ears. I do think that that we tend to ignore the dark side of this Pelagian theology, that it is terribly perfectionistic because, if you're sinning, well, you'd better just smarten up and pull up your spiritual bootstraps. That is also a pretty modernist way of thinking of things, but I'm not sure if it is especially helpful to those who may be struggling in their faith. But that is neither here nor there for this review.
Of course, if you're interested in Augustine, you should read this book. It is one of the best treatments of him. So, go, read it....more
I picked this book up in the spring because I was really looking for materials for Rome's interactions with the surrounding civilizations. It is a comI picked this book up in the spring because I was really looking for materials for Rome's interactions with the surrounding civilizations. It is a combination of a short monograph and a selection of sources on the relationship of the Romans and the Sasanian Persians from the foundation of Sasanian rule in the third century to the collapse of Persia in the face of the Islamic invasions. The scholarship is sound and gives a good picture of this relationship from both sides.
The only caveat I have about this book is that I would have liked more Persian sources. There are some, don't get me wrong, but the majority are Roman-Byzantine which tends to imbalance the document section a bit. I should also note here that I'm by no means an expert on Persian sources for this period, so it may be that there aren't many more that are available. However, more, if possible, would work against the prevalent bias towards the Roman point of view.
However, even with that caveat, this is a superb book and worth spending time with. It gives a good view of Persian-Roman relations and many of the important sources for them....more
I picked up this book while trawling for books around Christmas and just got around to reading it. Joshel offers a good overview of Roman slavery, witI picked up this book while trawling for books around Christmas and just got around to reading it. Joshel offers a good overview of Roman slavery, without getting too bogged down in the controversies and other distractions in the topic. She presents a variety of historical, legal and epigraphic texts to tease out what slavery meant in the Roman world, but the strength of the book really is in the attempt to understand how it look at it from the slave point of view. It is an occupational hazard in the study of the ancient Greek and Roman world that most of our sources are elite sources, so it is harder work to tease out what is happening to everyone else. And slaves are among the most invisible of the invisible.
Joshel also considers Roman slavery with other forms. Her point that there really was no 'North' to run to or really any secure place to escape is a good one, and, I think, crucial for the development of Roman slavery. Her discussion on resistance to slavery as shown by elite criticisms of slaves as lazy or dishonest or unreliable is a good one and one I'll be incorporating into my Latin classes in the fall.
This is a slim volume and a good overview. Obviously, there is much more to say about the topic. However, this is an excellent place to start....more
This is an odd book, but an interesting one. Its main subject is an examination of how (especially Greek) learners in the ancient world learned Latin This is an odd book, but an interesting one. Its main subject is an examination of how (especially Greek) learners in the ancient world learned Latin as a second language. It is really a collection of several of the interesting texts and tools in Latin second language learning which have survived into our era. Those include colloquia, word lists, grammars and various other tools. There are excellent notes on each of these texts and groups of texts which explain how they were used and some of the linguistic peculiarities of individual texts.
The format of these text is unusual, especially in the bilingual texts, where the editors usually leave the Latin and translate the Greek gloss. That gives a real sense of how one would experience the methods being used here (not that different from undergraduate use of Loeb editions as translation aids- a practice despised by language teachers today), even it seems a bit strange in practice. There are other times where no translation is given for either, making these sections sometimes a little less understandable to the casual reader, but giving a better sense of what the texts look like.
This is a valuable book for those interested in the history of the Latin language as well as for those who are interested in teaching Latin. It makes an interesting supplement to modern language study and gives some useful points to reflect upon. ...more
This is a good, university level textbook which covers the history of the Roman Empire from its foundation to its end. Written by a team of first-rateThis is a good, university level textbook which covers the history of the Roman Empire from its foundation to its end. Written by a team of first-rate scholars, this book provides a strong overview for the Romans and is an excellent place to start the study of the Romans. This edition is the second edition, so it has presumably been updated from the first (I hadn't read the first edition, so I can't comment on improvements).
What I enjoyed about this text is its blend of political and social/cultural history for each period. It makes interesting connections to cultures around it, as well as giving a good view of what was going on internally which influenced the development of the Roman state and culture. For me, it was a good review and, as I had intended it, a good general resource for my teaching, when I need to remind myself about something. That makes it a quite useful text.
Like any textbook, the view is general and there's always nuances that one might want to make, but for which there isn't space. However, this book gives a strong sense of the field and deserves a place on the shelf for anyone interested in Roman history....more
This is actually a re-write of a previous review which, unfortunately, I accidentally deleted today. So, I'm going to try to remember what I said and This is actually a re-write of a previous review which, unfortunately, I accidentally deleted today. So, I'm going to try to remember what I said and publish this again.
So, this is the third in the series of Livy's history that I've been working my way through. It is also, easily the most dramatic, and that is saying something!. The action of this part of Livy's history focuses on the 2nd War with Carthage and, above all, Hannibal. Hannibal is the dominating presence in this books. The reasons are, of course, obvious reasons. His nearly successful invasion of Italy makes for good drama as the Romans face disaster after disaster at the hands of this Carthaginian military genius. By themselves, the account of the disasters are tour de force, especially the scene of the mist lifting at the Battle of Lake Trasimene, revealing the destruction of the consular army or the disaster at Cannae.
Nor are the Romans deficient in big characters- Fabius Maximus dominates the early years of the war, but, really, we don't find a match for Hannibal in either drama or military skills until Scipio Africanus appears on the scene. And, of course, the dramatic climax is Hannibal's defeat at the Battle of Zama, which ends the war.
Now, never mind, that the actual history gets a little wonky at times. Never mind, that Livy glosses over the Roman provocations of Carthage. Well, actually, do mind all that, if you want to be a decent historian. This is Livy at his dramatic best, but, don't get swept away. This is part of the Roman historical imagination and it is fascinating as a result, but perhaps more fascianting in what it doesn't say as what it does say. ...more
This is the second of the four volume set of the remains of Livy's History of Rome. This volume features Rome's rise to power in Italy from the immediThis is the second of the four volume set of the remains of Livy's History of Rome. This volume features Rome's rise to power in Italy from the immediate aftermath of the Gallic Sack of Rome in 389 BCE to the defeat of the Samnites and Etruscans in 293 BCE. This period sees the massive expansion of Rome in Italy, as she fought to extend her power into southern Italy.
Livy, of course, remains Livy and his main focus is on the wars which led to this expansion. However, like the Republican sections of the previous one, these wars are punctuated by persistent social conflict as the non-aristocrats fought to gain power and influence in the Roman state against their aristocratic rivals. The general trajectory of that was towards greater plebian power, about which Livy seems slightly ambivalent towards- acknowledging the need, perhaps, but sympathizing with the aristocrats who resisted it.
We also see the continuation of Livy's interest in religion including yet another sacred chicken story for my repetoire (I admit that the sacred chickens both amuse and intrigue me). And that kind of makes me happy.
Anyway, worth reading for Livy's style and analysis (his analysis of whether Alexander the Great would have beaten the Romans is an admirable counter-factual analysis long before it was a thing) as well as a good account of how the Romans managed to expand to control all of Italy...more
I've been meaning to read this book for a while., which is written by the editor of one of my favourite online Classics journal, Eidolon (Classics witI've been meaning to read this book for a while., which is written by the editor of one of my favourite online Classics journal, Eidolon (Classics without fragility- I love that slogan). Zuckerberg presents an interesting hybrid of a book- both commentary on Graeco-Roman literature and on contemporary culture. It is a book which is looking at the reception of the Graeco-Roman world and literature. In this case, she is looking at the reception of the Graeco-Roman world in a corner of the internet, frequently called the manosphere.
For those of you who haven't become acquainted with this particular sub-zone of the internet, these are sites or bulletin boards or blogs which focus on a joint indignation on what these authors see as the sidelining or worse of men in today's world. They argue that the West has become gynocentric and has begun not only to disadvantage men, but even to discriminate true masculine activity. It is an expression of conservative ethics which sees itself and good Western values under threat from the influences of the left, feminism and such.
Zuckerberg analyses the several strands of this movement and, especially, how they use Graeco-Roman texts to buttress their positions. Both the contemporary analysis and the Classical scholarship of this book is impressive. And the melding of the two is insightful and a good demonstration of how to do reception studies. It is also a pretty political piece, which I don't have a problem with, given the profoundly political stance of the "Red Pill' conservatives feature in the contemporary discussion. Zuckerberg doesn't necessarily write this book to condemn these authors. She reads them carefully and, while she states her opinions, she gives the benefit of taking them seriously. Ultimately, she disagrees and isn't shy about saying so, but she doesn't carelessly dismiss them.
This is well worth reading, both as contemporary commentary, but also as a good example of what an analysis of reception looks like. ...more
This translation has received a lot of buzz over the last year and justifiably so. A lot of the buzz is the oft-repeated milestone that this translatiThis translation has received a lot of buzz over the last year and justifiably so. A lot of the buzz is the oft-repeated milestone that this translation represents in that it is the first translation of Homer by a woman. That is, of course, a significant thing, but really what I wished got more buzz is just how superb this translation is- readable, faithful to the original and scholarly. It is, arguably, the best translation of the Odyssey in decades.
Translation is, of course, a difficult art. Any translator has to balance faithfulness to the original style with the imperative to make it readable in another language which has different idioms, sentence structure and expression. That is why it is an art, not a science because it isn't just about slotting word a for word alpha. That is also why new translations are always needed because, as language evolves, so does the need to revisit even established texts.
Dr. Wilson does a masterful job with this translation. It is so entirely readable that I'd feel comfortable putting this translation in front of my high school students and expect it to make good sense to them (not an easy test for any text). Its introduction is superb and thoughtful- also useful for understanding the text in new and interesting ways.
I'm really pleased with this translation of what is a deceptively difficult text. I've read enough Homeric Greek to know that it is, frankly, weird (wonderful often, but weird). It was weird even for the Greeks themselves. Dr. Wilson's translation is a magnificent entre into that world. One can only hope that she's working on the Iliad or something as we speak....more
This is an old favourite, which I was re-reading to find material I had forgotten, especially about non-Greeks, in an attempt to de-centre my teachingThis is an old favourite, which I was re-reading to find material I had forgotten, especially about non-Greeks, in an attempt to de-centre my teaching a bit. I have read this book. Indeed, I did a independent reading grad course a million years ago, reading the first four books. So, it was fun to get back.
For those who haven't read Herodotus, the subject of the book, ultimately, are the two wars between Persia and Athens/Greece. Mind you, that is mostly the last three or four books (chapters). Herodotus is nothing if not curious, so we get a lot of background. I mean, a lot. The first four or five books are a background to the war, dominated by long ethnographic, geographic and historical digressions of pretty much every people remotely associated with the narrative. Of course, we find out a lot about Persia, as one would expect, but, in the process, Herodotus goes into long digressions into any people who had anything to do with Persia or Greece. And a few that don't. That leaves a lot of really interesting, if sometimes decidedly wonky, details about a lot of things. Herodotus tends to aim at being comprehensive, sometimes at the cost of believability. One of his favourite rhetorical strategies is to declare he doesn't actually believe a story, but here it is. That way he can tell a real whopper and still come off as a critical commentator. IF that is the kind of thing that annoys you, the first part of the book will be hard to get through. Myself, I enjoy that diffuse story-telling, even the whoppers, because they give an idea about what stories people were telling in the 5th century and, well, really, I like the whoppers, even when I know they're preposterous. They are often just good storytelling.
The part that most people read Herodotus for is the war proper with the dramatic clashes at Marathon or Thermopylae or Salamis or Plataia. What struck me most about this section is something I already know, but something which I think we should all remember in the face of all this Western civilization boosting. In some circles, the unity of the Greeks in the face of the Persian threat has become something of a grand, heroic narrative (borrowed by later Athenian authors), but, really, if you read Herodotus, the situation was much messier. Setting aside those who joined the Persians by force, there is a lot of disunity in Greece during this second campaign. There were some powers which chose sides based on whether their neighbouring rival joined the other side. There was open disunity between, especially, the Peloponnesians and Athens/Megara/Aegina (who were busily being overrun). Leaders had to be bribed or even betrayed to get them to do something- Themistocles famously enticing the Persians into a close battle at Salamis by sending a letter presumably betraying the Greek fleet's plan to flee to the Persians. Yes, there was some noble sacrifice, but, really, the truth of this war is that there was also betrayal, bribery and factional fighting. It probably makes it a truer narrative, but less the idealized war of later Athenian and later propaganda.
Anyways, Herodotus is worth the read and Grene's translation is among the best I know. He's lucid and readable, with a good introduction and commentary. ...more
This is a textbook for courses in Roman art and, as such, should affect how one should read it. It is systematically laid out, organized by periods, cThis is a textbook for courses in Roman art and, as such, should affect how one should read it. It is systematically laid out, organized by periods, corresponding with the historical divisions in Roman history from the Republican to the various dynasties of the Imperial period, with useful short discussions of scholarly issues. It discusses the major pieces and themes of each period in a concise and clear form. It is an excellent reference work. ...more
I came to this book as a Latin teacher, who has used the Cambridge Latin Course, whose first book is set in Pompeii, for over fifteen years. So, I've I came to this book as a Latin teacher, who has used the Cambridge Latin Course, whose first book is set in Pompeii, for over fifteen years. So, I've had a learn a little about Pompeii over the years. So, it is in that light that you should consider what I'm about to say. This book lives up to its title. It is a very up-to-date and comprehensive look at Pompeii and its history which was a truly joy to read. Only the most recent (i.e. this year's) excavations are missing from this volume and the scholarship is very strong. This is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in Pompeii. ...more
This is the last of my 2014 guidebooks from Greece and covers the Minoan site of Knossos- a justly famous site, even if archaeologist friends like to This is the last of my 2014 guidebooks from Greece and covers the Minoan site of Knossos- a justly famous site, even if archaeologist friends like to refer to it as the 'theme park'. It is a heavily restored site and some of the restoration are showing signs of their age. It is still an important site.
Tzorakis structures this guide on an itinerary starting from the West Palace and working Eastward. It contains a good historical and mythological background as well as an account of the rather colourful history of its excavation. These are readable sketches of these topics. Much of the guide is devoted, rightly, to the tour of the site. The language here gets a little technical at times, but it is still a useful discussion with well chosen photographs, drawn recreations and maps. It gives an excellent impression of the site and its history. ...more
This is the fourth of my series on my Greek guidebooks. This one deals with the various sites in the Argolid (Mycenae, Epidaurus, Argos Tiryns, NaupliThis is the fourth of my series on my Greek guidebooks. This one deals with the various sites in the Argolid (Mycenae, Epidaurus, Argos Tiryns, Nauplion and a few other sites). There are a lot of sites in this volume, but most of them are either quite small or with sparse remains. I've been to three (Mycenae, Epidaurus and Naupilon), so it was interesting to review some of what I learned.
This volume is a bit more technical, I find, than some of the other volumes. That makes it a little harder to read, but doesn't decrease their usefulness. The reviews are still quite good- only really hampered by the limitations of the sites themselves.
Again, a few more typos and such, but a genuinely useful guide to this region. ...more
This is the third in my series on my Greece guidebooks and the second of these by Manolis Andronicos. This one deals with one of my favourite sites inThis is the third in my series on my Greece guidebooks and the second of these by Manolis Andronicos. This one deals with one of my favourite sites in Greece which is deeply beautiful as a natural setting as well as being one of the most important sites in Greece. It is also a very well-designed museum and archaeological site, so well worth visiting.
The guide is pretty comprehensive and goes through many of the important sites and artifacts. Mind you, it does seem to stop at the Temple of Apollo, but doesn't discuss the upper levels as much like the Stadium. It isn't that Andronicos doesn't mention it. He just doesn't spend much time.
Interestingly, I noticed a few more typoes in this volume. That is a minor criticism and this remains an excellent guide to Delphi and its Museum....more
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