Ancient Classics

This chilling tale of a gruesome monster unleashed into the world by an unthinking scientist was first conceived by 19-year-old Mary Shelley on a dark, rainy night on Lake Geneva. Lord Byron and Percy Shelley challenged their friends to see who could come up with the most horrifying story imaginable. Mary Shelley did, terrifying them all with her nightmare-inspired tale. It is followed by "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by Coleridge which was an early haunting influence on the young Mary Shelley.

It should have been a beautiful moment between a man and his dog. Philip Womack made a quip about Cerberus, the three-headed hell-hound, but for Una, the beloved lurcher, it was all Greek. Then she ran off after a squirrel. And Womack was left to wonder what else she didn’t know about the great civilisations of the past. The Greeks and the Romans laid the foundations of so much of what we read, listen to and watch today, from the baked pies of Game of Thrones to the Lotus-eaters of Love Island.

The Roman poet Publius Ovidius Naso (Ovid) is best known for his epic poem Metamorphoses, a collection of myths and legends from Ancient Greece and Rome. His works continue to be widely read and admired, and he is regarded as one of the most significant poets of ancient Rome. Ovid’s love poems are both brilliant and evocative. In Amores, the romantic mysteriousness of elegiac love-poetry is exploded by his witty and ironic treatment of the form. Ars Amatoria and Remedia Amoris both lay down the rules for the game of love, which both sexes can play.

Several of the best-loved Roman myths are gathered in this one beautiful abridged collection, from “Romulus and Remus” (which tells how Rome came to be) to “Cupid and Psyche”, “Oedipus and the Sphinx”, and more.

Der Autor Felix Dahn war ein durchaus seriöser Historiker. Sein in der Zeit von 1859 bis 1876 entstandener monumentaler Roman "Ein Kampf um Rom" war bis in die 50er Jahre des vorigen Jahrhunderts ungemein populär. Er schildert den tragischen Niedergang eines Volkes aus verheißungsvollen Anfängen. Als Geschichtswissenschaftler achtete Dahn darauf, den Roman – nach damaligem Wissensstand – so historisch korrekt wie möglich zu schreiben. Dass die moderne Geschichtsschreibung manches anders sieht und darstellt, versteht sich.

Cherished Chinese Proverbs is a bilingual collection of classic stories that have been passed down to generations of Chinese speakers. This work was originally designed as a supplement for students of Chinese as a Second Language, but in this publication we have broadened the focus. In offering these classic stories in both Chinese and English, it is hoped that native Chinese speakers might also benefit.

Frederick Lazarus Light's resolve to write a greater Iliad in English than Homer composed in Greek is manifest. This translation impersonates Homeric Greek. It runs with Achilleus and like man-shattering Hector in the shock of arms is resolutely sharp. As unrelenting as sublimity, not yielding lyrically, unprosaically vindicating Homer's vision, the brightest labor has been attempted and is brought over as a consummate attempt.

Mai era accaduto prima nella storia di Roma che due giovani dell'aristocrazia si amassero in modo così incondizionato. Dal momento in cui, giovanissimi, si riconosceranno come spiriti affini, Germanico e Agrippina non si separeranno più. Il vincolo che li unisce, del resto, è il coronamento di una grande passione, non certo un impegno formale determinato da convenienze politiche. Quando il giovane comandante è chiamato a guidare le otto legioni stanziate lungo il fiume Reno per riscattare il nome dell'Impero dopo la disfatta di Teutoburgo, Agrippina decide di seguirlo in Germania.

Dies ist ein Epos von alttestamentarischer Wucht, das uns von Seite zu Seite mehr gefangen nimmt. Kenntnisreich führt Franz Werfel in das 5. vorchristliche Jahrhundert und gibt tiefe Einblicke in die so verschiedenen Kulturen Ägyptens, Babylons und Jehudas. Hautnah erleben wir die Kämpfe Mardukh Nebukadnezars gegen Jerusalem und die Zerstörung des Tempels. Inmitten dramatischer Auseinandersetzungen ringt ein Mann mit seinem Gott um die Seele und das Schicksal seines Volkes: Jeremias.

L'Odissea è un testo che conserva sempre intatto il suo fascino particolare. Restiamo sempre ammaliati da quello che si può considerare il viaggio più importante di tutta la cultura occidentale. La curiosità dell'ignoto, il bisogno del viaggio e del ritorno a casa sono le forze che spingono Ulisse a vagabondare per tutto il mondo conosciuto ed anche oltre. Le sue avventure si sviluppano in un continuo intreccio di rapporti con gli dèi, i quali di volta in volta in volta lo salvano o tentano di eliminarlo.

Gibbon's masterpiece on Rome is a monument of literature and a model of modern historical research. There has never been anything quite like it since its publication between 1776 and 1788. Although some of Gibbon's views are considered controversial today, there is no doubt that his research and patient devotion to scholarship produced one of the most valuable and renowned histories of all time.

The Epic of Gilgamesh is the oldest surviving literary work in the world. The epic poetry describes the ancient King Gilgamesh and his journey to discover the secret to eternal life.

Hippocrates revolutionized the study of medicine in Ancient Greece, but some of his ideas still influence the medical field today. In his book On Ulcers, Hippocrates details the recommended treatment for this ailment. While modern medicine has moved beyond using honey, boiled leaves, and white wine to treat ulcers, Hippocrates’ advice on diet and rest hold true. This text is fascinating for anyone interested in the historical development of medical practices.

The Odyssey is an epic poem, written by the ancient Greek philosopher Homer, and considered to be the second oldest piece of western literature still in existence. Scholars believe it was written at the end of the eighth century BC. Still heavily used in schools because of its unique literary makeup and historical value, the poems follow Greek hero Odysseus, as he journeys home after the 10-year long Trojan War. His journey home takes another 10 years, and Odysseus encounters many obstacles.

Dopo anni di lotte e di vittorie, Giulio Cesare ha conquistato la Gallia. A Roma, tuttavia, gli avversari del grande condottiero, temendo il suo crescente potere, vogliono metterlo sotto processo, e persino il suo principale collaboratore e amico, Tito Labieno, lo ha abbandonato. Eppure, proprio quando sembra che l'unica scelta possibile sia rinunciare alle proprie ambizioni, Cesare getta il dado e sorprende tutti: varca il Rubicone con la sola XIII legione e muove verso Roma.

Primo capolavoro della letteratura occidentale, scritto probabilmente intorno all'VIII secolo a.C., l'Iliade è, insieme con l'Odissea, uno dei pilastri di tutta la cultura occidentale. Nel poema si narrano i 51 giorni della guerra di Troia, dall'ira di Achille ai funerali di Ettore, densi di battaglie ed imprese nelle quali si intrecciano continuamente i destini di dèi ed eroi.

The Iliad - attributed to Homer - is the most famous ancient Greek epic poem. It recounts the struggle between King Agamemnon and the hero Achilles during the final months of the Trojan War, with frequent detours into earlier legends and myths. In its portrayal of battle scenes and the constant interventions of the gods, The Iliad explores themes of wrath, glory, and fate, and has provided the subject matter for many later Greek, Roman, and Renaissance writings.

Warrior-prince Rama is about to be crowned Young King, when he hears the devastating news that his father, king of Ayodhya, has been tricked into banishing him to the forest. His devoted wife, Sita, insists on accompanying him in exile, but the evil 10-headed Lord Ravana has fallen deeply in love with the beautiful princess and steals her away. Aided by Hanuman, mighty captain of the monkeys, Rama sets out across the world to find her and destroy Ravana in a deadly battle.

Would you like to learn how Egyptian’s believe the world was created? Are you interested in learning about Egyptian gods and goddesses and the role they play in the universe? Egyptian mythology is made of stories and beliefs that come from ancient Egypt. It describes the actions of the gods and goddesses as a way to understand the world. The beliefs of these stories played an important role in ancient Egyptian religion. These myths can be frequently seen in Egyptian art and writing, especially in short stories and religious material.

Mit sprachlicher Wucht wird von der Liebe im antiken Rom erzählt, zwischen dem jungen Patrizier Marcus Vinicius und der Christin Lygia, die als Geisel nach Rom kam. Die Liebenden geraten in den Strudel der Ereignisse um die Christenverfolgung. Der dekadente Nero lässt Rom anzünden, beschuldigt aber die Christen. Nun droht Lygia der Tod im Amphitheater. Doch Vicinius, inzwischen selber Christ, lässt nichts unversucht, seine Geliebte zu retten. Henryk Sienkiewicz erhielt 1905 "auf Grund seiner großartigen Verdienste als epischer Schriftsteller" den Literaturnobelpreis.