Ancient Politics

A noted biblical scholar explores how the claim of divine choice has been used from ancient times to the present to justify territorial expansion and prejudice. The Bible describes many individuals and groups as specially chosen by God. But does God choose at all? Michael Coogan explains the...

Máxima de Holanda escaló hasta el mundo más alto aspirado por todas las mujeres de su entorno y su generación: la realeza europea. Y lo hizo gracias a una ambición y a una tenacidad que la llevaron a convertirse en parte de la Historia.

Che cos'è l'autorità nella Grecia antica? A lungo è stata negata la stessa esistenza di un termine greco che la definisca, e ci si è limitati a ricercare in quella cultura i sistemi di relazione sottesi al concetto romano di auctoritas. Prendendo le distanze da tale impostazione romano-centrica, l'autore individua le metafore culturali di cui i Greci si servono per elaborare la loro particolare nozione di auto rità, che non si presenta come qualità intrinseca dell'auctor, ma come "facoltà" concessa a qualcuno da una fonte esterna.

As the world recently commemorated the hundredth anniversary of the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun, our fascination with the pharaoh begs for a balanced view. Most recovered mummies have not escaped the modern trafficking in ancient bodies and body parts. The story of Ankh-Hap, a Ptolemaic-era mummy seized in the nineteenth century from the infamous mummy-pits of Egypt, provides a salutary example of what most mummies have endured.

In 45 BCE, the Roman statesman Cicero fell to pieces when his beloved daughter, Tullia, died from complications of childbirth. But from the depths of despair, Cicero fought his way back. In an effort to cope with his loss, he wrote a consolation speech—not for others, as had always been done, but for himself. And it worked. Cicero's Consolation was something new in literature, equal parts philosophy and motivational speech.

Jack the Ripper. Jeffrey Dahmer. John Wayne Gacy. Locusta of Gaul. If that last name doesn’t seem to fit with the others, it’s likely because our modern society largely believes that serial killers are a recent phenomenon. Not so, argues Debbie Feltonin fact, there’s ample evidence to show that serial killers stalked the ancient world just as they do the modern one.

In 1895, archaeologists excavating a villa outside Pompeii unearthed a hoard of Roman silverware. Among the treasures was a bowl featuring a female figure with thick, curly hair, deep-set eyes, a slightly hooked nose and a strong jaw, and sporting an elephant scalp headdress. Modern scholars believe this woman to be a depiction of Cleopatra Selene, daughter of the infamous Cleopatra and Mark Antony. Using this discovery as her starting point, Jane Draycott recreates the life and times of a remarkable woman.

Ein archäologischer Cold Case wird neu aufgerollt. Eine Frau, ein Kind, Todesumstände ungeklärt. Von den Nazis entdeckt und für ihre Zwecke missbraucht, versank das 9000 Jahre alte Grab in Vergessenheit. Nun wird der Cold Case mithilfe modernster Wissenschaft aufgeklärt. Die Ergebnisse machen die Schamanin von Bad Dürrenberg zu einem der aufregendsten archäologischen Funde Europas. Die Bestsellerautoren Harald Meller und Kai Michel brechen auf zu einer Reise in eine fantastische Welt, in der sich das Schicksal der Menschheit entschied.

Un profilo di un uomo straordinario. Una interpretazione originale di una delle figure più controverse della storia. Il libro è già stato tradotto e ha suscitato interesse di pubblico e di critica in Germania, Francia, Spagna, America, Brasile. Luciano Canfora insegna Filologia classica all'Università di Bari.

The idea of sexual fluidity may seem new, but it is at least as old as the ancient Greeks, who wrote about queer experiences with remarkable frankness, wit, and insight. How to Be Queer is an infatuating collection of these writings about desire, love, and lust between men, between women, and between humans and gods, in lucid and lively new translations.

Alexander the Great is considered one of the most successful commanders of all time and was known to be undefeated in battle. He is mentioned in the Bible as well as the Qur’an, and is on the shortest of short lists whenever the world’s best military leaders are catalogued. When asked to name other great military leaders, Caesar reportedly said Alexander was the only great one.

What are the secrets to a contented life? One of Rome's greatest and most influential poets, Horace (65-8 BCE) has been cherished for more than 2,000 years not only for his wit, style, and reflections on Roman society, but also for his wisdom about how to live a good life - above all else, a life of contentment in a world of materialistic excess and personal pressures. In How to Be Content, Stephen Harrison provides fresh, contemporary translations of poems from across Horace's works that continue to offer important lessons about the good life, friendship, love, and death.

This is the first thoroughly revised edition of The Rape of the Nile—Fagan’s classic account of the cavalcade of archaeologists, thieves, and sightseers who have flocked to the Nile Valley since ancient times. Featured in this edition are new accounts of stunning recent discoveries, including the Royal Tombs of Tanis, the Valley of Golden Mummies at Bahariya, the Tomb of the Sons of Ramses, and the sunken city of Alexandria (whose lighthouse was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World).

Platons Dialoge gehören in philosophischer wie auch in literarischer Hinsicht unzweifelhaft zu den großen kulturellen Hervorbringungen des alten Griechenlands. Ihr Einfluss auf das Denken und auf das, was wir heute allgemein unter Philosophie verstehen, kann kaum überschätzt werden. Zentrale Themen der platonischen Philosophie wie die Frage nach dem Guten und die Frage, wie man auf zwingend richtige Gründe abgestütztes Wissen erlangt, haben mehr als nur Akzente in der abendländischen Geistesgeschichte hinterlassen.

Years ago, archaeologists excavating near Pompeii unearthed a hoard of Roman treasures, among them a bowl depicting a woman with thick, curly hair and sporting an elephant-scalp headdress. For decades, theories circulated about her identity―until, at last, she was ascertained to be Cleopatra Selene, the only surviving daughter of Roman Triumvir Marc Antony and Egyptian Queen Cleopatra VII. Using this discovery as her starting point and creating a narrative from mere fragments in the archaeological record, historian Jane Draycott reconstructs the exceptional life of this woman.

Per oltre cinquant'anni la valle del Nilo non ha conosciuto altro che guerra e distruzione per mano degli Hyksos, un popolo assetato di sangue giunto dal lontano Oriente. La situazione è disperata: a frenare l'avanzata del nemico rimane solo un manipolo di coraggiosi ribelli capitanati da Taita, potente mago e consigliere del faraone, l'unico convinto che esista ancora una speranza. Piay, che gli è stato affidato dai genitori quando aveva solo cinque anni, è stato addestrato per diventare un prode guerriero e una spia senza rivali.

A görög mitológia történeteinek folytatása sem kevésbé szórakoztató, mint az első rész. Megtudhatjuk többek között, hogy miért kellett Sziszüphosznak bűnhődnie, vagy hogy milyen átok sújtotta Midász királyt. A szerző a maga humoros módján rávilágít, a görög istenek olyanok, mint mi. Erősebbek és bölcsebbek ugyan, de közben ugyanolyan esendőek, és ballépéseikkel, felfokozott szerelmi életükkel, veszekedéseikkel bármikor képesek felforgatni az isteni és az emberi világot.

This audiobook takes you, step by step, through the philosophy of stoicism, from its birth to the passions, virtues, and key principles that serve as the foundation of its teachings. After looking at the history of stoicism, we explore the philosophy as a whole, discussing the irrational passions, good passions, virtues, physics, logic, and ethics, all of which are integral parts of living as a stoic.

"Sono qui per rispondere alle grandi domande sulla mitologia greca che ti affliggono, sin da quando hai visto il celeberrimo classico Disney Hercules che non ha mezza cosa giusta, come scopriremo. E le domande sono: Filottete è esistito sul serio? Ha allenato veramente tutti gli Eroi del Muori? Aveva la voce di Magalli? Sì, no, forse. Questo libro sarà tutto così, anche meglio, mi sto solo scaldando. Dai, non te ne andare ti prego, ho detto che sarà megliooo. Chi sono questi Eroi del Muori, allora? Gli dèi dici? Che problemi hai!? Gli dèi non hanno niente di Muori, al limite la infliggono.

For the curious minds wanting to uncover the secrets of ancient Greece, for the dreamers wishing to lose themselves in tales of valor, love, and betrayal, and for the scholars desiring a comprehensive yet engaging retelling of the world's most famous myths—this book is your beacon.