The fifth Week of the Classics will take place from Tuesday 17 to Thursday 26 April. Time to dive back into the Classics and choose your favorite book about Antiquity.
As part of the fifth Week of the Classics, the History &Archeology editors of Kennislink have once again listed a number of recently published books about Classical Antiquity. We invite you to choose your favorite from these books. You can vote at the bottom of this page. By casting your vote you have a chance to win the new overview book Cultural history of antiquity, written by Nathalie de Haan and Stephan Mols.
The book Cultural history of antiquity takes you to the world of the Greeks and Romans, in a time journey through twelve cities, each with its own theme. From Mycenae in the twelfth century BC to Ravenna in late antiquity. Homer already wrote in his Iliad that Mycenae was a special city. This city is very common in mythology, which played such an important role in the life of the Greeks and Romans. These Mycenaean myths are dealt with entirely in the theme of the Week of the Classics. The twelve city portraits in the book thus form a common thread through the main themes from the cultural history of classical antiquity. Miletus, for example, is used for philosophy, Alexandria for literature and Nijmegen for the theme 'center and periphery'.
The book is written in an accessible manner and contains many beautiful photos. This makes it a nice overview book and a good introduction to classical antiquity.
Publisher W BOOKS presents Cultural History of Antiquity twice by Nathalie de Haan &Stephan Mols to raffle among the participants who voted for their favorite book. So scroll down quickly to the nominated books below to cast your vote! 1
1 Employees of NEMO and Kennislink are excluded from participation. You can vote until April 27, 2012. Only the winners will receive a personal message by e-mail. There will be no correspondence about the result.
Looking for Ithaca
by Cees H. Goekoop
The search for the Homeric island of Ithaka has captured the imagination since classical antiquity. With the Odyssey in hand, the author Cees Goekoop sailed after the Homeric hero. This set him on the trail of a remarkable solution to the still ongoing mystery of Ithaka. Not only classicists, but also other readers with an interest in the mythological world of ancient Greece will be able to follow Goekoop's journey with fascination.
Marcus Antonius &Cleopatra
by Adrian Goldsworthy
Mark Antony was one of the most influential people of his time, and Cleopatra, who had also been Julius Caesar's mistress, ruled Egypt, the most important Roman province. In Mark Antony &Cleopatra, Adrian Goldsworthy tells the fascinating story of two famous lovers. Drawing on ancient sources and archaeological evidence, he debunks the many myths that have arisen about them over the course of two thousand years.
A history of classical antiquity
by Edward Charles Leonard van der Vliet
What is the historical significance of classical antiquity? The author describes, makes connections and explains historical developments. Common threads in the story are the themes of political culture and the legitimacy of power, the social significance of religion and cult, the subsistence economy and socio-economic relations. And for those who are interested in the 'Batavian' history:a separate chapter is devoted to the Netherlands in the Roman Empire.
Love, sex and tragedy
by Simon Goldhill
Another book about connections and explanations but now more focused on everyday life. The ateur describes the Greek and Roman influences on many things around us. Whether it's about the perfect body, about sex and love, about ideas about marriage, about religion and politics, or about relaxation and entertainment. The legacy of antiquity extends to everyday thinking and life and goes beyond the lore of the Olympic Games and democracy.
The world of the early church
by Simon Jones
The Romans play an important role in the New Testament:they nailed Jesus to the cross. But what was the life of Jesus followers like under Roman rule? How did they spend their free time? What was family life like? How did people make a living? What was the role of women? How were the meetings of the early Christians? Simon Jones answers these questions through the study of archaeological material and ancient sources. A glimpse into early Christian cuisine.
The fragility of good
by Martha Nussbaum
Finally, a book that invites you to think more deeply. Happiness and ethics in Greek philosophy and literature, that's what it's all about. The author studies different conceptions of "moral happiness" from ancient times. In doing so, she addresses the fundamental ethical problem of the defenselessness of the valuable; what the classical philosophers consider to be the foundation for a good and happy life often turns out to be vulnerable to uncontrollable outside influences.
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