Top Ancient History eBooks

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Lost to the West - Lars Brownworth Cover Art

Lost to the West

Lost to the West The Forgotten Byzantine Empire That Rescued Western Civilization by Lars Brownworth

Filled with unforgettable stories of emperors, generals, and religious patriarchs, as well as fascinating glimpses into the life of the ordinary citizen, Lost to the West reveals how much we owe to the Byzantine Empire that was the equal of any in its achievements, appetites, and enduring legacy. For more than a millennium, Byzantium reigned as the glittering seat of Christian civilization. When Europe fell into the Dark Ages, Byzantium held fast against Muslim expansion, keeping Christianity alive.  Streams of wealth flowed into Constantinople, making possible unprecedented wonders of art and architecture. And the emperors who ruled Byzantium enacted a saga of political intrigue and conquest as astonishing as anything in recorded history. Lost to the West is replete with stories of assassination, mass mutilation and execution, sexual scheming, ruthless grasping for power, and clashing armies that soaked battlefields with the blood of slain warriors numbering in the tens of thousands.

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Classical Mythology A to Z - Annette Giesecke & Jim Tierney Cover Art

Classical Mythology A to Z

Classical Mythology A to Z An Encyclopedia of Gods & Goddesses, Heroes & Heroines, Nymphs, Spirits, Monsters, and Places by Annette Giesecke & Jim Tierney

A beautifully illustrated, wonderfully engaging A-to-Z guide to more than 700 major and minor gods and goddesses, characters, creatures, and places of classical Greek and Roman mythology. Classical Mythology A-to-Z is a comprehensive and engrossing guide to Greek and Roman mythology. Written by Annette Giesecke, PhD, Professor of Classics and Chair of Ancient Greek and Roman Studies at the University of Delaware, this brilliant reference offers clear explanations of every character and locale, and captures the essence of these timeless tales. From the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus and the heroes of the Trojan War to the nymphs, monsters, and other mythical creatures that populate these ancient stories, Giesecke recounts, with clarity and energy, the details of more than 700 characters and places. Each definition includes cross-references to related characters, locations, and myths, as well their equivalent in Roman mythology and cult. In addition to being an important standalone work, Classical Mythology A-to-Z is also written, designed, and illustrated to serve as an essential companion to the bestselling illustrated 75th-anniversary edition of Mythology by Edith Hamilton, including 10 full-color plates and 2-color illustrations throughout by artist Jim Tierney.

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A History of the Roman Empire from Its Foundation to the Death of Marcus Aurelius (27 B.C.–180 A.D.) - J.B. Bury Cover Art

A History of the Roman Empire from Its Foundation to the Death of Marcus Aurelius (27 B.C.–180 A.D.)

A History of the Roman Empire from Its Foundation to the Death of Marcus Aurelius (27 B.C.–180 A.D.) by J.B. Bury

A History of the Roman Empire from Its Foundation to the Death of Marcus Aurelius  is a massive tome chronicling the Empire from the time of Julius Caesar until the end of Marcus Aurelius’ reign. 29 chapters and 470 full length pages take you through the golden age of the Roman Empire under the rule of the emperors.  A table of contents is included for easy navigation.

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Fingerprints of the Gods - Graham Hancock Cover Art

Fingerprints of the Gods

Fingerprints of the Gods The Evidence of Earth's Lost Civilization by Graham Hancock

Could the story of mankind be far older than we have previously believed? Using tools as varied as archaeo-astronomy, geology, and computer analysis of ancient myths, Graham Hancock presents a compelling case to suggest that it is. Graham Hancock is featured in Ancient Apocalypse, a Netflix original docuseries. “A fancy piece of historical sleuthing . . . intriguing and entertaining and sturdy enough to give a long pause for thought.”— Kirkus Reviews In Fingerprints of the Gods, Hancock embarks on a worldwide quest to put together all the pieces of the vast and fascinating jigsaw of mankind’s hidden past. In ancient monuments as far apart as Egypt’s Great Sphinx, the strange Andean ruins of Tihuanaco, and Mexico’s awe-inspiring Temples of the Sun and Moon, he reveals not only the clear fingerprints of an as-yet-unidentified civilization of remote antiquity, but also startling evidence of its vast sophistication, technological advancement, and evolved scientific knowledge.   A record-breaking number one bestseller in Britain, Fingerprints of the Gods contains the makings of an intellectual revolution, a dramatic and irreversible change in the way that we understand our past—and so our future.   And Fingerprints of God tells us something more. As we recover the truth about prehistory, and discover the real meaning of ancient myths and monuments, it becomes apparent that a warning has been handed down to us, a warning of terrible cataclysm that afflicts the Earth in great cycles at irregular intervals of time—a cataclysm that may be about to recur.   “Readers will hugely enjoy their quest in these pages of inspired storytelling.”— The Times (UK)

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The Immortality Key - Brian C. Muraresku Cover Art

The Immortality Key

The Immortality Key The Secret History of the Religion with No Name by Brian C. Muraresku

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER As seen on The Joe Rogan Experience! A groundbreaking dive into the role psychedelics have played in the origins of Western civilization, and the real-life quest for the Holy Grail that could shake the Church to its foundations. The most influential religious historian of the 20th century, Huston Smith, once referred to it as the "best-kept secret" in history. Did the Ancient Greeks use drugs to find God? And did the earliest Christians inherit the same, secret tradition? A profound knowledge of visionary plants, herbs and fungi passed from one generation to the next, ever since the Stone Age? There is zero archaeological evidence for the original Eucharist – the sacred wine said to guarantee life after death for those who drink the blood of Jesus. The Holy Grail and its miraculous contents have never been found. In the absence of any hard data, whatever happened at the Last Supper remains an article of faith for today’s 2.5 billion Christians. In an unprecedented search for answers, The Immortality Key examines the archaic roots of the ritual that is performed every Sunday for nearly one third of the planet. Religion and science converge to paint a radical picture of Christianity’s founding event. And after centuries of debate, to solve history’s greatest puzzle. Before the birth of Jesus, the Ancient Greeks found salvation in their own sacraments. Sacred beverages were routinely consumed as part of the so-called Ancient Mysteries – elaborate rites that led initiates to the brink of death. The best and brightest from Athens and Rome flocked to the spiritual capital of Eleusis, where a holy beer unleashed heavenly visions for two thousand years. Others drank the holy wine of Dionysus to become one with the god. In the 1970s, renegade scholars claimed this beer and wine – the original sacraments of Western civilization – were spiked with mind-altering drugs. In recent years, vindication for the disgraced theory has been quietly mounting in the laboratory. The constantly advancing fields of archaeobotany and archaeochemistry have hinted at the enduring use of hallucinogenic drinks in antiquity. And with a single dose of psilocybin, the psychopharmacologists at Johns Hopkins and NYU are now turning self-proclaimed atheists into instant believers. But the smoking gun remains elusive. If these sacraments survived for thousands of years in our remote prehistory, from the Stone Age to the Ancient Greeks, did they also survive into the age of Jesus? Was the Eucharist of the earliest Christians, in fact, a psychedelic Eucharist? With an unquenchable thirst for evidence, Muraresku takes the reader on his twelve-year global hunt for proof. He tours the ruins of Greece with its government archaeologists. He gains access to the hidden collections of the Louvre to show the continuity from pagan to Christian wine. He unravels the Ancient Greek of the New Testament with the world’s most controversial priest. He spelunks into the catacombs under the streets of Rome to decipher the lost symbols of Christianity’s oldest monuments. He breaches the secret archives of the Vatican to unearth manuscripts never before translated into English. And with leads from the archaeological chemists at UPenn and MIT, he unveils the first scientific data for the ritual use of psychedelic drugs in classical antiquity. The Immortality Key reconstructs the suppressed history of women consecrating a forbidden, drugged Eucharist that was later banned by the Church Fathers. Women who were then targeted as witches during the Inquisition, when Europe’s sacred pharmacology largely disappeared. If the scientists of today have resurrected this technology, then Christianity is in crisis. Unless it returns to its roots. Featuring a Foreword by Graham Hancock, the NYT bestselling author of America Before.

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The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World - Bettany Hughes Cover Art

The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World by Bettany Hughes

SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER • From the award-winning historian and broadcaster comes an immersive, awe-inspiring tour of the ancient sites that kindle our imagination and afford us a glimpse into our shared history “This fascinating book is brimming with stories of people and places, all told with Bettany’s natural sense of wonder and adventure.” —Simon Sebag Montefiore, New York Times bestselling author of The World For millennia, the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World have been known for their aesthetic sublimity, ingenious engineering, and sheer, audacious magnitude: The Great Pyramids of Giza, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Temple of Artemis, the Statue of Zeus, the Mausoleum of Halikarnassos, the Colossus of Rhodes, and the Lighthouse at Alexandria. Echoing down time, each of these persists in our imagination as an emblem of the glory of antiquity, but beneath the familiar images is a surprising, revelatory history. Guiding us through it is historian Bettany Hughes, who has traveled to each of the sites to uncover the latest archaeological discoveries and bring these monuments and the distinct cultures that built them back to breathtaking life. Spellbinding, richly illustrated, and full of insight, The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World is a journey into the indomitable ambition and creativity of the human spirit. "Learned and insightful. . . . Vivid. . . . Hughes is particularly adept at conjuring atmosphere from the scantiest ruin." — The Wall Street Journal

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The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt - Toby Wilkinson Cover Art

The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt

The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt by Toby Wilkinson

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “Magisterial . . . [A] rich portrait of ancient Egypt’s complex evolution over the course of three millenniums.”— Los Angeles Times   NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The Washington Post • Publishers Weekly   In this landmark volume, one of the world’s most renowned Egyptologists tells the epic story of this great civilization, from its birth as the first nation-state to its absorption into the Roman Empire. Drawing upon forty years of archaeological research, award-winning scholar Toby Wilkinson takes us inside a tribal society with a pre-monetary economy and decadent, divine kings who ruled with all-too-recognizable human emotions. Here are the legendary leaders: Akhenaten, the “heretic king,” who with his wife Nefertiti brought about a revolution with a bold new religion; Tutankhamun, whose dazzling tomb would remain hidden for three millennia; and eleven pharaohs called Ramesses, the last of whom presided over the militarism, lawlessness, and corruption that caused a political and societal decline. Filled with new information and unique interpretations, The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt is a riveting and revelatory work of wild drama, bold spectacle, unforgettable characters, and sweeping history.   “With a literary flair and a sense for a story well told, Mr. Wilkinson offers a highly readable, factually up-to-date account.”— The Wall Street Journal   “[Wilkinson] writes with considerable verve. . . . [He] is nimble at conveying the sumptuous pageantry and cultural sophistication of pharaonic Egypt.”— The New York Times

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Carthage - Eve MacDonald Cover Art

Carthage

Carthage A New History by Eve MacDonald

A Waterstones UK Best Book of 2025 A landmark new history of ancient Rome’s most famous rival—home of Hannibal, jewel of North Africa, and foundational power of the western Mediterranean. For six hundred years, the city of Carthage dominated the western Mediterranean. Founded in the ninth century BCE as a small colonial outpost, by the third, it had grown into the area’s largest, richest empire. When, inevitably, it clashed with Rome for supremacy over the region, the conflict spanned over one century, three wars, and forty-three years of active fighting. After Carthage fell at last, the city was razed, and the tale of its defeat became a mere foundation stone in Rome’s legend. But in this landmark new history—the first in over a decade—rising-star ancient historian Eve MacDonald restores the story of Carthage and its people to its rightful place in the history of the ancient world, reclaiming a lost culture long overshadowed by Roman mythmaking. Drawing on brand-new archaeological analysis to uncover the history behind the legend, MacDonald takes readers on a journey from the Phoenician Levant of the early Iron Age to the Atlantic and all along the shores of Africa. She reveals ancient Carthage as a cosmopolitan city not only of extraordinary wealth and brave warriors, but also of staggering beauty and technological sophistication. Home to Hannibal and Dido, to war elephants and vast fleets, at its height Carthage commanded one of the ancient world’s greatest navies and controlled territory spanning the coast of northwestern Africa to modern-day Spain, Sardinia, Sicily, and beyond. In gripping narrative, MacDonald shows how and why the Romans came to so fear Carthage, as one of the few rivals ever to inflict multiple defeats upon them—and what the world lost when it was finally gone. Reclaimed from the Romans, Carthage is a dramatic tale from the other side of history—revealing that, without Carthage, there would be no Rome, and no modern world as we know it.

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The Kebra Nagast: King Solomon, The Queen of Sheba & Her Only Son Menyelek - Ethiopian Legends and Bible Folklore - E. A. Wallis Budge Cover Art

The Kebra Nagast: King Solomon, The Queen of Sheba & Her Only Son Menyelek - Ethiopian Legends and Bible Folklore

The Kebra Nagast: King Solomon, The Queen of Sheba & Her Only Son Menyelek - Ethiopian Legends and Bible Folklore by E. A. Wallis Budge

The Kebra Nagast is a remarkable translation by renowned Egyptologist E.A. Wallis Budge, bringing to the English-speaking world one of the most important texts in Ethiopian tradition. This ancient work, whose title means "The Glory of Kings," weaves together biblical lore, legend, and historical tradition, tracing the lineage of Ethiopia's monarchy back to King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. Budge's translation offers not only the legends but also valuable commentary, enriching readers' understanding of Ethiopian culture and its deep connection to biblical narratives. At the heart of The Kebra Nagast is the story of the Queen of Sheba's visit to King Solomon in Jerusalem and the birth of their son, Menyelek I. The text recounts how Menyelek, raised in Ethiopia, eventually travels to Jerusalem to meet his father and returns with the Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing Ethiopia's divine right to rule. This tale establishes Ethiopia as a sacred kingdom and ties its rulers to the Davidic line, a belief that shaped the nation's identity for centuries. Beyond its central narrative, The Kebra Nagast also explores themes of faith, justice, and divine providence, blending Christian, Jewish, and African traditions. It provides fascinating insights into the ways Ethiopian Christianity developed and maintained a distinct identity, rooted in ancient biblical heritage yet shaped by local traditions. Budge's translation remains an essential resource for those interested in Ethiopian history, religious studies, and biblical folklore. It offers a rare glimpse into the mythic and spiritual foundations of Ethiopian kingship and presents a narrative that has resonated throughout the country's history. With its timeless tales of love, power, and destiny, The Kebra Nagast continues to inspire and captivate readers across cultures.

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SPQR - Mary Beard Cover Art

SPQR

SPQR A History of Ancient Rome by Mary Beard

New York Times Bestseller A New York Times Notable Book Named one of the Best Books of the Year by the Wall Street Journal, the Economist, Foreign Affairs, and Kirkus Reviews Finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award (Nonfiction) Shortlisted for the Cundill Prize in Historical Literature Finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize (History) A San Francisco Chronicle Holiday Gift Guide Selection A New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice Selection A sweeping, "magisterial" history of the Roman Empire from one of our foremost classicists shows why Rome remains "relevant to people many centuries later" (Atlantic). In SPQR, an instant classic, Mary Beard narrates the history of Rome "with passion and without technical jargon" and demonstrates how "a slightly shabby Iron Age village" rose to become the "undisputed hegemon of the Mediterranean" (Wall Street Journal). Hailed by critics as animating "the grand sweep and the intimate details that bring the distant past vividly to life" (Economist) in a way that makes "your hair stand on end" (Christian Science Monitor) and spanning nearly a thousand years of history, this "highly informative, highly readable" (Dallas Morning News) work examines not just how we think of ancient Rome but challenges the comfortable historical perspectives that have existed for centuries. With its nuanced attention to class, democratic struggles, and the lives of entire groups of people omitted from the historical narrative for centuries, SPQR will to shape our view of Roman history for decades to come.

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The Bloodlines of The Elite and The History of The Illuminati - Archangel Metatron Cover Art

The Bloodlines of The Elite and The History of The Illuminati

The Bloodlines of The Elite and The History of The Illuminati by Archangel Metatron

The following is an understandable, detailed, and summarized timeline of events and people which have been proven scientifically, archaeologically, genetically and historically. It is time you all wake up and see the world for what it truly is. Please know this was not written    in order to attack any personal beliefs, but rather to let you know what is really going on. You have been lied to. We, The Anonymous Charity are no writers, merely researchers. You must open your mind and free yourself from the brainwashing control they have put you under, if you are to continue this. You must realize that what you know is simply not true and these broadcasts and the evidence brought forth here will challenge and discredit most, if not everything that you believe. It will hurt your feelings. You will want to be defensive and not try to listen to the content. It will make you angry. You will start to understand and your eyes will begin to open. It will make you act. You will know the truth and you will understand that freedom is only obtained when we speak the truth. Your life is about to change. Welcome to The Collective HQ. Let's begin with the very structure of the group of people we will discuss. The structure beings with DNA. The Blood.

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The Lives of the Caesars - Suetonius & Tom Holland Cover Art

The Lives of the Caesars

The Lives of the Caesars by Suetonius & Tom Holland

A masterful new translation of Suetonius' renowned biography of the twelve Caesars, bringing to life a portrait of the first Roman emperors in stunning detail A Penguin Classic The ancient Roman empire was the supreme arena, where emperors had no choice but to fight, to thrill, to dazzle. To rule as a Caesar was to stand as an actor upon the great stage of the world. No biographies invite us into the lives of the Caesars more vividly or intimately than those by Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, written from the center of Rome and power, in the early 2nd century AD. By placing each Caesar in the context of the generations that had gone before, and connecting personality with policy, Suetonius succeeded in painting Rome’s ultimate portraits of power. The shortfalls, foreign policy crises and sex scandals of the emperors are laid bare; we are shown their tastes, their foibles, their eccentricities; we sit at their tables and enter their bedrooms. The result is perhaps the most influential series of biographies ever written. That Rome lives more vividly in people's imagination than any other ancient empire owes an inordinate amount to Suetonius. Now award-winning author and translator Tom Holland brings us even closer in a new, spellbinding translation. Giving a deeper understanding of the personal lives of Rome’s first emperors, and of how they swayed the fates of millions, The Lives of the Caesars is an astonishing, immersive experience of a time and culture at once familiar and utterly alien to our own.

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Mythology (75th Anniversary Illustrated Edition) - Edith Hamilton & Jim Tierney Cover Art

Mythology (75th Anniversary Illustrated Edition)

Mythology (75th Anniversary Illustrated Edition) Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes by Edith Hamilton & Jim Tierney

This deluxe edition of the world's most beloved, bestselling classic on Greek, Roman, and Norse mythology is stunningly illustrated with specially commissioned full-color plates and a beautiful gold-bordered pages.  Since its original publication in 1942, Edith Hamilton's Mythology has sold millions of copies throughout the world and established itself as a perennial bestseller. For nearly 80 years, readers have chosen  Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes above all other books to discover the enchanting world of Greek, Roman, and Norse mythology -- from Odysseus's adventure-filled journey to Odin's effort to postpone the final day of doom. This deluxe, hardcover edition is illustrated throughout with specially commissioned, original artwork and beautifully illustrated lineages, making it a true collector's item.

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Those Who Are About to Die - Harry Sidebottom Cover Art

Those Who Are About to Die

Those Who Are About to Die A Day in the Life of a Roman Gladiator by Harry Sidebottom

ONE OF THE ECONOMIST 'S BEST BOOKS OF 2025 • See ancient Rome through the eyes of a gladiator—from the evening before the games at the Colosseum to the evening after "A grippingly original way of making the alien world of the Roman Amphitheatre both accessible and comprehensible." —Tom Holland, co-host of The Rest is History What did a gladiator feel when he stepped out onto the sand of the Colosseum, his life in the balance? What ran through the minds of the masses there to witness his likely execution? And how did this bloodthirsty ritual come to exist in the first place? In Those Who Are About to Die, Harry Sidebottom pulls us into the arena, and into the homes and forums of ancient Rome, taking the reader on an eye-opening, twenty-four-hour tour through Roman life at the height of the gladiatorial games, from the first century BC to the second century AD. We follow the gladiators through the schools ( ludi ) where they trained, watch in awe as the massive event unfolds—from the gambling at the pre-festival dinner, to the dawn rush to get a seat in the arena, to the resounding music, the elaborate stage sets, and, yes, the public executions that served as lunch-break entertainment—and we unlearn all the bogus movie tropes (gladiators did not have ripped bods; they were kept fleshy so they’d bleed more). Broken down by time of day— Vesper, Prima Vigilia, Secunda Vigilia, up through the following sunset ( Solis Occasus )— Those Who Are About to Die offers illuminating insights into every aspect of Roman life and thought: their social mores and hierarchies, their feelings about death and sex and violence, and the myths and dreams that fueled the spectacle of the Games.

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1177 B.C. - Eric H. Cline Cover Art

1177 B.C.

1177 B.C. The Year Civilization Collapsed: Revised and Updated by Eric H. Cline

A bold reassessment of what caused the Late Bronze Age collapse In 1177 B.C., marauding groups known only as the "Sea Peoples" invaded Egypt. The pharaoh's army and navy managed to defeat them, but the victory so weakened Egypt that it soon slid into decline, as did most of the surrounding civilizations. After centuries of brilliance, the civilized world of the Bronze Age came to an abrupt and cataclysmic end. Kingdoms fell like dominoes over the course of just a few decades. No more Minoans or Mycenaeans. No more Trojans, Hittites, or Babylonians. The thriving economy and cultures of the late second millennium B.C., which had stretched from Greece to Egypt and Mesopotamia, suddenly ceased to exist, along with writing systems, technology, and monumental architecture. But the Sea Peoples alone could not have caused such widespread breakdown. How did it happen? In this major new account of the causes of this "First Dark Ages," Eric Cline tells the gripping story of how the end was brought about by multiple interconnected failures, ranging from invasion and revolt to earthquakes, drought, and the cutting of international trade routes. Bringing to life the vibrant multicultural world of these great civilizations, he draws a sweeping panorama of the empires and globalized peoples of the Late Bronze Age and shows that it was their very interdependence that hastened their dramatic collapse and ushered in a dark age that lasted centuries. A compelling combination of narrative and the latest scholarship, 1177 B.C. sheds new light on the complex ties that gave rise to, and ultimately destroyed, the flourishing civilizations of the Late Bronze Age—and that set the stage for the emergence of classical Greece.

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Helen of Troy - Bettany Hughes Cover Art

Helen of Troy

Helen of Troy The Story Behind the Most Beautiful Woman in the World by Bettany Hughes

For 3,000 years, the woman known as Helen of Troy has been both the ideal symbol of beauty and a reminder of the terrible power beauty can wield.In her search for the identity behind this mythic figure, acclaimed historian Bettany Hughes uses Homer’s account of Helen’s life to frame her own investigation. Tracing the cultural impact that Helen has had on both the ancient world and Western civilization, Hughes explores Helen’s role and representations in literature and in art throughout the ages. This is a masterly work of historical inquiry about one of the world’s most famous women.

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The Hemlock Cup - Bettany Hughes Cover Art

The Hemlock Cup

The Hemlock Cup Socrates, Athens and the Search for the Good Life by Bettany Hughes

We think the way we do because Socrates thought the way he did; in his unwavering commitment to truth and in the example of his own life, he set the standard for all subsequent Western philosophy. And yet, for twenty-five centuries, he has remained an enigma: a man who left no written legacy and about whom everything we know is hearsay, gleaned from the writings of Plato, Xenophon and Aristophanes. Now Bettany Hughes gives us an unprecedented, brilliantly vivid portrait of Socrates and of his homeland, Athens in its Golden Age. His life spanned “seventy of the busiest, most wonderful and tragic years in Athenian history.” It was a city devastated by war, but, at the same time, transformed by the burgeoning process of democracy, and Hughes re-creates this fifth-century B.C. city, drawing on the latest sources—archaeological, topographical and textual—to illuminate the streets where Socrates walked, to place him there and to show us the world as he experienced it. She takes us through the great, teeming Agora—the massive marketplace, the heart of ancient Athens—where Socrates engaged in philosophical dialogue and where he would be condemned to death. We visit the battlefields where he fought, the red-light district and gymnasia he frequented and the religious festivals he attended. We meet the men and the few women—including his wife, Xanthippe, and his “inspiration” and confidante, Aspasia—who were central to his life. We travel to where he was born and where he died. And we come to understand the profound influences of time and place in the evolution of his eternally provocative philosophy. Deeply informed and vibrantly written, combining historical inquiry and storytelling élan, The Hemlock Cup gives us the most substantial, fascinating, humane depiction we have ever had of one of the most influential thinkers of all time.

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Impossible Monsters - Michael Taylor Cover Art

Impossible Monsters

Impossible Monsters Dinosaurs, Darwin, and the Battle Between Science and Religion by Michael Taylor

“Vivid with a Mesozoic bestiary” (Tom Holland), this on-the-ground, page-turning narrative weaves together the chance discovery of dinosaurs and the rise of the secular age. When the twelve-year-old daughter of a British carpenter pulled some strange-looking bones from the country’s southern shoreline in 1811, few people dared to question that the Bible told the accurate history of the world. But Mary Anning had in fact discovered the “first” ichthyosaur, and over the next seventy-five years—as the science of paleontology developed, as Charles Darwin posited radical new theories of evolutionary biology, and as scholars began to identify the internal inconsistencies of the Scriptures—everything changed. Beginning with the archbishop who dated the creation of the world to 6 p.m. on October 22, 4004 BC, and told through the lives of the nineteenth-century men and women who found and argued about these seemingly impossible, history-rewriting fossils, Impossible Monsters reveals the central role of dinosaurs and their discovery in toppling traditional religious authority, and in changing perceptions about the Bible, history, and mankind’s place in the world.

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The Portable Greek Historians - M. I. Finley Cover Art

The Portable Greek Historians

The Portable Greek Historians The Essence of Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon, Polybius by M. I. Finley

Essential passages from the works of four "fathers of history"—Herodotus's History , Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War , Xenophon's Anabasis , and Polybius's Histories .

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Delhi Complete The Library of Apollodorus  - Apollodorus of Athens Cover Art

Delhi Complete The Library of Apollodorus

Delhi Complete The Library of Apollodorus by Apollodorus of Athens

Traditionally attributed to Apollodorus of Athens, ‘The Library’ is a first or second century encyclopaedia of Greek mythology and heroic legends, written in a concise and unembellished style, closely following Greek literary sources. The extant text provides an important record of Greek accounts of the origin and early history of the world, preserving many otherwise lost mythological tales. Delphi’s Ancient Classics series provides eReaders with the wisdom of the Classical world, with both English translations and the original Greek texts.  This comprehensive eBook presents the complete extant ‘Library’, with dual Greek and English text, relevant illustrations, informative introductions and the usual Delphi bonus material. (Version 1) * Beautifully illustrated with images relating to Apollodorus’ life and works * Features the complete extant text of ‘The Library’, in both English translation and the original Greek * Concise introduction to the great work * Features J. G. Frazer’s translation and footnotes, previously appearing in Loeb Classical Library edition of Apollodorus * Images of famous paintings inspired by ‘The Library’ * Excellent formatting of the texts * Easily locate the sections you want to read with individual contents tables * Includes Frazer’s rare ‘Epitome’, first time in digital print * Provides a special dual English and Greek text, allowing readers to compare the sections paragraph by paragraph – ideal for students * Features a bonus biography – discover the ancient world of ‘The Library’ * Scholarly ordering of texts into chronological order and literary genres Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to explore our range of Ancient Classics titles or buy the entire series as a Super Set CONTENTS: The Translation THE LIBRARY The Greek Text CONTENTS OF THE GREEK TEXT The Dual Text DUAL GREEK AND ENGLISH TEXT The Biography INTRODUCTION TO APOLLODORUS by Sir James George Frazer Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to browse through our range of exciting titles

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The Grand Strategy of Classical Sparta - Paul Anthony Rahe Cover Art

The Grand Strategy of Classical Sparta

The Grand Strategy of Classical Sparta The Persian Challenge by Paul Anthony Rahe

> "Powerfully illustrates . . . that this regime determined the character and limits of Sparta's domestic and foreign policy." (Susan D. Collins,  The Review of Politics) More than 2500 years ago a confederation of small Greek city-states defeated the invading armies of Persia, the most powerful empire in the world. In this meticulously researched study, historian Paul Rahe argues that Sparta was responsible for the initial establishment of the Hellenic defensive coalition and was the most essential player in its ultimate victory. Drawing from an impressive range of ancient sources, including Herodotus and Plutarch, the author veers from the traditional Atheno-centric view of the Greco-Persian Wars to examine from a Spartan perspective the strategy that halted the Persian juggernaut. Rahe provides a fascinating, detailed picture of life in Sparta circa 480 B.C., revealing how the Spartans' form of government and the regimen to which they subjected themselves instilled within them the pride, confidence, discipline, and discernment necessary to forge an alliance that would stand firm against a great empire, driven by religious fervor, that held sway over two-fifths of the human race.  "[Rahe] has an excellent eye for military logistics . . . crisp and persuasive." — The Wall Street Journal "Intensely well-researched and well-balanced." —Steve Donoghue,  The National "Masterful." —Joseph Bottum,  Books and Culture "A serious scholarly endeavor." —Eric W. Robinson,  American Historical Review "This brilliant revisionist study . . . reminds us how Sparta . . . saved Western freedom from the Persian aggression—and did so because of its innate courage, political stability, and underappreciated genius." —Victor Davis Hanson, author of  The Other Greeks   "Full of keen understandings that help explain Spartan policy, diplomacy, and strategy." —Donald Kagan, author of  The Peloponnesian War

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Discovery of Ancient Egypt: History, Archaeology & Ancient Texts - Arthur Gilman, George Rawlinson, Gaston Maspero, Agnes Sophia Griffith Johns & E. A. Wallis Budge Cover Art

Discovery of Ancient Egypt: History, Archaeology & Ancient Texts

Discovery of Ancient Egypt: History, Archaeology & Ancient Texts Unveiling Egypt: Chronicles of a Nile Civilization and Its Timeless Echoes by Arthur Gilman, George Rawlinson, Gaston Maspero, Agnes Sophia Griffith Johns & E. A. Wallis Budge

This meticulously edited collection of history, literature and archaeological discoveries, is enriched with the key documents, images and historical sources of Ancient Egypt as well as with some of the most famous works of Ancient Egyptian literature. "Ancient Egypt" represents the civilization of North Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in the place that is now as the country of Egypt. The history of ancient Egypt occurred as a series of stable kingdoms, separated by periods of relative instability known as Intermediate Periods: The Old Kingdom of the Early Bronze Age, the Middle Kingdom of the Middle Bronze Age and the New Kingdom of the Late Bronze Age. Contents: Contents: History of Ancient Egypt Archaeology of Ancient Egypt Literature of Ancient Egypt Primary Sources of the Ancient Egyptian History: The Book of the Dead Papyrus of Ani The Rosetta Stone Hymn to the Nile The Laments of Isis and Nephthys Great Hymn to Aten Hymn to Osiris-Sokar The Precepts of Ptah-Hotep The Victory of Ramses II Over the Khita An Account of the Battle of Megiddo Charm for the Protection of a Child Stories and Poems of Ancient Egypt Tale of the Doomed Prince The Magic Book The Dialogue of a Misanthrope with His Own Soul Ancient Egyptian Love Poems The Egyptian Book of Herodotus

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The Gallic Wars - Julius Caesar Cover Art

The Gallic Wars

The Gallic Wars Bello Gallico by Julius Caesar

Commentarii de Bello Gallico (English: Commentaries on the Gallic War), also simply Bellum Gallicum (English: Gallic War), is Julius Caesar's firsthand account of the Gallic Wars, written as a third-person narrative. In it Caesar describes the battles and intrigues that took place in the nine years he spent fighting local armies in Gaul that opposed Roman domination. The "Gaul" that Caesar refers to is sometimes all of Gaul except for the Roman province of Gallia Narbonensis (modern-day Provence), encompassing the rest of modern France, Belgium and some of Switzerland. On other occasions, he refers only to that territory inhabited by the Celtic peoples known to the Romans as Gauls, from the English Channel to Lugdunum (Lyon). The work has been a mainstay in Latin instruction because of its simple, direct prose. It begins with the frequently quoted phrase "Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres", meaning "Gaul is a whole divided into three parts". The full work is split into eight sections, Book 1 to Book 8, each varying in size from approximately 5,000 to 15,000 words. Book 8 was written by Aulus Hirtius, after Caesar's death.

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The Stories from Ancient Egypt - 10 Novels in One Volume - Georg Ebers Cover Art

The Stories from Ancient Egypt - 10 Novels in One Volume

The Stories from Ancient Egypt - 10 Novels in One Volume 10 Historical Classics by Egyptologist Georg Ebers by Georg Ebers

e-artnow presents to you thiscollection of historical adventures and romance novels set in ancient Egypt. This meticulously edited collection is formatted for your eReader with a functional and detailed table of contents: An Egyptian Princess Uarda: A Romance of Ancient Egypt Homo Sum (Novel about 4th century A.D. Christianity on the Sinai Peninsula) The Sisters The Emperor (Hadrian) Serapis, a Romance(Tale of the destruction of the Library of Alexandria) The Bride of the Nile Cleopatra Arachne A Thorny Path (Per Aspera) The Story of My Life, from Childhood to Manhood– Autobiography

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The Story of Ancient Egypt (Illustrated Edition) - George Rawlinson, Arthur Gilman, Gaston Maspero, Agnes Sophia Griffith Johns, E. A. Wallis Budge & Lewis Spence Cover Art

The Story of Ancient Egypt (Illustrated Edition)

The Story of Ancient Egypt (Illustrated Edition) History, Mythology & Literature by George Rawlinson, Arthur Gilman, Gaston Maspero, Agnes Sophia Griffith Johns, E. A. Wallis Budge & Lewis Spence

In 'The Story of Ancient Egypt (Illustrated Edition),' the distinctly vibrant tapestry of Egypt's past is explored through a varied lens of historical narratives and scholarly analyses, encapsulating the multi-dimensional aspects of its civilization. From the rise of pharaohs to the mysticism of the gods, each entry not only weaves individual stories but also contributes to a holistic understanding of an ancient society. The illustration-enhanced edition enhances comprehension and offers readers a visually engaging experience, bringing to life the textured nuances discussed in texts, which range from archaeological assessments to linguistic studies. Sections focusing on monumental architectures or intricate hieroglyphics stand out for their detailed explorations, delivered without singling out individual contributors but rather celebrating the collective endeavor. The contributors such as George Rawlinson and Gaston Maspero are renowned historians whose works have extensively shaped the academic and cultural perceptions of ancient Egyptian life. Their collective expertise, coupled with scholarly contributions from other authors like Agnes Sophia Griffith Johns and E.A. Wallis Budge, brings tremendous depth to the anthology. These authors have been pivotal in various movements aimed at deciphering and popularizing ancient history and cultures, each adding a unique shade of interpretation to the overarching theme of ancient Egyptian civilization. 'Readership is therefore richly rewarded in 'The Story of Ancient Egypt (Illustrated Edition).' For enthusiasts and scholars alike, this collection offers a unique repository of perspectives, making it an invaluable resource for understanding the legacies of one of history's most enigmatic civilizations. The anthology invites readers to traverse through time, offering insightful narratives and critical reflections that provoke thought and deepen understanding. This edition is a remarkable testament to collaboration among historians and an essential addition for anyone fascinated by ancient Egypt's enduring stories.

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Incas - Mark Smith Cover Art

Incas

Incas A Comprehensive Look at the Largest Empire in the Americas by Mark Smith

Discover The Largest Empire In The Americas! Have you always wanted to learn about the great Inca Empire, but your schoolteachers refuse to listen? Are you confused between Inca, Aztec, and Maya? Do you want to learn how the Inca people were unique from their Mesoamerican predecessors? Could you even draw the Inca Empire on a map? All this and more will be covered within the pages of Incas: A Comprehensive Look at the Largest Empire in the Americas. Their history is a relatively short, but vibrant and dynamic story with an ending so tragic, your favorite fantasy author couldn't have come up with it himself. So little is taught of the native cultures of the Western Hemisphere in schools today, as curriculums lean on the exploits of Rome and Britain. If you've always wanted to learn more about the great people that once ruled the mountains of Peru and Chile, this is the book for you. If you're tired of reading about stuffy old white men, this is the book for you. If you're interested in history but have a hard time understanding the textbooks, this is the book for you! This simple but comprehensive look takes you across the Inca Empire from beginning to end. Everything you need to know about those great people is right past the front page. From its founding in the 1300s, the Inca Empire lasted roughly twelve generations. In just that time, it accomplished what other civilizations took centuries to achieve. Learn about the effective expansionist policy of the Inca, and how they maximized profits by leaning on clever marketing tactics instead of war. Learn how downfall came at the hands of the Spanish conquerors, who came with guns and steel and plague. Like the meteor that killed the dinosaurs, the invaders were an extinction-level event that the Inca had no way of preparing for. See how unmatched they were in strategy, technology, and how their far superior numbers meant nothing in the end. Learn what remains of their great civilization, what influence they had over the following course of history and See how they even had an effect on the soda you drink... Inside you will find: How an empire grew from such humble, and hostile, beginningsThe geographic location of the EmpireThe incredible natural odds the Incan people overcameSociety, government, and other everyday practicesAn in-depth look at the Incan godsThe terrible Civil WarThe ConquistadorsAnd more… So click 'Add to Cart' and begin your journey into the past. By the time you've finished, you'll be booking that trip to Machu Picchu you've always wanted. And what's more, you will be going armed with knowledge and respect of the great people who built the city, and who once ruled the mountains like gods. Don't wait another moment to enjoy from this information – Get your copy of Incas right away!

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Athens - Its Rise and Fall - Book 1 - Baron Edward Cover Art

Athens - Its Rise and Fall - Book 1

Athens - Its Rise and Fall - Book 1 by Baron Edward

The first volume of Baron Edward Bulwer-Lytton's work regarding ancient Athens is presented here. Lytton's history of ancient Athens remains the best considered Victorian examination of Ancient Greek civilisation. Despite its title, the work considers the events within the entirety of the Greek city states as well as the civic events which occurred within the civilisation's largest city and effective capital. Within each of the five volumes, all aspects and tenets of the state and its people, their achievements and calamities, glories and follies, are considered.  The military endeavours, intellectual achievements, inventions, architecture, religion, cuisine and art of the Greeks all find their place in Lytton's examination. Rather than adopt a straightforward chronological method for this ambitiously scoped work, Lytton would instead intersperse major events and milestones with explanations of significant peoples, landmarks and progresses. This varied approach is a boon to the narrative, which retains a compelling tone.  Bulwer-Lytton was a talented novelist, and would become immensely popular in Victorian England for his eloquent yet easily read works. In Athens: Its Rise and Fall these talents are put to good use - rarely does the text become dry or arduous to read, and the Ancient Greeks are brought vividly to life despite the vast span of time elapsed since the decline of the Hellenic civilisation.  To this day Athens: Its Rise and Fall is recommended by academics and scholars as a thoroughly competent introduction to the Ancient Greeks for its accessibility, excellent body of research, and memorable passages.

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Athens - Its Rise and Fall - Book III - Baron Edward Cover Art

Athens - Its Rise and Fall - Book III

Athens - Its Rise and Fall - Book III by Baron Edward

The third volume of Baron Edward Bulwer-Lytton's work regarding ancient Athens is presented here. Lytton's history of ancient Athens remains the best considered Victorian examination of Ancient Greek civilisation. Despite its title, the work considers the events within the entirety of the Greek city states as well as the civic events which occurred within the civilisation's largest city and effective capital. Within each of the five volumes, all aspects and tenets of the state and its people, their achievements and calamities, glories and follies, are considered.  The military endeavours, intellectual achievements, inventions, architecture, religion, cuisine and art of the Greeks all find their place in Lytton's examination. Rather than adopt a straightforward chronological method for this ambitiously scoped work, Lytton would instead intersperse major events and milestones with explanations of significant peoples, landmarks and progresses. This varied approach is a boon to the narrative, which retains a compelling tone.  Bulwer-Lytton was a talented novelist, and would become immensely popular in Victorian England for his eloquent yet easily read works. In Athens: Its Rise and Fall these talents are put to good use - rarely does the text become dry or arduous to read, and the Ancient Greeks are brought vividly to life despite the vast span of time elapsed since the decline of the Hellenic civilisation.  To this day Athens: Its Rise and Fall is recommended by academics and scholars as a thoroughly competent introduction to the Ancient Greeks for its accessibility, excellent body of research, and memorable passages.

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Athens - Its Rise and Fall - Book II - Baron Edward Cover Art

Athens - Its Rise and Fall - Book II

Athens - Its Rise and Fall - Book II by Baron Edward

The second volume of Baron Edward Bulwer-Lytton's work regarding ancient Athens is presented here.  Lytton's history of ancient Athens remains the best considered Victorian examination of Ancient Greek civilisation. Despite its title, the work considers the events within the entirety of the Greek city states as well as the civic events which occurred within the civilisation's largest city and effective capital. Within each of the five volumes, all aspects and tenets of the state and its people, their achievements and calamities, glories and follies, are considered.  The military endeavours, intellectual achievements, inventions, architecture, religion, cuisine and art of the Greeks all find their place in Lytton's examination. Rather than adopt a straightforward chronological method for this ambitiously scoped work, Lytton would instead intersperse major events and milestones with explanations of significant peoples, landmarks and progresses. This varied approach is a boon to the narrative, which retains a compelling tone.  Bulwer-Lytton was a talented novelist, and would become immensely popular in Victorian England for his eloquent yet easily read works. In Athens: Its Rise and Fall these talents are put to good use - rarely does the text become dry or arduous to read, and the Ancient Greeks are brought vividly to life despite the vast span of time elapsed since the decline of the Hellenic civilisation.  To this day Athens: Its Rise and Fall is recommended by academics and scholars as a thoroughly competent introduction to the Ancient Greeks for its accessibility, excellent body of research, and memorable passages.

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The Crusades - James A. Brundage Cover Art

The Crusades

The Crusades A Documentary Survey by James A. Brundage

The Crusades: A Documentary Survey by James A. Brundage is one of the most compelling and accessible gateways into the world of medieval crusading — a curated journey through the letters, chronicles, papal decrees, eyewitness testimonies, and battlefield accounts that shaped one of history's most dramatic eras. Rather than retelling the Crusades as a distant narrative, Brundage allows readers to experience them through the voices of those who lived, fought, preached, and suffered during these centuries of conflict. Drawing upon sources from Christian, Muslim, and Byzantine writers, Brundage presents a vivid mosaic of perspectives: the fiery sermons that summoned armies eastward; the hopes and fears of knights and pilgrims; the strategic calculations of kings and commanders; and the impassioned responses of those resisting invasion. Each document is introduced with Brundage's crisp, insightful commentary, placing it within historical context while allowing the raw power of the primary source to speak for itself. The result is a book that is both scholarly and intensely human. The reader encounters not just battles and politics, but the emotions, prejudices, faith, and ambitions that animated medieval Europe and the Near East. Brundage's collection illuminates the complexities of holy war, exposing the gulf between ideal and reality and revealing how the Crusades reshaped cultures on both sides of the Mediterranean. For students of medieval history, religious conflict, or primary-source research, The Crusades: A Documentary Survey remains an indispensable and gripping resource — a gateway into a world where faith and violence walked hand in hand, preserved in the unforgettable words of those who lived it.

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Delphi Complete Works of Pliny the Elder (Illustrated) - Pliny the Elder Cover Art

Delphi Complete Works of Pliny the Elder (Illustrated)

Delphi Complete Works of Pliny the Elder (Illustrated) by Pliny the Elder

The Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder’s encyclopaedic ‘Natural History’, composed in 37 books, remains an unrivalled compendium of Roman knowledge. Delphi’s Ancient Classics series provides eReaders with the wisdom of the Classical world, with both English translations and the original Latin texts.  This comprehensive eBook presents Pliny’s complete extant works, with beautiful illustrations, informative introductions and the usual Delphi bonus material. (Version 1) * Beautifully illustrated with images relating to Pliny's life and works * Features the complete extant works of Pliny, in both English translation and the original Latin * Concise introduction to the ‘Natural History’ * ‘Natural History’ translated by John Bostock and Henry Thomas Riley, 1855 * Excellent formatting of the texts * Detailed table of contents for the entire 37 books * Easily locate the chapters you want to read * Features two bonus biographies – discover Pliny's ancient world * Scholarly ordering of texts into chronological order and literary genres Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to explore our range of Ancient Classics titles CONTENTS: The Translations NATURAL HISTORY The Latin Text CONTENTS OF THE LATIN TEXT The Biographies THE LIFE OF PLINY by Suetonius INTRODUCTION TO PLINY THE ELDER by H. Rackham Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to browse through our range of exciting titles

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The Persian Invasions of Greece - Arthur Keaveney Cover Art

The Persian Invasions of Greece

The Persian Invasions of Greece by Arthur Keaveney

The epic story of how Greece repelled Persia's massive forces in some of the most momentous battles of the ancient world.   In 490 BC Darius I, Great King of Persia and the most powerful man in the world, led a massive invasion army to punish the interference of some minor states on the western borders of his huge empire. The main enemy was Athens. The resultant Battle of Marathon was a disaster for Darius—and one of the most famous victories for the underdog in all military history.   The Persians were forced to withdraw and plot an even bigger expedition to conquer Athens and the whole of Greece once and for all. The second invasion came ten years later, under Darius' successor, Xerxes. This led to the legendary last stand of the Spartan King Leonidas at Thermopylae, the sacking of Athens, and the renowned naval clash at Salamis, which saved Greece. The following year, 479 BC, saw the remaining Persian forces driven from mainland Greece at the epic, yet strangely lesser-known Battle of Plataea, one of the largest pitched battles of the Classical Greek world.   In this compelling history, Dr. Arthur Keaveney, an expert on Achaemenid Persia, re-examines these momentous, epoch-defining events—from both Greek and Persian perspectives—to give a full and balanced account based on the most recent research. Also included are maps and a number of color photographs of relevant historic sites and works of art.

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The Spartan Way - Nic Fields Cover Art

The Spartan Way

The Spartan Way by Nic Fields

"One of the best books about the ancient world I've ever read. . . . lively and informative." — Toy Solder & Model Figure For a period of some 200 years, Sparta was acknowledged throughout the Greek world as the home of the finest soldiers—Xenophon called them "the only true craftsmen in matters of war." In this book, Nic Fields explains the reasons for this superiority, how their reputation for invincibility was earned (and deliberately manipulated), and how it was ultimately shattered. The Spartan Way examines how Spartan society, through its rigid laws and brutal educational system, was thoroughly militarized and devoted to producing warriors suited to the intense demands of hoplite warfare—professional killers inculcated with the values of unwavering obedience and a willingness to fight and die for their city. The role of Spartan women, as mothers and wives, in shaping the warrior ethic is considered, as are the role of uniform and rigorous training in enhancing the small-unit cohesion within the phalanx and the psychological intimidation of the enemy. The final chapters chart the course of Sparta's successes through the period of the Persian and Peloponnesian Wars, through the Corinthian and Theban wars of the fourth century BC, which culminated with the shattering military defeats at Leuctra and 2nd Mantinea, and the years of her decline with the Spartans as a source of mercenaries for the wars of other states. Includes maps

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Killing Jesus - Bill O'Reilly & Martin Dugard Cover Art

Killing Jesus

Killing Jesus A History by Bill O'Reilly & Martin Dugard

Millions of readers have thrilled to bestselling authors Bill O'Reilly and historian Martin Dugard's Killing Kennedy and Killing Lincoln , page-turning works of nonfiction that have changed the way we read history. The basis for the 2015 television film available on streaming. Now the iconic anchor of The O'Reilly Factor details the events leading up to the murder of the most influential man in history: Jesus of Nazareth. Nearly two thousand years after this beloved and controversial young revolutionary was brutally killed by Roman soldiers, more than 2.2 billion human beings attempt to follow his teachings and believe he is God. Killing Jesus will take readers inside Jesus's life, recounting the seismic political and historical events that made his death inevitable - and changed the world forever.

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The Complete Works of Flavius Josephus - Flavius Josephus Cover Art

The Complete Works of Flavius Josephus

The Complete Works of Flavius Josephus History of the Jewish War against the Romans, The Antiquities of the Jews, Against Apion, Discourse to the Greeks concerning Hades & Autobiography by Flavius Josephus

This meticulously edited collection has been formatted for your eReader with a functional and detailed table of contents: The War of the Jews The Antiquities of the Jews Against Apion Discourse to the Greeks concerning Hades The Life of Flavius Josephus: Autobiography Titus Flavius Josephus was a first-century Romano-Jewish scholar, historian and hagiographer, who was born in Jerusalem—then part of Roman Judea—to a father of priestly descent and a mother who claimed royal ancestry. He initially fought against the Romans during the First Jewish–Roman War as head of Jewish forces in Galilee, until surrendering in 67 CE to Roman forces led by Vespasian after the six-week siege of Jotapata. After Vespasian became Emperor in 69 CE, he granted Josephus his freedom, at which time Josephus assumed the emperor's family name of Flavius. He fully defected to the Roman side and was granted Roman citizenship. Josephus recorded Jewish history, with special emphasis on the first century CE and the First Jewish–Roman War, including the Siege of Masada. His most important works were The Jewish War (c. 75) and Antiquities of the Jews (c. 94).

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Ghost on the Throne - James Romm Cover Art

Ghost on the Throne

Ghost on the Throne The Death of Alexander the Great and the Bloody Fight for His Empire by James Romm

Alexander the Great, perhaps the most commanding leader in history, united his empire and his army by the titanic force of his will. His death at the age of thirty-two spelled the end of that unity. The story of Alexander’s conquest of the Persian empire is known to many readers, but the dramatic and consequential saga of the empire’s collapse remains virtually untold. It is a tale of loss that begins with the greatest loss of all, the death of the Macedonian king who had held the empire together. With his demise, it was as if the sun had disappeared from the solar system, as if planets and moons began to spin crazily in new directions, crashing into one another with unimaginable force. Alexander bequeathed his power, legend has it, “to the strongest,” leaving behind a mentally damaged half brother and a posthumously born son as his only heirs. In a strange compromise, both figures—Philip III and Alexander IV—were elevated to the kingship, quickly becoming prizes, pawns, fought over by a half-dozen Macedonian generals. Each successor could confer legitimacy on whichever general controlled him. At the book’s center is the monarch’s most vigorous defender; Alexander’s former Greek secretary, now transformed into a general himself. He was a man both fascinating and entertaining, a man full of tricks and connivances, like the enthroned ghost of Alexander that gives the book its title, and becomes the determining factor in the precarious fortunes of the royal family. James Romm, brilliant classicist and storyteller, tells the galvanizing saga of the men who followed Alexander and found themselves incapable of preserving his empire. The result was the undoing of a world, formerly united in a single empire, now ripped apart into a nightmare of warring nation-states struggling for domination, the template of our own times.

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The Twelve Caesars - Suetonius Cover Art

The Twelve Caesars

The Twelve Caesars by Suetonius

The Twelve Caesars - Suetonius . A translation into English by A. S. Kline . Published in entirety with in-depth name index. In the Twelve Caesars ( De Vita Caesarum ) Suetonius provides us with biographies of Julius Caesar and the eleven Roman Emperors who followed him. The work, probably written around 121AD in the reign of Hadrian, therefore covers the crucial and highly eventful period of Roman history from the end of the Republic to the reign of Domitian. Suetonius delved into the Imperial archives to research eyewitness accounts, obtain factual information, and compile related material to produce his summary, as well as gathering anecdotal and other evidence from writers and historians of the period. The work is dramatic, and packed with incident. It provides valuable information on the heritage, personal habits, physical appearance, lives and political careers of the protagonists, and mentions details that other sources do not. Suetonius is a major source of information on the life of Caligula, his uncle Claudius, and the heritage of Vespasian (the relevant sections of the Annals by Tacitus his contemporary being lost). Though often questioned regarding its ultimate reliability as history, the Twelve Caesars provides an unforgettable portrait of Rome under the early Emperors, and of the Emperors themselves This and other texts available from Poetry in Translation (www.poetryintranslation.com) .

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MEDITACIONES - Marco Aurelio - Marco Aurélio Cover Art

MEDITACIONES - Marco Aurelio

MEDITACIONES - Marco Aurelio by Marco Aurélio

Marco Aurelio Antonino (en latín: Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, conocido como Marco Aurelio, fue un emperador del Imperio romano desde el año 161 hasta el año de su muerte, en 180. Fue el último de los llamados Cinco Buenos Emperadores. La gran obra de Marco Aurelio, Meditaciones , escrita en griego helenístico durante las campañas de la década de 170, todavía está considerada como un monumento al gobierno perfecto. Se la suele describir como una obra escrita de manera exquisita y con infinita ternura, un tesoro filosófico. Estas reflexiones profundas, escritas como notas personales, ofrecen una visión íntima de los pensamientos de Marco Aurelio sobre la vida, el deber, la moral y la mortalidad. No estaban destinadas a la publicación, sino como un ejercicio de auto perfeccionamiento. Meditaciones es una brújula de sabiduría práctica que trasciende los siglos, inspirando a lectores en busca de orientación filosófica y consejos para una vida plena y significativa

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Paul the Traveller - Ernle Bradford Cover Art

Paul the Traveller

Paul the Traveller Saint Paul and his World by Ernle Bradford

The life of the first-century man born Saul of Tarsus, who went on to become Paul the Apostle, by the acclaimed historian and author of Thermopylae . Paul, born into Asia Minor's Jewish aristocracy and a passionate student of scripture, was part of the crowd that killed Stephen, a deacon regarded as the first Christian martyr. But on the road to Damascus, Paul experienced a miracle that would change his life and in turn change history. His conversion left him convinced that his true master was the man who would come to be known as Jesus Christ. Drawing on his vast command of ancient history and blending it with superb storytelling skills, author Ernle Bradford weaves a tale that takes the reader from city to city as Paul spreads the teachings of Christ despite being beaten, stoned, and shipwrecked. It's a thrilling tale and stirring biography of a man whose devotion and rhetorical genius laid the groundwork for the religion that soon swept the civilized world. Written by a historian known for immersing himself in his subjects, which range from the ancient world to World War II, this is a fascinating look at the convert who helped shape Christianity as a worldwide force.

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Between Two Rivers - Moudhy Al-Rashid Cover Art

Between Two Rivers

Between Two Rivers Ancient Mesopotamia and the Birth of History by Moudhy Al-Rashid

One of Library Journal's Best Books of 2025 Humanity’s earliest efforts at recording and drawing meaning from history reveal how lives millennia ago were not so different from our own. Thousands of years ago, in a part of the world we now call ancient Mesopotamia, people began writing things down for the very first time. What they left behind, in a vast region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, preserves leaps in human ingenuity, like the earliest depiction of a wheel and the first approximation of pi. But they also capture breathtakingly intimate, raw, and relatable moments, like a dog’s paw prints as it accidentally stepped into fresh clay, or the imprint of a child’s teeth. In Between Two Rivers, historian Dr. Moudhy Al-Rashid reveals what these ancient people chose to record about their lives, allowing us to brush hands with them millennia later. We find a lullaby to soothe a baby, instructions for exorcising a ghost, countless receipts for beer, and the messy writing of preschoolers. We meet an enslaved person negotiating their freedom, an astronomer tracing the movement of the planets, a princess who may have created the world’s first museum, and a working mother struggling with “the juggle” in 1900 BCE. Millennia ago, Mesopotamians saw the world’s first cities, the first writing system, early seeds of agriculture, and groundbreaking developments in medicine and astronomy. With breathtaking intimacy and grace, Al-Rashid brings their lives—with all their anxieties, aspirations, and intimacies—vividly close to our own.

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Moses and Monotheism - Sigmund Freud Cover Art

Moses and Monotheism

Moses and Monotheism by Sigmund Freud

The book consists of three essays and is an extension of Freud’s work on psychoanalytic theory as a means of generating hypotheses about historical events. Freud hypothesizes that Moses was not Hebrew, but actually born into Ancient Egyptian nobility and was probably a follower of Akhenaten, an ancient Egyptian monotheist. Freud contradicts the biblical story of Moses with his own retelling of events, claiming that Moses only led his close followers into freedom during an unstable period in Egyptian history after Akhenaten (ca. 1350 BCE) and that they subsequently killed Moses in rebellion and later combined with another monotheistic tribe in Midian based on a volcanic God, Jahweh. Freud explains that years after the murder of Moses, the rebels regretted their action, thus forming the concept of the Messiah as a hope for the return of Moses as the Saviour of the Israelites. Freud said that the guilt from the murder of Moses is inherited through the generations; this guilt then drives the Jews to religion to make them feel better.

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Ancient Greece - DK Cover Art

Ancient Greece

Ancient Greece The Definitive Visual History by DK

Embark upon a lavish visual journey through ancient Greece—its origins, its rise and fall, and its legacy that still permeates the Western world today. Spanning more than 3,000 years, Ancient Greece explores the tumultuous history of this glorious empire in vivid detail—from its Minoan and Mycenaean origins to the apogee of the warring city-states of Athens and Sparta, and from the death of its most charismatic leader, Alexander the Great, to its ultimate defeat by Rome. Sumptuous photography and authoritative, engaging text cover every facet of life in ancient Greece, from art, entertainment, and schools of thought to politics, medicine, and war, while myths and religious beliefs are explored and explained in visual context. Greece’s military and political power shines through attractive and detailed maps of its legendary battles. The buried palaces and Athenian agoras where Plato and Socrates discussed philosophy are brought back to life with specially commissioned CGI recreations, while the stories of ordinary citizens, policymakers, and the first Olympic athletes are told with the help of illustrations, artifacts, and eyewitness accounts.

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Divine Might - Natalie Haynes Cover Art

Divine Might

Divine Might Goddesses in Greek Myth by Natalie Haynes

New York Times bestselling author Natalie Haynes returns to the world of ancient Greek myth in this scintillating follow-up to Pandora’s Jar. Few writers today have reshaped our view of the ancient Greek myths more than revered bestselling author Natalie Haynes. Divine Might is a female-centered look at Olympus and the Furies, focusing on the goddesses whose prowess, passions, jealousies, and desires rival those of their male kin, including: Athene, who sprang fully formed from her father’s brow (giving Zeus a killer headache in the process), the goddess of war and provider of wise counsel.Aphrodite, born of the foam (and sperm released from a Titan’s castrated testicles), the most beautiful of all the Olympian goddesses, the epitome of love who dispenses desire and inspires longing—yet harbors a fearsome vengeful side, doling out brutal punishments to those who displease her.Hera, Zeus’s long-suffering wife, whose jealousy born of his repeated dalliances with mortals, nymphs, and other goddesses, leads her to wreak elaborate and often painful revenge on those she believes have wronged her. (Well, wouldn’t you?)Demeter, goddess of the harvest and mother of Persephone; Artemis, the hunter and goddess of wild spaces; the Muses, the nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, the goddess of memory; and Hestia, goddess of domesticity and sacrificial fire. Infused with Haynes’s engaging charm and irrepressible wit, Divine Might is a refreshing take on the legends and stories we thought we knew.

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A Short History of Italy - Henry Dwight Sedgwick Cover Art

A Short History of Italy

A Short History of Italy (476-1900) by Henry Dwight Sedgwick

A comprehensive account of the history of Italy up to 1900, placing additional emphasis on those historical facts which make Italy so charming and interesting to the rest of the world. This very enjoyable book will entertain and educate any audience.

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The Spartan Regime - Paul Anthony Rahe Cover Art

The Spartan Regime

The Spartan Regime Its Character, Origins and Grand Strategy by Paul Anthony Rahe

"[A] monumental history . . . explaining . . . how Sparta's early strategic role in the Greek world was inseparable from the uniqueness of its origins and values." (David Hanson, The Hoover Institution, author of The Other Greeks) For centuries, ancient Sparta has been glorified in song, fiction, and popular art. Yet the true nature of a civilization described as a combination of democracy and oligarchy by Aristotle, considered an ideal of liberty in the ages of Machiavelli and Rousseau, and viewed as a forerunner of the modern totalitarian state by many twentieth-century scholars has long remained a mystery. In a bold new approach to historical study, noted historian Paul Rahe attempts to unravel the Spartan riddle by deploying the regime-oriented political science of the ancient Greeks, pioneered by Herodotus, Thucydides, Plato, Xenophon, and Polybius, in order to provide a more coherent picture of government, art, culture, and daily life in Lacedaemon than has previously appeared in print, and to explore the grand strategy the Spartans devised before the arrival of the Persians in the Aegean. "Persuasive." —Thomas E. Ricks,  New York Times Book Review "Rahe thinks and writes big. . . .  The Spartan Regime  breaks important new ground." —Jacob Howland,  Commentary "An important new history. . . . The story of this ancient clash of civilizations, masterfully told by Paul Rahe . . . provides a timely reminder about strategic challenges and choices confronting the United States." —John Maurer,  Claremont Review of Books "Rahe's ability to reveal the human side beneath [an] austere exterior is one of many reasons to read this beautifully written, meticulously researched, and deeply engaging book." —Waller R. Newell,  Washington Free Beacon "A serious scholarly endeavor." —Eric W. Robinson,  American Historical Review

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Soldier of Rome: March to Oblivion - James Mace Cover Art

Soldier of Rome: March to Oblivion

Soldier of Rome: March to Oblivion by James Mace

In 89 A.D., following a failed insurrection by the governor of Upper Germania, the disgraced Legio XXI, Rapax, is dispatched to Pannonia, on the River Danube. The legion is purged of its senior officers; Emperor Domitian appoints the venerable Lucius Flavius Silva as the new commanding legate. Silva was a revered general. During his previous command, twenty years prior, he famously captured the Herodian Fortress of Masada at the end of the Great Jewish Revolt. Three years later a young staff tribune, Tiberius Artorius Castus, arrives at the legion's fortress of Carnuntum on his first duty posting. Idealistic if a touch naïve, he aspires to live up to the martial legacy of the Artorians who came before him. Acting as his chief mentor is Centurion Primus Ordo Gavius Lucifer. A decorated veteran who rallied a band of loyalists during the Germania revolt in support of Emperor Domitian, he is one of the only senior officers to survive the legion's subsequent purging. Within months of Tiberius' arrival, indigenous Marcomanni and Quadi tribesmen openly rebel, supported by thousands of their kinsmen from north of the Danube. Aiding them is a large contingent of Rhoxolani heavy cavalry, led by a Sarmatian general who survived Roman crucifixion and now seeks revenge against the Empire. Cut off from the rest of the province, Legio XXI finds itself in a bitter struggle for survival. The emperor orders his best general, Marcus Ulpius Trajan from Hispania with a large army to crush the rebellion and save the embattled legion. Knowing that reinforcements must travel more than a thousand miles on a trek that will take months, Silva orders Legio XXI make its' stand against their overwhelming adversaries. They either march to victorious redemption or the cold embrace of oblivion.

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The Romans - Edward J. Watts Cover Art

The Romans

The Romans A 2,000-Year History by Edward J. Watts

An acclaimed scholar tells the full, breathtaking history of Rome, from its emergence in the Iron Age to the capture of Constantinople in the thirteenth century “A sweeping historical survey that spans two millennia…Those intrigued by the ebb and flow of political power…will find in this book a cornucopia."— Wall Street Journal When we think of “ancient Romans” today, many picture the toga-clad figures of Cicero and Caesar, presiding over a republic, and then an empire, before seeing their world collapse at the hands of barbarians in the fifth century AD.    The Romans does away with this narrow vision by offering the first comprehensive account of ancient Rome over the course of two millennia. Prize-winning historian Edward J. Watts recounts the full sweep of Rome’s epic past: the Punic Wars, the fall of the republic, the coming of Christianity, Alaric’s sack of Rome, the rise of Islam, the Battle of Manzikert, and the onslaught of the Crusaders who would bring about the empire’s end. Watts shows that the source of Rome’s enduring strength was the diverse range of people who all called themselves Romans. This is the Rome of Augustus, Marcus Aurelius, and Constantine, but also Charlemagne, Justinian, and Manuel Comnenus—and countless other men and women who together made it the most resilient state the world has ever seen.     An expansive, eye-opening portrait, The Romans is the definitive history of Rome and its citizens.

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Delphi Collected Works of Eusebius (Illustrated) - Eusebius of Caesarea Cover Art

Delphi Collected Works of Eusebius (Illustrated)

Delphi Collected Works of Eusebius (Illustrated) by Eusebius of Caesarea

A scholar of the Biblical canon, Eusebius of Caesarea became counsellor of Constantine the Great and is regarded as an extremely learned Christian of the fourth century. Today his fame chiefly rests as a historian, whose pioneer work ‘Ecclesiastical History’ provides a chronological account of the development of Early Christianity from the first century to the fourth century. Eusebius also wrote an informative ‘Life of Constantine’, famously narrating the emperor’s victory at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge and his dramatic conversion to Christianity. Delphi’s Ancient Classics series provides eReaders with the wisdom of the Classical world, with both English translations and original Greek texts. This comprehensive eBook presents Eusebius’ collected works in English translation, with illustrations, informative introductions and the usual Delphi bonus material. (Version 1) * Beautifully illustrated with images relating to Eusebius’ life and works * Features all of the major works of Eusebius in English translation * Includes the Greek text of Eusbeius’ ‘Historia ecclesiastica’ * Concise introductions to the major works * Rare translations provided by contributors to www.tertullian.org * Excellent formatting of the texts * Easily locate the sections you want to read with individual contents tables * Features a bonus biography — discover Eusebius’ ancient world Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to explore our range of Ancient Classics titles or buy the entire series as a Super Set CONTENTS: The Translations Chronicle (Translated by Andrew Smith) Six Selected Passages from ‘Commentary on the Psalms’ (Translated by Fr. Alban Justinus) Against Hierocles (Translated by F.C. Conybeare, Loeb Classical Library, 1912) The Proof of the Gospel (Translated by W. J. Ferrar, 1920) On the Celebration of Easter (Translated by Andrew Eastbourne) Encomium on the Martyrs (Translated by B. H. Cowper, 1864) The History of the Martyrs in Palestine (Translated by William Cureton, 1861) Ecclesiastical History (Translated by Arthur Cushman McGiffert) Life of Constantine (Translated by Ernest Cushing Richardson, 1890) Letter to Carpianus on the Gospel Canons (Translated by Mark DelCogliano) Concerning the Place Names in Sacred Scripture (Translated by C. Umhau Wolf) The Preparation of the Gospel (Translated by E.H. Gifford, 1903) Theophania (Translated by Samuel Lee, 1843) On the Star (Spurious) (Translated by William Wright, 1866) The Greek Text Historia ecclesiastica The Biography The Life and Writings of Eusebius of Cæsarea by Arthur Cushman McGiffert Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to browse through our range of exciting titles

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Delphi Collected Works of Origen (Illustrated) - Origen of Alexandria & Delphi Classics Cover Art

Delphi Collected Works of Origen (Illustrated)

Delphi Collected Works of Origen (Illustrated) by Origen of Alexandria & Delphi Classics

Regarded by some as the greatest genius of the early Christian church, Origen of Alexandria was a third century scholar, ascetic and theologian. He was a prolific writer of approximately 2,000 treatises in multiple branches of theology, including textual criticism, biblical exegesis and hermeneutics and spirituality. His treatise ‘On the First Principles’ systematically lays out the principles of Christian theology and became the foundation for later theological writings; while the treatise ‘Against Celsus’ is regarded as the most influential work of early Christian apologetics, in which Origen defends Christianity against the pagan philosopher Celsus, one of its foremost critics. Delphi’s Ancient Classics series provides eReaders with the wisdom of the Classical world, with both English translations and the original Greek texts. This comprehensive eBook presents Origen’s collected works, with illustrations, informative introductions and the usual Delphi bonus material. (Version 1) * Beautifully illustrated with images relating to Origen's life and works * Features the collected works of Origen in English translation * Includes the original Greek texts of Origen’s two major treatises: ‘On the First Principles’ and ‘Against Celsus’ * Concise introductions to the major works * Includes translations previously appearing in ‘Ante-Nicene Fathers’, 1885 * Excellent formatting of the texts * Easily locate the sections you want to read with individual contents tables * Features two bonus biographies, including Eusebius’ fourth century account — discover Origen's ancient world Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to explore our range of Ancient Classics titles or buy the entire series as a Super Set CONTENTS: The Translations On the First Principles (c. 225) [Tr. Frederick Crombie] Commentary on the Gospel of John (c. 227) [Tr. Allan Menzies] On Prayer (c. 235) [Tr. William A. Curtis] Commentary on Matthew (c. 247) [Tr. John Patrick] Against Celsus (248) [Tr. Frederick Crombie] Philocalia (360) [Tr. George Lewis] Letters [Tr. Frederick Crombie] The Greek Texts De Principiis Contra Celsum The Biographies Extract from Book VI of ‘Ecclesiastical History’ by Eusebius (313) Introduction to Origen by Frederick Crombie (1885) Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to browse through our range of exciting titles

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The War for Gaul - Julius Caesar & James O'Donnell Cover Art

The War for Gaul

The War for Gaul A New Translation by Julius Caesar & James O'Donnell

A new translation that captures the gripping power of one of the greatest war stories ever told—Julius Caesar’s pitiless account of his brutal campaign to conquer Gaul Imagine a book about an unnecessary war written by the ruthless general of an occupying army—a vivid and dramatic propaganda piece that forces the reader to identify with the conquerors and that is designed, like the war itself, to fuel the limitless political ambitions of the author. Could such a campaign autobiography ever be a great work of literature—perhaps even one of the greatest? It would be easy to think not, but such a book exists—and it helped transform Julius Caesar from a politician on the make into the Caesar of legend. This remarkable new translation of Caesar’s famous but underappreciated War for Gaul captures, like never before in English, the gripping and powerfully concise style of the future emperor’s dispatches from the front lines in what are today France, Belgium, Germany, and Switzerland. While letting Caesar tell his battle stories in his own way, distinguished classicist James O’Donnell also fills in the rest of the story in a substantial introduction and notes that together explain why Gaul is the “best bad man’s book ever written”—a great book in which a genuinely bad person offers a bald-faced, amoral description of just how bad he has been. Complete with a chronology, a map of Gaul, suggestions for further reading, and an index, this feature-rich edition captures the forceful austerity of a troubling yet magnificent classic—a book that, as O’Donnell says, “gets war exactly right and morals exactly wrong.”