Books in the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series

An insightful and original exploration of Roman Republic politicsIn A Companion to the Political Culture of the Roman Republic, editors Valentina Arena and Jonathan Prag deliver an incisive and original collection of forty contributions from leading academics representing various intellectual and academic traditions. The collected works represent some of the best scholarship in recent decades and adopt a variety of approaches, each of which confronts major problems in the field and contributes to ongoing research.The book represents a new, updated, and comprehensive view of the political world of Republican Rome and some of the included essays are available in English for the first time.Divided into six parts, the discussions consider the institutionalized loci, political actors, and values, rituals, and discourse that characterized Republican Rome. The Companion also offers several case studies and sections on the history of the interpretation of political life in the Roman Republic. Key features include:* A thorough introduction to the Roman political world as seen through the wider lenses of Roman political culture* Comprehensive explorations of the fundamental components of Roman political culture, including ideas and values, civic and religious rituals, myths, and communicative strategies* Practical discussions of Roman Republic institutions, both with reference to their formal rules and prescriptions, and as patterns of social organization* In depth examinations of the 'afterlife' of the Roman Republic, both in ancient authors and in early modern and modern timesPerfect for students of all levels of the ancient world, A Companion to the Political Culture of the Roman Republic will also earn a place in the libraries of scholars and students of politics, political history, and the history of ideas.

The Blackwell Companion to Greek Tragedy provides readers with a fundamental grounding in Greek tragedy, and also introduces them to the various methodologies and the lively critical dialogue that characterize the study of Greek tragedy today.

A Companion to Sport and Spectacle in Greek and Roman Antiquity presents a series of original essays that apply a socio-historical perspective to myriad aspects of ancient sport and spectacle.

A Companion to Greek Literature presents a comprehensive introduction to the wide range of texts and literary forms produced in the Greek language over the course of a millennium beginning from the 6th century BCE up to the early years of the Byzantine Empire.* Features contributions from a wide range of established experts and emerging scholars of Greek literature* Offers comprehensive coverage of the many genres and literary forms produced by the ancient Greeks--including epic and lyric poetry, oratory, historiography, biography, philosophy, the novel, and technical literature* Includes readings that address the production and transmission of ancient Greek texts, historic reception, individual authors, and much more* Explores the subject of ancient Greek literature in innovative ways

A COMPANION TO ANCIENT GREEK AND ROMAN MUSICA comprehensive guide to music in Classical Antiquity and beyondDrawing on the latest research on the topic, A Companion to Ancient Greek and Roman Music provides a detailed overview of the most important issues raised by the study of ancient Greek and Roman music. An international panel of contributors, including leading experts as well as emerging voices in the field, examine the ancient 'Art of the Muses' from a wide range of methodological, theoretical, and practical perspectives.Written in an engaging and accessible style, this book explores the pervasive presence of the performing arts in ancient Greek and Roman culture--ranging from musical mythology to music theory and education, as well as archaeology and the practicalities of performances in private and public contexts. But this Companion also explores the broader roles played by music in the Graeco-Roman world, examining philosophical, psychological, medical and political uses of music in antiquity, and aspects of its cultural heritage in Mediaeval and Modern times.This book debunks common myths about Greek and Roman music, casting light on yet unanswered questions thanks to newly discovered evidence. Each chapter includes a discussion of the tools or methodologies that are most appropriate to address different topics, as well as detailed case studies illustrating their effectiveness. This book* Offers new research insights that will contribute to the future developments of the field, outlining new interdisciplinary approaches to investigate the importance of performing arts in the ancient world and its reception in modern culture* Traces the history and development of ancient Greek and Roman music, including their Near Eastern roots, following a thematic approach* Showcases contributions from a wide range of disciplines and international scholarly traditions* Examines the political, social and cultural implications of music in antiquity, including ethnicity, regional identity, gender and ideology* Presents original diagrams and transcriptions of ancient scales, rhythms, and extant scores that facilitate access to these vital aspects of ancient music for scholars as well as practicing musiciansWritten for a broad range of readers including classicists, musicologists, art historians, and philosophers, A Companion to Ancient Greek and Roman Music provides a rich, informative and thought-provoking picture of ancient music in Classical Antiquity and beyond.

A COMPANION TO LATE ANCIENT JEWS AND JUDAISM THIRD CENTURY BCE TO SEVENTH CENTURY CE An innovative approach to the study of ten centuries of Jewish culture and history A Companion to Late Ancient Jews and Judaism explores the Jewish people, their communities, and various manifestations of their religious and cultural expressions from the third century BCE to the seventh century CE. Presenting a collection of 30 original essays written by noted scholars in the field, this companion provides an expansive examination of ancient Jewish life, identity, gender, sacred and domestic spaces, literature, language, and theological questions throughout late ancient Jewish history and historiography. Editors Naomi Koltun-Fromm and Gwynn Kessler situate the volume within Late Antiquity, enabling readers to rethink traditional chronological, geographic, and political boundaries. The Companion incorporates a broad methodology, drawing from social history, material history and culture, and literary studies to consider the diverse forms and facets of Jews and Judaism within multiple contexts of place, culture, and history. Divided into five parts, thematically-organized essays discuss topics including the spaces where Jews lived, worked, and worshiped, Jewish languages and literatures, ethnicities and identities, and questions about gender and the body central to Jewish culture and Judaism. Offering original scholarship and fresh insights on late ancient Jewish history and culture, this unique volume: Offers a one-volume exploration of "second temple," "Greco-Roman," and "rabbinic" periods and sources Explores Jewish life across most of the geographic places where Jews or Judaeans were known to have lived Features original maps of areas cited in every essay, including maps of Jewish settlement throughout Late Antiquity Includes an outline of major historical events, further readings, and full references A Companion to Late Ancient Jews and Judaism is a valuable resource for students, instructors, and scholars of Jewish studies, religion, literature, and ethnic identity, as well as general readers with interest in Jewish history, world religions, Classics, and Late Antiquity.

A Companion to Women in the Ancient World is the first interdisciplinary, methodologically-based collection of readings to address the study of women in the ancient world while weaving textual, visual, and archaeological evidence into its approach.

This Companion provides a comprehensive review of the critical issues and approaches that have transformed scholarly understanding of Roman architecture in the last 20 years. It serves as an indispensable teaching and reference work for English-speaking undergraduates and graduates.

Covering the period from the death of Alexander the Great to the celebrated defeat of Antony and Cleopatra at the hands of Augustus, this book explores the world that Alexander created but did not live to see. It also features reading for courses on Hellenistic history.

A Companion to the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East is a comprehensive and authoritative overview of ancient material culture from the late Pleistocene to Late Antiquity. This expansive two-volume work includes sixty original essays from an international community of Ancient Near East scholars.

A Companion to Marcus Aurelius presents the first comprehensive collection of essays to explore all essential facets relating to contemporary Marcus Aurelius studies.

A Companion to the Flavian Age of Imperial Rome provides a systematic and comprehensive examination of the political, economic, social, and cultural nuances of the Flavian Age (69 96 CE).

The first book-length overview of agricultural development in the ancient worldA Companion to Ancient Agriculture is an authoritative overview of the history and development of agriculture in the ancient world. Focusing primarily on the Near East and Mediterranean regions, this unique text explores the cultivation of the soil and rearing of animals through centuries of human civilization--from the Neolithic beginnings of agriculture to Late Antiquity. Chapters written by the leading scholars in their fields present a multidisciplinary examination of the agricultural methods and influences that have enabled humans to survive and prosper.Consisting of thirty-one chapters, the Companion presents essays on a range of topics that include economic-political, anthropological, zooarchaeological, ethnobotanical, and archaeobotanical investigation of ancient agriculture. Chronologically-organized chapters offer in-depth discussions of agriculture in Bronze Age Egypt and Mesopotamia, Hellenistic Greece and Imperial Rome, Iran and Central Asia, and other regions. Sections on comparative agricultural history discuss agriculture in the Indian subcontinent and prehistoric China while an insightful concluding section helps readers understand ancient agriculture from a modern perspective.* Fills the need for a full-length biophysical and social overview of ancient agriculture* Provides clear accounts of the current state of research written by experts in their respective areas* Places ancient Mediterranean agriculture in conversation with contemporary practice in Eastern and Southern Asia* Includes coverage of analysis of stable isotopes in ancient agricultural cultivation* Offers plentiful illustrations, references, case studies, and further reading suggestionsA Companion to Ancient Agriculture is a much-needed resource for advanced students, instructors, scholars, and researchers in fields such as agricultural history, ancient economics, and in broader disciplines including classics, archaeology, and ancient history.

Satire, written in the verse of heroic epic but focused on the evils of contemporary society, was ancient Rome's original contribution to world literature. Two great practitioners of this art, Persius and Juvenal, wrote under the early emperors. Inspired by their Republican predecessors, both radically reinvented the genre.

A Companion to the Neronian Age is an up-to-date, interdisciplinary and comprehensive collection of essays on the literature, history, archaeology and the reception of the Neronian Age.

This Companion provides scholarly yet accessible new interpretations of Greek history of the Classical period, from the aftermath of the Persian Wars in 478 B.C. to the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C.

A Companion to the Ancient Greek Language gives a comprehensive account of the language of Ancient Greek civilization in a single volume with contributions from leading international scholars. This collection of 36 original essays covers the historical, geographical, sociolinguistic, and literary perspectives of the language.

Recent years have seen powerful developments in the study of archaic Greece, with the emergence of new areas of interest, new ways of thinking about old problems, radical new approaches to the sources and new evidence.

A Companion to the Ancient Near East offers students and general readers a comprehensive overview of Near Eastern civilization from the Bronze Age to the conquests of Alexander the Great.

A Companion to Ancient Epic presents for the first time a comprehensive, up-to-date overview of ancient Near Eastern, Greek, and Roman epic. It offers a multidisciplinary discussion of both long-standing ideas and newer perspectives.

Recent scholarship has transformed the field of Byzantine studies and propelled it to the forefront of academia. Building on these recent developments, A Companion to Byzantium presents a comprehensive overview of the field.

This Companion illuminates Greek and Roman political thought in all its range, diversity, and depth. Thirty-four essays from leading scholars in history, classics, philosophy, and political science provide stimulating discussions of classical political thought, ranging from the Archaic Greek epics to the final days of the Roman Empire and beyond.

A Companion to the Roman Empire provides readers with a guide both to Roman imperial history and to the field of Roman studies, taking account of the most recent discoveries. Provides a guide both to Roman imperial history and to the field of Roman studies. Takes account of recent discoveries.

Presents an account of Latin literature from its beginnings in the third century BC through to the end of the second century AD.

This complete guide to ancient Greek rhetoric is exceptional both in its chronological range and the breadth of topics it covers. Traces the rise of rhetoric and its uses from Homer to Byzantium. Covers wider-ranging topics such as rhetoric's relationship to knowledge, ethics, religion, law, and emotion.

A comprehensive treatment of the significant symbols and institutions of Roman religion, this Companion places the various religious symbols, discourses, and practices, including Judaism and Christianity, into a larger framework to reveal the sprawling landscape of the Roman religion.

This Companion provides an authoritative and up-to-date overview of Roman Republican history as it is currently practiced. Highlights recent developments, including archaeological discoveries, fresh approaches to textual sources, and the opening up of new areas of historical study. Retains the drama of the Republic's rise and fall.

This complete guide to ancient Greek rhetoric is exceptional both in its chronological range and the breadth of topics it covers. * Traces the rise of rhetoric and its uses from Homer to Byzantium. * Covers wider-ranging topics such as rhetoric's relationship to knowledge, ethics, religion, law, and emotion.