Books on Ancient Greece - Literature, History and Historical Fiction
'Children of Tantalus'
A short review of Underwood and Grossack's 'Children of Tantalus.'
'Democracy and Knowledge,' by Josiah Ober
The 1st chapter explains that Athenian democracy was unlike modern democracy for one main reason: modern democracy "willfully ignores popular sources of useful knowledge."
Greek Tragedy - Bauer, Nancy Sorkin
Review of Greek Tragedy, by Nancy Sorkin Rabinowitz.
Books on Ancient Magic and Religion
Some books on this list go into the rationale for linking magic and religion, but for the purposes of this introduction, it's enough to say they weren't completely separate in ancient life. You'll find material on curses, love spells, priestesses rituals, and related topics. What you won't find here is the ancient myths except as they exemplify the use of magic. This covers a large field.
The Trojan War: A New History, by Barry Strauss
Review of The Trojan War: A New History, by Barry Strauss, which is like a companion guide to the Iliad of Homer.
Plagues and Poxes
A.J. Bollet reports on diseases that have created epidemics among human populations. Plagues and Poxes is a series of essays on individual diseases.
Libraries in the Ancient World - Casson, Lionel
Review of Lionel Casson's Libraries in the Ancient World.
Hypatia of Alexandria - Dzielska, Maria
Review of Maria Dzielska's book on the truth behind the legend of the woman described as the body of Aphrodite and the spirit of Plato.
History of Money - Weatherford, Jack
This isn't the place to turn to for a look at economic theory, but for a fast paced history of the world through the lens of money, this is an excellent choice.
Greek Fire, Poison Arrows & Scorpion Bombs - Mayor, Adrienne
In "Greek Fire, Poison Arrows & Scorpion Bombs - Biological and Chemical Warfare in the Ancient World," Adrienne Mayor does a masterful job of showing how everything modern in the areas of terrorism and warfare has ancient antecedents.
Greco-Roman World of the New Testament Era - Jeffers, James S.
Greco-Roman World of the New Testament Era.
Engineering in the Ancient World - Landels, J. G.
Engineering in the Ancient World, by J. G. Landels. Review of Landels' Engineering in the Ancient World.
Extraordinary Voyage of Pytheas the Greek - Cunliffe, Barry
Archaeologist Barry Cunliffe takes anachronistic liberties with his portrayal of ancient travel writer Pyheas the Greek.
Iokaste - Grossack, Victoria and Alice Underwood
How could Oedipus marry his mother? Surely he could see how much older she was than he? And how did she not know he was her son? These are issues Victoria Grossack and Alice Underwood address in this work of historical fiction.
Alexander of Macedon 356-323 B.C. - Green, Peter
Peter Green's biography of Alexander of Macedon tells a rich, colorful story of the life of Alexander the Great, noting his acts of egomania and growing contempt for mere mortals no less than his military brilliance. If you're looking for a single comprehensive, easy to read, if long, work on Alexander, this should be it.
Battle of Salamis - Strauss, Barry
The Battle of Salamis was fought by Greek city-states against the Persian Empire led by Xerxes. It was a battle of a rich, giant empire against small, impoverished, disjointed, feuding political entities. It looked like a sure bet for the Persians, but, as Barry Strauss shows, it was precisely the strengths of the Persian Empire and its fleet...
Trying Neaira Review - Hamel, Debra
Review of Debra Hamel's "Trying Neaira - The True Story of a Courtesan's Scandalous Life in Ancient Greece."
Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea - Why the Greeks Matter - Cahill, Thomas
Review of Thomas Cahill's overview of ancient Greece, Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea - Why the Greeks Matter.
Exchange and the Maiden - Ormand, Kirk
The role of women in a homosocial Greek world.
Euripides' Alcestis - Hughes, Ted
Two heroes emerge from this modern adaptation, by Ted Hughes, of Euripides' drama, Heracles and the best of women, Alcestis, wife of Admetos.
Children of Athena - Loraux, Nicole
How the Athenians' myth justified differential treatment of men and women.
Aspasia of Miletus - Henry, Madeleine
Madeleine Henry studies the original liberated woman, a fifth century Athenian metic, Aspasia of Miletus.
Aeschylus Oresteia - Hughes, Ted
Ted Hughes easy to read, poetic translation of Aeschylus' trilogy about the curse of the House of Atreus.
Achilles - Cook, Elizabeth
Elizabeth Cook's little story (barely over 100 pages for the story itself) gets to the heart of Achilles' participation in the Trojan War.
Laughter of Aphrodite - Green, Peter
Peter Green constructs a biography based on the few known facts of Sappho's life.
'Ghost on the Throne,' by James Romm
Although 'Ghost on the Throne' includes a biographical sketch of Alexander, it isn't about him, but his successors, their ambitions, alliances, and treachery.
'Masters of Command' by Barry Strauss
A review of the 2012 'Masters of Command: Alexander, Hannibal, Caesar, and the Genius of Leadership' written by Barry Strauss.
'Ghost on the Throne,' by James Romm
Although 'Ghost on the Throne' includes a biographical sketch of Alexander, it isn't about him, but his successors, their ambitions, alliances, and treachery.
World of Odysseus - Finley, M.I.
A vital, classic work on Homer and the Odyssey that should be required reading for anyone studying Homer, plus it's short and easy to read.