A Cabinet Of Greek Curiosities

Author : J. C. McKeown
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 240 pages
File Size : 46,7 Mb
Release : 2013-04-29
Category : Literary Criticism
ISBN : 9780199982127

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A Cabinet of Greek Curiosities by J. C. McKeown Pdf

The ancient Greeks were a wonderful people. They gave us democracy, drama, and philosophy, and many forms of art and branches of science would be inconceivable without their influence. And yet, they were capable of the most outlandish behavior, preposterous beliefs, and ludicrous opinions. Like its companion volume, A Cabinet of Roman Curiosities, this is an uproarious miscellany of odd stories and facts, culled from a lifetime of teaching ancient Greek civilization. In some ways, the book demonstrates how much the Greeks were like us. Politicians were regarded as shallow and self-serving; overweight people resorted to implausible diets; Socrates and the king of Sparta used to entertain their children by riding around on a stick pretending it was a horse. Of course, their differences from us are abundantly documented too and the book may leave readers with a few incredulous questions. To ward off evil, were scapegoats thrown down from cliffs, though fitted out with feathers and live birds to give them a sporting chance of survival? Did a werewolf really win the boxing event at the Olympic Games? Were prisoners released on bail so that they could enjoy dramatic festivals? Did anyone really believe that Pythagoras flew about on a magic arrow? Other such mysteries abound in this quirky and richly illustrated journey into the "glory that was Greece." "The loveliest thing on the black earth." Sappho of Lesbos "Well worth getting a copy." Pisistratus of Athens "Meticulously written, a must for every library." Ptolemy of Alexandria "Unputdownable." Atlas the Titan "Fantastic! Incredible!" Cassandra, priestess of Apollo "The ideal gift." Laocoon of Troy "Not too long." Callimachus of Cyrene "I find something new every time I dip in." Archimedes of Syracuse

Author : J. C. McKeown
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 289 pages
File Size : 55,8 Mb
Release : 2017
Category : Greek World
ISBN : 9780190610432

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A Cabinet of Ancient Medical Curiosities by J. C. McKeown Pdf

There are few disciplines as exciting and forward-looking as medicine. Unfortunately, however, many modern practitioners have rather lost sight of the origins of their discipline. 'A Cabinet of Ancient Medical Curiosities' aspires to make good this lapse by taking readers back to the early days of Western medicine in ancient Greece and Rome. Quoting the actual words of ancient authors, often from texts which have never been translated into English, it gives a glimpse into the beginnings of such fields as surgery, gynecology, pediatrics, preventive medicine, and pharmacology, as well as highlighting ancient views on such familiar topics as medical ethics and the role of the doctor in society.

Author : J. C. McKeown
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 272 pages
File Size : 41,6 Mb
Release : 2010-06-01
Category : History
ISBN : 0199752788

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A Cabinet of Roman Curiosities by J. C. McKeown Pdf

Here is a whimsical and captivating collection of odd facts, strange beliefs, outlandish opinions, and other highly amusing trivia of the ancient Romans. We tend to think of the Romans as a pragmatic people with a ruthlessly efficient army, an exemplary legal system, and a precise and elegant language. A Cabinet of Roman Curiosities shows that the Romans were equally capable of bizarre superstitions, logic-defying customs, and often hilariously derisive views of their fellow Romans and non-Romans. Classicist J. C. McKeown has organized the entries in this entertaining volume around major themes--The Army, Women, Religion and Superstition, Family Life, Medicine, Slaves, Spectacles--allowing for quick browsing or more deliberate consumption. Among the book's many gems are: ? Romans on urban living: The satirist Juvenal lists "fires, falling buildings, and poets reciting in August as hazards to life in Rome." ? On enhanced interrogation: "If we are obliged to take evidence from an arena-fighter or some other such person, his testimony is not to be believed unless given under torture." (Justinian) ? On dreams: Dreaming of eating books "foretells advantage to teachers, lecturers, and anyone who earns his livelihood from books, but for everyone else it means sudden death" ? On food: "When people unwittingly eat human flesh, served by unscrupulous restaurant owners and other such people, the similarity to pork is often noted." (Galen) ? On marriage: In ancient Rome a marriage could be arranged even when the parties were absent, so long as they knew of the arrangement, "or agreed to it subsequently." ? On health care: Pliny caustically described medical bills as a "down payment on death," and Martial quipped that "Diaulus used to be a doctor, now he's a mortician. He does as a mortician what he did as a doctor." For anyone seeking an inglorious glimpse at the underside of the greatest empire in history, A Cabinet of Roman Curiosities offers endless delights.

Author : J. C. McKeown
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 240 pages
File Size : 47,8 Mb
Release : 2013-04-29
Category : History
ISBN : 9780199982110

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A Cabinet of Greek Curiosities by J. C. McKeown Pdf

The ancient Greeks were a wonderful people. They gave us democracy, drama, and philosophy, and many forms of art and branches of science would be inconceivable without their influence. And yet, they were capable of the most outlandish behavior, preposterous beliefs, and ludicrous opinions. Like its companion volume, A Cabinet of Roman Curiosities, this is an uproarious miscellany of odd stories and facts, culled from a lifetime of teaching ancient Greek civilization. In some ways, the book demonstrates how much the Greeks were like us. Politicians were regarded as shallow and self-serving; overweight people resorted to implausible diets; Socrates and the king of Sparta used to entertain their children by riding around on a stick pretending it was a horse. Of course, their differences from us are abundantly documented too and the book may leave readers with a few incredulous questions. To ward off evil, were scapegoats thrown down from cliffs, though fitted out with feathers and live birds to give them a sporting chance of survival? Did a werewolf really win the boxing event at the Olympic Games? Were prisoners released on bail so that they could enjoy dramatic festivals? Did anyone really believe that Pythagoras flew about on a magic arrow? Other such mysteries abound in this quirky and richly illustrated journey into the "glory that was Greece." "The loveliest thing on the black earth." Sappho of Lesbos "Well worth getting a copy." Pisistratus of Athens "Meticulously written, a must for every library." Ptolemy of Alexandria "Unputdownable." Atlas the Titan "Fantastic! Incredible!" Cassandra, priestess of Apollo "The ideal gift." Laocoon of Troy "Not too long." Callimachus of Cyrene "I find something new every time I dip in." Archimedes of Syracuse

Author : Anthony Kaldellis
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 240 pages
File Size : 54,6 Mb
Release : 2017-09-01
Category : History
ISBN : 9780190625955

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A Cabinet of Byzantine Curiosities by Anthony Kaldellis Pdf

Weird, decadent, degenerate, racially mixed, superstitious, theocratic, effeminate, and even hyper-literate, Byzantium has long been regarded by many as one big curiosity. According to Voltaire, it represented "a worthless collection of miracles, a disgrace for the human mind"; for Hegel, it was "a disgusting picture of imbecility." A Cabinet of Byzantine Curiosities will churn up these old prejudices, while also stimulating a deeper interest among readers in one of history's most interesting civilizations. Many of the zanier tales and trivia that are collected here revolve around the political and religious life of Byzantium. Thus, stories of saints, relics, and their miracles-from the hilarious to the revolting-abound. Byzantine bureaucracy (whence the adjective "Byzantine"), court scandals, and elaborate penal code are world famous. And what would Byzantium be without its eunuchs, whose ambiguous gender produced odd and risible outcomes in different contexts? The book also contains sections on daily life that are equally eye-opening, including food (from aphrodisiacs to fermented fish sauce), games such as polo and acrobatics, and obnoxious views of foreigners and others (e.g., Germans, Catholics, Arabs, dwarves). But lest we overlook Byzantium's more honorable contributions to civilization, also included are some of the marvels of Byzantine science and technology, from the military (flamethrowers and hand grenades) to the theatrical ("elevator" thrones, roaring mechanical lions) and medical (catheters and cures, some bizarre). This vast assortment of historical anomaly and absurdity sheds vital light on one of history's most obscure and orthodox empires.

Author : Anthony Kaldellis
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 249 pages
File Size : 45,9 Mb
Release : 2017
Category : History
ISBN : 9780190625948

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A Cabinet of Byzantine Curiosities by Anthony Kaldellis Pdf

Byzantium has long been regarded by many as one big curiosity - decadent, degenerate, superstitious, theocratic, effeminate. With its tales and trivia - ranging across religion, bureaucracy, food, theatre, medicine, xenophobia, warfare - this book will confirm some of these prejudices, but also open eyes to the life of this extraordinarily interesting civilization.

Author : Anthony Grafton,Glenn W. Most,Salvatore Settis
Publisher : Harvard University Press
Page : 1188 pages
File Size : 55,7 Mb
Release : 2010-10-25
Category : History
ISBN : 0674035720

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The Classical Tradition by Anthony Grafton,Glenn W. Most,Salvatore Settis Pdf

The legacy of ancient Greece and Rome has been imitated, resisted, misunderstood, and reworked by every culture that followed. In this volume, some five hundred articles by a wide range of scholars investigate the afterlife of this rich heritage in the fields of literature, philosophy, art, architecture, history, politics, religion, and science.

Author : John James Kelway
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 222 pages
File Size : 54,7 Mb
Release : 2020-12-08
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN : 2957484706

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The Human Body's Cabinet of Etymological Curiosities by John James Kelway Pdf

Author : Martin Beech
Publisher : World Scientific
Page : 572 pages
File Size : 40,5 Mb
Release : 2021-03-05
Category : Science
ISBN : 9789811224935

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Cabinet Of Curiosities, A: The Myth, Magic And Measure Of Meteorites by Martin Beech Pdf

Hurtling through the atmosphere, in a blaze of light and reverberating percussions, the arrival of a meteorite on Earth is a magical, rare, and precious sight. These characteristics have accordingly ensured a long, yet often controversial history. For all this, meteorites are cosmic messengers. They tell us about the entire history of the solar system, their story carrying us from the very earliest moments, when solid material first began to form in the solar nebula. Indeed, meteorites played a key role in the origins of Earth's oceans and the genesis of life. Meteorites additionally tell us about the origin and evolution of the asteroids, and they tell us about impacts upon the Moon as well as the volcanic history of planet Mars. Much is known about the structure and chemistry of meteorites, but for all this, they still harbor many scientific mysteries that have yet to be resolved.

Author : J. J. Pollitt
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 282 pages
File Size : 42,7 Mb
Release : 1974
Category : Art criticism
ISBN : 0300015976

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The Ancient View of Greek Art by J. J. Pollitt Pdf

Author : Olga Tokarczuk
Publisher : Penguin
Page : 416 pages
File Size : 43,7 Mb
Release : 2018-08-14
Category : Fiction
ISBN : 9780525534211

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Flights by Olga Tokarczuk Pdf

WINNER OF THE NOBEL PRIZE IN LITERATURE WINNER OF THE MAN BOOKER INTERNATIONAL PRIZE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST FOR TRANSLATED LITERATURE A visionary work of fiction by "A writer on the level of W. G. Sebald" (Annie Proulx) "A magnificent writer." — Svetlana Alexievich, Nobel Prize-winning author of Secondhand Time "A beautifully fragmented look at man's longing for permanence.... Ambitious and complex." — Washington Post From the incomparably original Polish writer Olga Tokarczuk, Flights interweaves reflections on travel with an in-depth exploration of the human body, broaching life, death, motion, and migration. Chopin's heart is carried back to Warsaw in secret by his adoring sister. A woman must return to her native Poland in order to poison her terminally ill high school sweetheart, and a young man slowly descends into madness when his wife and child mysteriously vanish during a vacation and just as suddenly reappear. Through these brilliantly imagined characters and stories, interwoven with haunting, playful, and revelatory meditations, Flights explores what it means to be a traveler, a wanderer, a body in motion not only through space but through time. Where are you from? Where are you coming in from? Where are you going? we call to the traveler. Enchanting, unsettling, and wholly original, Flights is a master storyteller's answer.

Author : Isaac Disraeli
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 342 pages
File Size : 40,9 Mb
Release : 1823
Category : English literature
ISBN : HARVARD:32044011683455

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Curiosities of Literature by Isaac Disraeli Pdf

Author : Marc Allum
Publisher : Icon Books Ltd
Page : 290 pages
File Size : 40,8 Mb
Release : 2015-07-02
Category : Antiques & Collectibles
ISBN : 9781848319127

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The Collector's Cabinet by Marc Allum Pdf

Explore the wonderful world of antiques and collectables with Antiques Roadshow regular, Marc Allum. Go in search of stolen masterpieces, learn the secrets of the forgers, track down Napoleon's toothbrush and meet the garden gnome insured for £1 million. Eclectic, eccentric and brimming with remarkable tales from history, The Collector's Cabinet is for all those who are fascinated by the relics of the past.

Author : Brian Selznick
Publisher : Scholastic
Page : 325 pages
File Size : 46,7 Mb
Release : 2015-09-03
Category : Juvenile Fiction
ISBN : 9781407166551

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Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick Pdf

Ben's story takes place in 1977 and is told in words. Rose's story in 1927 is told entirely in pictures. Ever since his mother died, Ben feels lost. At home with her father, Rose feels alone. When Ben finds a mysterious clue hidden in his mother's room, both children risk everything to find what's missing.

Author : Ricarda Wagner,Christine Neufeld,Ludger Lieb
Publisher : Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG
Page : 431 pages
File Size : 45,6 Mb
Release : 2019-10-21
Category : History
ISBN : 9783110645712

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Writing Beyond Pen and Parchment by Ricarda Wagner,Christine Neufeld,Ludger Lieb Pdf

What can stories of magical engraved rings or prophetic inscriptions on walls tell us about how writing was perceived before print transformed the world? Writing beyond Pen and Parchment introduces readers to a Middle Ages where writing is not confined to manuscripts but is inscribed in the broader material world, in textiles and tombs, on weapons or human skin. Drawing on the work done at the Collaborative Research Centre “Material Text Cultures,” (SFB 933) this volume presents a comparative overview of how and where text-bearing artefacts appear in medieval German, Old Norse, British, French, Italian and Iberian literary traditions, and also traces the paths inscribed objects chart across multiple linguistic and cultural traditions. The volume’s focus on the raw materials and practices that shaped artefacts both mundane or fantastical in medieval narratives offers a fresh perspective on the medieval world that takes seriously the vibrancy of matter as a vital aspect of textual culture often overlooked.