A Cabinet of Greek Curiosities

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

J. C. McKeown is Professor of Classics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, coeditor of the Oxford Anthology of Roman Literature, and author of Classical Latin: An Introductory Course and A Cabinet of Roman Curiosities.

Preface CHAPTER 1 Food and Drink CHAPTER 2 Children and Education CHAPTER 3 Women CHAPTER 4 Sex CHAPTER 5 Animals CHAPTER 6 Athens CHAPTER 7 Sparta CHAPTER 8 Alexander the Great CHAPTER 9 Greeks at Sea CHAPTER 10 Greeks and Barbarians CHAPTER 11 Athletics CHAPTER 12 Homer CHAPTER 13 Drama CHAPTER 14 Spectators and Critics CHAPTER 15 Books and Papyri CHAPTER 16 Philosophers CHAPTER 17 Mathematics CHAPTER 18 Science and Technology CHAPTER 19 Art CHAPTER 20 Tourists and Tourist Attractions CHAPTER 21 Religion, Superstition, and Magic CHAPTER 22 Prophecy CHAPTER 23 Words and Expressions CHAPTER 24 The Soros Glossary The Coin Images Illustration Credits