Dynastic in-fighting among Hellenistic royal families, from Alexander the Great to Cleopatra, reveals a history filled with intrigue and brutality. This period showcases the intense rivalries and dramatic power struggles that predate the infamous excesses of later Roman emperors like Claudius and Nero. The narrative offers a vivid exploration of the colorful personalities and events that shaped this fascinating era, highlighting the lessons learned from their tumultuous reigns.
The strix was a persistent feature of the folklore of the Roman world and subsequently that of the Latin West and the Greek East. She was a woman that flew by night, either in an owl-like form or in the form of a projected soul, in order to penetrate homes by surreptitious means and thereby devour, blight or steal the new-born babies within them.
Tales of the werewolf are well established as a sub-strand of the popular horror genre; less widely known is how far back in time their provenance lies. This is the first book in any language devoted to the werewolf tales that survive from antiquity, exploring their place alongside witches, ghosts, demons, and soul-flyers in a shared story-world.
What are ancient texts saying to us when they describe Alexander the Great's romantic relationship with his wife Barsine, or comment on his homosexual relationship with Hephaestion?
The son of Zeus, Perseus belongs in the first rank of Greek heroes. Indeed to some he was a greater hero even than Heracles. With the help of Hermes and Athena he slew the Gorgon Medusa, conquered a mighty sea monster and won the hand of the beautiful princess Andromeda. This volume describes his myth, and it's rendering in art and literature.