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The ancient Greeks were a remarkable civilization, shaping democracy, drama, philosophy, and various art forms and sciences. Yet, they also exhibited bizarre behaviors and beliefs. This uproarious collection of odd stories and facts, drawn from years of teaching about ancient Greek civilization, highlights their similarities and differences from us. Politicians were seen as self-serving, while the overweight pursued dubious diets. Notably, Socrates and the Spartan king entertained children by pretending a stick was a horse. The book raises incredulous questions about their practices: Were scapegoats thrown from cliffs, adorned with feathers and live birds for a fighting chance? Did a werewolf actually win a boxing event at the Olympics? Were prisoners released on bail to enjoy dramatic festivals? Did Pythagoras really fly on a magic arrow? Such quirky mysteries are explored in this richly illustrated journey through the "glory that was Greece." With endorsements from historical figures praising its content and accessibility, this work is deemed a valuable addition to any library and a source of endless intrigue for readers.
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A Cabinet of Greek Curiosities, J. C. McKeown
- Language
- Released
- 2013
- product-detail.submit-box.info.binding
- (Hardcover)
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- Title
- A Cabinet of Greek Curiosities
- Subtitle
- Strange Tales and Surprising Facts from the Cradle of Western Civilization
- Language
- English
- Authors
- J. C. McKeown
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Released
- 2013
- Format
- Hardcover
- Pages
- 304
- ISBN10
- 0199982104
- ISBN13
- 9780199982103
- Series
- Tags
- Non-Fiction, Social Sciences, Historical Themes, Humor, Literary Studies, Science, USA, Europe, Ancient History, History of Europe, Literary Criticism, Greece, Ancient Greece, Civilization, Greek
- Description
- The ancient Greeks were a remarkable civilization, shaping democracy, drama, philosophy, and various art forms and sciences. Yet, they also exhibited bizarre behaviors and beliefs. This uproarious collection of odd stories and facts, drawn from years of teaching about ancient Greek civilization, highlights their similarities and differences from us. Politicians were seen as self-serving, while the overweight pursued dubious diets. Notably, Socrates and the Spartan king entertained children by pretending a stick was a horse. The book raises incredulous questions about their practices: Were scapegoats thrown from cliffs, adorned with feathers and live birds for a fighting chance? Did a werewolf actually win a boxing event at the Olympics? Were prisoners released on bail to enjoy dramatic festivals? Did Pythagoras really fly on a magic arrow? Such quirky mysteries are explored in this richly illustrated journey through the "glory that was Greece." With endorsements from historical figures praising its content and accessibility, this work is deemed a valuable addition to any library and a source of endless intrigue for readers.