Ancient Greek History

Countless civilizations have come and gone over the course of time, but interest in mythology is one of the great constants. People have approached myths from countless angles, some denigrating and self-righteous, others earnest and open-minded, but there is something mystical and universal in all myths that speaks to the reader across the years, regardless of what they know of historiography or "schools of thought".

We might think we are through with the past, but the past isn't through with us. Tragedy permits us to come face to face with the things we don't want to know about ourselves, but which still make us who we are. It articulates the conflicts and contradictions that we need to address in order to better understand the world we live in. A work honed from a decade's teaching at the New School, where Critchley on Tragedy is one of the most popular courses, Tragedy, the Greeks and Us is a compelling examination of the history of tragedy.

Greek Mythology takes you on an amazing journey of discovery, as you learn about the Titans, Olympians, and heroes of old. You'll learn how the primordial forces came together to shape the world. You'll also learn the fascinating tales of how the Titans clashed with each other and the Olympians that came after them. Also, you'll learn about the heroic adventures of the mighty Heracles!

Attempting to cover all the forms the "Goddess of Love" encapsulates is no small affair. The roles she played in romance, marriage, procreation, and all of the other desires of humanity were myriad, but the aim of this book is to paint a slightly different, perhaps more esoteric version of Aphrodite from the usual image of her in mythology books.

Ancient Rome is indeed an intriguing subject of history. The Roman Empire maintained European hegemony for half a millennium; it had legendary rulers like Augustus who, as they say, "found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of marble." This audiobook relates the history of Ancient Rome from its dawn to dusk: the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic, and the Roman Empire. The tumultuous wars, the celebrated rulers, the factors that occasioned the fall of Rome - every prominent event of this epoch is discussed thoroughly.

In 353 BCE, when King Mausolus of Halicarnassus passed away, his sister and queen Artemisia was inconsolable, but she found a way to honor him through finishing a project that they had started together during his life: the construction of a mausoleum that was so marvelous it would later be considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

People have always wanted to know the future. When the ancient Greeks needed to make an important decision they would ask one of their oracles, the priestly advisors who spoke the words of gods. But sometimes it was a mystery what the oracle really meant, and many got it wrong. How the oracles got their answers may be even more mysterious than we think. Let the history, legends, and myths of ancient Greece capture your students' imagination...

Famous for his superhuman strength, Hercules is the most popular hero in Greek mythology. The son of Zeus - king of the gods - and a mortal mother, Hercules faces the wrath of Zeus' wife, Hera, who resents her illegitimate stepson and vows to bring him misery. With her magical powers, she tricks Hercules into performing a series of 12 seemingly impossible labors, each one a test of his strength, courage, cunning, and fighting skill. Is Hercules strong enough to foil her scheme?

In a dissatisfied world, looking back to ancient wisdom can shed light on fresh solutions. For years, many of us have upheld the Stoic concept of ‘no pain, no gain.’ But in a time when we are burdened by the fear of failure and outsize ambitions, perhaps we should stop skirting around the edges of our problems via punishing exercise regimes, productivity apps and early morning starts. According to the pleasure-centric philosophy of Epicureanism, life can be good without great sacrifice, and temptation isn’t always the enemy.

In "Diogenes' Lantern: Seeking Truth in a World of Shadows," readers are invited on a fascinating journey through the life and philosophy of Diogenes the Cynic, an ancient Greek philosopher whose ideas challenge us to this day. This engaging and accessible book delves into the heart of Diogenes’ unconventional wisdom, exploring his quest for truth and his challenges to the Athenian establishment. From his notorious antics with a lantern in broad daylight to his bold encounters with figures like Plato and Alexander the Great, the book brings to life the story of a philosopher who dared to ...

"On Youth and Old Age" is one of the short treatises that make up Aristotle's Parva Naturalia. He compares the temperament of youth with that of old age, and considers middle age the best of all conditions.

The Greek myths are among the world's most important cultural building blocks, and they have been retold many times, but rarely do they focus on the remarkable women at the heart of these ancient stories. Stories of gods and monsters are the mainstay of epic poetry and Greek tragedy, from Homer to Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides, from the Trojan War to Jason and the Argonauts. And still, today, a wealth of novels, plays and films draw their inspiration from stories first told almost 3,000 years ago.

We meet Athene, who sprang fully formed from her father’s head: goddess of war and wisdom, guardian of Athens. We run with Artemis, goddess of hunting and protector of young girls (apart from those she decides she wants as a sacrifice). Here is Aphrodite, goddess of sex and desire – there is no deity more determined and able to make you miserable if you annoy her. And then there’s the queen of all the Olympian gods: Hera, Zeus’s long-suffering wife, whose jealousy of his dalliances with mortals, nymphs and goddesses lead her to wreak elaborate, vicious revenge on those who have wronged her.

To many in the ancient world, their gods and goddesses were all around them and could be seen daily in nature, which meant that nearly every kind of animal, both domestic and wild, was associated with a god or goddess. In places like Egypt and Greece, deities and other mythological characters were often depicted with human bodies and animal heads, and various Greek religious rituals relied on sacrificing animals. Animals were constantly involved in the core elements of Greek society and cults.

The classical world was full of many great and influential cities, ranging from Rome and Alexandria to Athens and Sparta. There were many more that enjoyed periods of prominence, yet they were often ephemeral, seeing their fortunes rise and fall due to their connection to a ruling dynasty. Smyrna was one of the various cities that enjoyed brief yet important periods of influence in which they spawned important dynasties, were the scenes of history-changing battles, and were the sites of great advances in philosophy, science, and economics.

How did the world begin? What did the ancient Greeks know about the very beginning of time? Greek Mythology teaches you how the primordial forces of nature came into being out of Chaos. You'll learn about famous names like Gaia, Erebus, Eros, Nyx, and Tartarus, and you'll meet the Titans, the Olympians, and the heroes.

Beginning from its unification in the 3rd millennium BC and ending in its annexation by the Roman Empire in 30 BC, Ancient Egypt spanned for nearly 30 centuries, leaving behind a wealth of relics that continue to entrance the modern world. From the great pyramids of the Old Kingdom to the hypnotic tomb of Tutankhamen, Ancient Egypt is a topic of intrigue that has earned universal prominence. In fact, its unending stream of allure has established a study of its own: Egyptology.

The Greek god Hades is something of an enigma. On the one hand, people can view him through a lens that was a byproduct of the Christian tradition: as a terrifying lord of death seated upon his ebony throne, an unseen force of power moving through the world. Certainly, many of the ancient Greeks themselves saw the god in this light.

For 10 years, the battle raged. Thousands of ancient Greece's best warriors battled their enemies, the Trojans, in a desperate attempt to win back King Meneleus' beautiful wife, Helen. After a decade of fighting and thousands dead, the Greek forces suddenly fell back. Cautiously the Trojans ventured out of the city walls, where they discovered a giant wooden horse and a messenger. Should they accept this peace offering? Or is the gift horse too good to be true?

A collection of four great listens that explore the life and legends of ancient Greece. Hours of audio fun to keep children entertained while on the move! Immerse your children in the fascinating world of ancient Greece with three classic Greek myths, written especially for children, and one non-fiction history about the ancient Greeks.