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"A masterpiece of classical scholarship and research.... The tremendous resources it contains could be very helpful for adult Sunday School teachers, pastors and others to help liven up lessons with accurate historical, archaeological, and other interesting information that is not readily available in most books and commentaries."--Books in Review
"The thoroughly revised third edition of The Oxford Classical Dictionary is a splendid work of reference. Besides traditional topics in classics, its interdisciplinary approach offers new or greatly expanded coverage of formerly slighted subjects....Essential."--Choice
Product Description
'offers not only that breakfast for the mind we keep hearing about, but lunch, tea, dinner, supper and non-stop snacks' Peter Green, Washington Times (reviewing the third edition). For almost half a century The Oxford Classical Dictionary has been regarded as the unrivalled one-volume reference work on all aspects of the Graeco-Roman world. As an authoritative reference to all there is to know about the ancients, the third edition of the Dictionary, published in 1996, has firmly maintained that position, taking into account the huge expansion in the scholarship and scope of classical studies. The value of the Dictionary in terms of factual detail is immense. It provides both scholars and non-specialists with a comprehensive source of reference which aims to answer all their questions about the classical world. In over 6,200 entries written by the very best of classical scholars from all over the world the Dictionary provides coverage of Greek and Roman history, literature, myth, religion, linguistics, philosophy, law, science, art and archaeology, and topics in near eastern studies, and late antiquity. The approach is interdisciplinary: all areas, regions, and cultures are represented beyond the core areas of Greece and Rome. As well as providing factual information the Dictionary contains many thematic entries, on subjects relevant to the 21st century such as nationalism, race, and ecology. The text is written in an accessible style and all Latin and Greek words have been translated. For this revised edition, the two editors Simon Hornblower and Antony Spawforth have made numerous small corrections and updates throughout, to make an outstanding work even better. The Dictionary covers: politics, government, economy - from political figures to political systems, terms and practices, histories of major states and empires, economic theory, agriculture, artisans and industry, trade and markets religion and mythology - deities and mythological creatures, beliefs and rituals, sanctuaries and sacred buildings, astrology and magic law and philosophy - from biographies of lawgivers and lawyers to legal terms and procedures, from major and minor philosophers to philosophical schools, terms, and concepts science and geography - scientists and scientific theory and practice, doctors and medicine, climate and landscape, natural disasters, regions and islands, cities and settlements, communications languages, literature, art, and architecture - languages and dialects, writers and literary terms and genres, orators and rhetorical theory and practice, drama and performance, art, painters and sculptors, architects, buildings and materials archaeology and historical writing - amphorae and pottery, shipwrecks and cemeteries, historians, and Greek and Roman historiography military history - generals, arms and armour, famous battles, attitudes to warfare social history, sex, and gender - women and the family, kinship, peasants and slaves, attitudes to sexuality
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Excellent of course; but why on earth can't they make the volume and the type-face a little larger? At this price-level I am sure no one would mind paying a few extra pounds and the result in terms of reader enjoyability would be enormous. Let's make learning a joyful experience and not a reading marathon:-)
11 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Browsing this book is an excellent experience. Articles vary in length, but provide a good overview in most cases; they also provide further reading on each individual topic.
The price is hefty, but worth it - collecting a series a books covering the breadth of information covered here would be far more expensive. It is not limited to the 'Golden Age', but covers developments in late antiquity - most articles take a historical overview of their topic, not just a snapshot. As an example: the article on the mythical figure of Oedipus does not review the well-known story as given by Sophocles' "Oedipous Tyrannos", but ealier and later versions of the story too.
The fault lies less in the content than in the organisation. If you are looking up a historical or literary figure, then it is fine, but working out what heading a particular topic can be found is an extremely frustrating process. Trying to second-guess an editor seems a pointless exercise; when even a "Thomson Directory" provides a cross-referencing index, how can omitting one here be justified?
In conclusion, this is an excellent resource; but at this price, it feels a little too skimped on production values.
The price is hefty, but worth it - collecting a series a books covering the breadth of information covered here would be far more expensive. It is not limited to the 'Golden Age', but covers developments in late antiquity - most articles take a historical overview of their topic, not just a snapshot. As an example: the article on the mythical figure of Oedipus does not review the well-known story as given by Sophocles' "Oedipous Tyrannos", but ealier and later versions of the story too.
The fault lies less in the content than in the organisation. If you are looking up a historical or literary figure, then it is fine, but working out what heading a particular topic can be found is an extremely frustrating process. Trying to second-guess an editor seems a pointless exercise; when even a "Thomson Directory" provides a cross-referencing index, how can omitting one here be justified?
In conclusion, this is an excellent resource; but at this price, it feels a little too skimped on production values.
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I've been interested in Ancient Greece and Rome ever since I was a child (Which wasn't that long ago), but I have never done a formal degree in the Classics. If I had studied the subject then I would have found this book invaluable.
It's basically a series of very short essays that cover every aspect of the Classical World, from politics and biography to literature; military; science and philosophy; art; food and drink; economy; law; geography; mythology; religion and social history. It also provides information on archaeological topics.
The book mentions virtually everything about the Classical period. For instance, if you were to pick the book up and look through the 'C' section, you'd find on the first few pages topics such as Cabiri, Cacus, Cadmus, Caecilia Attica, Caecilia Metella (1), Caecilia Metella(2) and so on.
Every topic is written by an expert on the subject, and a short bibliography is given at the end of every entry so that you can check up on their sources.
Some entries have more space dedicated to them than others. For instance Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar and Plato will often have biographies that run for several pages. A lot of space is also dedicated to language, literature and science.
The only fault I find with the book is that the Late Antique period is not given as much attention as Classical Greece and Rome. I tried to find information on the Scholae Palatina but I couldn't find an entry. Oddly, the Comitatenses do get an entry though, but the Scholae aren't mentioned under that section.
The newest version of the book now comes with a list of new entries, a guide to the area advisors and an index to the intials of the contributors.
At 1,640 pages long, this a very large and heavy tome. The entries are written in very small print, so it could be a strain on your eyes if you have bad eye-sight. No illustrations or photographs are provided in the book.
Overall, if you are serious about the Classical World, you will find this book an absolute treasure. It might be expensive but I think it is worth every penny. Highly Recommended!
It's basically a series of very short essays that cover every aspect of the Classical World, from politics and biography to literature; military; science and philosophy; art; food and drink; economy; law; geography; mythology; religion and social history. It also provides information on archaeological topics.
The book mentions virtually everything about the Classical period. For instance, if you were to pick the book up and look through the 'C' section, you'd find on the first few pages topics such as Cabiri, Cacus, Cadmus, Caecilia Attica, Caecilia Metella (1), Caecilia Metella(2) and so on.
Every topic is written by an expert on the subject, and a short bibliography is given at the end of every entry so that you can check up on their sources.
Some entries have more space dedicated to them than others. For instance Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar and Plato will often have biographies that run for several pages. A lot of space is also dedicated to language, literature and science.
The only fault I find with the book is that the Late Antique period is not given as much attention as Classical Greece and Rome. I tried to find information on the Scholae Palatina but I couldn't find an entry. Oddly, the Comitatenses do get an entry though, but the Scholae aren't mentioned under that section.
The newest version of the book now comes with a list of new entries, a guide to the area advisors and an index to the intials of the contributors.
At 1,640 pages long, this a very large and heavy tome. The entries are written in very small print, so it could be a strain on your eyes if you have bad eye-sight. No illustrations or photographs are provided in the book.
Overall, if you are serious about the Classical World, you will find this book an absolute treasure. It might be expensive but I think it is worth every penny. Highly Recommended!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Just what I needed
I was told that the OCD was available on CD, but much prefer to have something tngible when studying. And this is most definitely tangible. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Phil
The Oxford Classical Dictionary - a must-read for all classics fans
I bought this book as part of my MA studies and I find it endlessly fascinating. The articles are written by experts in their fields and there are plenty of references for you to... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Joanne Nicholson
An indispensable tome to have
if you want to know more about ancient Rome or Greece. How I managed without it before, I do not know. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Ben Kane
A Must for classical study
It doesn't cover everything. But it is a good start for any serious study in classics. Besides, the paper quality of the new edition is definitely better!
Published 19 months ago by littlestone
Excellent.
Item despatched promptly and arrived in perfect condition.
Seller also checked after the event that I was satisfied.
I was very impressed by the whole transaction.
Seller also checked after the event that I was satisfied.
I was very impressed by the whole transaction.
Published 21 months ago by Graham W.
A must for Classics students
I bought this book for my daughter who is a Classics student at the University of Newcastle. She says she cannot do without and that says it all, doesn't it? Read more
Published on 29 Jan 2010 by Maj-britt Holljen-thon
OCD The Best There is
I have owned a copy of OCD since the first edition and conclude that this 3rd/revised edition is the best formated, easily accessable of them all. Read more
Published on 27 May 2009 by I. D. Burns
CDROM flaw
If you are fortunate enough find and buy a copy of the 3rd edition with CD-ROM, get in touch with OUP as the Versabook system doesn't work correctly with Windows XP or later and... Read more
Published on 9 Nov 2008 by J. E. S. Leake
A strange omission
Pages x-xii of The Oxford Dictionary of the Classical World contain a list of 56 "Major Authors, from Homer and Hesiod to Plutarch. Read more
Published on 25 Jun 2007 by Dr. Mark Taylor
Better than any novel, biography, history, anything
I did a MA in Latin and Archaeology at Edinbrgh, graduating in 1971. I found this and its then predecessor absolutely essential and indispensable. Read more
Published on 5 Jun 2006 by Mr. Thomas Thatcher
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