Synopses & Reviews
A Booklist 2012 Editors' Choice SelectionFor more than half a century, the Oxford Classical Dictionary has been the unrivaled one-volume reference work on the Greco-Roman world. Whether one is interested in literature or art, philosophy or law, mythology or science, intimate details of daily life or broad cultural and historical trends, the OCD is the first place to turn for clear, authoritative information on all aspects of ancient culture.
Now comes the Fourth Edition of this redoubtable resource, thoroughly revised and updated, with numerous new entries and two new focus areas (on reception and anthropology). Here, in over six thousand entries ranging from long articles to brief identifications, readers can find information on virtually any topic of interest--athletics, bee-keeping, botany, magic, religious rites, postal service, slavery, navigation, and the reckoning of time. The Oxford Classical Dictionary profiles every major figure of Greece and Rome, from Homer and Virgil to Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great. Readers will find entries on mythological and legendary figures, on major cities, famous buildings, and important geographical landmarks, and on legal, rhetorical, literary, and political terms and concepts.
Review
"Rich, varied, and highly reliable... Magnificent. An indispensable reference for individuals and libraries alike." --Library Journal (starred review)
"The Oxford name has authority in reference circles, but the invariable question in these days of easy web access is whether the price of the print work is justified. The answer, in the case of The Oxford Classical Dictionary, is a resounding yes. ... A brilliant starting place for research into just about any facet of classics one can think of, with a depth and richness of cross-referencing that makes it an ideal and elegant tool." --Booklist (starred review)
"Scholarly and succinct, The Oxford Classical Dictionary is itself a classic. Perhaps the most appropriate encomium is that it remains the source of first resort for novices and experts alike. Summing Up: Essential." --Choice
"Authoritative and informative, the work is the best single-volume classical dictionary in English and an essential desktop reference ... It truly has, as its editors claim, 'no competitor in any language.'" --MLA Literary Research Guide
Synopsis
A
Booklist 2012 Editors' Choice Selection
For more than half a century, the Oxford Classical Dictionary has been the unrivaled one-volume reference work on the Greco-Roman world. Whether one is interested in literature or art, philosophy or law, mythology or science, intimate details of daily life or broad cultural and historical trends, the OCD is the first place to turn for clear, authoritative information on all aspects of ancient culture.
Now comes the Fourth Edition of this redoubtable resource, thoroughly revised and updated, with numerous new entries and two new focus areas (on reception and anthropology). Here, in over six thousand entries ranging from long articles to brief identifications, readers can find information on virtually any topic of interest--athletics, bee-keeping, botany, magic, religious rites, postal service, slavery, navigation, and the reckoning of time. The Oxford Classical Dictionary profiles every major figure of Greece and Rome, from Homer and Virgil to Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great. Readers will find entries on mythological and legendary figures, on major cities, famous buildings, and important geographical landmarks, and on legal, rhetorical, literary, and political terms and concepts.
Synopsis
A Booklist 2012 Editors' Choice SelectionFor more than half a century, the Oxford Classical Dictionary has been the unrivaled one-volume reference work on the Greco-Roman world. Whether one is interested in literature or art, philosophy or law, mythology or science, intimate details of daily life or broad cultural and historical trends, the OCD is the first place to turn for clear, authoritative information on all aspects of ancient culture.
Now comes the Fourth Edition of this redoubtable resource, thoroughly revised and updated, with numerous new entries and two new focus areas (on reception and anthropology). Here, in over six thousand entries ranging from long articles to brief identifications, readers can find information on virtually any topic of interest--athletics, bee-keeping, botany, magic, religious rites, postal service, slavery, navigation, and the reckoning of time. The Oxford Classical Dictionary profiles every major figure of Greece and Rome, from Homer and Virgil to Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great. Readers will find entries on mythological and legendary figures, on major cities, famous buildings, and important geographical landmarks, and on legal, rhetorical, literary, and political terms and concepts.
About the Author
Simon Hornblower is a Senior Research Fellow in Classical Studies at All Souls College, Oxford.
Antony Spawforth is Professor of Ancient History at the University of Newcastle.
Esther Eidinow is Reader in Ancient Greek History at Newman University College in Birmingham.
Table of Contents
Preface List of New Entries
Area Advisors
Contributors
Abbreviations
Note to the Reader
A-Z Dictionary Entries