Pacaritambo

ART & SOCIETY IN ROMAN BRITAIN
by Jennifer Laing. Wonderful B&W photos and drawings illustrate. Condition: NEW 1999 Sutton (UK) Trade Paperback, no printing given. Content: Fully illustrated, this book is the ideal introduction to Roman-British art, including mosaics, sculpture and architecture. The author discusses art patrons and craftsmen, the close relationship between the political and conomic history of the province and its art, and how Roman art responded rapidly to diverse influences. Questions welcome [1 copy available]
$ 6.69 + $ 3.19 media shipping. Priority shipping available. .

AUGUSTUS (Ancient culture and Society series)
by A. H. M. Jones. B&W map section. Condition: UNREAD 1971 Norton Trade Paperback Edition, printing given is "0" - apx. 1990s? Remainder bottom edges. Content: Reviewer: "This book is a little dry and bland, yet it is also valuably thorough and complete. The first few chapters detail the upbringing and rise of Octavian (later Augustus) through politics and service to Rome under the banner of his adopted father, Caesar. The next chapters detail the governmental and constitutional process by which he gradually assumed absolute power over Rome in a way that seems to conform with Roman constitutional precepts. Jones does a good job of painting a portrait of Augustus from Julius Caesar's death to Augustus's own death. What Jones reveals is that Augustus was a wise ruler who tried to conceal his absolute power by putting on the trappings of a Republic, a man who prevented people from worshipping him while he was alive to prevent resentment from the nobles. Jones also shows how Augustus played a part in the great boom of literature and art during his reign (Livy, Horace, Virgil, and Ovid all lived during Augustus's reign). Although his cautious nature prevented him from being a great military leader like his adoptive father, he nonetheless ended many civil wars that plagued the empire before his arrival." Questions welcome [1 copy available]
$ 6.69 + $ 3.09 media shipping. Priority shipping available..

CAESAR DIES (Time-Lost Series, Historical Fiction)
by Talbot Mundy. Frank Brunner cover art. Condition: UNREAD 1973 Centaur Press paperback, no printing given. Pale foxing fore edges. Interior clean & tight - no tanning. Content: A novel of ancient Antioch and Rome in the days of the warrior-emperor, Commodus - whose fanatical whims and paranoid dreads are a threat to every citizen. [1 copy available]
$ 6.29 + $ 3.09 media shipping. Priority & International shipping available.

CITY: A Story of Roman Planning and Construction
by David Macaulay. B&W line drawings illustrate. Condition: UNREAD, but not perfect, 1975 Houghton Mifflin over-size softcover [11.9 x 9.3 x 0.4], no edition given. Light tanning to white cover edges, but not to interior pages, small edgewear. Interior clean & tight. Detailed drawings. Content: Reviewer: "David Macaulay's works are always entertaining, educational and literate, and this is no exception. A multitude of black-and-white line drawings illustrate the story of Roman urban planners as they design and construct a new city on the Roman empire's frontier. Every stage is explained thoroughly using text, illustrations and charts, from developing a master plan through construction. Tools are explained, cross-sections are used to good effect and specific projects such as a house, a road, a bridge and aqueduct, the forum and central market, public baths, the sewer system and an amphitheater and theater are represented. The book ends with a one-page glossary. If you or a student you know is interested in Roman engineering [or Roman history], this would be a marvelous book to give." Recommended for ages 9 - 11, but I think it's a bit too detailed and is probably better for ages 13 +. [1 copy available]
$ 9.69 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

THE DRUID KING: A Novel
by Norman Spinrad. Condition: NEW 2003 Knopf hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first edition, assumed first printing. Content: Science fiction author Spinrad switches genres, refashioning an intriguing legend into an epic piece of historical fiction. When Julius Caesar set his sights westward, determined to expand the Roman Empire into Gaul, only one man stood in his way: Vercingetorix. Dubbed the king of the Druids, Vercingetorix accomplished the seemingly impossible when he united the disparate tribes of Gaul into a fighting force determined to prevent the Romans from encroaching any further into Gallic territory. A crafty leader and a fearless warrior who, ironically, had been trained as a youth in the Roman army, he organized a brilliant resistance that briefly threatened the military prowess of Rome. In fact, much is made of the fact that Caesar had to enlist the aid of the Teutons, a Germanic tribe, in order to crush the Gallic rebellion. Spinrad breathes new life into a mythical figure, reimagining the adventures and the motivations of a larger-than-life superhero. Replete with action and intrigue, this fictional biography is distinguished by the attention paid to the details of the Celtic, Latin, and Germanic cultures. [1 copy available]
$ 7.59 + $ 3.39 media shipping.

THE ETRUSCANS (British Museum Paperbacks)
by Ellen Macnamara. Color photos plus B&W photos, drawings, & maps. Condition: UNREAD 1993 Harvard University Press - British Museum soft cover, second impression. Content: From the 8th century BCE the Etruscan civilisation flourished by the Arno and Tiber rivers and to the west by the Mediterranean Sea. Affected by Greek culture, the Etruscans in their turn had a powerful influence on the neighbouring early republic of Rome, which by the first century BCE eventually subdued and assimilated them. This book tells the Etruscan story in text and in illustration from the British Museum art collection of sculptures, paintings, pottery, bronzes and jewellery. Inside back cover contains a great Chronological Table. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 6.49 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

THE ETRUSCANS
by Agnes Carr Vaughan. Condition: UNREAD, but not perfect, 1995 Barnes & Noble hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Name loose end page. Content: Originally published c. 1965, this is still a history classic. Nearly 1000 years befoe the founding of Rome, a great civilization flourished in central Italy between the Tiber and Arno Rivers. Its origins were clouded in mystery. Were its people, as Heredotus claimed, invaders from elsewehre in the Mediterranean - perhaps even pirates? Or were they ancient natives of the Italian peninsula, as the philosopher Dionysys suggested? And what is the exact significance of the huge man-made, earthen mounds which stud the landscape of this region, Etruria? ". . .a golden race of mortal men. . . When they died it was as though they were overcome with sleep. . ." - Hesiod. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 3.49 + $ 3.09 media shipping.

HAUNTED GREECE AND ROME: Ghost Stories from Classical Antiquity
by D. Felton. Condition: NEW 2000 University of Texas Press Trade Paperback, second printing. Content: Stories of ghostly spirits who return to this world to warn of danger, to prophesy, to take revenge, to request proper burial, or to comfort the living fascinated people in ancient times just as they do today. In this innovative, interdisciplinary study, the author combines a modern folkloric perspective with literary analysis of ghost stories from classical antiquity to shed new light on the stories' folk roots. The author begins by examining ancient Greek and Roman beliefs about death and the departed and the various kinds of ghost stories which arose from these beliefs. She then focuses on the longer stories of Plautus, Pliny, and Lucian, which concern haunted houses. Her analysis illuminates the oral and literary transmission and adaptation of folkloric motifs and the development of the ghost story as a literary form. In her concluding chapter, the author also traces the influence of ancient ghost stories on modern ghost story writers, a topic that will interest all readers and scholars of tales of hauntings. 42 pages of notes. Questions welcome. (1 copy available)
$ 6.79 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

HORACE`S "CARMEN SAECULARE": Ritual Magic and the Poet`s Art
by Michael C. J. Putnam. Condition: NEW 2000 Yale University Press hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first edition, first printing. A pale darkening (shelfwear) of white cover edges. Interior perfect. Content: This is the first book devoted to Horace's Carmen Saeculare, a poem commissioned by Roman emperor Augustus in 17 B.C.E. for choral performance at the Ludi Saeculares, the Secular Games. The poem is the first fully preserved Latin hymn whose circumstances of presentation are known, and it is the only lyric of Horace we can be certain was first presented orally. Putnam offers a close and sensitive reading of this hymn, shedding new light on the richness and virtuosity of its poetry, on the many sources Horace drew on, and on the poem's power and significance as a public ritual. A rich and compelling work, this poem is a masterpiece, Putnam shows, and it represents a crucial link in the development of Rome's outstanding lyric poet. [1 copy available]
$ 9.49 + $2.89 media shipping.

OSPREY LATE ROMAN CAVALRYMAN: 236 - 565 AD
by Simon MacDowall, Illustrated by Christa Hook. Condition: NEW 1995 Osprey History (Oxford, UK) Trade Paperback, first printing. Beautiful detailed & accurate color illustrations of the uniforms, horse's attire, & weapons. B&W illustrations, photos as well. Beautiful book. Content: The Bringing History to Life collection is made up of Osprey's all-time favourite titles, re-released with striking new covers. The twilight of the Roman Empire saw a revolution in the way war was waged. The drilled infantryman, who had been the mainstay of Mediterranean armies since the days of the Greek hoplite, was gradually replaced by the mounted warrior. This change did not take place overnight, and in the 3rd and 4th centuries the role of the cavalryman was primarily to support the infantry. However, by the 6th century, the situation had been completely reversed. This book gives a full account of the changing experience of the mounted soldiers who defended Rome's withering western empire. [1 copy available]
$ 10.49 + $ 3.09 media shipping.

THE ROMAN ARMY: The Legendary Soldiers Who Created an Empire
by Dyan Blacklock. Colorful, detailed, & historically accurate color illustrations by David Kennett. Condition: NEW 2004 Walker hardcover (pictorial boards) & DJ (in mylar jacket), third printing. Roman soldiers on decorated end pages. Content: The arresting jacket art will draw casual readers as well as student researchers to this dynamic book from the author and illustrator of Olympia: Warrior Athletes of Ancient Greece (2001). Blacklock talks about who made up the army, how they were organized, the equipment they used, and their highly successful techniques of warfare. Particularly interesting is the discussion of the treatment of defeated people, captives, and individual soldiers. Although the reading level may be a little challenging for elementary-school students, the paragraphs of text on any given page are relatively short, the incentive for reading is strong, and the well-conceived interplay of text and illustrations will help with comprehension. Calling the art "comic-book style" suggests the approach and appeal of these impressive illustrations, but it conveys little of the artwork's dignity and originality. Some pages are drawn with straightforward simplicity, such as the double-page spread showing military figures displaying the garb worn by different types and ranks of soldiers. But many others use small, multicolored panels to show the army's activities and larger, overlapping panels to interpret more complex information or dramatize narrative scenes. The visually arresting art combines with the well-written text for an unusually clear and accessible offering. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 9.49 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

ROMAN BATHS; A View Over 2000 Years (Bath Archaeological Society)
by Barry Cunliffe. Beautiful color photos by Tim Mercer. Great color "cutaway" detailed room plans. Condition: UNREAD, but not perfect, 1993 Bath Archaeological Society large soft cover, no edition given. Pale diagonal crease bottom front cover corner plus a note written top back page. Tiny edgewear. Content: From the first century A.D. to the twentieth , people have been drawn to this place to seek comfort, cure and cleansing in the hot water that rises at its heart. What remains today is a remarkable sequence of ancient, medieval, and later structures that give testimony to the continuous use of hot water here over nearly 2,000 years. Perfect book for students of history and architecture. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 3.49 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

ROMAN BRITAIN (British Museum Book)
by T. W. Potter. Beautiful color photos plus B&W photos and drawings. Condition: NEW 1997 Harvard University Press softcover, second edition, first printing. Content: In AD 43 the emperor Claudius ordered an army of 40,000 to invade Britain. In AD 410 the emperor Honorius informed the population of Britain that they now had to defend themselves; there was no longer any Roman army to protect them, nor a Roman authority to administer the country. The four centuries during which the Roman presence in Britain rose, flourished, and then declined changed every aspect of life. Industry, trade, government, the arts and learning--even the physical appearance of the country--were all revolutionized, and the effects are still apparent nearly 2000 years later. This revised and updated edition of "Roman Britain" outlines with clarity and authority this critical period of history, and illustrates it fully with pictures of the surviving objects of the period, largely from the incomparable collections of the British Museum. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 8.49 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

ROMAN ART (Universe History of Art Series)
by Helga Von Heintze. B&W photos with some color photos. Condition: UNREAD, but not perfect, 1979 Universe hardcover (DJ missing), no printing given. There is a strange impression top of the first 5 pages. No idea what it is. Not bad, but there. Content: Reviewer: "The author profiles the development of Roman architecture, relief sculpture, paintings and mosaics, statues, and portrait s culpture from Etruscan times to the end of the fourth century A.D. Her discussion is limited to the art forms just mentioned; therefore, additional art-related topics such as jewelry, pottery, and coins are not within the scope of this book. Rather than delineate the chapters by historical period, von Heintze dedicates each chapter to a specific art form and then proceeds to discuss the evolution of that art form in time. As a valuable aid to the reader, the book includes 192 illustrations (14 of these in color) of Roman artwork with excellent profiles of each. The text itself is concise and parallels art technique with historical developments very well. In addition, the author balances her discussions of Roman historical periods according to the degree of artistic activity in each period and surviving pieces of art. Therefore, the reader will expect more extensive coverage of artistic production during the 200 years or so of the Pax Romana. "Roman Art" served its purpose of bringing to a full circle my understanding and knowledge of ancient Roman civilization and its legacy in today's Western culture. Questions welcome." [1 copy available]
$ 9.49 + $ 3.39 media shipping.

A SCANDALOUS HISTORY OF THE ROMAN EMPERORS
by Anthony Blond. B&W maps. Condition: UNREAD 2001 Carroll & Graf Trade Paperback, reprint. Tiny edgewear. Content: In an "Apology" that starts his book, Blond states, self-effacingly, "There is nothing original in this book." In one sense, his biographies add little to the standard portraits of the Caesars the Roman historian Suetonius limned centuries ago. On the other hand, Blond's accompanying essays on Roman life and times bring together readable, relevant background on the social habits of imperial Romans. Roman legal, military, social, and sexual practices were often unique in the ancient world, and Blond's essays put the emperors' behavior in context. Blond's biographies cover just the first six emperors, from Julius Caesar through Nero. A glossary explains Latin terms in greater detail, noting, for example, that Roman use of the term Africa referred solely to the countries bordering the southern Mediterranean. Further essays describe everyday Roman life. [1 copy available]
$ 5.69 + $ 3.09 media shipping.

THE SEARCH FOR ANCIENT ROME (Discoveries Series)
by Claude Moatti.. Fully illustrated with color photos & drawings. Condition: NEW 1993 Discoveries series softcover (Harry N. Abrams, Inc.) softcover, first thus. Content: Great introduction to the history of ancient Rome. Detailed & excellent history with wonderful graphics. The back section contains documents of the era. The Discoveries history series is one of the best ever published. [1 copy available]
$ 4.69 + $ 2.89 media shipping.

A WORLD FULL OF GODS: Pagans, Jews and Christians in the Roman Empire
by Keith Hopkins. Color photo section. Condition: NEW 1999 Weidenfield & Nicholson (UK) hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Content: This is a rollicking work of revisionist history about Christianity's ascent as the dominant religion of the West. In its tour of Roman paganism, Judaism, Christianity, and Gnosticism, Hopkns employs a range of techniques of description, analysis, and historical reportage. The first chapter is a report from two time-travelers visiting Pompeii just before the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius; soon after comes a description of the ascetic Jewish sect at Qumran that produced the Dead Sea Scrolls -- in the form of a TV drama. Hopkins, a professor of ancient history at King's College, Cambridge, justifies his experimental style by asserting that "to reexperience the thoughts, feelings, practices, and images of religious life in the Roman empire, in which orthodox Christianity emerged in all its vibrant variety, we have to combine ancient perceptions, however partial, with modern understandings, however misleading." Rather than presenting a focused argument, A World Full of Gods offers immersion in a sensibility - -a history of Christianity that has little interest in the historical Jesus and instead traces the influence of imagination on the growth of Christianity. Jesus, Hopkins argues, "is not just, nor even primarily, a historical person. Rather, like the sacred heroes of other great religions, he is a mirage, an image in believers' minds, shaped but not confined by the images projected in the canonical gospels." Informative and enjoyable! [1 copy available]
$ 10.69 + $ 3.39 media shipping.