Non-fiction book reviews - background

This forum is for updated versions of the site's main pages, and for resources for students of Alexander. Posting is limited.
If you quote any material from anything on pothos.org, please ensure you include a link to the original work and give due credit.
Post Reply
Alexias
Strategos (general)
Posts: 1100
Joined: Thu Nov 26, 2009 11:16 am

Non-fiction book reviews - background

Post by Alexias »

NON-FICTION BOOK REVIEWS – BACKGROUND

In The Shadow of Olympus: The Emergence of Macedon, Eugene Borza, Princeton University Press, 1990 (Paperback ed.)
Reviewer: Christopher Bates

Borza's book covers the period of the Argead dynasty, and therefore ends with the death of Alexander the Great. Arranged in narrative and thematic chapters; Borza has attempted to present academic theory in a manner more absorbable by the general reader. In this respect Borza has only partly succeeded as the work is less accessible than Errington's 'A History of Macedonia', which also covers Macedonian history down to the defeat and absorption by Rome. Yet, for readers who persevere, Borza provides a valuable overview of Argead history, and a useful counterpoint to the works of Hammond; who Borza opening disagrees with on several issues- notably Macedonian 'Greekness'. The paperback edition also contains new appendices discussing (in a limited fashion) advancements in Macedonian research since the publication of the hardback edition. If you can only afford one book on Macedonia then Errington's 'History' would be the safer option. If you can afford two then Borza would be a valuable and worthwhile addition.

Women and Monarchy in Macedonia, Elizabeth Carney, University of Oklahoma Press, 2000
Reviewer: Nick Welman

Basically, Beth Carney does for Macedonian women what Waldemar Heckel did for Alexander's men (in his "Marshals"). To me, both books are of equally high standard, though Heckel seems somewhat more fond of footnotes and academic commentary. Beth Carney succeeds in presenting enjoyable, brief overviews of the lives of Olympias, Roxane and many, many others. Her analysis of the 'nature' of the Argead Royal house is very well balanced. I really wished that I had bought this title right when it was published, not two years after.

Vergina: The Royal Tombs
Reviewer: Forum Contributor

Manolis Andronicus offers another glimpse into the grave goods from the tombs, chapters include some discussion on the site, the various tombs and some information regarding the authors conclusions regarding the identity of the dead as well.

The Lost Tomb of Alexander the Great, Michael Chugg, Periplus/Richmond Editions, 2004
Reviewer: Susan Holmes

To quote from the blurb on the back of the book: “The disappearance and fate of the tomb of Alexander the Great in Alexandria is among the most momentous and tantalising of all the mysteries we have inherited from the ancient world. Generations of archaeologists and historians have succumbed to the allure of the quest; yet have failed to find convincing answers. Now with the dawning of the 21st century new research is revealing hitherto unrecognised evidence and providing fresh insights, creating a frisson of renewed excitement in academic circles. This new title combines a detailed chronological account of the history of the tomb with the first publication of new discoveries. Finally, an intriguing new possibility is explored regarding the whereabouts of Alexander's mummified remains.”

This is an authoritative book on a subject that has only been scantily covered previously – the location of the resting-places of Alexander’s body since his death. It starts at the point where most modern & ancient sources end: at Alexander’s death, and it concentrates heavily on the geographical and topographical (layout) aspects – using lavish illustrations of ancient, medieval & modern plans, charts & engravings.

Alexander’s tomb was mentioned by many classical writers over a period of several hundred years, and this book does the excellent service of collecting these quotations in one place, and analysing them as a whole, so that a complete picture emerges.

The main account is chronological, starting with Alexander’s death in Babylon; speculation on where he wanted to be buried, description of his catafalque & account of Ptolemy’s hijacking. He was initially entombed at Memphis, and Mr Chugg makes suggestions about the tomb’s appearance & location, and the possible present-day location of the sarcophagus. A later Ptolemy moved it to Alexandria and constructed the Soma or tomb; its appearance can be gleaned from mosaics and other tombs of the same period. Romans emperors were fascinated by Alexander, and used him as a prop for their imperial ambitions and grandeur. Mr Chugg describes their visits, including Caesar, Caligula & Hadrian and then tracks down the last references from late classical writers. Sometime towards the end of the 4th century, the location of Alexander’s tomb was lost. Mr Chugg speculates on how and why this might have occurred.

There are a few references under the Arab rulers, then the Renaissance brought renewed interest in locating Alexander’s tomb. Interest in the topography of ancient Alexandria has grown since then, partly spurred on by Napoleon. Modern archaeological discoveries are adding to the picture.

A key point to determining the site of the Soma is its position close to the central crossroads of ancient Alexandria. The city’s layout has changed greatly over the centuries, and Mr Chugg attempts to unravel the different phases of building, courses of the walls and topography, in order to try out to pinpoint the Soma’s exact location.

The book then discusses recent developments and myths – for instance the Alabaster tomb, the Greek waiter who spent all his hard-earned money on searching for it; the rumour of the underground crypt at Nebi Daniel - and puts them on a rational footing. It ends with speculation on where Alexander’s body might be today – a surprising twist which deserves further investigation.

I think that the book’s strengths are:
• the splendid quality and relevance of the illustrations, maps and old engravings. Including reconstructions of Babylonian ziggurats, Hephaestion’s pyre, mosaics of Alexandria, Ptolemaic wall-fragments
• the arguments are based on clear reasoning and backed-up by hard evidence with full references. Speculation is clearly separated from evidence - the evidence is exhaustive and well-structured
• quotes, mosaics, oil lamps, medieval maps all add to the picture
• it covers an area that is previously little-explored - I can’t recall there being a study of Alexander’s tomb in such depth before
• it has an easy reading style, and wears its learning lightly.

It is an essential book for serious Alexander historians and library collections; and general readers will learn about new aspects of Alexander, Alexandria & the classical world. It will appeal to anyone interested what happened to Alexander after his death, and how his glamour & legend persists until today. It adds depth to the study of Alexander’s legend after his death, but graphically showing how his memory lived on in Alexandria for over two thousand years.

It deserves to become the definitive work on the subject.

Wings Over Hellas: Ancient Greece from The Air, Raymond Schoder, Oxford University Press, New York, 1974
Reviewer: Forum Contributor

For its time, a very well-done book portraying over 70 ancient sites as seen from the air. The photos are very clear, offering an overview of the site as well as, in some, cases, a view of where the site is located. This was a nice book for getting a feel for the lay of the land before overgrowth took over.

Greek Thought: A Guide To Classical Knowledge, edited by Jacques Brunschwig and Geoffrey Lloyd (trans under the direction of Catherine Porter), Belknap Press (of Harvard University Press), 2000 (1024 pages)
Reviewer: Forum Contributor

In order to better understand a person, a people or a culture, we have to understand how they think, how they perceive themselves and the world around them. This text breaks into five major sections: Philosophy, Politics, The Pursuit of Knowledge, Major Figures, and Currents of Thought, making the volume of information easily digestible. Readers who are interested solely in Alexander will find only a few sections worth reading to better understand the men who taught or interpreted Alexander (Aristotle, Plutarch) but the text value comes in its ability to examine the Greek perceptions that shaped the world before and after Alexander, since many of these same values and beliefs were part of Alexander’s world and culture. Some care must be taken, however. For example, they state that Aristotle’s tutorship of Alexander lasted from 13 until the death of Philip; once can either assume they are referring to a general “tutorship of influence”, or assume the writers got it wrong, not noting that the formal training with Aristotle ended with Alexander’s recall to Pella. The focus of the book is not Alexander, but Greek thought- and this should be borne in mind when reading the book. However, it can and does give insights into the nature of the classical Greek world.

Nature and Culture in the Illiad, James Redfield, University of Chicago Press, 1975.
Reviewer: Forum Contributor

“We must know the culture in order to interpret the story, just as we must know the language to translate the text”. Though this book is not directly about Alexander or his times, it is a good companion text for those interested in the world that had a hand in shaping Alexander’s times. Dionysus: Myth and Cult, Walter Otto, Indiana University Press, 1965 Excellent book for those wishing to understand the relationship between gods and men that may have pervaded Alexander’s world. In a time when many writers are attempting to align Alexander with conversion to “a true faith”, it is important to understand how the ancient world perceived nature, the gods and goddesses, and the nature of man. This book is a first step in that direction.

Love, Sex & Tragedy; How the Ancient World Shapes Our Lives, Simon Goldhill, University of Chicago Press, 2004, 335 p.
Reviewer: Nick Welman

If you are interested in the Ancient World, not as a scholar, but as a dedicated amateur and reader (like me) --- this might be one of those books that you have been looking for for ages. Goldhill examines many hidden values of our present (global) society and traces their roots back to Greek and Roman Antiquity: how we think about our human body, what we believe in, how politics work, what we enjoy as entertainment. We are apparently all children of that distant past, argues Goldhill, but there are also very significant differences between how the Ancient Greeks thought about virtues and fulfilment and how modern man does. E.g. American democracy might have its original roots in Ancient Greece, but it has moved away considerably from Ancient ideals. Goldhill's book is not history of events, but history of 'longue durée': how mankind moved on and developed (or 'underdeveloped') over the centuries. Having that said, I should add that Goldhill's book is not a prime example of balanced writing. His first chapter, about the human body, is easily the strongest and most coherent part of the book. The second, about the origins of Christianity, is maybe equally strong in its analysis, but Goldhill talks on way too long about the same points. From that point on Goldhill moves forward with more sketchy chapters, not living up to the high standard of the first ones. It seems like he had great inspiration writing about "body" and "religion", but then had to come up with a few more topics to add it up to a 335-page hardcover. The final chapter, about myths and stories, says more about present society than about the Ancient World. Also Goldhill lacks proper footnotes: so it is impossible to check how sound his assumptions and conclusions really are. But the entire book remains a very good read!

Goddesses, Whores, Wives, and Slaves - Women In Classical Antiquity, Sarah Pomeroy, Schocken Books, 1975 (reprint: Pimlico, 1994)
Reviewer: Forum Contributor

Though a general text, this book gives a relatively fair overview of how women lived in the ancient world.

Reviewer: Nick Welman
Pomeroy wrote her work in the wake of the feminist wave of the seventies. "Modern women are frustrated by being forced to choose between being an intellectual, asexual career woman - or a frivolous sex object", as Pomeroy claims early in her study (p. 9). "Greek goddesses continue to be archetypes of female existence."

I seriously doubt if Western women in our 21st century still feel "frustrated" in the way Pomeroy observed three decades ago. The concept of career women being asexual, has become much outdated. Thus, to today's reader Pomeroy's book might expose itself as a thorough scholarly study, but one that had to fit in with the political agenda of that decade. Obviously, a claim had to be validated that the role of women in Pomeroy's day was in part inherited from Classical Rome and Greece - as these 'celebrated' cultural cradles of the Western world were in fact war-minded, military societies.

I must admit I had quite a hard time reading Pomeroy's study. The book is divided in themes: women in the Dark Age, women in Athens, women in literature, etcetera. But I felt I was reading Pomeroy's same points over and over again. Maybe this repetiveness is directly connected with the political agenda of this book. So it might lack a fluid line to keep it enjoyable for a broader audience. However, to the dedicated reader many pages contain revealing details. And it is probably still the most authorative study on the life of women in Classical Antiquity. But somehow I feel it is time for a new scholar to stand up and produce an updated general study without the seventies' bias.
Post Reply