This work looks at the gods as if they were a newly discovered tribe found in some remote part of the world; describing how their community works. It reveals conflicts as individual gods struggle to gain power over their fellows - or avoid having others gain power over them. The nature of their immortal but not invulnerable bodies; their pleasures and their needs are all considered. The second part of the book cites familar traditions and little known texts to explain the relationship of the gods to the Pharaoh; who was believed to represent them on earth.
#2581929 in Books Bristol Classical Press 2007-07-26 2007-07-26Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.50 x .1 x 5.50l; .52 #File Name: 0715631853144 pages
Review
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. A scholarly; meticulous discussionBy Midwest Book ReviewNiall McKeown (Lecturer in Ancient History; University of Birmingham) presents The Invention of Ancient Slavery?; a sampler of modern theories concerning ancient slavery as circulated among scholars and students today. In the quest to uncover the "reality" of ancient slave life; The Invention of Ancient Slavery? examines surviving evidence (particularly where Roman slavery is concerned) such as ancient drama; legal regulations; poetry; letters; philosophy; inscriptions; and the work of Greek and Roman historians. How should modern historians reconstruct the past from such materials; and what effect does the nature of the evidence have upon their job? To what extent do modern preconceptions affect our understanding of ancient sources? A scholarly; meticulous discussion especially recommended for college libraries and ancient history courses; written to stoke critical thinking of human history.
