Most Popular Books by Simon Hornblower

Looks at areas of the Mediterranean world in which Greek culture flourished in the fifth and fourth centuries BC

The Second Punic War between Carthage and Rome began in 218 BCE and ended in 202 with the dramatic defeat at the Battle of Zama of Carthage''s commander Hannibal by his adversary, the Roman Scipio. The two men were born about a decade apart but died in the same year, 183, following brilliant but ultimately unhappy careers. In this absorbing joint biography, celebrated historian Simon Hornblower reveals how the trajectory of each general illuminates his counterpart. Their individual journeys help us comprehend the momentous historical period which they shared, and which in distinct but interconnected ways they helped to shape. Hornblower interweaves his central military and political narrative with lively treatments of high politics, religious motivations and manipulations, overseas commands, hellenisation, and his subjects'' ancient and modern reception. This gripping portrait of a momentous rivalry will delight readers of biography and military history and scholars and students of antiquity alike.

Treats a compelling narrative of two of history''s most famous battles, and assists translation and literary and historical appreciation.

Simon Hornblower argues for a relationship between Thucydides and Pindar not so far acknowledged in modern scholarship. He argues that ancient critics were right to detect stylistic similarities between these two great exponents of the `severe style'' in prose and verse. In Part One he explores the background of epinikian poetry and athletics, the values shared by the two authors, and religion and colonization myths, and presents a geographically organized survey of Pindar''s Mediterranean world, exploiting onomastic evidence. Part Two includes an analysis of Thucydides'' account of the Olympic games of 420 BC; discussions of the four components of Thucydides'' history in their relation to Pindar; statements of method, excursuses, speeches, and narrative, especially the Sicilian books; and a stylistic-literary comparison of Thucydides and Pindar.

What did the ancient Greeks eat and drink? What role did migration play? Why was emperor Nero popular with the ordinary people but less so with the upper classes? Why (according to ancient authors) was Oedipus (''with swollen foot'') so called? For over 2,000 years the civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome have captivated our collective imagination and provided inspiration for so many aspects of our lives, from culture, literature, drama, cinema, and television to society, education, and politics. Many of the roots of the way life is lived in the West today can be traced to the ancient civilizations, not only in politics, law, technology, philosophy, and science, but also in social and family life, language, and art. Beautiful illustrations, clear and authoritative entries, and a useful chronology and bibliography make this Companion the perfect guide for readers interested in learning more about the Graeco-Roman world. As well as providing sound information on all aspects of classical civilization such as history, politics, ethics, morals, law, society, religion, mythology, science and technology, language, literature, art, and scholarship, the entries in the Companion reflect the changing interdisciplinary aspects of classical studies, covering broad thematic subjects, such as race, nationalism, gender, ethics, and ecology, confirming the impact classical civilizations have had on the modern world.

This will be a 3 volume commentary on Thucydides. Appendices will appear in v.3 to be published some years hence.

The main aim of this book is to do justice to all the areas of the Mediterranean world in which Greek culture flourished in the fifth and the fourth centuries BC.

This volume takes as its subject one of the most important Greek poems of the Hellenistic period: the Alexandra attributed to Lykophron, probably written in about 190 BC. At 1474 lines and with a riddling narrative and a preponderance of unusual vocabulary it is a notoriously challenging prospect for scholars, but it also sheds crucial light on Greek religion (in particular the role of women) and on foundation myths and myths of colonial identity. Most of the poem purports to be a prophecy by the Trojan princess, Kassandra, who foretells the conflicts between Europe and Asia from the Trojan Wars to the establishment of Roman ascendancy over the Greek world in the poet''s own time. The central section narrates in the future tense the dispersal of returning Greek heroes throughout the Mediterranean zone, and their founding of new cities. This section culminates in the Italian wanderings and foundational activity of the Trojan refugee Aineias, Kassandra''s own kinsman. Following Simon Hornblower''s detailed full-length commentary on the Alexandra (OUP 2015; paperback 2017), this monograph asserts the poem''s importance as not only a strongly political work, but also as a historical document of interest to cultural and religious historians and students of myths of identity. Divided into two Parts, the first explores Lykophron''s geopolitical world, paying special attention to south Italy (perhaps the bilingual poet''s own area of origin), Sicily, and Rhodes; it suggests that the recent hostile presence of Hannibal in south Italy surfaces as a frequent yet indirectly expressed concern of the poem. The thematic second Part investigates the Alexandra''s relation to the Sibylline Oracles and to other apocalyptic literature of the period, and argues for its cultural and religious topicality. The Conclusion puts the case for the 190s BC as a turning-point in Roman history and contends that Lykophron demonstrates a veiled awareness of this, especially of certain peculiar features of Roman colonizing policy in that decade.

The third and final volume of Simon Hornblower''s magisterial commentary on the history of the first 20 years of the Peloponnesian War written by the great fifth-century BC Greek historian Thucydides. Volume III covers the years 421-411 BC (Books 5.25 to 8.109). All Greek is translated, and there is a thematic Introduction.

This is the first volume of a two-volume historical and literary commentary on the eight books of Thucydides, the great fifth-century B.C. historian of the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta. Exploring both the historical and literary aspects of the work, this commentary provides translations of every passage or phrase of Greek commented on and allows readers with little knowledge of the language to appreciate the detail of Thucydides'' work. Making accessible the detail of Thucydides'' thought and subject matter, this is the first complete commentary written by a single author this century.

Book VI of the Histories is one of Herodotus'' most varied books, beginning with the final collapse of the Ionian Revolt and moving on to the Athenian triumph at Marathon (490 BC); it also includes fascinating material on Sparta, full of court intrigue and culminating in Kleomenes'' grisly death, and there is comedy too, with Alkmeon''s cramming clothes, boots, and even cheeks with gold dust, then Hippokleides ''dancing away his marriage''. In Herodotus'' time, Marathon was already reaching almost legendary status, commemorated in epigrams and monuments, and in this edition a substantial introduction discusses Herodotus'' relation to these other memorials. It also explores the place of the book in the Histories'' overall structure, and pays particular attention to Herodotus'' treatment of impiety. A new text is then accompanied by a full commentary, covering literary and historical aspects and offering help with translation. The volume is suitable for undergraduates, graduate students, teachers and scholars.

This study of hellenization focuses on the life of Mausolus (best known for his elaborate Greek tomb, the original "Mausoleum"), and his family, who were fourth-century B.C. Persian governors of Karia in S.W. Asia Minor. Recent archaeological finds and newly discovered inscriptions help bring alive this fascinating dynasty whose members, though native Karians, actively diffused Greek culture through their corner of Anatolia in the two generations before Alexander.