Many modern readers believe that in his dramas Euripides was questioning the existence of the gods. In Euripides and the Gods, eminent classicist Mary K. Lefkowitz argues that instead of seeking to undermine ancient religion, Euripides is describing with a brutal realism what the gods are like, reminding his mortal audience of the limitations of human understanding.
This highly acclaimed collection, the first sourcebook on ancient women and now in its fourth edition, provides a unique look into the public and private lives and legal status of Greek and Roman women. The texts represent women of all social classes, from public figures remembered for their deeds (or misdeeds), to priestesses, poets, and intellectuals, to working women, such as musicians, wet nurses, and prostitutes, to homemakers. The editors have selected texts from hard-to-find sources, such as inscriptions, papyri, and medical treatises, many of which have not previously been translated into English. The resulting compilation is both an invaluable aid to research and a clear guide through this complex subject. The brand new design of the fourth edition integrates the third edition's appendix and adds many new and unusual texts and images, as well as such student-friendly features as a map and chapter overviews. Many notes and explanations have been revised with the non-classicist in mind. Its readings cover women's legal status, domestic conditions, health issues, and relations with other people. The emphasis throughout is not so much on what ancient writers thought about women, as on what women actually did, both within the home and outside it, from their intellectual achievements, benefactions, and religious roles, to humble jobs and acts of physical and moral courage.
Hidden Hands charts the history of manuscripts in England, starting with the first, found in the grave of St .Cuthbert, which cannot have been written later than the end of the seventh century, through to the works of the Beowulf poet, Margery Kempe, Julian of Norwich, Malory, Wyclif, the Gawain poet, William Langland, Chaucer, the Ancrene Wisse, The Paston Letters and others right up to the invention of printing, forming a line of transmission which constitute a history of England and its literary culture. Preoccupied with England's part of a common European culture. Scribes, clerics, patrons and collectors are drawn with a vivid touch, while the significance of individual manuscripts is judiciously illuminated. It is insistent on the early role of women as authors and active, visible participants. It describes how manuscripts were prepared and discusses the many contributors to the creation of these venerable, beautiful and delicate objects, most of which perished through fire, water or wilful destruction.
Revised for accessibility, this book features numerous notes and explanations tailored for readers unfamiliar with classical texts. It aims to bridge the gap between classic literature and modern understanding, making it easier for a broader audience to engage with the material.
Shows that what Greek men both feared and valued in women was not their sexuality but their intelligence. This work includes six chapters on such topics as heroic women in Greek epic, seduction and rape in Greek myth, and the parts played by women in ancient rites and festivals.
