Thebes : the forgotten city of ancient Greece / Paul Cartledge.

Author/creator Cartledge, Paul author.
Format Book
PublicationNew York : Abrams Press, an imprint of Abrams, 2020.
Copyright Date©2020
Descriptionxxxi, 304 pages, 16 unnumbered leaves of unnumbered plates : photographs, maps ; 23 cm
Subjects

Contents Pre-history. Introduction: From myth to history ; City of myth: the Theban cycle ; City of prehistory and protohistory: archaeology, the Linear B tablets and Homer -- Archaic Thebes. Religion ; Politics -- Classical Thebes. Foreign affairs ; City of song: Pindar and Athenian tragedy ; The Peloponnesian and Corinthian wars ; Theban heyday: city of Epaminondas and Pelopidas -- Downfall. Battle of Chaeronea ; The destruction of Thebes -- Afterlife: The persistence of Oedipus. Thebes rebuilt ; Mythic revivals: the 'pigs' bite back ; Conclusion -- Afterword: A tribute to Peter Mayer.
Abstract " Among the extensive writing available about the history of ancient Greece, there is precious little about the city-state of Thebes. At one point the most powerful city in ancient Greece, Thebes has been long overshadowed by its better-known rivals, Athens and Sparta. In Thebes: The Forgotten City of Ancient Greece, acclaimed classicist and historian Paul Cartledge brings the city vividly to life and argues that it is central to our understanding of the ancient Greeks' achievements--whether politically or culturally--and thus to the wider politico-cultural traditions of western Europe, the Americas, and indeed the world. From its role as an ancient political power, to its destruction at the hands of Alexander the Great as punishment for a failed revolt, to its eventual restoration by Alexander's successor, Cartledge deftly chronicles the rise and fall of the ancient city. He recounts the history with deep clarity and mastery for the subject and makes clear both the differences and the interconnections between the Thebes of myth and the Thebes of history. Written in clear prose and illustrated with images in two color inserts, Thebes is a gripping read for students of ancient history and those looking to experience the real city behind the myths of Cadmus, Hercules, and Oedipus."--Amazon.
General noteIncludes bibliographical references (pages 278-286) and index.
Genre/formHistory.
ISBN1468316060
ISBN9781468316063 (hardcover)

Availability

Library Location Call Number Status Item Actions
Joyner General Stacks DF261 .T3 C37 2020 ✔ Available Place Hold