Dimensions
156 x 241 x 31mm
Who were the ancient Greeks? They gave us democracy, philosophy, poetry, rational science, the joke. But what was it about them that enabled them to achieve such titanic leaps forwards in civilization? The ancient Greeks were a geographically disparate people whose civilization lasted over twenty centuries this is the ancient civilization made us who we are today. Renowned classicist Edith Hall offers a revelatory and entirely new way of viewing this scattered people, identifying ten unique personality traits that she shows to be unique and central to the widespread ancient Greeks. Hall introduces us to a people who are inquisitive, articulate and open-minded, but also rebellious, individualistic, competitive and hedonistic. They prize excellence above all things but also love to laugh. And, central to their identity, they are a seafaring people whose relationship with the sea underpins every aspect of their society. This indispensable introduction unveils a civilization of incomparable richness and a people of astounding complexity upon which the basis of our very own modern civilization was built.
