A Cabinet of Greek Curiosities: Strange Tales and Surprising Facts from the Cradle of Western Civilization

by J.C. McKeown

The ancient Greeks were a wonderful people. They gave us democracy, drama, and philosophy, and many forms of art and branches of science would be inconceivable without their influence. And yet, they were capable of the most outlandish behavior, preposterous beliefs, and ludicrous opinions.

Like its companion volume, A Cabinet of Roman Curiosities , this is an uproarious miscellany of odd stories and facts, culled from a lifetime of teaching ancient Greek civilization. In some ways, the book demonstrates how much the Greeks were like us. Politicians were regarded as shallow and self-serving; overweight people resorted to implausible diets; Socrates and the king of Sparta used to entertain their children by riding around on a stick pretending it was a horse. Of course, their differences from us are abundantly documented too and the book may leave readers with a few incredulous questions. To ward off evil, were scapegoats thrown down from cliffs, though fitted out with feathers and live birds to give them a sporting chance of survival? Did a werewolf really win the boxing event at the Olympic Games? Were prisoners released on bail so that they could enjoy dramatic festivals? Did anyone really believe that Pythagoras flew about on a magic arrow? Other such mysteries abound
in this quirky and richly illustrated journey into the "glory that was Greece."


"The loveliest thing on the black earth."
Sappho of Lesbos

"Well worth getting a copy."
Pisistratus of Athens

"Meticulously written, a must for every library."
Ptolemy of Alexandria

"Unputdownable."
Atlas the Titan

"Fantastic! Incredible!"
Cassandra, priestess of Apollo

"The ideal gift."
Laocoon of Troy

"Not too long."
Callimachus of Cyrene

"I find something new every time I dip in."
Archimedes of Syracuse

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Ancient History, Greece, Reference, Science, Trivia

304 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2010

About the author

J. C. McKeown is Professor of Classics at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and the author of Ovid's Amores.

Reviews

[Elena Druță · Rating 3 out of 5]

Curiozități grecești: Povești stranii și fapte surprinzătoare din leagănul civilizației occidentale de J.C. McKeown a fost un volum informativ și amuzant despre tot ce ține de Grecia antică. Cei de la Editura All fac o treabă minunată cu această serie (am citit Curiozități bizantine acum ceva timp), oferind cititorilor niște volume interesante, captivante, cu texte scurte, care oferă tot felul de informații și curiozități de genul „știați că?”. Mă gândesc să caut și celelalte volume din colecție.

[Rrlgrrl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to read this book in piecemeal since it was mostly quotes or bits of trivia. I found the chapters covering women and science showed how little was known and how misogynistic they were. The chapters on the arts (drama, Homer, poetry) were delightful to read. There is a companion book in the similar style but for the Romans, which I think would be equally fun to read.

[Bogdan · Rating 4 out of 5]

După cum îi spune și titlul, este vorba despre greci. Sau mai precis despre locuitorii mediteraneeni din Peloponez, Asia Mică și Sicilia (dar și din câteva alte locuri) și despre viețile și obiceiurile lor până în apropierea anului 0 (cu toate că ne sunt menționate și câteva surse post-Hristos). Aflăm printre picături că erau filozofi, le plăceau piesele de teatru și Olimpiadele, făceau comerț (pe mare și nu numai), se luptau cu barbarii (adică oricine nu era grec) dar și între ei, făceau matematică și artă; dar cel mai important e că erau oameni obișnuiți - extrem de asemănători cu contemporanii noștri - unii amatori de plăceri ieftine și decadente, alții pudibonzi, unii invidioși, alții geloși, destul de misogini, unii erau stăpâni de sclavi, unii erau credincioși, alții atei etc.
Autorul de origine americană este profesor la Universitatea din Wisconsin și a mai publicat cărți de acest fel despre romani și curiozități medicale antice. Nu se pot spune multe despre stiul său literar, munca depusă pentru acest volum fiind mai mult de editare, clasare, indexare și organizare a micilor fragmente din alți autori/izvoare. Deci, încă o carte cu diverse maxime ascuțite, informații aleatoriu interesante și știați-că-uri pe care, cel mai probabil, amatorii de istorie clasică o vor aprecia.

[Andrew Ives · Rating 3 out of 5]

After the preface, I was rather looking forward to this. Alas, the first chapter on food rather sets the tone for the rest of the book. McKeown is clearly a very clever chap who knows his subject inside out and he looks rather friendly in his photo at the back, but the idea of a non-academic book wholely consisting of 'amusing and interesting' quotes from ancient sources is somewhat ill-advised. Much of the content here is either nonsense, unworthy of repetition or makes very little sense without knowing the background of all the people/places/books/writers/era involved. A glossary is included at the back, but without a vast knowledge of all things Greek, frequent reference to this makes a tiresome book even more torturous. I found a few paragraphs here and there worthy of a smirk, but I have it on good Hellenic authority that my suspicions that many of these quotations were third hand Chinese whispers from illiterate halfwits were well founded. My patience was further tested by the frequent horrendous treatment of animals (and people) albeit historical and contemporary. On the plus side, the drawings and photographs of coins and pottery were welcome - I just wish a few of them were in colour somewhere. The main body text is of normal size, but some of the smaller quotation text is absolutely tiny! 3.25/5

[Dn Barahona · Rating 1 out of 5]

Este libro es todo lo que no busco. Dicen que el autor es autoridad en cuanto a la cultura clásica, razón de más para denigrar de esta obra. Sin vergüenza (creo que con mercantilismo absoluto) se limita a copiar y pegar textos griegos, sin análisis, estudio ni desarrollo alguno. Para que me entiendan, hace lo que los youtubers actuales: usar material de otros para hablar de nada. A la gabeta de los despreciados.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting tidbits, but the formatting choices were odd, especially putting most of the book's text in italics made it very hard to read.

[Asnaldo Alvarez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me gustó mucho este libro!!! Lleno de datos interesantes del mundo griego.

[Max Nemtsov · Rating 5 out of 5]

собственно, флагманская книга в этой оксфордской серии, и она превосходна - как развлечение информацией в том числе. эдакая "Занимательная Греция", только гораздо занимательнее. обычная жизнь во многих разнообразных ее проявлениях.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you enjoy learning trivial facts that bring a culture to life? then read A Cavinet of Greek Curiosities!

Think of a curio cabinet that contains snippets of knowledge culled from ancient Greek though and writings rather than dust-collecting objects d'art. That is what this book is, a collection of curious and interesting facts and tidbits culled from the extant writings of ancient Greek authors. J. C. McKeown has arranged things by categories (mathematics, food and drink, drama, etc.) and then sprinkled the tales and snippets of thought on those shelves. He also kindly provides a glossary of names and places for those readers not up on Greek thought and culture. Overall, an interesting read. I will have to hunt down A Cabinet of Roman Curiosities to see what I can learn there.

[Rachelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty interesting for the first 100 pages, then it completely lost my interest. Lots of good stuff, but I definitely could not read it straight through.

[Karen]

(hear James McKoewn speak about this book on WPR 8/4.)

[Karina Jacobus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe the Romans were just a little bit more shocking... because I was somewhat dissappointed by the lack of real strange curiosities. ;)