ANCIENT WORLD

Ancient civilizations show diverse depictions of "fish-tailed monsters," from mermen to hippocamps. Shepard's 1940 thesis details the history and development of this theme in Greek and Etruscan art. It includes fascinating material for students, professionals, and enthusiasts of folklore, archaeology, and ancient artifacts. Katharine Shepard went on to curate in the Graphic Arts department of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

This is a facsimile reprint. It includes 16 black-and-white plates and index.

Prophets, Idols and Diggers, published in 1960, describes how the resources of modern science are used by the archeologist to reconstruct the life and times of the ancient world. It is a fascinating account of the way in which archeological discoveries confirm and support Biblical references to people, places and events. Since the discovery of the ancient civilizations of Babylon, Nineveh and Tyre, the science of Biblical archeology has assumed increased importance. Forgotten cities have been unearthed, contemporary records of Biblical events have been found and the uniqueness of Biblical revelation has been confirmed.

Poulsen discusses and illustrates the style and subject of the wall paintings found in ancient Etruscan tombs. He sees in the political, military, and social details the influence of Etruscan perspectives on life and death.

Caroline Ransom Williams was the first woman to obtain a degree through the first American Egyptology program (at the University of Chicago). Williams discusses here the techniques used in painting and coloration in decoration and sculpture of the Tomb of Per-Neb. Several plates attached (including in color). This is a very informative study for those interested in Egyptology and the ruins of the Egyptian landscape.

“Ancient Armour” was a serial article on ancient armour and weaponry published in The Family Magazine for 1839, edited by Eli Taylor. It covers helmets, body armour, shields, spears, swords, other “engines of war,” and standards used by Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, Israelites, and other ancient cultures. Numerous engravings accompany this popularly-written article.

“Observations on the Use of the Sling . . .” by Walter Hawkins gives a detailed look at the ancient use of slings in warfare. This article was published in Archaeologia in 1847.

Boghaz-Keui (now Boğazkale), Turkey, is the site of the ancient Hittite city of Hattusa. In the early 1900s German archaeological expeditions discovered the royal archives of clay cuneiform tablets, among other interesting artifacts. These tablets, describing in detail the legal and cultural practices of this people, provided evidentiary support for the reliability of similar practices related in the Old Testament (which had come under attack as being too complex for that time period). This is a facsimile reprint of the Smithsonian report summarizing the archaeological exploration of the city during the 1907 summer season.

The Moabite Stone (or Mesha Stele) was discovered in 1868 in what is now Dhiban, Jordan. Its inscription sheds light on the Moabite perspective of 2 Kings 3: 4-8. This introduction by William Henry Bennett (1855-1920) gives a readable history of the stone and a literal translation. It also includes details on the Siloam Inscription and the Gezer Calendar in the brief appendices.

This is a facsimile reprint of the 1911 edition.

Professor F. E. Adcock produced an interesting and readable account of the Greek and Macedonian art of war. Strategy and battle tactics of ground troops are discussed, along with specifics on naval warfare, the cavalry (including those with elephants), siege warfare, and leadership on the battlefield. Historians of military history and the ancient world will find this text an informative and useful resource.

This article from the Annals of Medical History (1918) discusses ancient Greek beliefs regarding the Cult of the Dead and serpent worship.

This informative and easy-to-read classic text describes the various animal and vegetable dyes which were available before synthetic chemical dyes became available. Dyes noted in the book include madder, indigo, woad, saffron, weld, orseille, Tyrian purple, kermes, and many more.

Wakeling's classic introduction to Egyptian archaeological forgeries is filled with anecdotes, descriptions, and reference images. First published in 1912, the text provides an overview of common fake Egyptian artifacts and the methods used to create them.