The Oxford Classical Dictionary

Simon Hornblower, Antony Spawforth

Oxford University Press, 2003 - Reference - 1640 pages

For almost half a century, the Oxford Classical Dictionary has been the unrivaled one-volume reference work on the Greco-Roman world. Whether one is interested in literature or art, philosophy or law, mythology or science, intimate details of daily life or broad cultural and historical trends, the OCD is the first place to turn for clear, authoritative information on ancient culture.

This newly revised and completely up-to-date third edition of this historic reference adequately reflects the recent expansion in the scholarship and scope of classical studies. Here, in over six thousand entries ranging from long articles to brief identifications, readers can find information on virtually any topic of interestathletics, bee-keeping, botany, magic, Roman law, religious rites, postal service, slavery, navigation, and the reckoning of time. The Dictionary profiles every major figure of Greece and Rome-and lesser known figures not found in other references-from Homer and Virgil, to Plato and Aristotle, to Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great. Readers will find entries on mythological and legendary figures, on major cities, famous buildings, and important geographical landmarks, and on legal, rhetorical, literary, and political terms and concepts, as well as extensive thematic articles that offer superb coverage of topics of interest to both scholars and general readers, exploring everything from medicine and mathematics to music, law, and marriage.

With contributions and guidance from some of the finest classical scholars in the world, the Oxford Classical Dictionary has no equal in any language. It is the definitive summation of classical scholarship as it stands today.

The Dictionary covers:

politics, government, economy - from political figures to systems, terms and practices, histories of major states and empires, economic theory, agriculture, artisans and industry, trade and markets

religion and mythology - deities and mythological creatures, beliefs and rituals, sanctuaries and sacred buildings, astrology and magic

law and philosophy - from biographies of lawgivers and lawyers to legal terms and procedures, from major and minor philosophers to philosophical schools, terms, and concepts

science and geography - scientists and scientific theory and practice, doctors and medicine, climate and landscape, natural disasters, regions and islands, cities and settlements, communications

languages, literature, art, and architecture - languages and dialects, writers and literary terms and genres, orators and rhetorical theory and practice, drama and performance, art, painters and sculptors, architects, buildings and materials

archaeology and historical writing - amphorae and pottery, shipwrecks and cemeteries, historians, and Greek and Roman historiography

military history - generals, arms and armour, famous battles, attitudes to warfare

social history, sex, and gender - women and the family, kinship, peasants and slaves, attitudes to sexuality

What people are saying

The Oxford classical dictionary

User Review  - Not Available - Book Verdict

First published in 1949, The Oxford Classical Dictionary (OCD) has become the standard, authoritative, one-volume reference in Greco-Roman studies available in English. This new edition revises the ...

The Oxford classical dictionary

User Review  - Not Available - Book Verdict

The Oxford Classical Dictionary (OCD) is the authoritative one-volume guide to all aspects of the ancient Greco-Roman world. For this edition, editors Hornblower (ancient history, Oriel Coll., Oxford ...

About the author

Simon Hornblower is Professor of Classics and Ancient History, University College London. He is the author and editor of many books (see books by the same author). Antony Spawforth is Professor of Ancient History, University of Newcastle upon Tyne. He is also a well-known presenter of television programmes on archaeological and classical subjects in the BBC series 'Ancient Voices'. He has written and edited many books (see books by the same author).

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Oxford Classical Dictionary
• Editors: Simon Hornblower, Antony Spawforth
• Edition: 3, illustrated, reprint
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2003
• ISBN: 0198606419, 9780198606413
• Length: 1640 pages
• Subjects: Reference / General