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Rome Before Rome

The Legends that Shaped the Romans
By Philip Matyszak
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Brief Description
Philip Matyszak skilfully navigates the myths and legends of early Rome, exploring the enigmatic origins of the Romans and how the first seeds of a great empire were sown. 'I sing of arms and the man,' wrote Virgil at the start of the Aeneid, one of... Read More
Format: Hardback
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An in-depth exploration of the myths and legends of early Rome, highlighting the enigmatic origins of the Romans and how the first seeds of this vast empire were sown.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Philip Matyszak skilfully navigates the myths and legends of early Rome, exploring the enigmatic origins of the Romans and how the first seeds of a great empire were sown.

'I sing of arms and the man,' wrote Virgil at the start of the Aeneid, one of Rome's most iconic origin stories exploring the tumultuous journey of Aeneas from Trojan prince to a hero of Rome. But did Aeneas actually flee from Troy? How did this story affect the Romans' perspective of themselves? And did they believe it?

In Rome Before Rome, Philip Matyszak explores the myths and legends, heroes and villains that shaped the Roman sense of self.

There are few books which explain how these different legends fit into Rome's overall narrative and none which explore the range of myths Matyszak describes. Some of the legends are well-known, from Romulus and Remus to the Rape of the Sabines, whilst others are more obscure, such as the story of the praetor Cipus, who grew horns and became a King of Rome. Whether renowned or unfamiliar, all are significant in their own way and have had a profound impact on the Romans. Even today, these myths continue to reverberate throughout Western culture as films, TV shows, and plays.

Matyszak dissects these myths, investigating hard-to-find texts, such as the historical texts of Dionysius of Halicarnassus and Plutarch's Roman Questions, as well as classic texts like Livy's From the Founding of the City and Ovid's Metamorphoses, revealing that Rome's illustrious mythological past is not quite as it might seem.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780500028315

Publisher: Thames & Hudson Ltd

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 03 April 2025

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Thames & Hudson Ltd

Illustration: K + Pantone 173u; 41 Illustrations, color

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 138.0mm

Height: 216.0mm

Weight: 470g

Pages: 224

Collections

Ancient & Classical History History & Archaeology History & Military Non-Fiction Philip Matyszak

About the Author

Philip Matyszak has a doctorate in Roman history from St John's College, Oxford. He also teaches and prepares courses for the eLearning programme at Cambridge University. He is the author of numerous books on the ancient world, including Lost Cities of the Ancient World (2023), The Greek and Roman Myths (2010) and Ancient Magic (2019), all published by Thames & Hudson.

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