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City of the Sharp-Nosed Fish

Greek Lives in Roman Egypt
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( 113 ratings, 19 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
City of the Sharp-Nosed Fish by Prof Peter Parsons delves into the fascinating world of Graeco-Roman Egypt through the discovery of papyri in the ancient city of Oxyrhynchus. These documents reveal the everyday lives of its inhabitants, encompassing personal letters, official records, and literary works. The book intricately reconstructs the social, cultural, and economic aspects of this historical period, bringing ancient history to life.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by ancient history and the daily lives of Greeks in Egypt. It delves into the discoveries at Oxyrhynchus, uncovering a remarkable collection of papyrus texts that shed light on both mundane and extraordinary aspects of life in a bygone era.

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In 1897 two Oxford archaeologists began digging a low sand-covered mound a hundred miles south of Cairo. When they had finally finished, ten years later, they had uncovered 500 000 fragments of papyri. Shipped back to Oxford, the meticulous and scholarly

An authentic window on everyday life in the Nile Valley 2,000 years ago An epic story of decoding and deciphering ancient papyri which began in 1897 and is still going on today Received rave reviews on hardback publication: 'The story... is a wonderful one, expounded with all the intelligence, humanity, clarity and wit that have ever been the hallmarks of the finest scholarship' Literary Review 'Parsons has entertainingly revived a noisy, gossiping world of migrant greeks who lived through the decline of Rome and the rise of Christianity' The Times 'A learned and engrossing book' Daily Telegraph 'A wonderfully rich portrait of the people of Oxyrhynchos' Sunday Times 'So rich and so remarkable is the detail that a greed for more soon sets in' Tom Holland, Guardian 'He brilliantly conveys both the difficulty of working on the material and the excitement of the historical detective involved in the thrill of the chase' William Dalrymple, New Statesman

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

In 1897, two Oxford archaeologists began digging a low sand-covered mound a hundred miles south of Cairo. When they had finally finished, ten years later, they had uncovered 500,000 fragments of papyri.

Shipped back to Oxford, the meticulous and scholarly work of piecing together these fragments unveiled an extraordinary insight into the lives of those who lived in the ancient city of Oxyrhynchus.

City of the Sharp-Nosed Fish by Prof Peter Parsons unveils this fascinating world, offering a detailed glimpse into a society and its people long buried under the sands of Egypt.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

City of the Sharp-Nosed Fish by Prof Peter Parsons has been praised for its compelling blend of research and creativity. Reviews highlight it as a memorable contribution, noting its insightful excavation into history. The work is often described as a remarkable achievement that offers a rewarding experience for readers interested in the past.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780753822333

Publisher: Orion Publishing Co

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 December 2007

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Weidenfeld & Nicolson

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 26.0mm

Width: 134.0mm

Height: 214.0mm

Weight: 290g

Pages: 288

About the Author

Peter Parsons was Lecturer in Papyrology from 1960 to 1989 and Regius Professor of Greek at Oxford University from 1989 until his retirement in 2003. For many years he was chairman of the Oxyrhynchus Papyri Project of the British Academy, of which he has

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