Bøger af Philip Matyszak

Hercules the superman, the monsterslaying machine, the myth - who was the man beneath the lionskin headdress, and does he really live up to his legend? This unique biography tells the story of the first superhero from his traumatic birth to his dramatic death.Hercules was more than just his twelve famous labours. He was a father, a lover, a leader of armies and a fine strategist. He was also a cattlethief, a murderer and a rapist. Using ancient sources from early Greece to the Late Roman Empire, this detailed biography fleshes out the character of one of the most complex and flawed heroes of Greek mythology.Philip Matyszak has a doctorate in Roman history from St John's College, Oxford University and is the author of many books on Ancient History including the best-selling The Greek and Roman Myths: A Guide to the Classical Stories, Ancient Rome of Five Denarii a Day and Legionary: The Roman Soldier's (Unofficial) Manual. He teaches e-learning courses in ancient History for the Institute of Continuing Education at Cambridge University. For more information visit: www.matyszakbooks.com

A guide to the Greek and Roman Myths. It features a blend of stories, facts and quotations from ancient authors, and places ancient myths in a modern context, discussing the afterlives of the myths and the relevance of their messages. It includes factfiles on heroes and heroines and family trees of the gods.

After returning from the dead - or at least from the river Arausio - Lucius Panderius finds himself back in Rome, and an unwilling participant in the snake-pit of Roman politics. Whether dodging assassins in the back-alleys, or ducking missiles at political rallies, our hero finds that the streets of his home city can be just as dangerous as the battlefield. And on the battlefield, at least you know who your enemies are ... Rome, 104 BC is a city on edge; torn by social conflict and threatened with destruction by a massive barbarian invasion. To survive the turmoil, Lucius Panderius needs to be every bit as ruthless and duplicitous as his shadowy and powerful enemies. 'The Servant of Aphrodite' is the second of the Panderius Papers, and as with its predecessor, this novel combines detailed historical research with non stop action and adventure. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Philip Matyszak has a doctorate in Roman history from St John's College, Oxford University and is the author of many books on Ancient History, including the best-selling Ancient Rome on Five Denarii a Day and Legionary: The Roman Soldier's (Unofficial) Manual. He teaches e-learning courses in Ancient History for the Institute of Continuing Education at Cambridge University. The Servant of Aphrodite is the sequel to The Gold of Tolosa and is the second novel in his 'Lucius Panderius' series. For more information visit: www.matyszakbooks.com

Meet Lucius Panderius, war hero, connoisseur of fine wines and Germanic prostitutes - and the perpetrator of the biggest gold theft in history. This first novel by well-known writer and historian Philip Matyszak takes us from the mean streets of Rome to the even meaner streets of Gallic Tolosa in a journey filled with ambush, intrigue, battle and double-cross. In 105 BC Rome is faced with extinction, both from a huge army of invading barbarians and by a dark curse that has been festering for generations. It falls to Lucius Panderius to avert both threats, and incidentally to make himself richer than Croesus. Though fiction, The Gold of Tolosa is historically accurate and explains how enough loot to recapitalize a third-world economy was taken in a theft that really did happen. Whether Lucius is crossing swords with barbarian warriors or Roman magistrates, the pace is never less than frantic, and ancient Rome has never been more fun ... ABOUT THE AUTHOR Philip Matyszak has a doctorate in Roman history from St John's College, Oxford University and is the author of many books on Ancient History, including the best-selling Ancient Rome on Five Denarii a Day and Legionary: The Roman Soldier's (Unofficial) Manual. He teaches e-learning courses in Ancient History for the Institute of Continuing Education at Cambridge University. The Gold of Tolosa is the first historical novel in the 'Lucius Panderius' series. The Servant of Aphrodite is the sequel to The Gold of Tolosa and is the second novel in this series. For more information visit: www.matyszakbooks.com

"A fascinating tour of cities that have been lost to history--from the Neolithic period to the late Roman Empire--that offers a fresh perspective on the roots of urban life. The ruins of ancient Athens, Luxor, and Rome are familiar cornerstones of world history, visited by travelers from across the globe. But what about the cities that have dropped off the map? That have been submerged under water, or swallowed up by the sands of time? Where are they, and what can they tell us about our past? In this compendium of forgotten cities, Philip Matyszak explores the trials, tribulations, and triumphs these cities faced, revealing how people have embarked on the shared endeavor of living together since we first settled down twelve thousand years ago. Illustrated throughout with important artifacts, ruins, and maps, Lost Cities of the Ancient World brings to life the sites and settlements across Europe, the Middle East, and beyond that time forgot, from the sunken city of Pavlopetri in the Mediterranean to the deep cave dwellings of Derinkuyu in Turkey. Four thousand years of human history are covered in this volume, offering unique insights into forgotten cities and ways of life. Matyszak reveals a dynamic network of peoples and cultures who fought and traded between themselves, exchanging inventions, ideas, and philosophies, with the result that people as far apart as Catalhèoyèukin Turkey and Skara Brae in Scotland's Orkney Islands shared a common heritage. By examining the motivations that first drew populations to gather and settle together, as well as the challenges that led to their cities' abandonment, this visually striking and often surprising book offers us a fresh perspective on our urban origins." --

Julius Caesar in Egypt is a true story of double-cross, assassination and intrigue accompanied by lively battles, daring escapes, disastrous fires (the Great Library of Alexandria was largely destroyed in one fracas) and, if not a love story, at least a tale of sex and power as Caesar and Cleopatra's relationship shaped these world-changing events.

Discover the lives of the ancient Romans, pieced together from inscriptions, discarded letters, biographies and myth over two thousand years of history. The Roman empire witnessed a huge diversity of human experience over its history. At its pinnacle, it exerted its rule across Europe, Africa and the Middle East, from Britannia to the Black Sea. In this collection of 100 lives, Philip Matyszak and Joanne Berry give voice not only to famed rulers and generals whose names and deeds have been enshrined in classical texts but also to the ordinary citizens - centurions, scholars, Christian martyrs and civil servants - who made up the fabric of Roman society. The biographies of these individuals, whose stories range from the happy and uneventful to the tragic and dramatic, are pieced together from ancient art, artefacts and myths. Matyszak and Berry illuminate the sometimes surprising exploits of Rome's women, such as Amazonia, a sword-swinging gladiator, and Metila, a priestess of the cult of Cymbele. Romans of every class and creed are represented, from Faustulus, a shepherd said to have adopted the infant Romulus and Remus, to the poet Virgil, whose words still echo down the ages. Each of these lives forms part of a larger picture, together making up a rich mosaic that gives us a glimpse of what it meant to be a Roman.

Had the Cimbri overwhelmed Rome, as at one time it seemed inevitable that they would, then European history would have been very different.

The year is 101 BC and the people of Rome and Italy face extinction as a huge barbarian horde marches south. The Cimbri have destroyed one Roman army after another in their seemingly unstoppable advance. Now one last force stands in their way - an army of released jailbirds, retired veterans, and unskilled teenagers, together with a motley collection of allies whose only common feature is their unreliability.However, the commander of this hastily-assembled force has one powerful weapon at his disposal - Lucius Panderius, spy and counter-intelligence officer extraordinary. Unfortunately, Lucius has first to survive a lethal conspiracy by his own side, find a murderer, and discover the identity of the spy who has put the very survival of Rome in doubt. After that, dealing with a hundred thousand or so bloodthirsty barbarian warriors should be relatively straightforward ...The Blood-Red Sunset follows the two previous adventures of Lucius Panderius in The Gold of Tolosa and The Servant of Aphrodite, and combines non-stop action and excitement with meticulous historical research.

The essential illustrated guide to the gods and goddesses of ancient Greece and Rome, vividly retelling their stories and exploring their origins. Who were the gods and goddesses of ancient Greece and Rome? What did they mean to the people who worshipped them? Although their time of widespread worship has long passed, the Greek and Roman gods have fascinated and inspired writers and artists for millennia. From Aphrodite to Apollo, Poseidon to Zeus, these are some of the most recognizable characters in Western culture, yet there is a much richer past behind famous paintings of the birth of Aphrodite or the bold iconography of Zeus and his thunderbolts. The Greek and Roman gods are enthralling characters in the enduringly powerful Iliad, Odyssey and Metamorphoses. They are immortal and powerful yet also vain, vindictive and vulnerable. Moreover, as manifestations of death, fertility, love and war, the gods are also our key to understanding how the Greeks and Romans saw their world. Philip Matyszak presents this pantheon in all their complexity, guiding us from Mount Olympus to the depths of Hades. Each chapter focuses on an individual god or goddess, beginning with their 'biography' as understood by the Greeks and Romans and exploring the origins of the legends. Matyszak mixes history with vivid retellings of the myths in which the gods have a starring role, from stories of cosmic creation and universal war to disastrous weddings and freak discus accidents. This sumptuously illustrated guide to the gods of Greece and Rome is a must-have for anyone interested in mythology and classical civilization.

Ein neues Sammelsurium antiker Seltsamkeiten: Auch in diesem Hörbuch versammelt Philip Matyszak Anekdoten, Fakten und allerhand Erzählenswertes aus dem griechischen und dem römischen Altertum. Dabei offenbart er erneut sowohl seinen erstaunlichen Wissensreichtum als auch einen untrüglichen Sinn für Skurriles und Groteskes. So erfahren wir unter anderem das Schicksal der adligen römischen Damen Cornelia und Sergia aus dem 4. Jh. v. Chr., die, wie sie selbst sagten, gesunde Kräutertränke herstellten – einen Zusammenhang mit einer ganzen Serie von Todesfällen leugneten sie. Als sie zum Forum gebracht und untersucht wurden, forderte man sie auf, die ihre Gemische selbst zu trinken – schließlich seien sie ja gesund. Sie willigten sofort ein und stürzten das Gebräu hinunter. Und waren kurz darauf tot ... Das Hörbuch präsentiert einen ganzen Reigen solcher und ähnlicher Geschichten, die ein farbiges, mitunter grell-buntes, in jedem Fall überraschendes Bild der Antike zeichnen!

Classic tale of the defiant underdog as the rebel Sertorius defies the might of Rome.

Features a story of one of the most colourful dynasties in history, from Caesars rise to power in the first century BC to Neros death in AD 68. This book reviews the long history of the Julian and Claudian families in the Republic and the social and political background of Rome.

This is high drama played out on a stage that spanned from Greece and Egypt to India, full of plots, poisoning, treachery, incest, murder, rebellion and conquest.

Ob der Online-Händler ›Amazon‹ oder die Sportmarke ›Nike‹ – in unserem Alltag begegnen uns ständig Spuren der griechisch-römischen Mythologie. Doch wo liegt ihr Ursprung und um welche Geschichte geht es eigentlich genau? Philip Matyszak bringt dem Leser auf höchst unterhaltsame Weise die klassischen Mythen der Antike nahe. Er erzählt von den Abenteuern und Beziehungen der Götter, Halbgötter und Helden, denn das ist es, was die Mythen bis heute so lebendig macht: Es sind gewaltige Erzählungen, in denen es immer auch ›menschelt‹ – nicht umsonst greift die Psychologie gern auf das mythologische Repertoire zurück, wenn sie wie im Falle des Ödipus-Komplexes menschliche Beziehungen beschreiben. So erklärt der Band nicht nur die klassischen Mythen und wie die Griechen und Römer die Welt verstanden, sondern bietet auch originelle Einsichten in unsere gegenwärtige Gesellschaft. Kurze Beschreibungen der mythologischen Protagonisten verschaffen dem Leser zusätzlich einen schnellen Überblick.

Werden Sie Gladiator! Begeistern Sie die jubelnde Menge, gewinnen Sie Ruhm und Ehre in einer der glorreichsten Stätten Roms – und das alles in Gegenwart des Kaisers höchstpersönlich! Würden Sie nicht töten für solch einen Job ...? Philip Matyszak erzählt unterhaltsam und pointiert, dabei aber stets sachlich fundiert von allen Aspekten einer römischen Gladiatorenkarriere: Wie wird man Gladiator? Wie ergreift man diesen zwar tödlichen, aber doch glanzvollsten aller Berufe? Wer wird auf welche Weise versuchen, einen zu töten? Welche Arenen des römischen Reiches sind die wichtigsten? Wie oft muss man kämpfen, wie genau laufen die Duelle ab und wie enden sie ...? All diese Fragen beantwortet das Hörbuch mit einem kräftigen Schuss Humor. Die unterhaltsamste Art, etwas über diesen berühmten Aspekt antiker Geschichte und Kultur zu erfahren!

Rom herrscht unangefochten vom Wüstensand Mesopotamiens bis in die Highlands von Kaledonien. Das Reich ruht auf den kräftigen Schultern von Legionären, die die Barbarenhorden im Zaum halten und die Grenzen weiter verschieben. Machen Sie mit und erobern Sie die Welt! Dieses Hörbuch vermittelt Ihnen alle nötigen Informationen, die Sie brauchen, um in die römische Armee zu kommen und es weit in ihr zu bringen. Lernen Sie: wie man bei den Legionen angenommen wird und welche Legion die richtige für Sie ist; was Sie auf Feldzügen anziehen – und was lieber nicht!; wie man eine Stadt erobert und es überlebt; wie Sie sich verhalten, wenn Rom Ihre Legion mit einem Triumphzug ehrt – und vieles mehr. Durch die Verbindung aktueller archäologischer Erkenntnisse mit modernen Rekonstruktionen der experimentellen Archäologie vermittelt dieses Hörbuch ein lebendiges Bild davon, was es hieß, ein römischer Legionär zu sein.

Unterhaltsam, originell und skurril: Philip Matyszak präsentiert die Griechen und Römer in diesem Hörbuch von ihrer witzigen Seite. Er berichtet von kleinen und großen Skandalen der Antike, tischt genüsslich Bizarres und Wissenswertes auf und zeigt, wie viel Freude das Altertum an Klatsch und Tratsch der feinsten Sorte hatte! Das Ergebnis ist "abwechslungsreich, unterhaltend und kurzweilig: ein wahres Vergnügen für alle, die sich auch für die kleinen Details abseits der klassischen Pfade interessieren, die unser Wissen erst wirklich lebendig machen." (Archäologie in Deutschland) Ob es um die Liebe und die Frauen geht, um sonderbare Tiergeschichten, um skurrile Geschichten von Todesfällen oder um die Dinge, die man schon damals eher in vorgehaltener Hand weitersagte – immer zeigt das Hörbuch, wie ungemein unterhaltsam man Wissen präsentieren kann!

Charts the decline of Spartan power from the Peloponnesian War (arguing that victory in this war actually contained the seeds of their downfall) down to the Roman conquest of Greece and Sparta's absorption into the Achaean League in 146 BC.

Tells you how to get in and get on in the legions, the best places to serve, life in camp, on campaign and in battle, and such things as how to stop your armour going rusty and how to storm a city. This book is suitable for those who enjoy ancient history, but who want to be entertained at the same time.

Like the other volumes in this series, this book gives a clear narrative of the course of these wars

In The Greeks, Philip Matyszak illuminates the Greek soldiers, statesmen, scientists and philosophers who, though they seldom - if ever - set foot on the Greek mainland, nevertheless laid the foundations of what we call 'Greek culture' today.

A guide to ancient Rome, it describes the best places to stay and shop, what to do, and what to avoid. It is intended for tourists, armchair travellers and history buffs.

Mithridates the Great was one of the dominant figures of the first century BC and the Romans' most persistent enemy, going to war with them three times.