Naked Statues, Fat Gladiators, and War Elephants: Frequently Asked Questions about the Ancient Greeks and Romans

Description

Why didn't the ancient Greeks or Romans wear pants? How did they shave? How likely were they to drink fine wine, use birth control, or survive surgery? In a series of short and humorous essays, Naked Statues, Fat Gladiators, and War Elephants explores some of the questions about the Greeks and Romans that ancient historian Garrett Ryan has answered in the classroom and online. Unlike most books on the classical world, the focus is not on famous figures or events, but on the fascinating details of daily life. Learn the answers to: How tall were the ancient Greeks and Romans? How long did they live? What kind of pets did they have? How dangerous were their cities? Did they believe their myths? Did they believe in ghosts, monsters, and/or aliens? Did they jog or lift weights? How did they capture animals for the Colosseum? Were there secret police, spies, or assassins? What happened to the city of Rome after the Empire collapsed? Can any families trace their ancestry back to the Greeks or Romans? Preface I DAILY LIFE 1 Why Didn’t the Greeks or Romans Wear Pants? 2 How Did They Shave? 3 What Kinds of Pets Did They Have? 4 Did They Use Any Form of Birth Control? 5 How Likely Were They to Survive Surgery? 6 What Were the Greatest Delicacies? 7 How Much Wine Did They Drink? 8 How Did They Keep Track of Time? II SOCIETY 9 How Long Did They Live? 10 How Tall Were They? 11 How Much Money Did They Make? 12 How Dangerous Were Their Cities? 13 How Often Were Slaves Freed? 14 Was Divorce Common? 15 Were Relationships between Men and Boys Controversial? 16 Why Are So Many of Their Statues Naked? III BELIEFS 17 Did They Believe Their Myths? 18 Did They Believe in Ghosts, Monsters, and/or Aliens? 19 Did They Practice Magic? 20 Did They Practice Human Sacrifice? 21 Was the Oracle of Delphi High on Fumes? 22 How Long Did Paganism Survive? IV SPORTS AND LEISURE 23 Were There Professional Athletes? 24 How Did They Exercise? Did They Jog or Lift Weights? 25 Did They Travel for Pleasure? 26 How Was the Colosseum Built in Less Than a Decade? 27 How Were Animals Captured for the Colosseum? 28 Were Gladiators Fat? How Deadly Was Gladiatorial Combat? V WAR AND POLITICS 29 How Were War Elephants Used in Battle? 30 How Were Fortified Cities Captured? 31 Were There Secret Police, Spies, or Assassins? 32 Why Didn’t the Romans Conquer Germany or Ireland? VI LEGACIES 33 What Happened to the City of Rome after the Empire Collapsed? 34 What Happened to the Body of Alexander the Great? Has the Tomb of Any Roman Ruler Been Discovered Intact? 35 Why Did Latin Evolve into Multiple Languages? Why Didn’t Greek? 36 Can Any Families Trace Their Ancestry Back to the Greeks or Romans? Apppendix A Very Short History of the Classical World Further Reading Acknowledgments Notes pter