Listen to a short interview with Mary Beard Host: Chris Gondek -
Producer: Heron & Crane It followed every major military
victory in ancient Rome: the successful general drove through the
streets to the temple of Jupiter on the Capitoline Hill; behind him
streamed his raucous soldiers; in front were his most glamorous
prisoners, as well as the booty he'd captured, from enemy ships and
precious statues to plants and animals from the conquered
territory. Occasionally there was so much on display that the show
lasted two or three days.
A radical reexamination of this most extraordinary of ancient
ceremonies, this book explores the magnificence of the Roman
triumph--but also its darker side. What did it mean when the axle
broke under Julius Caesar's chariot? Or when Pompey's elephants got
stuck trying to squeeze through an arch? Or when exotic or pathetic
prisoners stole the general's show? And what are the implications
of the Roman triumph, as a celebration of imperialism and military
might, for questions about military power and "victory" in our own
day? The triumph, Mary Beard contends, prompted the Romans to
question as well as celebrate military glory.
Her richly illustrated work is a testament to the profound
importance of the triumph in Roman culture--and for monarchs,
dynasts and generals ever since. But how can we re-create the
ceremony as it was celebrated in Rome? How can we piece together
its elusive traces in art and literature? Beard addresses these
questions, opening a window on the intriguing process of sifting
through and making sense of what constitutes "history."
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!