This collection of papers gathers together expertise in archaeology, classical literature, patristics and the cultural reception of antiquity to present a fully-rounded picture of the cultural status of the human body in the ancient world. The essays, unified by the theme of the changing body, address the diversity and complexity of attitudes, practices and contexts to explore the plurality of the ancient body. They examine how the different ways in which the body altered could be a means of conveying ideologies and of experiencing the self. A wide variety of times and places within antiquity are discussed, including classical Greece, Augustan Rome, New Kingdom Egypt and the world of late antiquity.
This book is the first to place at its centre the emotional and experiential aspect of the body in antiquity. The interdisciplinary interests of the contributors, the application of current theoretical perspectives and the utilisation of many sources never before translated into a modern language, make this work a unique contribution to a growing field of enquiry.

eBook available with sample pages: 0203436679

The pharaoh Akhenaten, who ruled Egypt in the mid-fourteenth century BCE, has been the subject of more speculation than any other character in Egyptian history. Often called the originator of monotheism and the world's first recorded individual, he has fascinated and inspired both scholars of Egyptology and creative talents as diverse as Sigmund Freud and Philip Glass.
This provocative biography examines both the real Akhenaten and the myths that have been created around him. It scrutinises the history of the pharaoh and his reign, which has been continually written in Eurocentric terms inapplicable to ancient Egypt, and the archaeology of Akhenaten's capital city, Amarna. It goes on to explore the pharaoh's extraordinary cultural afterlife, and the way he has been invoked to validate ideas as diverse as psychoanalysis, racial equality and fascism. Dr Montserrat makes the point that our view of Akhenaten has never been based purely on historical or archaeological knowledge, but is a cultural hallucination, influenced by western desires about ancient Egypt and modern struggles for legitimation and authority.
Combining up-to-date historical synthesis with extensive new archival research, Akhenaten: History, Fantasy and Ancient Egypt is the first book to assess critically why the archaeology of ancient Egypt continues to fascinate. Theoretically astute and engagingly written, and illustrated with many striking images never previously published, it will appeal to anyone with an interest in Akhenaten or in the archaeology of ancient Egypt.

Constantine examines the reign of Constantine, the first Christian emperor and the founder of Constantinople. From a variety of angles: historical, historiographical and mythical. The volume examines the circumstances of Constantine's reign and the historical problems surrounding them, the varied accounts of Constantine's life and the plethora of popular medieval legends surrounding the reign, to reveal the different visions and representations of the emperor from saint and patron of the Western church to imperial prototype. Constantine: History, Historiography and Legend presents a comprehensive and arresting study of this important and controversial emperor.

The pharaoh Akhenaten, who ruled Egypt in the mid-fourteenth century BCE, has been the subject of more speculation than any other character in Egyptian history. This provocative new biography examines both the real Akhenaten and the myths that have been created around him. It scrutinises the history of the pharaoh and his reign, which has been continually written in Eurocentric terms inapplicable to ancient Egypt, and the archaeology of Akhenaten's capital city, Amarna. It goes on to explore the pharaoh's extraordinary cultural afterlife, and the way he has been invoked to validate everything from psychoanalysis to racial equality to Fascism.

Constantine examines the reign of Constantine, the first Christian emperor and the founder of Constantinople. From a variety of angles: historical, historiographical and mythical. The volume examines the circumstances of Constantine's reign and the historical problems surrounding them, the varied accounts of Constantine's life and the plethora of popular medieval legends surrounding the reign, to reveal the different visions and representations of the emperor from saint and patron of the Western church to imperial prototype. Constantine: History, Historiography and Legend presents a comprehensive and arresting study of this important and controversial emperor.

eBook available with sample pages: 0203027558

From Constantine to Julian provides students with important source material, covering an age of major transition in Europe; an age which saw the establishment of Rome as a Christian Empire and a period of recidivism under Julian.
Texts included are the anonymous Origo Constantini; Eumenius, Panegyric of 310; Byzantine life of Constantine; Libanius, oration 59; and the Passion of Artemius. Most of this material has not previously been translated into English: students will now have direct access to the most important sources for the period which is studied on courses in classical antiquity, early medieval Europe and ecclesiastical history.

From Constantine to Julian covers an age of major transition in Europe, which saw the establishment of Rome as a Christian Empire and a period of recidivism under Julian.

Texts include are the anonymous lives of Constantine, relevant sections of Aurelius Victor and `Eumenius', Libanius' Oration 59, the Passion of Artemius and a selection of papyri and inscriptions. Most of this material has not previously been translated into English: students will now have direct access to the most important sources for the period which is studied in courses on classical antiquity, on early medieval Europe and on ecclesiastical history.

First Published in 2004. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.