This is a volume of studies concerned with death and its impact on the social order. The first topic considered is gladiatorial combat; not merely popular entertainment, it was also an important element in Roman politics. The book then investigates the composition of the political elite in the late Republic and Principate (249 BC - AD 235), showing that ideals of hereditary succession disguised high rates of social mobility. The final chapter ranges over aristocratic death rituals and tombs, funerals and ghost stories, to the search for immortality and the power of the Roman dead in distributing property by written wills.
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Editorial Reviews
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'... few Roman historians can have put down this book with the comfortable feeling that their views were just as plausible as before ... witty, elegant and a sustained pleasure to read.' Michael Crawford, Times Literary Supplement
'The insights of the professional sociologist are matched by a mastery of the detailed evidence and a clarity of exposition which compels even his critics to envious admiration.' T. P. Wiseman, History Today
'The central chapters represent a genuine contribution to a new understanding of Roman social institutions.' Sir Moses Finley, London Review of Books
'The essays on death are spectacular tours de force.' Andrew Lintott, Times Higher Education Supplement
'The insights of the professional sociologist are matched by a mastery of the detailed evidence and a clarity of exposition which compels even his critics to envious admiration.' T. P. Wiseman, History Today
'The central chapters represent a genuine contribution to a new understanding of Roman social institutions.' Sir Moses Finley, London Review of Books
'The essays on death are spectacular tours de force.' Andrew Lintott, Times Higher Education Supplement
Book Description
This is a volume of studies concerned with death and its impact on the social order. The first topic considered is gladiatorial combat; not merely popular entertainment, it was also an important element in Roman politics.
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Odd and interesting at the same time,
By A Customer
This review is from: Death and Renewal: Volume 2: Sociological Studies in Roman History (Vol 2) (Hardcover)
This book consisted of four chapters, the first and last of which were a fast and intriquing read. The two middle chapters were full of complex and iffy statistics which lead to very interesting conclusions. However, one couldn't help feeling that the said conclusions could have been made without the tedious statistics. Especially since data from the ancient world is spotty at best. However, if you ever see this book sitting in a used book store I recommend that you purchase it, I guarantee that you will not come across many books like it very often. The theme of the book seems to be death oriented, and a bit, well, odd. This book is sure to be an unique experience.
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