Customer Reviews

The Oxford Classical Dictionary, 2nd Edition

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I own the 2nd and 3rd Rev editionThe Oxford Classical Dictionary. I am not willing to relinquish either.

The Strong points for owning the 2nd is that the perspective of the era was perfection. The entries are very objective, even when they depart from the particular contributors' respective viewpoint.

This edition is painstakingly reliant on the most primary sources available that are relevant to a specific subject.

it does not send you to some self aggrandizing article, by the same contributor. Instead the 2nd is consistent in providing the ancient sources, something that apparently was considered less important in the 3rd Ed, which is its primary weakness.

In the 2nd Ed you get lean, straightforward information that is not plugged up with mini thesis entries. If you want just the basics, and the 'new' trendy positions are important to you, buy the 3rd Rev Ed.

If you want serious scholarship, that you can observe for yourself the evidence clearly used, the 2nd Ed is right for you. But you must also understand it is current information up to the print date. So you will have to do some leg work if you want the complete picture of the scholarship.

In that case I would suggest you also research in (not necessarily purchase) the New PaulyBrill's New Pauly: Encyclopaedia of the Ancient World: Antiquity, Volume 3 (Cat - Cyp) or Brill's New Pauly Encyclopedia Of The Ancient World: Antiquity : Hat-Jus.

The Oxford Classical Dictionary was newly edited. Of course I admit that second edition of the dictionary had good points e.g. explanations on literary works , and third edition of it contains some mistakes e.g. chapter numbers of classical sources. However the new=3rd edition is improved much better than 2nd one ,e.g. adding new entries like Homosexuality,Secular prostitution, Abortion, Menstruation, Gynaecology, etc. If you can read German language , I recommend A. Pauly, G. Wissowa, and W.Kroll's "REAL-ENCYCLOPAEDIE D. KLASSISCHEN ALTERTUMSWISSENSCHAFT". However if you like antiquated books, it is a good idea to buy 2nd edition of Oxford Classical Dictionary, also Lempriere's Classical Dictionary and William Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, Biography & Mythology.