In 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner', Samuel Taylor Coleridge spins a compelling narrative of a seafarer bound by his haunting past voyage. Told in a lyrical ballad form, Coleridge's masterpiece melds the traditional with the innovative through its complex use of language, arresting imagery, and thematic depth. The poem is rich in maritime folklore and supernatural elements, yet at its core, it is a profound reflection on human guilt, redemption,...

From longships to clinker ships to a national assembly, Vikings continue to influence all aspects of contemporary life. Read this book to find out more about how we encounter links to the ancient world every day.

"The Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead is a compendium of classic texts by one of the greatest translators and historians of ancient Egypt, as well as one of the most renowned Egyptologists of all time, E.A. Wallis Budge. Discover the magic of ancient Egypt in this comprehensive text."--Amazon.com.

Widely referred to as the "Father of History", Greek Historian Herodotus lived during the 5th century BC and "The Histories" is generally accepted as the first work of historical literature in Western Civilization. Departing from the ancient Homeric tradition of treating historical subjects as epically romantic figures, Herodotus instead approached his subjects with a systematic method of investigation. "The Histories" of Herodotus describe the important...

Using architecture, sculpture, culture and history, Adams humanizes the medieval period and provides valuable insight on religious philosophy. Mont-Saint Michel and Chartes provides a background and description of the construction of two French landmarks built in the 11th century. The Mont-Saint Michel cathedral was built during a militant time; it was not enough to simply be steadfast in one's own beliefs, but also to make others believe them. Religious...

The History of the Peloponnesian War, by Thucydides, is part of the Barnes & Noble Classics series, which offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader, including new scholarship, thoughtful design, and pages of carefully crafted extras. Here are some of the remarkable features of Barnes & Noble Classics: • New introductions commissioned from todays top writers and scholars • Biographies of the authors • Chronologies...

'De Rerum Natura' ('On the Nature of Things') is a 1st century BC, didactic poem by the Roman poet and philosopher Lucretius, with the goal of explaining Epicurean philosophy to a Roman audience. Lucretius presents the principles of atomism; the nature of the mind and soul; explanations of sensation and thought; the development of the world and its phenomena; and explains a variety of celestial and terrestrial phenomena. The universe described in...

Procopius, from Palaestina Prima, or modern day Israel, is an important first hand source for the history of the 6th century, especially concerning the Emperor Justinian. Procopius was an incredibly learned man, having received a classical education, possibly from the famed School of Gaza. He would become a legal adviser for Belisarius, Justinian's chief military commander and accompany him to the war front, an experience he would document in his...

Euripides was one of the three great tragedians of classical Athens, the other two being Aeschylus and Sophocles. Some ancient scholars attributed ninety-five plays to him; of these, eighteen or nineteen have survived complete. Euripides is identified with theatrical innovations that have profoundly influenced drama down to modern times, especially in the representation of traditional, mythical heroes as ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances....

This edition includes a modern introduction and a list of suggested further reading. Atlantis has fascinated scholars and occultists for centuries since Plato wrote about the sunken city in Timaeus and Critias. Whether Plato was presenting Atlantis as factual history or merely as a philosophical device, Lewis Spence's The History of Atlantis has ensured that the fascination with Plato's story has continued to the present day. Spence, despite his reputation...