The Classical Compendium: A Miscellany of Scandalous Gossip, Bawdy Jokes, Peculiar Facts, and Bad Behavior from the Ancient Greeks and Romans Hardcover – Illustrated, September 28, 2009

Matyszak has a great approach to history. He displays it not as staid, overworn stories of famous individuals, but as the real experience of ordinary people -- sex, violence, whiny complaints, and all. Matyszak's Rome is not a land of starched white togas and squeaky-clean marble; his is the Rome of garish dyes and roughspun tunics, of squabbling neighbours and petty disputes, of bad behaviour and its often quite public shame, and, most importantly for the reading experience, of dry wit, frank judgments, and explicit language. I've previously read Matyszak's 'Legionary', and I hope to read more of his books in the future, because I so appreciate his voice.In the 'Classical Compendium', Matyszak has combed the annals and anecdoates for the best tidbits, juiciest gossip, and weirdest tall tales out of Greco-Roman history. And there is, no doubt, some strange stuff in there. Matyszak's scope includes travel, the military, religion, love affairs, animal lore, odd jobs, criminal records, and even the customs surrounding death in the ancient world -- and some of most notable suicides and murders. He also sprinkles the text with traditional jokes from ancient Greece, many of which could be told today without anyone having the slightest feeling of anachronism.You'll learn about silphium, a plant worth its weight in gold for its medicinal uses, which included cough syrup and fever relief, as well as birth control and abortifacent; it went extinct sometime in the first century. You'll find aphrodisiac recipes, and love poems guaranteed to win a woman's heart -- alongside invective poetry guaranteed to drive her away, if that's your aim. Pompey had trouble with elephants, chameleons live on air, dogs got crucified once a year, and Julius Caesar had a horse with toes. Augustus Caesar imposed strict morality on his people, but couldn't govern his own family (as anyone who's watched 'I, Claudius' knows). You'll learn about some of the ancient world's most bizarrely specific jobs, like anti-elephant infantrymen, pig igniter, theatre shade operator, professional informer, and phallus manufacturer. If you have someone you desperately need to curse, the ancients have some delightfully specific recommendations. Everyone from commoners to emperors sought advice from the oracle, for questions as big as whether to go to war, as small as "Will I retrieve the mattresses and pillows I have lost?", and as universal as "What have I done to deserve this?"What all of these tidbits bring to life is the idea of an ancient world that was full and lively, in some ways as sophisticated as our own, lacking only our technology. It's a treasure trove, the gems of which illuminate a world long gone, alien to us in some ways, but alarmingly familiar in many others. Matyszak's books are fantastically educational, but eminently readable and entertaining as well. This isn't a stuffy recitation of dates and famous names; this is people, as they were and as they still are. And that, to me, is the very best kind of history.This book got 4 stars instead of 5 mostly because I wish there had been more things in here that I didn't already know. I would say the book is probably half-and-half information that was new to me versus information that I've picked up somewhere along the way, either in school or just in my own trawling of historical topics. I also think that, because this book relies more heavily on the primary sources, there's less of Matyszak's sense of humour coming through than there was in 'Legionary', and I missed that. 'The Classical Compendium' is, well, exactly what it says: a miscellany, bits and pieces out of the original authors or generally summarised, without a lot of connective material or commentary. Still, it's thoroughly delightful, and a wonderful historical reference book. Every lover of the ancient world should have this on her shelf.

As a historian and classic scholar i have been having a difficult time finding an affordable copy of "the laughing Philosopher"in it's dual language form,but this book is so full of amusing anecdotes from many ancient authors that it has given me a temporary break from my studies it has some repeats from Herodotus of course,but has a humerous side with a soupcion of heavy knowledge that was interesting enough and easy enough to read that even my father who is not a classics scholar,"borrowed" this book.For those that want to show/teach that the ancients were not dry,erudite and sober (in other words always speaking philosophy and whatnot like their statues)this book gives back the color that the statues have lost through time and yet you learn without knowing it.

Delightful - says it all.snippets and peeks into the old world - with pointed connections to how our world still operatesthe connection, the humor, the real situations ... make it all feel so humanonly one other book has made me laugh out loud literally - the places where I laughed surrounded the author's commentary or titles on the ancient snippetsI purchased this book after thoroughly enjoying another by this author - and got even more than I had hoped for ...

This is the third book by Philip Matyszak I have bought, all hard covers, publishers take note. He's not only informative, but he's funny. If you have any interest at all in the classical world, be sure to read Matyszak. He's included some wonderful anecdotes about Augustus and Vespasian that I wasn't familiar with. Things are arranged by subject, and even better, there's an index to help you find your favorite stories. The publisher even included a ribbon bookmark. How classy can you get!

I have become a fan of this author. Every book written by Philip Matyszak that I have read so far has entertained and educated me at the same time. This book explored Greek and Roman oddities as described in the title. I found this an easy read. Normally I read such book at a slower pace trying to remember many of the facts, however this book I finished in two days of reading. A faster reader will finish it in 3 hours. I recommend this book to experts and generalist both. It is an easy, fun read. Enjoy!!

Different persons have quite different reactions to History. Some are enthusiastic; others find it very hard to connect to the persons, places and beliefs of the ancients. For the latter this is the perfect place to begin your journey into the classical world. Matyszak's have a revolutionary approach to History. With his excellent humor, bright intellect and vast knowledge, leads the reader through several themes that flesh out the daily life of persons that lived in the classical world. From gossips, jokes, culinary, sports, professions, beliefs, warfare, criminal cases that had public attention, etc, you will find a vast repertoire of anecdotes and data that will astonish you, entertain you, and make you believe that man and women that lived 2500-1500 years ago were as alive as you and the people around you in the present days.The book is divided in the following sections: Incredible Journeys and wonders; Military Miscellany; Bizarre beliefs; Perilous Prophecies; The gossip column; Of love and ladies; Beastly tales; Odd jobs; Criminal records; Going in style.Highly Recommended.

I came to this after reading the author's 'Ancient Rome on Five Denarii a day' and 'Legionary', hoping for more of his quirky take on the classical world.I wasn't disappointed. This little book is full of odd facts and snippets about the Greeks and Romans, presented in a way that occasionally made me laugh out loud.Scattered throughout the chapters there are occasional ancient Greek jokes about Elithio Phoitete (not the brightest wick in the lamp!), and many of these are still funny. ("Elithio Phoitete remarked that he was the unluckiest of men, for no sooner had he trained his donkey to live without food than the beast suddenly died!")Even more so than the author's other books, this is one you can pick up and read for a few minutes at a time, as it consists of many short paragraphs and quotes. I found it a great bedside book.Like Matyszak's other books, it's also very attractively presented - a nice little hardback, complete with a ribbon bookmark. I bought it as a gift to myself, but it would actually make a very nice gift for anyone with even a slight interest in the Classical world.My only complaint? I wish it was longer! 187 pages just didn't seem enough!

This is a very neat and tidy little volume which is a mine of curious and intriguing tidbits from the ancient empire that was Rome. They are in turns fascinating, funny, Flavian and ferocious.I noticed at least two errors though:1. Tiberius did not become emperor on his return from his `exile' in Rhodes... by a long chalk.And...2. A picture purporting to show a slave being flogged is actually schoolboy discipline Roman-style.OK, Matyszak, I enjoyed the book so you can have the `flogged slave' but poor old Tiberius has had enough bad press without you putting the caliga in as well.Valete!

its a christmas gift for my son and i know he will love it

a great little book , great for reading whilst travelling, you will feel able to answer Q I's questions