The Classical Compendium
A Miscellany of Scandalous Gossip, Bawdy Jokes, Peculiar Facts, and Bad Behavior from the Ancient Greeks and Romans
by Philip Matyszak
Mem. Ed. $17.49
Pub. Ed. $24.95
You pay $1.00
The Classical Compendium
From the lowdown on Julius Caesar’s love life to an ancient Roman recipe for roast wild boar, The Classical Compendium is a delightful hodgepodge of important and not-so-important facts, stories, jokes and assorted miscellany from ancient Greece and Rome.
It’s a treasure trove of trivia about ancient wonders, prophecies, and even sex and romance, with plenty of informative lists, like the list of military dirty tricks, which includes spiking a town’s drinking water with a laxative, the better to defeat the diarrhea-plagued inhabitants. On the list of ancient careers we find pig-igniters, who set fire to tar-coated pigs and then sent the squealing fireballs bounding toward charging battle-elephants. We also learn the various ways that a dog’s blood, gall bladder, urine and even the froth from a dog’s mouth were used to defend against magic, keep away evil spirits or simply cure warts. And we hear plenty of ancient gossip, including juicy anecdotes about Augustus, Socrates and Vespasian.
The Classical Compendium runs the gamut—from an inscription on the tomb of a dog buried on the isle of Lesbos to some graffiti on a wall in Pompeii. It’s a lively, entertaining romp through antiquity.
Hardcover : 192 pages
Publisher: Thames & Hudson Inc. ( September 28, 2009 )
Item #: 12-779750
ISBN: 9780500051627
Product Dimensions: 5.25 x 8.0 inches
Product Weight: 15.0 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Handy Collection of Ancient Quotes and Facts 
October 28, 2011
A small but useful collection of sometimes quirky nuggets of information from ancient Rome and Greece. An easy read that provides insight into lesser known aspects of the classical world, highlighted by some amusing jokes. Recommended.
Reviewer: David R
An interesting grab bag of Greek & Roman tidbits
November 23, 2009
This small book is a nicely bound collection of various odd bits of classical information. From anecdotes about Augustus, Socrates, and Vespasian, to list of Roman military ranks, to descriptions of Roman funeral rites, it's an eminently readable hodgepodge. Not a lot for the serious classicist, but fun and easy reading for the average person.
Reviewer: Bill H
Probably fun if you know nothing & don't care
November 08, 2009
This book was a surprising waste waste of time & money. It's my own falt. I should have read between the lines of the blurb or eamined the item at a bookstore. Since Matyszak has done worthwhile work in the past I made an assumption that prove incorrect. Mea Culpa!
Reviewer: Steve F
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