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The Oxford Classical Dictionary

Simon Hornblower (Editor),

Antony Spawforth

4.65 · Rating details · 271 ratings · 18 reviews

For almost half a century, the Oxford Classical Dictionary has been the unrivaled one-volume reference work on the Greco-Roman world. Whether one is interested in literature or art, philosophy or law, mythology or science, intimate details of daily life or broad cultural and historical trends, the OCD is the first place to turn for clear, authoritative information on For almost half a century, the Oxford Classical Dictionary has been the unrivaled one-volume reference work on the Greco-Roman world. Whether one is interested in literature or art, philosophy or law, mythology or science, intimate details of daily life or broad cultural and historical trends, the OCD is the first place to turn for clear, authoritative information on ancient culture.
This newly revised and completely up-to-date third edition of this historic reference adequately reflects the recent expansion in the scholarship and scope of classical studies. Here, in over six thousand entries ranging from long articles to brief identifications, readers can find information on virtually any topic of interestathletics, bee-keeping, botany, magic, Roman law, religious rites, postal service, slavery, navigation, and the reckoning of time. The Dictionary profiles every major figure of Greece and Rome-and lesser known figures not found in other references-from Homer and Virgil, to Plato and Aristotle, to Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great. Readers will find entries on mythological and legendary figures, on major cities, famous buildings, and important geographical landmarks, and on legal, rhetorical, literary, and political terms and concepts, as well as extensive thematic articles that offer superb coverage of topics of interest to both scholars and general readers, exploring everything from medicine and mathematics to music, law, and marriage.
With contributions and guidance from some of the finest classical scholars in the world, the Oxford Classical Dictionary has no equal in any language. It is the definitive summation of classical scholarship as it stands today.
The Dictionary covers:
politics, government, economy - from political figures to systems, terms and practices, histories of major states and empires, economic theory, agriculture, artisans and industry, trade and markets
religion and mythology - deities and mythological creatures, beliefs and rituals, sanctuaries and sacred buildings, astrology and magic
law and philosophy - from biographies of lawgivers and lawyers to legal terms and procedures, from major and minor philosophers to philosophical schools, terms, and concepts
science and geography - scientists and scientific theory and practice, doctors and medicine, climate and landscape, natural disasters, regions and islands, cities and settlements, communications
languages, literature, art, and architecture - languages and dialects, writers and literary terms and genres, orators and rhetorical theory and practice, drama and performance, art, painters and sculptors, architects, buildings and materials
archaeology and historical writing - amphorae and pottery, shipwrecks and cemeteries, historians, and Greek and Roman historiography
military history - generals, arms and armour, famous battles, attitudes to warfare
social history, sex, and gender - women and the family, kinship, peasants and slaves, attitudes to sexuality ...more

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Hardcover, 400 pages

Published May 1st 2003 by Oxford University Press, USA (first published 1949)

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· 271 ratings · 18 reviews

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Jun 05, 2009 Everyman rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reference, classical, refer-to-at-least-weekly

Indispensable for the serious reader of classical (Greek and Roman) literature. Is and will remain on my currently reading list since I refer to it at least weekly and often daily.

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May 29, 2007 Lindsay rated it it was amazing

If I was stranded on a desert island, and I could only choose one reference book, it would be this one. That of course begs the question: what am I doing on an island that would require knowledge or trivia about the ancient world?

...but whatever, its a hypothetical.

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Jun 22, 2012 AC rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: ancient

The 2nd and 3rd editions are really quite different books; I'm always partial to the older, more traditional ones in all things. But both are valuable, handy reference books and well worth the effort of owning. The best shelf reference, of course, is the Kleine Pauly (5 paperback volumes in German).

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Nov 03, 2018 Joshua Jacobs rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Unparalleled

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Jul 10, 2018 Joshua Laferriere rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: shelf

Haven't read it all, but I've referenced it extensively over my treatment of Classical history. It's like a mini encyclopedia in it's treatment

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Jul 12, 2011 Joe rated it really liked it

Shelves: classical, reviewed, reference

01/26/2007

All things considered, a superb reference work

This edition (the third edition, 1996) has over 6200 entries on 1640 pages! And no, I haven't read them all... This is really wonderful for those times when you come across a new term (whether a person, place or thing) and need some idea as to who (what or where) is being discussed, indicated or alluded to. This Edition, published in 1996, was put together between 1991-1994 and contains matters (such as the Near East) that were barely 01/26/2007

All things considered, a superb reference work

This edition (the third edition, 1996) has over 6200 entries on 1640 pages! And no, I haven't read them all... This is really wonderful for those times when you come across a new term (whether a person, place or thing) and need some idea as to who (what or where) is being discussed, indicated or alluded to. This Edition, published in 1996, was put together between 1991-1994 and contains matters (such as the Near East) that were barely touched on in earlier editions. But never fear! - The centrality of Greece and Rome has been quite correctly retained. There is, however, a much broader (and self-consciouss) inter-disciplinary focus to this edition. Older readers will likely be annoyed by long bows to feminism, Marxism and postmodernism in some of the essays. Occasionally, the tone and 'politically correct' point of view of some entries can be a bit over the top. If you are either old-fashioned or easily annoyed (and you know who you are) it might be wise NOT to toss out the second edition... But even they might find some of the new 'thematic' entries - on disease, ecology, economy, imperialism, literacy, motherhood, and technology, e.g. - more than occasionally useful. There is even good news for the under-educated - most Greek and Latin terms are translated! But I would prefer that the Greek or Latin and its translation both appear; this compromise would likely satisfy both novices and experts. Unfortunately, the cost of including the original term and the translation would likely cause the publisher to balk. Now, Roman names will probably continue to annoy everyone. If, for example, one looks up Caesar one finds 'See Iulius Caesar'. Now, as I hope we all know, the Romans had three names (using Caesar as an example): Gaius (praenomen), Iulius (nomen), Caesar (cogomen). Pretty much no one, besides Emperors and writers, is listed under the cogomen in this edition - they are almost all listed by nomen. (No, Caesar is not the exception, he was never officially Emperor.) The change of 'Julius' into 'Iulius' is also annoying - especially after being assured (Preface, viii) that "the more familiar form [...] should be preferred." But with a work of this scope and length there will always be a multitude of quibbles and annoyances. One of mine is that I wish the tiny bibliographies that follow some entries were less brief. But all things considered this is a first-rate OCD that will inevitably, after a generation and a half has passed, need to be revised. But such is the fate of all academic reference works. - They are all such slaves to fashion! That said, the general editors, Hornblower and Spawforth, and the area advisers have much to be proud of; 4.5 stars, 5 if the 'politically correct' gestures are toned down and the bibliographical data following some of the separate entries increased. ...more

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Apr 18, 2013 Alexandra rated it it was ok

Shelves: in-abeyance, reference

This is an excellent book to browse; articles vary in length, but provide a good overview in most cases. They also provide further reading on each individual topic.

The price is hefty, but worth it - collecting a series a books covering the breadth of information covered here would be far more expensive. It is not limited to the 'Golden Age', but covers developments in late antiquity - most articles take a historical overview of their topic, not just a snapshot. As an example: the article on the ...more

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Jul 19, 2010 Emily rated it really liked it

Shelves: reference, philology

It is a very helpful resource for basic information on classical studies but "dictionary" maybe conveys too great an authority and the entries shouldn't be blithely accepted as established fact. For instance, while consulting the entry on Theopompus I noticed a somewhat controversial stance assumed on Theopompus' attitude toward Philip II of Macedon.

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Jun 22, 2012 AC rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ancient

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Jan 04, 2015 David Hollywood rated it it was amazing

The absolute essential companion to anyone interested in the Classical World. Impossible to overstate!

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About Simon Hornblower

Simon Hornblower

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Simon Hornblower is Professor of Classics and Grote Professor of Ancient History at University College London.

Born in 1949, he was educated at Jesus College, Cambridge, and Balliol College, Oxford, where he took a DPhil in 1978.

In 1971 he was elected to a Prize Fellowship of All Souls College, which he held until 1977. From 1978 until 1997, he was University Lecturer in Ancient History at the ...more