Geoponika by Andrew Dalby
Geoponika is one of the most celebrated texts to come out of the Byzantine renaissance promoted by the 10th-century emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus. It was a gathering together of many classical and post-classical agricultural works, from Pliny in ancient Rome to the 7th-century Cassianus Bassus and the 4th-century Vindonius Anatolius. Many of these no longer survive, making this work the more valuable. It is a source both for ancient Roman agricultural practice in the West, and for understanding Near Eastern agriculture and what went on in Byzantine Anatolia. It was once translated into English, in the early 19th century, but has usually only been accessible to scholars of Greek. The history of the manuscript is extremely complicated. Andrew Dalby provides a modern and intelligent translation. He does not explore in any detail textual matters, wishing to concentrate on questions of agriculture and food production (meanwhile a definitive Greek text is in preparation elsewhere). This will be an essential tool for students of the classical and medieval worlds.
Andrew Dalby is a linguist and historian living in France. He is an honorary fellow of the Institute of Linguists and the author of Dictionary of Languages (Columbia, 1998) and the Guide to World Language Dictionaries. He is also the author of several award-winning books on the history of food and wine, including Siren Feasts: A History of Food and Gastronomy in Greece, Empire of Pleasures: Luxury and Indulgence in the Roman Empire, and Dangerous Tastes: Spices in World History.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781903018699 |
| ISBN 10 | 1903018692 |
| Title | Geoponika |
| Author | Andrew Dalby |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Prospect Books |
| Year published | 2011-02-17 |
| Number of pages | 320 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |