The Animal World of the Ancient Greeks

This book offers a modern, accessible, engaging overview of the interactions between ancient Greeks and animals in all phases of their life, both inside and outside of the walls of the ancient polis.

This book offers a modern, accessible, engaging overview of the interactions between ancient Greeks and animals in all phases of their life, both inside and outside of the walls of the ancient polis. The field of ancient animal studies has exhibited rapid growth in recent years, typically focusing on individual animals or on animals in ancient religion or art; however, there has been no modern book that offers an overview of how animals pervaded ancient Greek life. This volume fills that gap, delving into areas such as what separates humans from animals, the difference between wild, domesticated, and tame, and pointing out parallels between the Greeks’ views and our own today. It studies the roles of animals in the houses, streets, speech, and literature of the ancient Greeks. It also examines the various levels of intimacy between animals and humans, ranging from animals as dire enemies to cherished pets, and even bestiality. This book follows those interactions from birth through death, studying the extent to which animals informed many of the social rituals of ancient Greece. The Animal World of the Ancient Greeks appeals to students and scholars working on animal-human interaction in the ancient world. Scholars in related fields, including literature, archaeology, art history, religion, numismatics, and social history will also find material that helps them better understand their speciality.