Roman Antiquities, and Ancient Mythology For Classical Schools (2nd ed)

This volume offers a compact yet thorough introduction to the everyday life and institutions of ancient Rome, aimed at students who are beginning their study of the classical world. It walks listeners through the city’s founding myths, the layout of its famed seven hills, and the way Roman society was organized into patricians, plebeians, knights and slaves. Along the way, readers meet the Senate, the magistrates, and the bustling public spaces such as markets, baths and aqueducts, gaining a sense of how the empire’s civic and religious customs shaped daily routine.

The second half turns to the rich tapestry of Roman and Greek mythology, presenting the major celestial and terrestrial deities, the spirits of forests and seas, and the legendary heroes who later earned divine honors. Drawing on a range of respected scholars, the author arranges the material in clear chapters that make the complex web of myths easy to follow, while still preserving the wonder of the ancient stories. Listeners will come away with a solid foundation for further exploration of classical literature and history.