author
P. N. (Percy Neville) Ure
1879–1950
A pioneering British classicist and archaeologist, he helped build classical studies at the University of Reading and founded the museum that still bears his name. His work on Greek antiquities, especially Boeotian pottery, made him an important scholar in his field.
1 Audiobook
The Origin of Tyranny
by P. N. (Percy Neville) Ure
About the author
Born in 1879, Percy Neville Ure was a British classicist, archaeologist, and teacher best known as the University of Reading’s first Professor of Classics, a post he held from 1911 to 1946. He is also remembered as the founder of the Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology, which grew out of his teaching, collecting, and research.
Ure specialized in Greek archaeology and ancient history, with particular expertise in Boeotian pottery and Greek antiquities. He worked closely with his wife, Annie Ure, and together they played a major part in developing Reading’s collections and reputation in classical archaeology.
For readers coming to his books today, he stands out as a scholar who wrote to connect material evidence, history, and the wider culture of ancient Greece. His work reflects both careful academic study and a strong gift for making the ancient world feel vivid and intelligible.