Sailing the wine-dark sea : why the Greeks matter

333 Pages·2010·5.27 MB·English

by  Thomas Cahill

FIRST ANCHOR BOOKS EDITION, JULY 2004
Copyright © 2003 by Thomas Cahill
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. Published in the United States by
Anchor Books, a division of Random House, Inc., New York, and simultaneously in Canada by Random House of Canada
Limited, Toronto. Originally published in hardcover in the United States by Nan A. Talese, an imprint of Doubleday, a
division of Random House, Inc., New York, in 2003.
Anchor Books and colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc.
THE HINGES OF HISTORY® is a registered trademark belonging to Thomas Cahill.
This page constitute an extension of this copyright page.
Endpaper: “Symposium,” Tomba del Tuffatore, lastra nord, 480 B.C., Paestum, Museo Archeologico Nazionale, © foto
pedicini The Library of Congress has cataloged the Nan A. Talese/Doubleday edition as follows:
Cahill, Thomas.
Sailing the wine-dark sea : why the Greeks matter / Thomas Cahill.—1st ed.
p. cm.—(Hinges of history ; v. 4)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Greece—Civilization—To 146 B.C. 2. Civilization, Western—Greek influences. I. Title. DF77.C28 2003
909’.09821—dc21
2003050725
eISBN: 978-0-30775512-4
Book design by Marysarah Quinn
Map art by Jackie Aher
www.anchorbooks.com
v3.1
“Symposium,” Tomba del Tuffatore, lastra nord, 480 B.C.
“Symposium,” Tomba del Tuffatore, lastra nord, 480 B.C.
To
MADELEINE L’ENGLE
and
LEAH & DESMOND TUTU
and in memory of
PAULINE KAEL
mentors and models of life and art
The heart within me never changes toward you so beautiful
One can achieve his fill of all good things,
even of sleep, even of making love …
—HOMER
Once out of nature I shall never take
My bodily form from any natural thing,
But such a form as Grecian goldsmiths make
Of hammered gold and gold enamelling
To keep a drowsy Emperor awake;
Or set upon a golden bough to sing
To lords and ladies of Byzantium
Of what is past, or passing, or to come.
—WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS
CONTENTS
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Epigraph
INTRODUCTION
The Way They Came
I: THE WARRIOR
How to Fight
II: THE WANDERER
How to Feel
III: THE POET
How to Party
IV: THE POLITICIAN AND THE PLAYWRIGHT
How to Rule
V: THE PHILOSOPHER
How to Think
VI: THE ARTIST
How to See
VII: THE WAY THEY WENT
Greco-Roman Meets Judeo-Christian
The Greek Alphabet
Pronouncing Glossary
Notes and Sources
Chronology
Acknowledgments
Photo Credits
Index
Illustrations
About the Author
Acclaim for Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea
The Hinges of History
Other Books by This Author
INTRODUCTION
THE WAY THEY CAME