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FOLKLORE AND MYTHOLOGY
DICTIONARY OF MYTHOLOGY: CONTAINING SHORT AND INTERESTING SKETCHES OF CHARACTERS FOUND IN GRECIAN AND ROMAN MYTHOLOGY, by John H. Bechtel. Nearly all nations of the world had a system of mythology in their earliest forms. Throughout history, the picturesque conceptions of an ancient time have become closely interwoven with the literature and culture of the world’s people. Even today, many nations have inherited a colorful collection of fable and mythological characters which decorate their past. The vivid imaginations of the Greeks and Romans have given us the bulk of our knowledge of myth and legend. These gods and goddesses, heroes and deities, all played a significant role in the early goings on of mankind. There is no doubt that without their influence and persuasion over the millennia our rich and vivid history would be but a sparse likeness of itself. The system of belief which many times possessed these ancient cultures, should not be underestimated, nor should its influence upon their civilizations — or on ours. Much of what we know about Greek and Roman mythology we have gained from the age-old poets, writers, historians and others who help shaped early history. The Romans borrowed much from the Greeks, and while there was little overlap of the two religious systems, the modern ideas of Greek mythology mostly come from the writings of the Latin poets. We are also indebted for the many depicted coins, painted vases and statues of marble and bronze that have survived the ages and now beautify our museums and galleries. The Greeks and Romans have also left us the legacy of countless hours as the basis for our history in the arts and literature. This dictionary contains over 2,500 entries, including pronunciation notations, for nearly every mythological entity that can be imagined. While primarily a dictionary of Greek and Roman mythology, this volume also cross references the deities of other cultures and nations, including India, Babylonia, Egypt and Scandinavia. There is a lengthy introduction, followed by an alphabetical list of the Roman deities and heroes, with their equivalent names in the mythologies of other nations. It is conceded by all that these wonderful myths, regardless of their origin, have served to improve the literature, and in particular the poetry, of all ages and nations. Whether one attributes these delightful characters as historical facts disguised as metaphor, or as allegories which mimic the various phases of human life in the physical world, this book will provide a valuable addition to our understanding of myth and legend. LA-166 o ISBN 1-59016-166-1 o 221 pages o 6 x 9 o paper o illustrated o £14.95 o US$17.95
 BOOK OF RUSTEM: RETOLD FROM THE SHAH NAMEH OF FIRDAUSI, by E.M. Wilmot-Buxon. The nations of the world each have their respective culture, national heroes and in most cases, almost mythological epic stories. Just as the British have the King Arthurian legends, how Greece has its ancient Odyssey, and how the Americas have their pre-Columbus history; other countries have similar tales and legendary figures which have shaped their past. Most of these stories have many things in common. In particular, all of the heroes performed daring or glorious deeds to make their country an admirable place. This book of Persian tales is no different. It takes the reader on a fantastic journey — to a distant figment of the custom and culture of ancient Persian storytelling. In its original Persian form, written by a man named Firdausi in the 11th century, this book was first known as the "Epic of Kings." And like the legends of King Arthur, Hercules and Beowulf, it is a collection of the legends of various kings of Persia, their escape from peril, and the battles they fought and won. Rustem is the real hero of this book. He has an inclination of appearing at precisely the right time with his keen wit and gigantic strength, to save the king from some disgrace or unfortunate situation just as things seem most ominous. Many of these stories are associated with Rustem’s remarkable steed Rakush, and in this respect resemble the stories of Alexander and his horse Bucephalus. Since Alexander had conquered Persia previously, some of his fame and glory may have made their way into these interesting tales. These stories also have many things in common with the tales of Hercules. For example, one of the stories in this book is "The Seven Labors of Rustem," while one of Hercules adventures were The Twelve Labors, where he performs work for his cousin Eurysteus, in order to gain immortality. The similarities are so great that people have thought the legend of Rustem had made its way from ancient Greece. However, others claim that every nation has its own idealistic hero that can not be stopped by any earthly power. In any case, this book provides a meaningful history to one of the most important legendary figures in Middle Eastern mythology. Containing 22 Chapters and 15 illustrations, this book will make a welcome addition to any library on ancient history or mythology. LA-077 o ISBN 1-59016-077-0 o 240 + xii + 10 illustrated pages o 6 x 9 o paper o illustrated o £16.95 o US$19.95
 PAN AND HIS PIPES AND OTHER TALES FOR CHILDREN, by Katherine Dunlap Cather. Strange things have come to pass in the land of long ago. Many wonderful people have live there and many delightful things have happened. Fairy tales rarely contain conventional fairies, though many times they contain elements from outside the normal realm of human understanding. The term itself was first used towards the end of the 17th century, from a French novel that was translated into English as "Tales of the Fairies." Many fairy stories contain a moral point, whereas the main character is trying to resolve a problem, and while the predicament gets worse, in the end the problem is resolved and the story ends agreeably. This series of short stories is no different. In Greek mythology, Pan was regarded as the god who watched over the shepherds, huntsmen and rural folk. The woods and plains were his immediate guardianship and fishing and hunting were his special cares. He was fond of playing the shepherd’s pipe and participating in sportive dances. As the spirit of the mountain, all strange and unusual sounds were attributed to him, hence the anxiety that arises from an unseen cause, a panic fear, were often attributed to the spirit of Pan. In appearance he was grotesque, but in disposition he was kind and gentle. The fauns and satyrs greatly resembled Pan, and served as his assistants. He was very fond of music and dancing, and of the pretty nymphs of the forest. He once challenged Apollo to a musical contest, and won the prize, Midas being the judge. It is stories such as these that every happy childhood is filled with. This book contains an additional nine short stories that are well suited for children. These include the tortoise that gave the world music, the holy bird, the harp King Alfred played, the child crusader Stephen, when knighthood was in flower, the violin makers of Cremora, a star and a song, the holy grail and the songs of Hiawatha. Each of these entertaining stories reveals a different aspect of the human psyche. LA-635 o ISBN 1-59016-635-3 o 84 pages o 6 x 9 o paper o illustrated o £8.95 o US$11.95
 THE ROMANCE OF EXCAVATION: A RECORD OF THE AMAZING DISCOVERIES IN EGYPT, BABYLON, TROY, CRETE AND MANY OTHER ANCIENT CITIES, by David Masters. This is the story of a fascinating group of men, who for much of the 19th and 20th centuries, have gone into the long-forgotten deserts of the world and have dug up the fabled cities of ancient kings, with many a splendid treasure. Many of these ingenious men have published innumerable works on their achievements while excavating the brilliant grandeur of our past. Without the tireless efforts of these great men, whose names include, Layard, Rawlinson, Carter, Petrie, Schliemann, amongst others; our knowledge of these extinct civilizations would be only a fraction of what is known today. This book is a comprehensive and all-inclusive compilation on the excavations of archaeology. The narratives contained herein come from a number of different divisions of early archaeology. This book has it all; including the story of the Rosetta Stone, the invention of Papyrus, King Tut’s tomb, Rawlinson’s discovery at Behistun, the treasure of Troy, the unknown writing of Crete and Minoa, and others. Of particular interest is the illustrative story of how Austin Henry Layard found the remnants of the Assyrian civilization with a mere £60. Because of the lack of official cooperation to begin an excavation along the Tigris at that time, Layard decided to organize a phony boar hunting excursion, which included a chivalrous show of guns and spears, which were loaded onto a goatskin raft. However, the natives that accompanied the expedition had some difficulty understanding how they were supposed to hunt with the picks and shovels that were also brought on board. These great discoveries, that were literally dug history out of the past with a pick and shovel, were not found merely by chance. The idea of a man casually strolling through the desert and unearthing an ancient city has little connection to the facts. These noteworthy legends of early excavation, had a great deal of intuition on where to dig, and an even greater ingenuity in making their dreams come true. This is a popular and readable outline of the work of these early excavators which enables the reader to capture the thrill of the romance of digging of up the world’s history. This book is fully illustrated and contains a description of the actual process of excavation. LA-736 o ISBN 1-59016-736-8 o 191 + xiv + 25 illustrated pages o 6 x 9 o paper o illustrated o £14.95 o US$17.95
 A BRIEF HISTORY OF ANCIENT TIMES, by James Henry Breasted. From the smallest of the atoms to the grandest of galaxies, every thing in the universe has its history. The known history of civilized peoples on this planet is no different, and yet each of us can touch no more than the smallest part of it. It is through books such as this one, which cover a comprehensive span of our history, that we are able to acquaint ourselves with the great, and some not so great, civilizations that preceded our own. From the early stone age, the great civilizations of Babylonia and Sumeria, the era of pyramid building, and the Hebrew and Persian empires, to the better-known republics of the Greek and Romans; these advanced cultures helped to provide a basic understanding of who we are as a species. The varied ways in which these previous cultures have influenced successive descents is nearly unlimited. The earliest of civilized man brought us an understanding of fire and manufactured tools. From these early beginnings, the more advanced cultures, which begin our recorded history, have contributed greatly to our society. For example, the first recorded civilization on earth, the Sumerians, provided the basis for our modern-day writing, agriculture, astronomy, mathematics, calendar, numeral system, time reckoning, educational institutions, our code of laws, construction trades, metallurgy, art, and religion. They were they masters of invention, science, industry, and of exploration, which is important, because all that we have, and are, come from these sources. Our predecessors have helped man become a master of nature and to extend his physical abilities beyond the norm. We can only hope that the achievements and advancement of knowledge will be duly recorded for future generations and for the future of mankind. As a professor of Oriental History and Egyptology at the University of Chicago, Professor James Henry Breasted provides a qualified historical perspective and a sound account of the achievements of Western civilization. This book was skillfully written from the author’s vast wisdom and scholarship of the nations of the world. In the past, the teaching of history has so often lacked both the scope and comprehensiveness that this small volume offers. For this reason, this book will make a fine addition to any library on ancient history. LA-083 o ISBN 1-59016-083-5 o 320 pages o 6 x 9 o paper o illustrated o £19.95 o US$22.95
 DARIUS THE GREAT: ANCIENT RULER OF THE PERSIAN EMPIRE, by Jacob Abbott. The chronicles of Darius the Great are some of the greatest annals in Persian history. In about 600 B.C., the founder of the Persian Empire, Cyrus the Great was on a campaign to expand his dominion and obtain some additional glory by defeating certain uncivilized tribes to the north, beyond the Araxes. One night, after he had crossed a mighty river, on the way to his triumphs, he had a remarkable dream. His dream was that Darius, the son of one of his advisers, and a non-heir to the throne, appeared to him with vast wings growing from his shoulders, overshadowing the whole known world. To Cyrus, it seemed that Darius would eventually hold sway over his empire, and immediately sent for Hystaspes, the father of Darius, to keep a close eye on him until such a time as Cyrus could return. Cyrus, in fact, was killed in a battle, never to return. The heir-ship was passed to one of Cyrus’ two rightful sons, Cambyses. Under his new reign, Cambyses undertook to expand his empire and conquer new lands. He set his sights on Egypt, whose king he felt, had betrayed his father in a convoluted scheme. While there he achieved great victories against the people of Egypt, however, on his way back, he heard of a conspiracy that his brother Smerdis had been killed and an impostor had usurped the throne back in Susa, the capital city. A local magician also named Smerdis who bore a remarkable likeness to the heir, had taken his place. In his haste to return to the capital, and with great irony, Cambyses suffered a nasty wound while mounting his horse as his blade fell from its sheath. Unfortunately, the wound turned out to be fatal, and the impersonator was then firmly in power. Amongst the conspirators that helped put the false Smerdis in power, was the distant cousin of Cambyses, and thus of Cyrus, the same Darius who appeared in the prophetic vision which Cyrus had dreamt of some time before. In the end, a contest was decided to determine the next king of the Persian Empire. As the story goes, Darius played a deception at the competition, and thus succeeded to the throne, and the rest, as they say, is history. The narrative of his achievements were first found, engraved in multiple scripts, high on a rock wall in on Behistun mountain, on the main highway between present-day Iraq and Iran. First discovered in 1621 by an Italian traveler, it wasn’t until the early 18th century that Sir Henry Rawlinson was able to use the trilingual translation to finally unlock the secrets of cuneiform writing, and thus the fertile history of the Middle East. LA-152 o ISBN 1-59016-152-1 o 286 pages o 6 x 9 o paper o illustrated o £17.95 o US$20.95
THE DAWN OF HISTORY: AN INTRODUCTION TO PRE-HISTORIC STUDY, Edited by Charles Francis Keary (of the British Museum). The advances in prehistoric studies have been especially swift in recent years, and this should come as no surprise, considering how many ancillary areas it affects and the religious and political questions it answers. Until recently, there has been a lack of popular literature on the subject, with most of the narratives based on archaeological or anthropological studies, and thus are prepared for scholarly and scientific readers. Many times when a reader is confronted by such an analytical compilation, he stands bewildered in front of an unknown realm. It is fortunate for the interested student, that this book offers itself as a guide on some of the inquiries of prehistory, without delving into the sophisticated pretensions of specialists in their respective fields. This book attempts to present prehistoric understanding in an interesting way, in hopes that some readers may be sufficiently interested to continue in their study. To this intent, the endnotes for each chapter, including notes, lists and referenced chief authorities, can be found in a special section at the rear of the book. What makes this book unique amongst books on ancient history is that it offers several chapters on early writing, language and phonetics. In addition to the precursory space given to the study of stone age peoples, village life and social customs, this book also makes it clear that the nations of old world, including the Ayran religions of the East, had a intensely colorful and vivid past. Luckily, scholars such as C.F. Keary, of the British Museum, have been able to record what has come before and make it available in a volume such as this. This book is an excellent choice for anyone who would like a better understanding of the ancient world, including a detailed history of the mythologies and folklore of the period. LA-155 o ISBN 1-59016-155-6 o 240 + viii pages o 6 x 9 o paper o illustrated o £15.95 o US$18.95
THE RELIGION OF BABYLONIA AND ASSYRIA, by Theophilus G. Pinches. For a period of at least 3,000 years before the Christian era began, the inhabitants of the Tigris and Euphrates valleys practiced a polytheistic faith. Names such as Sargon of Agade, Dungi of Ur, and Arioch of Ellasar, amongst others, were household names in ancient Babylonia. Their respective reigns and historical tales were all duly recorded on clay tablets to be preserved for future generations. At the end of that early period, the religious practice of the people was primarily a Babylonian heathenism with a touch of Judaism. The region was ripe for the reception of a new faith, in this case, the new religion on the block, Christianity. As has been the case many times throughout history, Christianity by no means replaced the earlier polytheistic religion. Rather, it assimilated established practices and customs to convert the masses, so to speak. Our well-known biblical narratives regarding the story of creation, the deluge, and the search for immortality, to name only a few, all have their origin in earlier Babylonian accounts. These early polytheistic views were developed by the Sumero-Akkadians, who spoke a non-Semitic language. The names of many of the ancient gods of other cultures came from these early civilizations. Fortunately, we have acquired a valuable mass of documentation concerning the Babylonian and Assyrian religions, dating from the third and fourth millennium B.C.E. . While many of these primitive inscriptions are records of a commercial nature (bills of laden, receipts, weights, etc.), innumerable others depict the deities and the religion of the people in the course of everyday life. This has assisted scholars in gathering a broader knowledge of whom the Babylonians were, as a people, and as a nation. As the author of The Old Testament in Light of the Records of Assyria and Babylonia and a number of other scholarly works on the subject, Theophilus Pinches provides an academic approach to this lecture delivered at the University College, in London, at the turn of the twentieth century. This book starts off by explaining the importance of Babylonian and Assyrian study and continues with a description of the people and places of the period. Early forms of worship are presented including idols and sacred objects, holy places and temples, and the building of the Tower of Babel. The aforementioned "story of creation" is discussed at length, followed by a description of the principal gods and deities. A small section on minor divinities and the relation between the gods and heavenly bodies can also be found, accompanied by an additional chapter on demons, exorcisms and ceremonies. Several rites and incantations that have been deciphered from the clay tablets are included. The book concludes with the problems that the study offers, that of monotheism, dualism and monism, all practice of religious faith. The small size and easy reading style of this volume offers the reader a gentle glimpse back into the life and religion of the ancient cultures of the Near and Middle East. LA-708 o ISBN 1-59016-708-2 o 126 pages o 6 x 9 o paper o illustrated o £10.95 o US$13.95
RELIGIOUS AND MORAL IDEAS IN BABYLONIA AND ASSYRIA: BIBLICAL AND ORIENTAL SERIES by Samuel A. B. Mercer. Babylonia and Assyria are considered two of the most significant pillars of the ancient world’s religious thought. The excavations conducted in the Tigris-Euphrates valley in the 1800s have revealed a number of things about the people who inhabited the region. The religious and moral ideas of Babylonian and Assyria present an interesting dilemma for those studying Semitic culture, because of their close relation and parallels in the Old Testament and their influence on the new testament, and thus Christianity. This book begins with a detailed chronological outline of the histories of Babylonia and Assyria commencing in 3,400 B.C.E. and concluding in 538 B.C.E. . The world has continually been our greatest problem. Nature cries out for us to come admire its greatness. When faced with such magnificence, the determined mind begins to ask a series of questions, some simple, some more profound. As in our modern society, one question that was often asked in the ancient world pertained to the existence of God. Another question the ancients pondered concerned that of motion, what caused the wind to blow, the rivers to flow, and the leaves to blow. It was only natural for the early Babylonians to assign a Zi, or life spirit, to each inanimate object which were able to manifest power. The ancient world was full of spirits. There were rock-spirits, mountain-spirits, stream-spirits, river-spirits, and many others. Those spirits who were powerful and friendly were gods worthy of worship, those who were less powerful and unfriendly were seen as demons. As a professor of Hebrew and Old Testament studies at the Western Theological Seminary in Chicago, Samuel A. Mercer provides a capable interpretation of the religious and moral views of the earliest of civilizations. This book makes the results of expert investigation accessible to the laymen. In doing so, this work offers a modern exhibition of the subject based on facts deducible from the monuments themselves. It is hoped that this work will provide a clear and concise presentation of the ideas of religion and God, of morality and man, and of mediation and the future of humanity. LA-711 o ISBN 1-59016-711-2 o 129 + xiv pages o 6 x 9 o paper o illustrated o £10.95 o US$13.95
 POPULAR DICTIONARY OF ASSYRIAN AND BABYLONIAN TERMINOLOGY: A POPULAR HANDBOOK OF USEFUL AND INTERESTING INFORMATION FOR BEGINNERS IN THE ELEMENTARY STUDY OF ASSYRIOLOGY, by F. C. Norton. There are many people today who take a great interest in our past and our history as a civilization. This book was compiled as a glossary of terms used by the great nations of the Tigro-Euphrates Valley, namely Babylonia and Assyria. A good many of the terms found within this book can trace their origin to the "first" civilization we know of, that of the Sumerians. While much of what Sumer produced in the way of writing has never been found, we know a great deal about them from Akkadian, the now extinct eastern Semitic language of Assyria and Babylon, written in a cuneiform script. This book contains the English translations to many of the Akkadian terms used in the day-to-day life of ancient peoples of the Middle East. When this book was first published in the nineteenth century the study of Near and Middle Eastern archaeology was still in its infancy. Even so, with nearly 600 alphabetical entries, this reference work provides a qualified and in many cases a "literal" translation of the most common terminology from that period. This book is not meant for those who are scholars in the field of archaeology, but rather, for elementary students who wish to be enlightened by knowledge from the illustrious peoples of the ancient Middle East. This dictionary provides records for ancient deities, biblical figures, kingships along with their sons and successors, Babylonian and Chaldean philosophies, place names, country names, and many others of interest. As a result of the effort put into understanding our archaeological past, mankind has gained a vast amount of new knowledge regarding the religion, history and languages of the ancient Near East. As a result, we’ve been forced to alter our views and opinions, and in many ways the ideas that shaped the past have revolutionized our modern way of doing things. The research for this book was compiled from the best known and most reliable authorities of the time and will make a valuable addition to any researcher’s library. Hopefully it will sow the seed of archaeology in the minds of those who take an intelligent interest in the forgotten nations of the ancient world. LA-655 o ISBN 1-59016-655-8 o 201 pages o 6 x 9 o paper o illustrated o £13.95 o US$16.95
 Ancient Assyria, by C. H. W. Johns. By the fame of ancient Assyria, Hebrew scriptures tell of how "out of the land of Shinar went forth Asshure and builded Nineveh." This is the first known reference to the great nation of Assyria. The name Assyria comes from a not-inept rendering of Asshurai, or Asshur, as the original city-state was once known. It apparently got its name from Asshur, son of Shem (Genesis X, Ch 22), who was worshipped as the principal god of the Assyrians. Much of what we know about Assyria, we know from statements made by Berorsus, a Babylonian priest who had access to very old and veritable sources of history. Unfortunately most of his original writings have been lost to history. We do have extract from the writings of Eusebius, and of later authors, which were made from historical authorities who had quoted Berosus. It is hard to estimate Assyria’s real significance in the struggle of nations. It’s place in history and the influence it exerted far beyond its borders can hardly be appreciated. Assyrian kings fought and conquered neighboring nations, such as Egypt, Media, Cappadocia, Armenia and Elam, commanding not only tribute, but customs, then leaving monuments and settlers whose influence was felt throughout the Assyrian empire. The original inhabitants of Assyria, and for that matter, the whole culture, was founded upon that of Babylonia. To this end, the history of Assyria is limited by the nature of its sources. This book is part of a two volume set that covers the history of both Assyria and Babylonia. This volume begins by describing how the fame of Assyria permeated the ancient world. Using early sources of historical records and modern research of the day, this book describes the value of the ancient Assyrian culture, its records, synchronous history, early relations; of its rulers, peoples, hunting exploits and the refinement of the city-state from earlier Babylonian times. A good portion of this book is devoted to the rise of Assyrian power, from its earliest expansion, the trials of its several wars and the tribulation of the civil unrest, to its eventual decline, the fall of Nineveh and the restoration of Babylon. Originally published in the early 19th century, this book provides a careful account of ancient Assyria, its peoples, customs and the cultural impact it made on ancient history. LA-025 o ISBN 1-59016-025-8 o 175 + 2 illustrated pages o 6 x 9 o paper o illustrated o £12.95 o US$15.95
 Ancient Babylonia by C. H. W. Johns. LA-026 o ISBN 1-59016-026-6 o 148 + 1 illustrated pages o 6 x 9 o paper o illustrated o £11.95 o US$14.95
History of Babylonia, by George Smith. The ancient empire of Babylonia was situated on a tract of land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The lower course of these two rivers formed a rich alluvial deposit upon which the first experiments in irrigation and agriculture were perfected. The peoples who inhabited Mesopotamia throughout the ages have been primarily from two classes, the populace of agricultural dwellers and city-folk on one hand; and the wandering herdsmen and tent-dwelling nomadic tribes on the other. Babylonia is of particular interest because of its close association with the origin of Western civilization: the advancements of Babylonia were carried over to Assyria, from there to Asia Minor, Phoencia and on to Greece and Rome, and thereafter into modern Europe. It was agriculture, accomplished through the use of artificial canals, that made Babylonia such a powerful nation. Many of the canals still exist today, though most are nothing more than deserted surface features in an otherwise bleak and arid desert. Their system of writing, cuneiform, named for the wedge-shaped characters, was invented by the original Turanian inhabitants of Babylonia. While the Babylonian are best known for their contributions to agriculture and writing, their skill and knowledge in other arts are unparalleled in history. They developed and/or refined the arts of mathematics, weights and measures, of time reckoning, the Zodiac, and a code of laws. Other disciplines receiving intensive study in Babylonian schools include the building arts, metalurgy, sculpture and painting. Essentially a peaceful race of people, the Babylonians seldom waged war, except when it was forced upon them. The book begins with a list of Babylonian kings, with the approximate dates of the reign. The twenty-page introduction includes several translations of mythological poems. A chapter on the mythical period contains a chronology on the origins of Babylonian history, followed by a description of Nipur, Ur and the rise of Larsa in the south; and to the north, the subsequent reigns of Sargon, Naram-Sin and Hammurabi. Several chapters explain how the invading Elamites and Medes* from the East and the Assyrian conquest from the North, led to a period control from outside of Babylonia’s borders. The empire of Nebuchadnezzar gave Babylon a second wind in the struggle for regional supremecy. The book concludes with thew decline and fall of the Babylonian empire at the behest of the Persians. When this book was first published, towards the end of the 19th century, Mesopotamian archaeology was still in its infancy; even so, George Smith provides a qualified account on the history of the ancient Babylonians. This book will make valuable addition to any library on ancient peoples. LA-320 o ISBN 1-59016-320-6 o 192 pages o 6 x 9 o paper o illustrated o £13.95 o US$16.95
 BABYLONIAN LIFE AND HISTORY, by Ernest Alfred Thompson Wallis Budge. When scribes from an ancient civilization, such as Babylonia, wrote they knew they were informing a nation that was fully acquainted with the understanding that was essential for making sense of what was written. The writings of Babylonia were recorded in cuneiform writing on clay tablets, which, after millennia, were discovered in the deserts of the Middle East. One unique feature about these writings was that they are an accurate depiction of events that occurred at the time they were written. Historical manuscripts can be easily tampered with, letters erased or altered, sections inserted or removed, and, even when everything is correct, a careless scribe will make mistakes that could change the meaning of the message. The writings of the Babylonians were, quite literally, cut in stone, forever testifying the achievements of their great civilization. This book was written with the notion of offering students of biblical and ancient history a small scope on the history of Babylon, her religion, custom and thought. When this book was first published, over a hundred years ago, a great deal was known about the decipherment of the clay tablets, though there was still much that was uncertain. What translations had revealed at the time was truly astonishing. They revealed another account of the deluge, told us of Babylon and Nineveh, revealed to us their language, brought us face to face with Sargon, Sennacherib and Nebuchadnezzar, and have given us some of our superstitions, beliefs, religion and learning. It is no surprise that Babylon figures so predominately in our psyches. As an assistant in the department of Oriental antiquities at the British Museum when this book was first published in 1884, Ernest Wallis Budge had access to a great deal of primary source material that assisted him in the preparation of this book, including many recent translations of the day. He is well known for his numerous books on Near and Middle Eastern civilizations. The book starts by making the distinction between Babylon, according to classical authors such as Herodotus and Ctesias, and Babylon, as described by the cuneiform inscriptions. Several chapters are included on the history of Babylonia from 3,800 B.C.E. to the fall of Babylon and the rise of the Assyrian Empire,. The fall of Nineveh, and the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, is covered in great detail, followed by a cuneiform account on the capture of Babylon by Cyrus, a Persian king, whose empire rule over Babylon until the dawn of Christianity several centuries later. The book concludes with an analysis of Babylonian writing and literature, as well as their life, art and religion. Also contains a number of illustrations, primarily those of inscribed stellas and cylinder seals that have been referenced throughout the text. A classic book on the ancient Babylonians that will make an admirable addition to any library on archaic civilizations. LA-054 o ISBN 1-59016-054-1 o 168 pages o 6 x 9 o paper o illustrated o £12.95 o US$15.95
 Voices of the Past: From Assyria and Babylonia by Henry S. Roberton. The land that extends between the Tigres and Euphrates rivers had but one rival in the ancient world, that of Egypt, and there are doubts whether Egypt is as old. The fertile crescent, as it was known, supported what most scholars agree was the world’s first civilization. This bountiful earth had many names throughout the ages. To the Greeks it was known as Mesopotamia. This prime agricultural land was divided into two parts, the upper region or hill country, known as Assyria; and the lower region, or alluvial plain known as Chaldea. In both of these great countries large cities once flourished, and a high proficiency in the arts and sciences were attained many centuries before Christ. Many times entire civilization have disappeared from the annals of history, only to reappear millennia later under a rubbish heap in some unknown desert. Even after many centuries of exhaustive study, we know very little of the Babylonian people. Aside from the few cuneiform tablets which have survived, much of what has come down to us, in terms of their civilization, their practices and customs, we’ve learned from the Greeks. If it were not for the concerted effort on the part of ancient scribes to translate some of the cuneiform text into a western script, many of these important documents would have been lost to history. In 280 B.C.E., one such scribe, a priest by the name of Berosus, wrote a "History of Chaldea," as it was then known, for a monarch in Macedonia. Berosus had access to much of the original Babylonian literature, but the process of selection and translation by later writers have diluted much of essence of what was recorded. This book is divided in two parts. The first half details the history of Assyria and how, after many centuries of prominence, they were overthrown by the concerted aggression, and subsequent attacks, from their bitterest of enemies, the Medes* and Babylonians. The great library at Nineveh was recognized throughout the ancient world as a storehouse for the repository of man’s knowledge of the day. This book, originally published over one hundred years ago, provides the reader with a commensurate account of what was known about these great civilizations at that time. Some of this knowledge has been passed down to our generation, and it our duty, if not our birth-right, to duly record and pass this information along for our descendents to enjoy. To that end, this book will make a welcome addition to any collection on ancient history. (* Historians know relatively little about the culture of the Medes except that they were polytheistic and were ruled by a caste of warrior priests known as the Magi. Beginning about 835 B.C.E. the Median tribes became irregularly subordinate to the kings of Assyria and eventually rebelled. After many ferocious battles, and with the help of the newly independent nation of Babylonia, the Medians finally captured the Assyrian capital in 612 B.C.E. and, with the help of the Chaldeans, went on to control the fertile valley until the Persians took power in about 550 B.C.E. The point is that the Medes were considered a fierce and ruthless people, not unlike some found in "The Media" today.) LA-892 o ISBN 1-59016-892-5 o 219 + 24 illustrated pages o 6 x 9 o paper o illustrated o £16.95 o US$19.95
 THE STORY OF CHALDEA: FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES TO THE RISE OF ASSYRIA, VOLUME ONE, by Zénaïde A. Ragozin. Around 300 B.C.E., after Alexander the Great had conquered the country, and thus established the Greeks into power in the land they called Mesopotamia, little was left of the once great civilizations, that mere centuries before, flourished there. Luckily for the generations that followed, a priestly scribe by the name of Berosus, who had access to much of the original Babylonian and Assyrian literature, compiled a "History of Chaldea" for a monarch in Macedonia. He wrote his history from the most ancient of times, giving an account of the earliest traditions of its beginnings. In the process, he recorded the groundwork for what we know today about the culture and peoples who inhabited the Near and Middle East in ancient times. Collectively these nations are known as Chaldea, whereas most people know them individually by their respective names, the Sumerians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Medes, amongst others. The term Chaldean was a how Greeks referred to these earlier peoples they knew little about. These two volumes are taken from a larger collection entitled "The Story of Nations," published at the end of the 19th century. The books together form a series of historical studies, intended to present in a graphic manner the stories of the different nations that have attained prominence in history. The national life of each nation is distinctly indicated, and its picturesque and noteworthy periods and episodes are presented in their philosophical relation to each other as well as to universal history. These two volumes enter into the real life of the peoples of Chaldea, and bring them before the reader as they actually lived, labored and struggled — as they studied and wrote, as they amused themselves. It is from books such as these that the myths, with which the history of all lands begins, can be carefully distinguished from the sequence of events that actually occurred. This book begins with a thorough four-part introduction which covers the first searchers of Mesopotamian mounds, Austen Layard and his archaeological work, the ruins of Mesopotamia and the books of the past, studying the library at Nineveh. The story of Chaldea follows with a description of nomads / settlers and the four stages of culture. Looking back to chapter ten of the Book of Genesis, a lengthy chapter explains the great races found in the bible. This volume concludes with the beginnings of religion in Sumer and Akkad, the migrations of the Turanian Chaldeans and the dawn of moral consciousness on mankind. This volume also includes a discussion of early Chaldean history, including the settlements of the Cushites and Semites. A lengthy chapter on the diversity of Babylonian religion explains its mono and polytheistic periods of development. Next, is a section on the legends and stories of ancient Mesopotamia, describing many of the classic heroes in Babylonian mythology. This volume concludes with a chapter on religion and mythology, idolatry and anthropomorphism, and the Chaldean legends found in the book of Genesis. This volume is graphically depicted with over 80 illustrations, and will make great addition to any library on the ancient Middle East. LA-787 o ISBN 1-59016-787-2 o 412 + xxvi pages o 6 x 9 o paper o 80 illustrations o £23.95 o US$26.95
 THE CIVILIZATION OF BABYLONIA AND ASSYRIA: VOLUME ONE: ITS REMAINS, LANGUAGE, HISTORY, RELIGION, COMMERCE, LAW, ART, AND LITERATURE, by Morris Jastrow, Jr. What we understand about ancient cultures of Mesopotamia we know mostly from the Babylonians and Assyrians. These ancient peoples had developed a manner of writing, known as cuneiform, that were well preserved onto clay tablets, and survive to this day. As a result of the combined efforts of explorers, decipherers, archaeologists, and many others, the fantastic histories of these lost civilizations have been raised from beneath the mounds, which hid their secrets for countless centuries. These early city-states are credited with developing some of civilization’s firsts, from the first experiments in agriculture, the domestication of animals, and the establishment of a marketplace, to the origin of mathematics, our concept of time reckoning and a fundamental understanding of our code of laws . The Babylonians and Assyrians, along with their predecessors, the Sumerians, provided subsequent civilizations, including our own, the basis for civilized living. This work attempts to present a study of the unprecedented civilizations that flourished in the Tigris-Euphrates Valley many thousands of years ago. Spreading northward into present-day Turkey and Iran, the land known by the Greeks as Mesopotamia flourished until just before the Christian era. When know a great deal about these peoples, how they lived, the organization of their palaces, temples and homes; as well as much regarding their daily life and religious ambitions. Many of the tablets unearthed so far have revealed the nature of commercial intercourse, of judicial disputes, and of the burgeoning complexities of social life. Also found on the clay tablets was a great deal of literary material, dating from the earliest periods and continuing to the fall of Babylonia and further into the era of Persian and Greek dominion. As the author of a number of books on the religious traditions in the Near and Middle East, Morris Jastrow, Jr. has utilized his expertise, and that of others in the field, to compile this impressive discourse on Babylonia and Assyria. This two-volume set contains over 75 illustrations that detail all facets of Babylonian and Assyrian life. Volume one includes an introduction to the study of Mesopotamia and contains a lengthy discussion on separate biblical references (11th chapter of Genesis) which explain how a city was built and given the name Babylon. Also mentioned in this biblical citation is how the people of this city-state constructed a staged-tower, or ziggurat, which became a distinctive religious architecture of the period and region. From there, this first volume covers the history of excavations at Babylonian and Assyrian archaeological sites and why they were so important to the understanding of the language and culture of the inhabitants. As a logical segue, Jastrow gives a detailed examination on the fascinating discovery and subsequent decipherment of cuneiform script, common to both great nations. A detailed chronological survey on the history of the region is also included. This volume concludes with a chapter on the polytheistic nature of the gods which the peoples of Babylonia and Assyria worshipped, which continues in the next volume with a chapter on their cults and temples. LA-120 o ISBN 1-59016-120-3 o 236 + xx + 31 illustrated pages o 6 x 9 o paper o illustrated o £18.95 o US$21.95
 THE CIVILIZATION OF BABYLONIA AND ASSYRIA: VOLUME TWO: ITS REMAINS, LANGUAGE, HISTORY, RELIGION, COMMERCE, LAW, ART, AND LITERATURE, by Morris Jastrow, Jr. Volume two includes discussion of the cults and temples of Babylonia and Assyria, which include the close interdependence between the position of the gods and the ever-changing political climate in the Euphrates Valley. The polytheistic nature of Babylonian and Assyrian religious practice is exemplified by the pantheon to which their people worshipped. Such members included Shamash, the sun god, Sin, the moon-god, Ea, the water-god, Nabu, the fire-god and Ishtar, the mother-goddess. The law and commerce of the region is explained at length, including the Code of Hammurapi, dating from the second millennium B.C.E., the oldest compilation of laws in the world. A lengthy chapter on the art of the Babylonian and Assyrian people follows. Many of the lithographs found in this artisan section contain many exquisite and rarely seen portrayals from the earlier periods. The book concludes with specimens from Babylonian and Assyrian literature, including excerpts from the story of creation, the Babylonian story of the deluge, and the story of the descent of the goddess Ishtar into the lower world. There is also commentary on the epic of Gilgamesh, a number of common prayers and psalms, as well as letters and reports from various sources. LA-121 o ISBN 1-59016-121-1 o 277 + xx + 45 illustrated pages o 6 x 9 o paper o illustrated o £20.95 o US$23.95
 HISTORY OF BABYLONIA AND ASSYRIA: VOLUME ONE, by Robert William Rogers. Babylonia and Assyria were two of the greatest nations the history of mankind has brought forth. These two great Mesopotamian civilizations were best known for their massive armies and instruments of war. This is not surprising, since they were rarely at peace with one another. They were, however, heavily influenced by each other, as well as their predecessors, the Sumerians. Much of what we taken for granted today, the arts and science of industry and invention, were bequeathed to us from these ancient cultures. This four-volume series is remarkable in that it offers an exceedingly comprehensive and detailed looked at ancient Babylonia and Assyria. The way in which these reference works were compiled and written will bring noteworthy enjoyment for the curious reader. These four volumes are based mostly on the archaeological discoveries of the late 19th Century, and are well-referenced and cited with footnotes from that period. As a result, much of what they have to say is timeless, in a sense, because of nature of how the information is presented. For example, randomly thumbing through this 900 page tome and stopping to read a passage will normally result in the reader being completely preoccupied in whatever annal of history is being revealed. As a professor of ancient Oriental literature at Princeton University, professor Robert William Rogers provides a competent perspective concerning the past history of Babylonia and Assyria. This book was skillfully written from the author’s vast scholarship and understanding on these subjects. Volume one begins with a discussion of the earliest European explorations of the Middle East. It began in 1320, when a wandering friar made contact, and continued into the 15th and 16th centuries, when a number of explorers took a closer look at some of the ancient ruins that dot the Arabian landscape, but did not pay particular attention to them. It wasn’t until the early 1800s that scientifically minded men began to detail a history on the great archaeological discoveries found throughout the Middle East. As a result, there were a number of cursory explorations conducted from 1834-1820, but it wasn’t until 1842, when the French established a consulate at Mosul, that excavations began. Also included in this volume is story concerning the decipherment of the Vannic, Sumerian and Assyrian scripts. This voume also includes the additional explorations conducted in the Middle East from 1872 to 1900. Beginning in 1872, a new round of excavations began after nearly 20 years of dormancy. In times past, excavations were conducted slowly, or even halted, because the work of translation and decipherment many times failed to keep up with new discoveries. In these cases, artifacts that had become unearthed were but meaningless curiosities. It wasn’t until the late 1800s that learned people were able to make sense of what was found. Several chapters within this volume detail the various sources which scholars used to establish the chronology of the Kings list, as well as the characteristics of the land and of the peoples who inhabited the Mesopotamian valley. Also included is a history of Babylonia to the fall of Larsa, the Kassite tenure, and the dynasty of Isin. LA-316 o ISBN 1-59016-316-8 o 460 + xxiv + 2 illustrated pages o 6 x 9 o paper o illustrated o £26.95 o US$29.95
 HISTORY OF BABYLONIA AND ASSYRIA: VOLUME TWO, by Robert William Rogers. Volume two examines the beginnings of the Assyrian empire, its trials and tribulations, and how it eventually held authority over the Babylonians. The author reveals in meticulous detail each of the kingships as well as the accompanying wars, revolts and rebellions. A considerable amount of space is devoted to the reigns of specific Assyrian kings, including Asshurnazirpal, Shalmaneser, Asshurnirari, Sargon, and many others. Throughout these Assyrian king’s regimes many new cities were founded, and others destroyed, along the banks for the Euphrates river. Also included is a detailed record on the noteworthy conquests, tributes, and building projects of each kingship. This volume also discusses the reign of Sennacherib, who ascended to the throne after the mysterious death of Sargon II in 705 B.C.E. As was the case many times with kings in ancient Assyria, Sennacherib was assassinated, leaving his son, Esarhaddon the legal heir to the throne. We owe a great deal of thanks to the next king, Asshurbanapal, for he was devoted to the collection of books. He took great care that his deeds and his wars, his buildings and his very thoughts and hope, should be carefully written down. During his reign it was obvious that the Assyrian empire had started to collapse. Asshurbanapal’s death in 626 B.C.E., began a new revolt by the Babylonians, who, with the help of the Meades,* were finally able to subdue their long-time rivals. This four volume set concludes with a brief history of the Chaldean empire, whose most famous king, Nebuchadrezzar, helped restore Babylon to its former glory. LA-317 o ISBN 1-59016-317-6 o 448 + xx pages o 6 x 9 o paper o illustrated o £25.95 o US$28.95
HISTORY OF NERO, by Jacob Abbott. Nero was an emperor in Rome who was an early descendant from Caesar Augustus. Beginning with his birth, into the family name of Ahenobarbus, meaning brazen beard in Latin, his father spoke ill-willed about Nero. Corruption consumed his parents. Agripinna, his mother, was the sister of the emperor, Caligula. On a promontory overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, upon natural terraces and esplanades, at a villa at Antium, where the noblemen of Rome resorted — it was here that the birth took place. Besides being an accurate account of Nero’s life and rule, this book provides an insightful tale of the natural landscape and personal trials of ancient Rome. Great Roman legions were disciplined in subordination to the king. Their admirable organization, movements and courage enable each legion to live as its own city. Details of this book include a description of the encampments fortified with ramparts and fosses. An officer of the army, Cassius Chaerea, was continually teased by Caligula, who made him speak a parole, or password, to the men in his camp that was incredulous to his person and made him look a fool. Eventually Chaerea assassinated Caligula, and the rest, as they say, is history. Caligula’s uncle, Claudius, who had deprivations of his own mental ability, soon became emperor. After the death of Nero’s father, Agripinna marries Claudius. She tricks and connived to have Claudius’ own son, Britannicus, banished to his own nursery quarters to be treated as a child, even though he is a young man. Nero learned to speak at a young age and was sent to the Roman Senate by his mother. As a good orator, he was respected in the eyes of the Senate. Nero also began to enjoy the theater and began to act. At night he would go out disguised, and with friends, would bully the townspeople. Once Nero was raised to the role of emperor he became one of the worst tyrants Rome had ever seen. He adored acting and singing on the public stage, which put him in a "low degree" in the eyes of the nobility. Looking back in time, many of these early emperors would be consider tyrannical by today’s standards. They had no qualms about deposing any populace that stood in their way. Oftentimes the wives of such tyrants, who became empresses, could control their husbands and were able to rule the land and people as they saw fit. LA-328 o ISBN 1-59016-328-1 o 321 pages o 6 x 9 o paper o 12 illustrations o £19.95 o US$22.95
AMERICA NOT DISCOVERED BY COLUMBUS: A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA BY THE NORSEMEN IN THE TENTH CENTURY, by Rasmus B. Anderson. In early times, the oceans of the world, like any other thing without borders, was viewed by man with awe and confusion. Mariners from all of the nations on which it is bordered feared the Atlantic Ocean, in particular. It was known as the "Sea of Darkness," for good reason. There have been a number of good books published on the subject of America not being discovered by Columbus. And while the theory has not been readily accepted by the general public, even to this day, most scholars agree that there were pre-Columbian visits by the people of various nations. For instance, the Olmec tribe of South and Central America are undoubtedly of African origin, which is not surprising because the people of Egypt had recorded the land where birds fly far in their inscriptions and could have easily reached the New World. Other people’s throughout the Middle East, European and Indo-China regions all have a recorded of history of travel to what today is known as the Western Hemisphere. Columbus may have not been the first European to land in America, however, he was a man of good judgement, great scholarship and thorough research. Many believe he discovered the continent not from a long voyage at sea, but by patient study of all available geographical information, namely of ancient maps, legends and word-of-mouth folklore, that lead him at last to his destination. In effect, this book sets out to prove that Columbus must have had knowledge of previous discoveries by Norsemen, providing a coherent and readable historical perspective of these same expeditions. In doing so the author hopes to create an interest in the literature, people and early traditions of Norway, and particularly Iceland, a remote and desolate island, that which Greek philosophers referred to as the Ultima Thule. What makes this book so unusual is that its author, Rasmus Anderson, wrote about this theory late in the nineteenth century, more than a hundred years and twenty-five ago. As a professor of the Scandinavian languages at the University of Wisconsin and a member of the Icelandic literary society, Anderson provides a qualified report from his knowledge of the peoples who made those early voyages. This book also includes an appendix on the historical, linguistic, literary and scientific value of the Scandinavian languages. An extensive bibliography of the pre-Columbian discoveries of America containing over three hundred annotated entries, as edited by Paul Watson, helps make this book a valuable research tool for those investigating the early history of the Americas. LA-018 o ISBN 1-59016-018-5 o 164 pages o 6 x 9 o paper o illustrated o £11.95 o US$14.95
 THE STORY OF EXTINCT CIVILIZATIONS OF THE WEST, by Robert E. Anderson. During the last half of the 15th century a series of remarkable events occurred which would change the course of modern history. It was at this epic crossroad that the middle ages came to an end and a new Europe began its triumph. Until that time every modern sea captain believed that the world was flat. Once this illusion was shattered by a few adventurous sailors a whole "new world" lay waiting for them to explore. In classical and medieval times it was common knowledge that there were islands, or even a continent, in the western ocean. Many ancient cultures had recorded on their maps knowledge of such lands. This book describes what was found by these early explorers to the Americas and documents, not only many pre-Columbian discoveries, but also provides a detailed overview of the Spanish arrival in the New World. For example, considerable space is devoted to the history of Norse explorations, whose settlement began in the year 875 with the establishment of a colony in Greenland. Later expeditions brought the Vikings to North America at the close of the first millennium This book also describes how Columbus "rediscovered" America and the considerable trials and tribulations he encountered while doing so. The extinct civilizations of Mesoamerica; primarily the Aztecs, Maya and Toltecs, are discussed at length, including some of their northern-most settlements, inhabited by the "mound builders" whose monuments are found throughout North America. Of course, the arrival of the Spaniards changed the course of history for the native peoples of the Americas. A length chapter on the famous Spanish conquistador Hernando Cortés details his interaction with the Aztec leader Montezuma. The extraordinary, albeit extinct civilization of the Incas conclude the book. There is no doubt that the monuments found in Peru are some of the most impressive in all of the Americas. Most authorities agree that long before the Inca’s rise to power there was a mighty empire which these cyclopean ruins must be attributed to. This book provides a good overall perspective on the early exploration and later conquest of the Americas and will make a good addition to any library on ancient history. LA-791 o ISBN 1-59016-791-0 o 195 pages o 6 x 9 o paper o illustrated o £13.95 o US$16.95
TALES OF THE CRUSADERS. Talk of the Crusades, and most people will think of that romantic time from the 11th to 15th centuries when the gallant knights of Christendom conquered the opposing Islamic forces. It was not an easy campaign and many lives were lost on either side. While many believe the Crusades were over by the 15th century, in fact, they did not officially end until the end of the 17th century with the Duke of Burgundy’s crusade against Candia in 1669. And yet even so, religious and political persecution continues to this day. Since it’s first use as a politically-correct cleansing during the middle ages, the meaning of the word "crusade" has been enlarged to include nearly all insurrections and wars undertaken in the pursuit of a vow against nonbelievers. Many people think of a Crusader as an Anglo-Saxon prince or bishop riding valiantly on horseback into the sunset. In reality, people who became Crusaders were not only the gallant royalty of sovereigns and monarchs but also everyday folk; farmers, serfs, peasants, commoners, city dwellers. Anyone who felt obligated to fight the holy war (against whoever the enemy was at that time) in God’s name, and in the name of Christianity was welcome to join the fight. There are a number of anecdotal tales and narratives associated with this period of European and Middle Eastern history. Many of these accounts have been lost to history, while others like this tale entitled "The Bethrothed," have survived the centuries to find their way back into print. This particular Crusader chronicle, originally published in 1825, has been extracted from narrative from the 12th century, when Welch princes and noblemen inhabited formidable enclaves on the frontiers of the medieval British empire. Of course, many of the sites mentioned herein are presently but mere ruins, though some of the Crusader’s castles still exist, even to this day. The invitation to the Crusade helped unify peoples and nations, for example the British, Normans and Saxons, that were normally at odds with one another. The main character at the beginning of this tale, Gwenwyn, is a British prince who, with other Welch royalty, are off to fight the Crusades. There are a number of other heroes and heroines found throughout these accounts that keep the story-line alive and entertaining. LA-829 o ISBN 1-59016-829-1 o 327 pages o 6 x 9 o paper o illustrated o £20.95 o US$23.95
PALENTOLOGY AND PREHISTORIC WORLD
 ANIMALS OF THE PAST: AN ACCOUNT OF SOME OF THE CREATURES OF THE ANCIENT WORLD, by Frederic A. Lucas. It is estimated that at least 99% of every thing that has ever lived is now extinct. From the smallest bacteria, to the largest vertebrate mammals, the variety of life that once existed in the fossilized past is enormous. The animals that walked this planet millions of years ago were as different and distinct then as the diversity of animal life today, yet so much more removed. Many of the long-extinguished species mentioned in this book can only be found in the fossil record. What we do know about these ancient creatures can best be described as astounding and nearly incomprehensible. What we don’t know about them, we can only imagine. Many people are familiar with the extinction of the dinosaurs, of the passenger pigeon, the Dodo bird, and the many other species that are threaten by our very existence on this planet. Few of us have been taught the diversity of life in the ancient world. Lesser known species described in this book include the giant bird Phororhacos and Maori, their smaller toothed cousin Hesperornis, the sea lizard Ichthysaur, the great Pterodactyl, its smaller cousins Dimorphodon and Rhamphorhynchus, a variety of well-known dinosaurs, and giant sea turtles. Later chapters include a detailed description on the ancestry of the horse as well as that of the mammoth and mastodon. This book includes an introductory chapter on how fossils are formed, followed by information on the earliest of vertebrates. Several sections are devoted to a diversity of extinct animals of the land, sea and air; followed by a concluding chapter of why animals become extinct. At the end of each chapter are invaluable references and notes pertaining to the location and condition of many of the articles cited within the text. As the director of the American Museum of Natural History, the author had an unusually rich resource of research material available to compile this admirable work. Most of the illustrations come from the rich collection of the American Museum of Natural History, which at the time this book was first published, contained the most complete specimens of fossil vertebrates worldwide. LA-034 o ISBN 1-59016-034-7 o 207 + xii pages o 6 x 9 o paper o illustrated o £14.95 o US$17.95
THE UPANISHADS, Translated into English with a Preamble and Arguments by G.R.S. Mead and Jagadîsha Chandra Chattopâdhyaya. To the ancient inhabitants of India the Upanishads were of great spiritual value. They are considered by many to be one of the pearls of ancient religious thought. Written in Sanskrit many millennia ago, they contain the philosophy of the Vedas. The Vedas are undoubtedly the most aged and sacred scriptures of the Hindu religion. The Upanishads make up a crucial portion of these spiritual teachings, literally referred to as the "sacred knowledge" portion of the Vedas. Sometimes known as Rahasya, the secret or mystery, it was practiced only by those who had gone through special training and had shown knowledge of their proficiencies. The Vedas, as they are known today, are composed of four great compilations: the Rig, Yajur, Sûma and Atharva Vedas. Each anthology is subdivided into three parts: hymns, ceremonial codes and instruction for those, who in ancient times, having completed their normal domestic duties, retreated to the forest to lead a religious life. The original Veda, according to tradition consisted of the Mantrâh, which the ancient seers "saw." The term Mantra comes from the root man, to think. It is said that the universe comes into being through the meditative will or thought of the supreme being. The ancient seers were able to comprehend these universal laws and were thus translated by them into applicable sounds, as an expression of creation. It is doubtful whether we possess the hymns in their original form. Fortunately, the principal efficiency of what has survived is not in the actual meaning, but in chanting them correctly. This translation is an attempt to make the obscure teachings of the Upanishads available to the general public without the necessity of a life-long study of the Vedic philosophy. Every effort has been made to present an accurate translation while preserving the essence and vitality of the original. In doing so, this work should be agreeable to the mystic and those seeking religious truth, while not offending the student or serious researcher. While side remarks and footnotes are require throughout the text for contextual meanings of certain words or phrases, for the most part these annotations are not found in the actual translation. The Upanishads should be allowed to speak for themselves. LA-883 o ISBN 1-59016-883-6 o 137 pages o 6 x 9 o paper o illustrated o £10.95 o US$13.95
 THE STORY OF THE ALPHABET, by Edward Clodd. In every day life, most people take words for granted. However, words form the basis for our most important faculty, that of communication. The story of the alphabet is a complex one. From the earliest of cave designs and pictographs mankind has been fascinated with our ability to draw. This naturally led to the capability of writing, notably the cuneiform script of the Sumerians, nearly six thousand years ago. The natural progression of history has done an extraordinary thing to language over the millennia. As civilizations have risen and fallen over the ages, as they fought their battles and conquered new lands, language has always followed. Sometimes it becomes assimilated into a new culture, other times it does not and follows the defeated nation to the grave, only to be rediscovered eons later by modern linguists, to be recounted in this book. Unfortunately, the important story of language is often neglected in the very medium that supports its use, book writing. When this book was first written, over a hundred years ago, there was only one comprehensive anthology authored on the subject.. Since that time only a handful more have been written. This little book closes an important gap in understanding the origins of our language. In doing so, we will most surely have an improved grasp of who we are, and more importantly, where we’re going. This book opens by describing the beginnings of the alphabet, there is a lengthy chapter on memory aids and picture writing, followed by one on Chinese, Japanese and Korean scripts. The cuneiform writing of the Sumerians, Babylonians and Assyrians as well as the hieroglyphics of the Egyptians are given considerable space for discussion, which isn’t surprising given their importance to the origin of language. A short chapter on the peculiar letters of the Cretans, and diminutive forms found in other languages, such as the Hittites, is included followed by the concluding chapters on Greek papyri and the runes and ogam (ogham) of the Celt and Gothic peoples. This book contains over seventy detailed illustrations in the form of line drawings, renderings and lithographs of such an exquisite nature that they compliment the text precisely. The way in which this book is written, in clear and concise language that easily portrays its message, should prove useful to student and scholar alike. As the author of the Story of Primitive Man, Pioneers of Evolution, the Story of Creation and other similar books, Edward Clodd contributes scientific and practical knowledge to the early creation and use of our alphabet. The story of the alphabet is unlike any other human endeavor, it has evolved, died out, taken its turns of history, and yet still survives to this day. In this day of email, facsimiles and voicemail, it’s nice to know that the origins of our language will not be forgotten. This fascinating chronology should make an uncommon addition to any library on ancient civilizations and language. LA-800 o ISBN 1-59016-800-3 o 209 pages o 6 x 9 o paper o illustrated o £14.95 o US$17.95
WRITING THE SHORT STORY: VOLUME ONE, A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK ON THE RISE, STRUCTURE, WRITING AND SALE OF THE MODERN SHORT STORY, by Joseph Berg Esenwein. The short story is often thought of as a brief novel, when in fact it’s a sort of fast fiction, more comparable to poetry than a novelette. While the novel has plenty of time to build the plot, characters and story line, the short story must convey these basic characteristics within the first few paragraphs. Since space is at a premium, every word is consequential and must be carefully considered, and not a single anecdote, metaphor or analogy can be wasted. While unnecessary points should not be included, no important factor should be omitted. Writers must remember that the whole is greater than the sum of all its parts. Each characteristic of the short story blends with one another to become, more often than not, a brilliant piece of literary genius. This book will help the aspiring author understand the creative process of developing the short story. It will make a great addition to any author’s bookshelf. There’s a storyteller inside each of us, if only we could get out of our own way, so that we could tell the story. Like any good book on crafting the short story, this two-volume set gives plenty of examples and critiques the popular literature of the day. Each chapter contains innumerable tips, techniques and writing exercises that will help all aspiring authors, beginner or practiced, perfect their storytelling abilities. The systematic approach used in this book to teach the subject leaves a clear impression upon the student as to the nature of writing the short story. It also contains a comprehensive table of contents and analytical summaries at the close of each chapter. As any good author knows, write whatever you feel compelled to write, there’s almost always a market for it; if not — at least you’ve written from the heart. To do otherwise tends to stifle the essence of writing and oftentimes produces only mediocre results. As a Doctorate of Literary Science and the one-time editor of Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine, the author provides a good mixture of experience and practical information to make this work an all-inclusive training guide for conceiving, developing and writing the short story. Volume one starts by giving a brief historical introduction on the rise of the short story. Another part includes a lengthy definition and discussion of what a short story is, but more importantly, what a short story is "not." The different kinds of short stories: morality, occupational, locality, society, emotional, etc. are each given ample space, followed by sections on choosing a theme, gathering materials, structuring the plot and the development of the story. After a brief lesson on how stories are told can be found a detailed chapter on opening the story, and another on the setting of the story. The first of two chapters on the body of the story follows, which in every instance comprises the framework for the entire composition. By providing simple definitions and proven methods, this informative guidebook will be useful to the casual novice, or expert writer alike. An easy to understand book that will help to release the storymaker that resides within each of us. Also includes with the second of two parts on the body of the story, explaining the significance and use of this meaningful component of the short story. Of similar importance is a chapter on the representation and characterization of certain characters, followed by another on the manner and dialects of creating dialogue. The function and use of a short, yet descriptive, title is stressed to the reader as is the elements of style found in most expressive writing. Following this are several short chapters on originality, talent and training, acquiring a vocabulary and some case studies of popular short stories of the day. Another section explains producing the manuscript, selling the story and getting it to market. This volume also contains 7 appendixes, including a collection of popular short stories, plot lines for several more, rhetorical rules for writing, writing fiction and a lengthy bibliography. By providing simple definitions and proven methods, this informative guidebook will be useful to the casual novice, or expert writer alike. An easy to understand book that will help to release the storymaker that resides within each of us. LA-942 o ISBN 1-59016-942-5 o 460 + xvi pages o 6 x 9 o paper o illustrated o £21.95 o US$29.95
ACTING AND CINEMATOGRAPHY
 A CONDENSED COURSE IN MOTION PICTURE PHOTOGRAPHY: VOLUME ONE BY THE NEW YORK INSTITUTE OF PHOTOGRAPHY. Edited by Carl Louis Gregory, former chief instructor in cinematography school of photography, Columbia University, New York. With special chapters by Charles Wilbur Hoffman, former cinematographer for Edison, World Film Companies and the U.S. Government and by research specialists of the research laboratories of the Eastman Kodak Company. When it comes to great endeavors that promise wealth and prosperity, many men and women of the past have more often than not taken a gamble. Be it an oil boom, gold rush or the heyday of the industrial age, those who had the courage to pioneer a new way of doing things often prospered — and the early days of motion pictures was no different. It was a time when the earliest of Hollywood film studios had only recently been established, in fact, most of Hollywood was nothing more than horse pasture and orange groves. The film companies on the east coast, particularly in New York and Chicago, dominated nearly all of the silent era and much of the early "Talkies" industry throughout the 1920s. The New York Institute of Photography was the leading school for fledgling cinematographers. It was these adventurous film makers who wanted to present the wonders of the motion picture to audiences worldwide. We owe them all a great deal of gratitude, for without the influence of the early cinema, both on the stage and screen, our lives would be less cultured and fulfilling. This book is part of that legacy, as one of the prominent texts used for motion picture training by that outstanding Institute of Photography mentioned above, it has survived the many years since the days of its early classroom use and is now back in print. This book provides a fascinating portrait of the men and woman who worked behind the scenes to produce some of the most memorable moments on the silver screen. This book includes a detailed history of cinematograp
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