Growing Your
Enthusiasm
Test
ἐνθουσιασμός
We believe in enthusiasm; it is the driving force behind the all the creativity and activity which enriches us as people.
While not explicitly central to the idea of εὐδαιμονία (eudaimonia - the flourishing of the soul), it seems clear to us that living well and doing good things is best underpinned by an enthusiasm, a joy in the task.
Below we have collected together some of the media which have kindled and encouraged our own love of all things ancient. Just hover your mouse over the icon for more information. On mobile, all the information is under the picture.
Naturally, this is not exhaustive, but we hope that these recommendations will be of interest, especially to those taking their first steps in Classics.
For those interested in reading the original texts, have a look at our Downloads page - a collection of ancient texts, available for free and without a login, intended to help new classicists access the core texts quicker than you can boil asparagus!
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Fiction
Robert Harris's Cicero Trilogy captures many sides to the central character and threads a lot of history intricately into the kind of page-turners that keep you from putting the light out.
Among the best novels set in ancient Rome.
Better known for his extraordinary Scots Quair, Grassic-Gibbon also produced a beautifully crafted account of the slave rebellion.
Under appreciated, we think.
Colleen McCullough is very much the definitive historical writer for ancient Rome, having recreated that world in exceptional detail.
So detailed, it’s not far off reading a history text. Impressive stuff!
By a country mile the most famous fictional version of Rome, covering the first five emperors and their extraordinary families.
Still sparks off the page.
Something of a hidden gem, David Wishart has been writing Roman fiction for more than thirty years.
His Corvinus novels are equal parts Pratchett, Wodehouse and Raymond Chandler. A very pleasant way to pass an afternoon.
A wonderful retelling of the Odyssey from the point of view of Odysseus’s isolated wife.
All the usual Atwood traits are present: beautifully-turned prose and compelling story-telling.
For our money, the very best modern retelling of a Greek myth.
Second place would go to Miller’s heart-aching Song of Achilles.
A fictional interpretation of Heinrich Schliemann’s discovery of the site of Troy.
Fascinating use of period detail. Not a cheerful read, though…
In our heart of hearts we never realised that we wanted Aristotle to be a detective solving murders. Neither did you. Until now.
Pacy and fun. A delightful read.
Many consider Renault the best in the business of modern interpretations.
Prose sharp enough to dice an onion, and an impact that will stay with you long after you’ve closed the covers
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Non-Fiction
A seminal work in the sense of its accessibility and grand scale.
Sometimes not quite for beginners, but a book we return to a lot. Packs a LOT into its three-hundred something pages.
A useful follow-up to Scullard’s book, this is a lightning quick rour through all of the emperors. Yes, all of them.
Pacy - obviously - but with a strong narrative thread.
We really like Anthony Everitt’s straightforward style. He sacrifices little in making his books clear and readable - something many popular historians could learn from.
As a primer on the first Emperor, this is as good as anything out there.
Parenti pulls no punches in his antipathy to the majority of Classicists and his interpretation of Rome’s most famous murder is a gripping read.
His thesis is clear: class war was alive and well in Rome. One of our absolute favourites.
A little more academic, but an excellent and necessary look at a very complicated emperor.
Teenager, tyrant, bisexual, mentally-ill. Who exactly was Elagabalus?
An incredible compendium of primary textual sources, illuminating the lives of ordinary women in Greece and Rome.
Endlessly useful.
A landmark work in the history of Classics, showing that, though undersung, working Classicists have been around for hundreds of years.
The authors have walked the walk by making the pdf free to everyone. We stan.
Primary sources which inform about just about every aspect of Roman life, whether patrician or plebeian. An extraordinary volume which we use more often than we dare to say.
Another excellent primer text for those wanting to get a handle on the Iliad.
Strauss has an unpretentious and direct style, making this an easy - though well-researched - book.
By no means a quick read (nor cheap), but an incredibly detailed and readable look at class in the ancient world.
More likely to dip into specific chapters, but each is incredibly informative.
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Films & Television
Widely-regarded as the benchmark in bringing ancient Rome to the screen.
Well-scripted, acted, and with set and costume design most productions can only dream of, Rome is wonderful. It’s continued popularity is underscored by online forums still demanding the show’s return.
Although it looks a bit tatty these days, I, Claudius remains a stone-cold classic, which has coloured our perceptions of the Julio-Claudians for forty-odd years.
The script and acting are A1.
Gladiator is the best feature film set in Rome, probably in the history of cinema.
A big-budget put to good work, recreating a feel of authenticity, regardless of any technical or scripting inaccuracies.
While it may seem flippant, there is plenty of well-written commentary on the nature of occupying forces and oppressed peoples in the Life of Brian.
There are stupid jokes, too, which can only be seen as a bonus.
Still delivering an epic punch sixty-odd years after its release, Ben Hur is a flawed masterpiece.
Of the slew of sword and sandals films of the period, it remains the best.
Irene Papas’s father was a teacher of Classical drama, so perhaps it is no surprise that her Antigone is as powerful as it is.
Not the best film quality on YouTube, but the quality of Papas and Katrakis still shines.
An outstanding production with a cracking cast. The tragedy of the aftermath of the Trojan war is made clear in this haunting interpretation
The work of Ray Harryhausen gets all of the plaudits - and with good reason - but this camp version of the Jason myth is much more than its stop-motion monsters.
More Harryhausen magic here, this time in service of the Perseus myth.
More polished, and with a better script than the 1963 film, this 1981 production is far superior to its later remake.
An unusual decision to omit the gods completely from this production, it nonetheless provides a rough and ready version of the Iliad.
Purists often hate it, but it’s hard to imagine how the book could be condensed into a three hour film any other way.
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Video Games
Choose your fate in Assassin's Creed Odyssey. From outcast to living legend, embark on an odyssey to uncover the secrets of your past and change the fate of Ancient Greece. A sprawling and beautifully recreated interactive ancient world.
See also: Assassins Creed Origins (set in Egypt).
The Forgotten City is a narrative-driven time loop adventure in ancient Rome. Discover the ruins of an ancient underground city, travel 2000 years into the past, and unravel the mystery of who destroyed it by cleverly exploiting the power to wind back time. The fate of the city is in your hands.
Total War: Rome II is set in Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Near East in the Classical antiquity period. The grand single-player campaign begins in 272 BC and lasts for 300 years. Build cities, raise armies, defend and attack, play as Greeks, Celts, and more.
Apotheon is a heroic action game set within the vibrant world of Ancient Greek Mythology. Ascend Mount Olympus, wrestle the divine powers from the Pantheon of Gods, and save mankind.
Dominate the classical Mediterranean in Imperator: Rome, a grand strategy game from Paradox Interactive. Navigate the dangerous waters of politics and diplomacy as you build up your provinces and conquer foreign lands.
Old World is a revolutionary new historical strategy game where you lead your dynasty over generations of rule against rival kings and queens. Wage massive wars, manage your court, and build a dynasty — or watch your empire crumble to dust. What legacy will you leave behind?
Defy the god of the dead as you hack and slash out of the Underworld in this rogue-like dungeon crawler from the creators of Bastion, Transistor, and Pyre.
Lead the creation of one of the greatest civilizations the world has ever seen in this HD remake with modernized UI. Build monuments, manage your population and explore 4,000 years of history through over a hundred hours of gameplay.
Treasures of the Aegean. What happened to the Minoan civilization? Join parkour master Marie Taylor and treasure hunter James Andrew in a historical action thriller, as they unveil the secrets of a forgotten kingdom which has been tragically trapped in and endless time loop.
Life sim set in the Ancient Roman Republic. Experience life and events in Ancient Rome through multiple generations of a family, helping them grow from lowly commoners to mighty Senators. Long live the Republic!
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YouTube and Netflix
Michael Parenti discusses his book about the murder of Julius Caesar.
Assassins Creed Discovery Tour mode allows players to wander the recreated setting of ancient Greece, with a tour-guide to highlight the historical and mythical sites and details.
Invicta is one of the best history channels on YouTube, often with an emphasis on the ancient world.
Stylistically a bit different to Invicta, Told In Stone is a single Ancient subjects lecturer delivering content of a very high standard.
Focusing on everyday Roman life, and with a fair chunk of reenactment and demonstration, Imperium Romanum delivers a direct sense of life in the ancient world.
Roman Empire is three series looking at the emperors Commodus and Caligula, and also at the life of Julius Caesar.
Simplified, but sound: a very good starting point for the basics.
Fancy a bit of anime in your Classics diet? Well, Thermae Roma Nova is a charming fantasy about a bathhouse architect who keeps slipping between modern Japan and ancient Rome. Lovely stuff!
Taking the bold move to have the Romans speak Latin (and the Germans modern German), Barbarians is a dramatisation of the events in the Teutoberg Forest. Very good indeed.
Consistent with a lot of Netflix’s historical output, the retelling of the life of Alexander came in for some criticism, but we see no harm in using it for an entry-level summary.
Queen Cleopatra caused an unbelievable backlash upon release, for daring to suggest the pharaoh was black.
No surprise at all that many critics believed deeply in free speech for other topics…
The BBC’s Troy: Fall of a City was lavished with a big budget, and it often looks terrific. The script, however, is a bit leaden. Nonetheless, it is a genuine attempt to bring the Iliad to the screen, gods and all.
Three series of analysis of Greek myth, from Medea to Arachne, and an entire season on the Trojan War. Mixed quality but very much worth your time.
There are plenty of Pompeii documentaries available online, but this international effort really captures the collaborative nature of the excavations. Some beautiful photography in there, too.
Back in the direction of anime, and this original story is an imaginative romp through the world of Greek mythology. Not for kids, though!
Wonderfully photographed, this is an engaging look at the archaeological season in Saqqara in 2023. An interesting glimpse at the more exciting end of archaeology, without getting into Indiana Jones territory.