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Title: The Echo of Greece by Edith Hamilton ISBN: 0-393-00231-4 Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company Pub. Date: February, 1964 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 5 (5 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Superb book
Comment: Edith Hamilton was one of the greatest writers on ancient cultures of all time. This is yet another triumph for her.
Rating: 5
Summary: A Fantastic Introduction to the Spirit of Greece
Comment: Edith Hamilton did it again with the Echo of Greece. This book looks at and explains, in a colloquial manner, the rise, apex, and decline of Greece during their golden age (from the beginning of the 5th century B.C. to the end of the 4th century B.C.). After finishing this book, the reader comes away not only with a better understanding of the Greek ethos, but also with an explanation of why things happened the way that they did. It is the latter accomplishment, I think, that readers will most appreciate.
Hamilton's book is divided into 10 chapters: I. Freedom, II. Athens' Failure, III. The School of Athens, IV. The School Teachers, V. Demosthenes, VI. Alexander the Great, VII. Menander, VIII. The Stoics, IX. Plutarch, and X. The Greek Way and the Roman Way.
The organization is brilliant, and leads the reader by their hand through the intellectual and artistic accomplishments of Greece not only during her height, but as you can see from chapters VI.-X., examines her influece on the world she helped create.
There are, however, a couple of frustrating parts about Hamilton's book as well. She provides excellent quotes throughout, but never explains where the reader can find them. A typical example appears on page 157, where she states that Aristotle said "The true nature of anything is what it becomes at its highest." But in which of Aristotle's myriad books should the reader begin to look to find this quote? Sometimes, even worse, Hamilton will just say "And a Stoic said that ..." Which Stoic?
A second complaint I have is that Hamilton spends a good deal of time talking about Greece's political, philosophical, and artistic achievements, but never really delves into Greece's artistic accomplishments. If she would have done so, it would have greatly improved an already great book.
But in comparison to the strengths of this book, these complaints are minor. Overall, I highly recommend this book both to the novice and expert alike. I couldn't put it down.
Rating: 5
Summary: A perspective of mankind at the birth of Christianity
Comment: I had pursued and read Ms. Hamilton's earlier volume "The Greek Way" based on an article about Bobby Kennedy, related to the 30th anniversary of his assassination. I found it thought provoking.
I purchased the "Echo of Greece" at a used book sale for $1 basically to have the companion to "The Greek Way"--both are hardcopy editions. The first chatper enthralled me as Ms. Hamilton reviewed the qualities of a dying democracy. We live in a Republic, which uses democratic principles. I could draw many parallels to Ancient Greece and the America of today. A resounding principle: When the term "freedom means freedom from responsibility" to the populus. Many Americans want their freedom, but want to be free from responsibility. We want to be free from being involved in the detailed decisions in governing a society, but not give up our freedom to complain about the "poor job" civil servants attempt to perform. One small example, but excellent thought provoking stuff.
The middle chapters focus on ideas and individuals in the final centuries before Christ. Building a context of where Greek thinking had evolved to during a 500 year period. To have dialogue as the basis of increasing their knowledge and understanding about themselves and their society. Not having a strong Western Civilization background, both of Ms. Hamilton's books were an excellent source to build my foundation upon.
The last chapter is equal in thought provocation to the first, yet in an entirely different perspective. She discusses the differences between the Greek Way and the Roman Way and how the fledging origins of the Christian church had to decide which Way to go. The Greeks were the powerhouse of thinkers and artisans. While the Romans were the powerhouse of efficincy and organization, and, of course, the military. Ms. Hamilton poses the thought as to what the world would have been like without the fear aspects of the Spanish Inquisition aspects of Christianity's history, all based on the Roman Way, had the Christian Church gone the path of the Greek Way. Of course, the concern is would Christianity survived the Roman Church, had she gone the Greek Way.
I already was aware that the new testament was written in Greek. I was not aware that the earliest teachers of Christianity were Greek. But it made sense. Christ's teachings and the Greek Way are directed towards the individual finding truth deep within themselves. The Roman Way added all of the ceremonies and group policies, making people feel inadequate to be God's servant. It is an excellent read for a person who has an open mind to learning about the roots of mankind based on written accounts and not based on myth and folklore.
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Title: The Greek Way by Edith Hamilton ISBN: 0393310779 Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company Pub. Date: August, 1993 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
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Title: The Roman Way by Edith Hamilton ISBN: 0393310787 Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company Pub. Date: August, 1993 List Price(USD): $11.95 |
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Title: Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea: Why the Greeks Matter by Thomas Cahill ISBN: 0385495536 Publisher: Nan A. Talese Pub. Date: 28 October, 2003 List Price(USD): $27.50 |
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Title: Mythology by Edith Hamilton ISBN: 0316341517 Publisher: Back Bay Books Pub. Date: 14 September, 1998 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
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Title: Greek Ways: How the Greeks Created Western Civilization by Bruce Thornton ISBN: 1893554570 Publisher: Encounter Books Pub. Date: November, 2002 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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