Ancient History Books

I have not read this Penquin edition, but it says in a footnote; "There are some cuts in the text, but it follows the main narrative". Does anyone know how much was left out? Get back to me. Thank You--Hey everybody, guess what? I just did some checking; and Oxford World Classics has published two editions: Books 31-40, and 41-45. And they do emphasize that they are complete, as opposed, to say, the incomplete one volume Penquin edition. For people who have Latin. How long would it take to read all the surviving Books of Livy in the original? Again, get back to me. Thank You

I have been fascinated by Roman history since I was a teenager, and over the years I have read the works of many of the classical historians. Livy has always been among my favorites. A contemporary of Augustus, Livy wrote a full history of Rome from its beginnings up to his own time. Tragically, only a portion of his work has survived. This book contains his History from Rome's legendary beginnings up through 167 B.C. except for books XXI through XXX, which deal with the war against Hannibal and are published separately.

His source material being necessarily limited, much of the early history is sketchy. However, Livy seems to draw on as much material, whether traditional or documentary, as he could muster. Further, he wrote with the desire to both inform and entertain. His work is lively and dramatic and he has a knack for vividly portraying the principal personalities. Like other ancient historians, Livy isn't bashful about inventing dialogue for his leading protagonists, but this adds an air of reality to what would otherwise become a dry narrative.

This is classical history at its best and I highly recommend it for anyone with an interest in ancient Rome.

When I first started reading Livy's "The War with Hannibal", the book that cronologically precedes "Rome and the Mediterranean", I was not sure if I was going to be able to get to the end of it. I had never read Livy before and it is a long book. As it happened, immediately after I finished reading "The War with Hannibal" (hereafter referred to as WWH) I started reading "Rome and the Mediterranean", which is no less long, and no less good. I wrote a comment on WWH and everything I said of Livy there equally holds true here: he is a remarkable narrator and, though partial to the Romans, his style is measured and believable. As a historian, he is no less inventive than other fellow historians of his time. But his accounts are extremely detailed and always interesting. It could be said that WWH is more atractive than this book because it relates the Second Punic War, the story of Hannibal's invasion of Italy, one of the most interesting episodes in the entire history of the world. I would venture the following comparison: WWH resembles a novel. The whole book deals with Rome's war against Carthage, be it in Italy, Spain of Africa. Hannibal is the main character and Scipio Africanus, Fabius Maximus and Marcellus the secondary ones. On the other hand "Rome and the Mediterranean" is more like a collection of short stories. It is full of different anectodotes, stories and situations. Of course all of them revolving around the conflicts Rome had against Greece, Macedon and Asia during the years 200-167 BC, but there is no other unifying principle. Here you will find a variety of plots and characters. I know this comparison is arguable but I think it can convey an approximate idea to someone who hasn't read the book. I would also like to point out that while WWH is mainly a military history, this book is also a politcal one as well. Not only we find descriptions of battles and tactics, but a detailed account of the complex politics between the Greeks, the Macedonians, the Aetolians, the Acheans and the different kings of the multiple states of Greece and Asia, and their relationships with Rome. All this changing history of treacheries, pacts, leagues, alliances and complots is wonderfully and clearly portrayed, written with Livy's characteristic mastery of the craft. And you will also find here a sequel to the events of WWH: you will find out, for example, what happened with Scipio Africanus and Hannibal after the battle of Zama (what tragic and similar destiny!, both great men dying in exile and distanced from their own people; Plutarch should have written their biographies together in his Parallel Lives). Because of this, I would advise you to read both books, if you have the opportunity, and in cronological order: first WWH and afterwards "Rome and the Mediterranean" (don't let the length of both books combined intimidate you!). This is a very good edition (although a couple of more detailed maps would have been helpful) and so is the translation.

Titus Livius, (Livy) 59BCE-17ACE, born in Padua he was a popular and much admired writer in his day. His history was a favorite of Caesar Augustus who reigned during the time of the writing of the "History of Early Rome". His facts are not the most accurate, but like Plutarch, he believed that; "if history were not morally instructive, it was nothing." "History of Early Rome" is a valiant effort at recalling and preserving the memory of the noble deeds of the Romans.

Machiavelli loved reading Livy's histories and wrote his most important philosophical work from it, "The Discourses", in which he glorifies republican Rome as a model of good government. Thomas Jefferson wrote to his nephew that there were three books every gentleman had to have familiarity with; Plutarch's "Lives", Livy's "History of Rome" and Virgil's Aeneid. In fact, all the founding fathers of note had read Livy and learned much from his history of Rome.

If you are truly interested in obtaining a classical education, put this book on the top of your reading list! I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in political philosophy, and history.

O'Hogain has done it again, by providing another invaluable resource for those interested in learning more about Celtic and Irish pre-christian religion. Very well-researched and written, this book will take you on a journey back in time, which you'll never forget! Don't miss his other works either.

Excellent! Very blunt, well put, and provides the information in a way that is no nonsense, straight way. Loved it.

This is a definitive work on the subject. The author surpasses credible to the level of genuine expert. I feel safe in trusting his research and speculations. Being a scholarly work, the book isn't for the faint of heart (it can be thick reading at times), but if your into Celtic studies, the history of Ireland, the history of the Druids, then this book is a must and should be read and referred to again and again. The author uses a wonderful blend of archaeology, literature, and mythology not only of Ireland, but also from a vast range of sources. He ties in accounts of the Continental Celts, the Indo-Europeans, the Greek and Roman sources, and even accounts from India (Vedic, rig Veda, etc). The author gives us a complete picture that is supported by a myriad of sources and language associations. The only thing that I felt could have enhanced the book would be an index. Very great work, well worth the money.

"The Sarmatians 600 BC - AD 450" by Richard Brzezinski and Mariusz Mielczarek is an excellent resource about Sarmatians. The book lives up to the typical Osprey "Men-at-Arms" series standards; it provides a brief overview, along with many photographs of paintings and sculptures, and contains color plates depicting various scenes. The book is great as it draws from many accounts of ancient texts that mention the Sarmatians.

The Sarmatians were a nomadic people that came out of Iran in ancient times. There were various groups of Sarmatians, such as the Alans, Iazyges, Roxolani, Siraces, and Aorsi. My interest in the Sarmatians stems from the 17th century Polish nobles belief that they were descended from the Sarmatians. They even made their armor look like what they thought Sarmatian armor was like. This book provided me with insight into this subject. This book brushes on this topic, but by no means focuses on it and is only a small fragment of the information contained within this book.

The authors state that for centuries it was believed that the Sarmatians were the ancestors of the Slavs, as they lived on the same land and as one appeared the other disappeared. Furthermore, the authors state:

"Linguists and archeologists have long dismissed this idea; but at the same time have turned up evidence of the seminal influence of the Sarmatians on Slav language, art and religion. Indeed, it is now accepted that the Sarmatians merged in with pre-Slavic populations. Both Serb and Croat seem to be Slavicised Alan tribal names. The myth of Sarmatian origins took a strong hold in Poland, where the Alans had a minor presence. (p.39)"

Dismissing this idea into the class of myth may be just a form of extreme skepticism. It seems contradictory that the idea is dismissed, yet evidence in support of it has grown. Perhaps, it just goes to show the ancient beliefs were accurate in some cases, and modern re-thinking only distorts us from the truth.

Personally, I found it interesting that swords with ring shaped pommels were popular among the Sarmatians from the 2nd century BC to the 2nd century AD, as my family coat of arms has a sword with a ring shaped pommel.

This is a very good source of information as it gives you alot of detail without going into various documents or expensive books. The details on the pictures and weapons are excellent and that is why this is such a good book. A 5/5 for this one.

This book was the first Osprey book I ever bought, but has inspired me to come back for, so far, about seventy more. It is an excellent source on this oft-overlooked warrior people, giving a summary of the history of the various tribes (Aorsi, Alans, Rhoxolani, etc.) and then going on to examine tactics, armor, lancing gear, blades, archery equipment, and lassos. Their roles in the 3rd-5th Century Roman army, as well as their possible role in the myth of King Arthur is also examined. The book also briefly looks at the unique Kingdom of the Bosporan Cimmerians, a Crimean people who combined the military thought of the Romans, Greeks, Gauls, Scythians, and Sarmatians. This is an excellent source on some of Rome's most fearsome 'barbarians'!

"Ajax" is probably the earliest extant play of Sophocles. Sophocles is the earliest known playwright to use painted scenery. He also decreased the importance of the chorus, added a third actor, and abandoned the trilogy format (each play is complete by itself). Ajax is the classical Greek tragedy about the downfall of a man who is sinned against and has a tragic flaw; in this case, insolence and pride. Ajax becomes enraged when Achilles' armor is awarded to Odysseus instead of to him. Agamemnon and Menelaus also exhibit insolence when they refuse to bury Ajax after his suicide. But, Odysseus changes their minds. This play is probably the earliest known example of a play containing a scene of violence on the stage instead of offstage. In "The Women of Trachis," considered my many critics to be the poorest of the seven extant plays of Sophocles, the wife of Heracles, Deianira, unknowingly sends a poisoned robe to her husband who has finally completed his labors. She is also concerned that she has allowed a rival for the affections of her husband to enter her household. Hercules has sent the captive Iole to Deianira. As Hercules lies dying, he orders his son Hyllus to marry Iole. Does Hercules truly love Iole? Even when dying, he is concerned for her future. In "Electra," the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra awaits the return of her brother Orestes so that he can avenge the murder of their father. I think that many scholars have tended to misread this play. It is a play about Electra, not about Orestes or Clytemnestra or Aegisthus. And, it is a tragedy. Should one allow hatred to rule their own lives to such an extent as seen in Electra, even when one is in the right? Finally, "Philoctetes," a member of a group of plays that won first prize in Athens, is concerned with a man who has been left marooned on an island several years earlier (because of his disease) under orders of Agamemnon and Menelaus. But, the two kings later discover that Troy cannot be conquered without Philoctetes and his bow, a bow given to him by Heracles. Odysseus and Neoptolemus (the son of the late Achilles) arrive at the island to persuade or trick Philoctetes to return with them. Neoptolemus wants to be noble in his actions; yet, his commander, Odysseus, wants to use guile. At the end, a deus-ex-machina device is used to resolve the conflict. All four plays should be required reading for any educated person.

When I entered college, I was surprised to hear that there were so few Greek tragedies extent in the world today. I was also surprised that Sophocles actually had more plays than the Oedipus cycle. After debating whether to buy this translation of the texts (I am trying to collect all the Greek tragedies in this series), I finally checked it out of the library. Personally, I think that these plays are better than Oedipus, possibly because I think that Oedipus is rather overdone by high schools and colleges all over.

Ajax: It was good. I was kind of annoyed that the translator decided to mark each choral ode by its parts, which wasn't necessary. This play is about Ajax, one of the heroes of the Trojan War; this tale goes past the Trojan War portrayed in the Iliad, however. In the Odyssey, Odysseus meets Ajax in the underworld who is upset because Odysseus won the contest against him for Achilles armor. This play expands on the outcome of this contest. Ajax, disgraced, desperately turns himself against the Greek warriors, especially Odysseus. At the end, he kills himself because of his loss of honor.

The Women of Trachis: Definately climbing near Medea for my favorite Greek tragedy. This play is about Deianeira, a wife of Heracles. When Heracles returns from a city with a new mistress, Deianeira decides to take action against the man he loves. She uses a potion that was given to her by a Centaur, whom Heracles killed when the Centaur attempted to rape her. The Centaur gave her some of his blood and told her it is a love potion to give to Heracles, so if his attention ever wanders, she could bring it back to her. When Heracles brings home the new woman, Deianeira decides to use it. What Deianeira didn't realize, though, is that the Centaur wanted revenge upon Heracles, and the blood was actually poison.

Electra: Unlike the Electra in Aechyllus' Oresteia, this Electra is focused on a bit more. She resembles the Electra of Euripides. Same story: Orestes returns to avenge his father Agamemnon's murder by his mother, Clytaemnestra, and Aegisthus, Agamemnon's cousin and Clytaemnestra's consort. Electra has been living with Clytaemnestra and Aegisthus, and she was the person who saved Orestes from Clytaemnestra's rage. (Why did she murder Agamemnon? She could have just been an evil wife, but Agamemnon did sacrifice their daughter Iphigenia when he sailed for Troy.) This play is about Electra's pain and desperate hope that Orestes will return.

Philoctetes: When the Greeks sailed for Troy, one of the Greeks was bitten by a venomous snake, and the Greek soldiers abandoned him on an island before reaching Troy. After the events of the Iliad, and after Achilles death, the Greeks capture a son of Priam who prophesized that the Greeks would not be able to take Troy without Philoctetes' bow and arrows. This bow was given to Philoctetes by Heracles. This play is about Odysseus and Neoptolemus' conspiracy to steel the bow. Neoptolemus is to pretend that his is bitter towards Agamemnon, Menelaus and Odysseus because of the contest of Achilles' armor (Neoptolemus is Achilles son). Neoptolemus befriends Philoctetes and no longer wants to deceive him, plus he realizes that the prophesy not only demands the bow and arrows, but Philoctetes himself. (These bow and arrows are fated to kills Paris, the "cause" of the Trojan War for abducting Helen.)

I definately recommend this collection of plays, especially if you are an Ancient Greek nut like me! :)

"Ajax" is probably the earliest extant play of Sophocles. Sophocles is the earliest known playwright to use painted scenery. He also decreased the importance of the chorus, added a third actor, and abandoned the trilogy format (each play is complete by itself). Ajax is the classical Greek tragedy about the downfall of a man who is sinned against and has a tragic flaw; in this case, insolence and pride. Ajax becomes enraged when Achilles' armor is awarded to Odysseus instead of to him. Agamemnon and Menelaus also exhibit insolence when they refuse to bury Ajax after his suicide. But, Odysseus changes their minds. This play is probably the earliest known example of a play containing a scene of violence on the stage instead of offstage. In "The Women of Trachis," considered my many critics to be the poorest of the seven extant plays of Sophocles, the wife of Heracles, Deianira, unknowingly sends a poisoned robe to her husband who has finally completed his labors. She is also concerned that she has allowed a rival for the affections of her husband to enter her household. Hercules has sent the captive Iole to Deianira. As Hercules lies dying, he orders his son Hyllus to marry Iole. Does Hercules truly love Iole? Even when dying, he is concerned for her future. In "Electra," the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra awaits the return of her brother Orestes so that he can avenge the murder of their father. I think that many scholars have tended to misread this play. It is a play about Electra, not about Orestes or Clytemnestra or Aegisthus. And, it is a tragedy. Should one allow hatred to rule their own lives to such an extent as seen in Electra, even when one is in the right? Finally, "Philoctetes," a member of a group of plays that won first prize in Athens, is concerned with a man who has been left marooned on an island several years earlier (because of his disease) under orders of Agamemnon and Menelaus. But, the two kings later discover that Troy cannot be conquered without Philoctetes and his bow, a bow given to him by Heracles. Odysseus and Neoptolemus (the son of the late Achilles) arrive at the island to persuade or trick Philoctetes to return with them. Neoptolemus wants to be noble in his actions; yet, his commander, Odysseus, wants to use guile. At the end, a deus-ex-machina device is used to resolve the conflict. All four plays should be required reading for any educated person.

Skip the boring, tedious textbooks! Guerber brings history facts to life in story book fashion. I am convinced that children would enjoy learning history in school if they could read from books like this rather than from textbooks. My 6th grade home-schooler read this a few chapters at a time while we were studying Ancient Rome. He always wanted to keep reading farther than what I had assigned him for that day. I highly recommend this book for 5th through 8th graders. We also enjoyed "The Story of the Greeks" by the same author.

I've been reading The Story of the Romans to my fifth-grader before bed each night and have found it to be a clearly-written, child-friendly history of Rome that holds not only his attention, but mine as well. The chapters are short, the sentences are not overly-complex, and the vocabulary is simple. The book is a good introduction to classical civilization for any young student who likes history, has had some exposure to Greek and Roman mythology, or just wonders why we still make so many contemporary references to Ancient Rome.

I read "The Story of the Romans" as a child in the 1920s. It opened my eyes to ancient history. I still remember the picture of Horatiius at the bridge. The two sides in a war (probably the Athenians and the Spartans) had chosen five soldiers from each side to determine the outcome. As I recall, Horatius led one side, perhaps all brothers. All the others on his side has been killed, so he ran until those on the other side had strung out. Then he turned and slew them one by one, the last one, I suppose was at the bridge, where the picture showed him with his short sword raised above his helmented head. I hope to find the book for my grandchildren.

After having purchased almost all of Amazon's collection on sundials, I eagerly awaited this book's delivery. From the first page, I regretted not having bought it before as Sir Mark Lennox Boyd has produced a masterpiece. Anyone who has an appreciation for gnomonics should get this book. Although it contains technical information, it's the historical journey which is most engaging.

This is an excellent book for the layman as well as for an accomplished sundial expert. It shows the evolution of humankind's interest in the passage and the marking of time. And if you look on page 123 you will see photographs of Kate Pond's contemporary sun-aligned public sculptures.

You are used to seeing a sundial in the middle of a garden, and if you are like me, you look at the shadow, then compare the time to a wrist-borne chronometer, and note that the sundial is off by however many minutes. In _Sundials: History, Art, People, Science_ by Mark Lennox-Boyd I learned that this is at least doubly wrong. The author quotes Hilaire Belloc: "I am a sundial and I make a botch / Of what is done much better by a watch." He complements the wit of the couplet, and shows the errors. Firstly, he points out, sundials tell time perfectly well; they simply measure time differently than watches do, but neither of them is objectively "right". Secondly, sundials are not merely garden ornaments, and only one in this profusely illustrated and colorful book is from that category. The dials shown here are often scientific instruments and elaborate works of art that sometimes do not look like sundials at all. Not only are many styles of sundial illustrated here, but the science and history of making them is summarized; the reader will come away with a much better idea of how the solar system runs from the contemplation of these not-so-humble instruments.

Lennox-Boyd (or actually Sir Mark, since he has been, besides a Patron of the British Sundial Society, a Member of Parliament and a Foreign Office Minister), says that the association of the dial with the garden began in the Renaissance, not because the dials were ornaments, but because teachers of the time often used the garden as a place where lessons of science could be delivered. There are pictures here of artwork and architecture that one would not expect to be sundials at all. The Sundial Bridge across the Sacramento River in California is a suspension bridge, suspended on one side of the river from a huge, slanted support. The support just happens to be slanted at the correct angle to make it a gnomon, and its huge shadow sweeps along the ground beneath. The huge sundial at Jaipur in India has a gnomon that is big enough to walk up, fifty steep stairs. A Dutchman has designed beer glasses that you turn until the sunbeam through a circle on one side of the glass hits the date line on the other side; you can then tell if the time is after 5 p.m., the time when the inventor says the glass ought to be filled. There is a picture of a spherical sundial invented by Thomas Jefferson. The Disney World offices in Florida are "entertainment architecture", and part of the fun is that a central room is shaped like a truncated cone and has gigantic sundials visible on the outside and the inside, with quotations about time on marble plaques from such notables as Albert Einstein and Donald Duck. Sir Mark himself designs sundials, some of which are shown here. The most ambitious is one in Oliveto, Italy, within the stair tower of a house; a system of mirrors sends a sunbeam during different times of the day to different walls of the stairwell, each intricately crisscrossed with lines to read time, date, times of sunrise and sunset, and more.

Sir Mark points out that since we now have clocks accurate to more than one second in fifteen million years, sundials ought to be obsolete, but they are not. There has been a resurgence of interest in them, both in the historical forms and the modern ones which come in strange and undial-like shapes. "There is a particular symbolism in an object that does something helpful but requires no power and performs indefinitely," he writes. He is clearly fascinated with his subject, and this lovely and colorful book conveys the fascination perfectly.

This entertaining and informative guide to understanding Classical Myth is as timeless and cultivated as the myths themselves. The book even follows the tradition of several books that are considered "classics" in the Classics field (its cover image has absolutely no relevance to the text within). Unlike most of those works, this book covers many topics and myths which the author supplements with his enlightened analysis. Rightfully bound, this book is indeed a joy to read for the curious novice and the Classicist alike.

Holy Zeus! This book is the Mount Olympus of mythology books! Blow torch your ancient copies of Edith Hamilton's "Mythology", and buy this ultra-hip, MTV friendly mythology masterpiece! After reading "Symbolic Mythology", you will suddenly realize that there are good books, bad books and books by Fiore! The books by Fiore transcend the words of mere mortals. A great man once said, "It takes a God to know a God," and Fiore certainly knows his Gods!

Holy Zeus! This book is the Mount Olympus of mythology books! Blow torch your ancient copies of Edith Hamilton's "Mythology", and buy this ultra-hip, MTV friendly mythology masterpiece! After reading "Symbolic Mythology", you will suddenly realize that there are good books, bad books and books by Fiore! The books by Fiore transcend the words of mere mortals. A great man once said, "It takes a God to know a God," and Fiore certainly knows his Gods!

This book has information and pictures of some mummies that aren't in a lot of other books. Although some famous mummies like Otzi and Juanita aren't in here, other mummies that you might not find in most places are here. If you want to build your 'mummy repertoire,' you'lll find a few new ones here.

I found the book Tales Mummies Tell fascinating. This book is a mix of mystery and fact all in one! I recommend this book to people from years 11-adult because of the interesting,comprehendable information in it. I enjoyed this book because of my curiousity for it's subject. The book tells about preservation of mummies, the mummification proccess of mummies in Ancient Egypt, bodies found in bogs in Denmark, Ramesses III, and many more mindboggling facts. So if you are interested in this topic then I would suggest you read this book.

I found the book Tales Mummies Tell fascinating. This book is a mix of mystery and fact all in one! I recommend this book to people from years 11-adult because of the interesting,comprehendable information in it. I enjoyed this book because of my curiousity for it's subject. The book tells about preservation of mummies, the mummification proccess of mummies in Ancient Egypt, bodies found in bogs in Denmark, Ramesses III, and many more mindboggling facts. So if you are interested in this topic then I would suggest you read this book.

I am an admitted big fan of Amy Zerner and Monte Farber...I feel their passion for what they do just vibrates from each and every offering they create. This is no exception. As always, the packaging is gorgeous, no expense is spared and you feel like you are rediscovering a beautifully wrapped gift each time you open the box. Top notch materials are used and it shows.

The material is presented in a straight forward manner, you can easily read, watch and understand everything as it goes along. The addition of a meditation for each card is a great idea and one they make easier to to "stick with:\" by using the dvd. You will deepen your appreciation for each card if you take the time to study each card as suggested.

On top of all the great information you even get a complete 78 card deck and a lovely little bag for it...I like that extra touch!

Janet Boyer's review goes into a lot of detail, and I am sure you have read her review. But I want to add that this is a great introduction to the tarot AND a great toold for those who have been reading the tarot much longer.

If you enjoy learning new ideas about the tarot or want to start your journey...get this kit, you will find yourself going back to it over and over!

ENJOY! I have :-D

"Meditating on the Tarot is a process of self-revelation, of opening the heart and mind to what is meaningful in the present moment. These meditations lead to deeper insights and take you closer to the experience of your divine self and that greater, wiser part of your inner being. Consult the cards as an everyday spiritual practice or whenever you need clarity on an issue." - Monte Farber and Amy Zerner

For almost 30 years, fabric artist Amy Zerner and author/psychic Monte Farber have combined their deep love for each other with their fascination for self-discovery, resulting in oracles, books, art, and decks that are as beautiful as they are immediately useful.

In what is, to my knowledge, the *only* DVD Tarot kit on the market, The Tarot Discovery Kit offers a multi-media extravaganza, combining original music, animated art, melodic voice talents, and concise--yet profound--meditative insights on the Tarot. For this box set, The Enchanted Couple have included a DVD jam-packed with goodies, a full-color 60-page guidebook, gold satin drawstring bag AND their 78-card Zerner/Farber Tarot deck.

For those unfamiliar with the Zerner/Farber tarot, each card depicts intricate fabric collages designed by Amy, designed to capture archetypal symbols, dreams and fantasies. (The Enchanted Tarot is a larger version of this deck, having white and purple borders.)

According to the authors, the benefits of meditating on the Tarot one card at a time are multi-fold:

* An increase in patience and compassion for yourself and others
* Greater understanding of your circumstances and motivations
* Strengthening of intuitive and psychic abilities
* Moments of great joy, calm, and insight
* Consciousness of the next step on your path
* Awareness of the symbols around you
* Memories of forgotten events and possibly past or future lives
* Experience of spiritual peace and power

After shuffling the Zerner/Farber Tarot deck and picking a card at random--or, choosing to focus consciously on a particular card--you can then access an animated visual meditation from the main menu of the DVD. The main menu of the Tarot Discovery Kit DVD has five sections:

1. The Major Arcana
2. The Suit of Wands
3. The Suit of Swords
4. The Suit of Hearts
5. The Suit of Pentacles
6. The Tarot Discovery Theater

The Tarot Discovery Theater presents five featurettes:

1. Entering Sacred Space
2. The Grounding Ritual
3. What Is the Tarot? (Tarot documentary)
4. The Major Arcana (an engaging "story" of the Fool's Journey--and how each of the 22 Majors enrich and influence the Fool from an archetypal perspective)
5. The Minor Arcana (an excellent documentary exploring the origins and meaning of Tarot numerology embodied in the Minors, the four suits and what they govern, and the function of the Court Cards)

Each of the individual card meditations last approximately a minute and a half, featuring several (excellent!) male and female narrators and showcasing animated versions of every Zerner/Farber tarot illustration. Since I've never seen a visual meditation with Tarot cards before, I didn't know what to expect (but wondered if they'd be on the "fluffy", dreamy side).

Somewhat surprisingly, the narrations are rich with solid interpretation, incisive guidance, and fresh ways of experiencing each card. Needless to say, I was impressed!

In the companion book, messages and outcomes are provided for all 78 cards--along with color illustrations of each card image. The wisdom of the text is NOT a repeat of what's on the DVD--so you get additional information on the Tarot.

In addition to giving Tarot enthusiasts a feast for both ears and eyes, Amy and Monte show us their playful side with pictures of their wedding, Amy's gorgeous "spiritual couture", and photos of their adorable feline muse, Mr. Zane. (You have to highlight their name on the menu to discover these personal and personable goodies.)

I'm surprised that no one has melded the Tarot with visual, animated meditations until now, but it's NOT surprising that it's Amy and Monte who have brought us The Tarot Discovery Kit. (If you've seen the luxurious animated movies and readings on their site, you know what I mean!)

My only criticism of this set is the DVD, which, for me, doesn't display well on my PC. I tried two different players, and when choosing the full-screen option, card edges seem shaky, as does some of the animated elements. This can be very distracting. Everything looks good in small-screen mode, as does the presentation on a regular TV set. I much prefer experiencing the DVD on my TVs, even though some of the images appear a bit pixel-ly (a slight digital "blockiness"). (Note: Monte assures me he cannot reproduce the jiggling, but even the replacement DVD peformed this way on two of my PS2 players--and the DVD player in my PC.)

The original music accompanying the menus, meditations, and documentaries is absolutely gorgeous, as are the exceptional voice talents. The archetypal visuals resonate on a deep level, and the storytelling nature of the meditations bypass the rational mind--touching ancient, deeper parts of the psyche. The Tarot Discovery Kit is a fantastic tool for beginners (I wish it had been available when *I* began studying Tarot!), yet it also serves as a grounding, meditative, wise journey for those familiar with the cards.

(To see 10 images from the Zerner/Farber deck, visit the Reviews--Decks section at JanetBoyer.com)

Janet Boyer, author of The Back in Time Tarot Book: Picture the Past, Experience the Cards, Understand the Present (coming Fall 2008 from Hampton Roads Publishing)

The Tarot cards are artistically tops! This package is the only DVD Tarot card set around.That i'm aware of anyway.The little booklet is quite basic,yet Zerner/Farber have other tarot books out-there.The instructional DVD is wonderful.And the package includes a useful little tan sack for your tarot cards.What an excellent idea to have a Tarot dvd produced!

This beautifully boxed, printed and bound hardcover is the finest record of the reliefs and monuments of Karnak that I've encountered. In main, this book consists of over 450 excellent, clear and detailed, black and white photographs, one to each oversized page. A brief introductory text provides the reader with some historical and overview information to prepare him/her for the photos. The photos are followed by fairly lengthy notes describing each photo individually, which is a wonderful addition that adds tremendous insight and understanding to the knowledge and enjoyment to be derived from the wonderful camerawork.

I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in ancient Egypt that goes beyond the casual.

I bought this as a gift for my wife but on flicking through it myself have found it stirred a mixture of curiosity and wonder. It is primarily a book with plates of the Temple at Karnak, but it has a good opening section on the history of the area, a nice outlay on each of the royal cartouches and, after the plates themselves, a interesting commentary.
The book is not intended as a discussion on Karnak. It is the culmination of several years hard work photographing and documenting the temple. As a primary source it is already invaluable, for to have such a feast of photographs in one book is rare.
Any Egpytologist or student of the area must possess this book because the Temple of Karnak is there in all its glory to look at. If it had some color plates then so much the better but that is hardly a detraction on an immensely fine piece of work.

Outstanding publication. So much visual information it will take several viewings to take it all in - but that is the best part - a long lasting read to savor! One the most exceptional books I've ever encountered on Egypt! No one will be let down.