Editorial Reviews:
For almost half a century, the Oxford Classical Dictionary has been the unrivaled one-volume reference work on the Greco-Roman world. Whether one is interested in literature or art, philosophy or law, mythology or science, intimate details of daily life or broad cultural and historical trends, the OCD is the first place to turn for clear, authoritative information on ancient culture. This newly revised and completely up-to-date third edition of this historic reference adequately reflects the recent expansion in the scholarship and scope of classical studies. Here, in over six thousand entries ranging from long articles to brief identifications, readers can find information on virtually any topic of interestathletics, bee-keeping, botany, magic, Roman law, religious rites, postal service, slavery, navigation, and the reckoning of time. The Dictionary profiles every major figure of Greece and Rome-and lesser known figures not found in other references-from Homer and Virgil, to Plato and Aristotle, to Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great. Readers will find entries on mythological and legendary figures, on major cities, famous buildings, and important geographical landmarks, and on legal, rhetorical, literary, and political terms and concepts, as well as extensive thematic articles that offer superb coverage of topics of interest to both scholars and general readers, exploring everything from medicine and mathematics to music, law, and marriage. With contributions and guidance from some of the finest classical scholars in the world, the Oxford Classical Dictionary has no equal in any language. It is the definitive summation of classical scholarship as it stands today. The Dictionary covers: politics, government, economy--from political figures to systems, terms and practices, histories of major states and empires, economic theory, agriculture, artisans and industry, trade and markets religion and mythology - deities and mythological creatures, beliefs and rituals, sanctuaries and sacred buildings, astrology and magic law and philosophy - from biographies of lawgivers and lawyers to legal terms and procedures, from major and minor philosophers to philosophical schools, terms, and concepts science and geography - scientists and scientific theory and practice, doctors and medicine, climate and landscape, natural disasters, regions and islands, cities and settlements, communications languages, literature, art, and architecture - languages and dialects, writers and literary terms and genres, orators and rhetorical theory and practice, drama and performance, art, painters and sculptors, architects, buildings and materials archaeology and historical writing - amphorae and pottery, shipwrecks and cemeteries, historians, and Greek and Roman historiography military history - generals, arms and armour, famous battles, attitudes to warfare social history, sex, and gender - women and the family, kinship, peasants and slaves, attitudes to sexuality
Customer Reviews:
Displaying 1 to 5 of 30 total reviews (Page 1 of 7):
 Second edition is better, but this is still (mostly) a great source.
This third edition is still the go-to source for classical history. Many have elucidated its good qualities, but the Third Edition is marred by some dishonest articles. In years to come the few biased articles in this book will seem as bad a the biases in some 19th century articles look to us now. Here are a few examples:
1. Slavery article. It states that only Greeks, Romans and European colonialists in the Americas separated slaves from their native cultures and identities. Middle Easterners for many centuries carried on a large scale trade of slaves from sub-Saharan Africa and northern Europe, both groups whose cultures and religions had nothing to do with Middle Eastern ones (and both those groups were extensively stereotyped in Middle Eastern written sources.)
2. Phoenician colonialism is said to be better than Greek colonialism because the Phoenician colonies were just farming and trading colonies. For one, little is known of Phoenician colonies, and two the Greek colonies (unlike the Roman ones) were primarily farming and trading colonies.
3. Greek rule over the old Persian Empire. (Seleucid Empire) The claim that the Greeks had no influence, despite all the Greek texts, sculptures and architecture from the era of Greek rule. Not everyone was Hellenized, but to claim that nobody was makes me question the sanity of the author. In other sources I've even seem claims that cities with Greek-style buildings (like Petra in Jordan) aren't Greek influenced because the architecture displays slight differences from classical Greek architecture.
These claims are due to the emphasis on "Orientalism" developed by Edward Said. "Orientalism" has resulted in the correction of many long standing biases, but some in their enthusiasm want to take the theory to the point of history being their own fantasy of what happened. Even Edward Said thought that the younger theorists were becoming too ideological, something people should keep in mind when they invoke his name to support some of the outlandish theories out there.
 Monumental and magnificent
The new third edition of the Oxford Classical Dictionary is intended to be the standard one-volume reference work on classical studies. I have only had my copy for a few days, but even so I can tell that the editors have more than fulfilled their plan.
The second edition of the OCD was superb, but the new edition is hugely expanded, with 800 (!) excellent new articles on topics such as "homosexuality" and "literary theory and classical studies". This is a welcome move away from the earlier editions' focus on people and places, and provides more encylopedic coverage of concepts and themes, as well as just biography, geography and history. The editors have increased the scope of the book beyond the Greek and Latin worlds, with more articles on (for example) Jewish subjects. And the book is still pungently and refreshingly written; if an author happens to be a lazy, sloppy, inaccurate plagiariser of other people's work, the OCD is not afraid to say so.
Many of the older articles have been rewritten, but the editors have been careful not to tinker with perfection. For example, H. T. Wade-Gery's classic 1949 article on Thucydides has remained intact, but the editorial team have appended a detailed postscript which covers the recent research on the subject.
The text has been entirely reset in a discreetly modern and rather handsome font. The book is phenomenally complete. I've been trying to catch it out by looking up obscure Hellenistic grammarians, but so far there has been an entry on everyone I have been able to think of. I don't think that you can get a better encyclopedia of the classical world unless you're prepared to shell out several hundred dollars on the multi-volume Pauly-Wissowa (and become fluent in German so that you can read it). The OCD is a treasure house of scholarship and already one of my all-time favourite books.
I hope that when, in a few decades' time, it becomes necessary to publish a fourth edition, I won't be so old that I can't lift it. It's already heavy enough to stun a burglar. Informative
My husband has taken an interest in the Peloponnesian War and the Punic Wars. He says that this book provides essential insights dealing with those and other ancient periods of time. Evidently keeping track of events, people, politics, battles, and philosophies is quite involved. (Some things never change.) Very important book
As far as plentiful quality information on the classical world, this book is number one. Any subject you could possibly think of regarding Greek and Roman history, this book has information followed by a bibliography for further research. This book is great for the serious student of history as well as the average history buff.
A Classicists' Classic ...
"The Oxford Classical Dictionary" is the Standard of the profession - the Gold Standard. This is the reference book you will see on the desks of professional classical scholars. The articles are easy to search for, the explanations are accessible even for the non-pro,& the physical lay-out & size are manageable. There is no other comparable volume for other languages, literatures, & cultures.
The first ever of the "Oxford Companion" & "Guide" series (now covering a growing number of fields)in 1937 was the "Companion to Classical Literature" of Sir Paul Harvey. That set the tone & the bar for all others to follow.I still have my very small volume of the 1st edition(how the books have grown in size over the years!)& use it every week. Although I also possess the 2nd edition OCD, I consult this latest, 3rd edition on a daily basis.
Perhaps the name 'Dictionary' is misleading to the layperson. This book is not in fact a dictionary of the Greek & Latin languages, but written in English. This is an encyclopedia -- "6,000 articles cover everything from the daily life of the ancient Greeks and Romans, to their geography, religion, and their historical figures....w/ comprehensive references to sources and recent scholarly publications." (OUP Catalog)
It's almost impossible to describe what a monument of scholarship this book is, yet it bears that weight lightly. And this book is so much fun too as one jumps around the articles. This is a reference work that you can read for hours. Information on all aspects of Gr.& R. life, literaure, history, anything in the realm of classical civilizations -- you could live in this book, believe me!
Next to a big English dictionary & other foreign language dictionaries, the OCD is the next on the short list of Serious Reference Books One Should Have.
I suppose this review is, perforce, for that interested layperson who wishes to be better-informed ;classical scholars,either pro or semi-pro, already know,love,& use this book.
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