Stories of ghostly spirits who return to this world to warn of danger, to prophesy, to take revenge, to request proper burial, or to comfort the living fascinated people in ancient times just as they do today. In this innovative, interdisciplinary study, the author combines a modern folkloric perspective with literary analysis of ghost stories from classical antiquity to shed new light on the stories' folk roots. The author begins by examining ancient Greek and Roman beliefs about death and the departed and the various kinds of ghost stories which arose from these beliefs. She then focuses on the longer stories of Plautus, Pliny, and Lucian, which concern haunted houses. Her analysis illuminates the oral and literary transmission and adaptation of folkloric motifs and the development of the ghost story as a literary form. In her concluding chapter, the author also traces the influence of ancient ghost stories on modern ghost story writers, a topic that will interest all readers and scholars of tales of hauntings.

Stories of ghostly spirits who return to this world to warn of danger, to prophesy, to take revenge, to request proper burial, or to comfort the living fascinated people in ancient times just as they do today. In this innovative, interdisciplinary study, the author combines a modern folkloric perspective with literary analysis of ghost stories from classical antiquity to shed new light on the stories' folk roots. The author begins by examining ancient Greek and Roman beliefs about death and the departed and the various kinds of ghost stories which arose from these beliefs. She then focuses on the longer stories of Plautus, Pliny, and Lucian, which concern haunted houses. Her analysis illuminates the oral and literary transmission and adaptation of folkloric motifs and the development of the ghost story as a literary form. In her concluding chapter, the author also traces the influence of ancient ghost stories on modern ghost story writers, a topic that will interest all readers and scholars of tales of hauntings.

Sparta, Macedonia, and Rome--how did these nations come to dominate the ancient world? Lendon shows readers that the most successful armies were those that made the most effective use of cultural tradition.

"Lacy Collison-Morley's 'Greek and Roman Ghost Stories' delves deep into the supernatural realms of ancient civilizations, offering a captivating anthology of spectral encounters from antiquity. As one of the foremost authorities on classical literature, Collison-Morley meticulously curates a collection of haunting tales that transcend time and space. Drawing from a rich tapestry of Ancient Greek literature and Roman supernatural tales, this anthology transports readers to a world where myths and legends intertwine with the mysteries of the afterlife. Through classical mythology narratives and ancient ghost stories, readers are immersed in a realm of eerie encounters and otherworldly phenomena. With each story carefully selected and presented, Collison-Morley showcases the enduring allure of Greek and Roman folklore, offering insights into the supernatural beliefs and cultural practices of antiquity. From supernatural legends to mythological ghost stories, this anthology serves as a comprehensive exploration of the paranormal encounters that have fascinated and intrigued readers for centuries. As a classic literature classic and spectral encounters compilation, 'Greek and Roman Ghost Stories' is a must-read for anyone fascinated by the intersection of history, mythology, and the supernatural."

In a culture where the supernatural possessed an immediacy now strange to us, magic was of great importance both in the literary mythic tradition and in ritual practice. In this book, Daniel Ogden presents 300 texts in new translations, along with brief but explicit commentaries. Authors include the well known (Sophocles, Herodotus, Plato, Aristotle, Virgil, Pliny) and the less familiar, and extend across the whole of Graeco-Roman antiquity.