Who first thought of atoms? How much can you learn about archaeology from an oil
lamp? Who came up with the theory of the 'wandering womb'? Oxford Classicist Ja
ne Hood delves into the history, culture, literature, mythology and philosophy o
f ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt, using her expert eye to unearth unexpected gem
s, glittering fragments and quotable nuggets from a lost world. From ancient cos
metics to the earliest known computer, from the deciphering of ancient languages
to the amazing things the Romans did with concrete, this is the essential misce
llany for all curious minds, whether you learned the Classics at school or not.