The Folds of Olympus: Mountains in Ancient Greek and Roman Culture

The mountainous character of the Mediterranean was a crucial factor in the history of the ancient Greek and Roman world, and The Folds of Olympus explores this role in cultural and literary history. It shows how mountains were central to the religious, military, and economic life of the region, as well as to the identity of communities. Jason König charts the importance of mountains in religion and pilgrimage, the aesthetic vision of mountains in art and literature, the place of mountains in conquest and warfare, and representations of mountain life. He also argues that there is more continuity between ancient descriptions of mountains and modern accounts of the picturesque and the sublime.

Format: Hardback
Length: 480 pages
Publication date: 02 August 2022
Publisher: Princeton University Press

The mountainous character of the Mediterranean played a significant role in the history of the ancient Greek and Roman world. The Folds of Olympus is a cultural and literary history that delves into the profound impact of mountains on Greek and Roman religious, military, and economic life, as well as on the identity of communities over a millennium, from Homer to the early Christian saints. This book is aimed at readers interested in ancient history, literature, mountains, and the environment. Jason König explores the significance of mountains in religion and pilgrimage, the aesthetic vision of mountains in art and literature, the role of mountains in conquest and warfare, and representations of mountain life. He demonstrates how mountains were central to the ancient Mediterranean understanding of the boundaries between the divine and the human, as well as the limits of human knowledge and control. König also argues that there is more continuity between ancient descriptions of mountains and modern accounts of the picturesque and the sublime than is commonly assumed.

The Folds of Olympus offers a unique perspective on the history of classical culture and makes a significant contribution to the literature on mountains. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of culture, history, and the natural world.

Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691201290