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Good books on the history of Magna Graecia?
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<p>[QUOTE="Ignoramus Maximus, post: 4333797, member: 104741"]So I have been collecting Ancients for about two years now.</p><p><br /></p><p> What started as an ephemeral fancy and a worn sestertius of Marcus Aurelius grew into a trickle of curiosity and then into a time and money-consuming hobby. Late nights poring over a computer screen, looking over auction catalogues, reading up on places, people and even whole empires I'd never heard of before...( no, I had never heard of the Seleucids before I started collecting. If that sounds unlikely, just check my username, it tells you all you need to know.<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />). Well, you get it. I got into the Ancients. And once you go that way there is no way back. </p><p>I even joined CT. ( quite a feat for someone who is notoriously non-existent on Facebook, WhatsApp and whatever else is out there <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />). So there you have it.</p><p><br /></p><p>But let me get to the point.</p><p><br /></p><p>Since I'm addicted to this hobby I thought it was time to delve a bit deeper in the subject and do some coherent reading on ancient history. Reading scraps and bits from Wikipedia and other sources is fine of course, but it gets sketchy and fragmentary in the long run. And feeling a coin in your hand is one thing, but to see and understand it in its historical context is quite another. And what better place to begin my reading then Magna Graecia? Playground of rivergods, colonists, ambitious generals, philosophers, Carthagenians, Romans, mercenaries and many more... Also it happens to be the place where I first saw Greek temples when I was a child. So definitely the place to start my education.</p><p><br /></p><p>So here's my question:</p><p><br /></p><p>Is there anyone here who can point me to a halfway decent book on the history of MG/Sicily? Not necessarily numismatic history, although, if a coin appears on its pages, I won't complain of course. My main focus is the Greek colonies, but I'm equally interested in its history in general. So everyone is welcome in my book: Romans, Carthagenians, Mamertini, Brettii, overambitious cousins of Alexander... It needn't be wholy scolary, but some content is appreciated. Preferred language is English and if doesn't completely break the bank that's a bonus.</p><p>I could buy something pot-luck of course, but I was hoping that people here could get me some pointers and spare me costly mistakes. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.</p><p><br /></p><p>And if you can't help me with a book suggestion but simply feel the need to make me jealous by posting a coin from Magna Graecia that leaves me drooling over my computer, you're welcome to do so as well.<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>I'll even post a pic myself.</p><p>Steeped in MG history (and incidently the last coin to make it to Norway before the shut down):</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1099016[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]1099017[/ATTACH] </p><p>Akragas. Hemilitron. 10.57 gr. 24 mm. Punic occupation 405-392.</p><p>Countermark: head of Herakles (or river god?)</p><p><br /></p><p>I assume the c/m on this worn example is a direct consequence of the destruction of the city and that whoever was left had no other choice but to recycle worn coins. Was the mint destroyed? Did they lose access to metal? Punic policy that forbade them to strike? Payment of reparations or tribute perhaps, that left them dead poor? I don't know. See..? That's exactly my point.</p><p>I have to read more<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />.</p><p><br /></p><p>Thanks in advance for any replies.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Ignoramus Maximus, post: 4333797, member: 104741"]So I have been collecting Ancients for about two years now. What started as an ephemeral fancy and a worn sestertius of Marcus Aurelius grew into a trickle of curiosity and then into a time and money-consuming hobby. Late nights poring over a computer screen, looking over auction catalogues, reading up on places, people and even whole empires I'd never heard of before...( no, I had never heard of the Seleucids before I started collecting. If that sounds unlikely, just check my username, it tells you all you need to know.:)). Well, you get it. I got into the Ancients. And once you go that way there is no way back. I even joined CT. ( quite a feat for someone who is notoriously non-existent on Facebook, WhatsApp and whatever else is out there :)). So there you have it. But let me get to the point. Since I'm addicted to this hobby I thought it was time to delve a bit deeper in the subject and do some coherent reading on ancient history. Reading scraps and bits from Wikipedia and other sources is fine of course, but it gets sketchy and fragmentary in the long run. And feeling a coin in your hand is one thing, but to see and understand it in its historical context is quite another. And what better place to begin my reading then Magna Graecia? Playground of rivergods, colonists, ambitious generals, philosophers, Carthagenians, Romans, mercenaries and many more... Also it happens to be the place where I first saw Greek temples when I was a child. So definitely the place to start my education. So here's my question: Is there anyone here who can point me to a halfway decent book on the history of MG/Sicily? Not necessarily numismatic history, although, if a coin appears on its pages, I won't complain of course. My main focus is the Greek colonies, but I'm equally interested in its history in general. So everyone is welcome in my book: Romans, Carthagenians, Mamertini, Brettii, overambitious cousins of Alexander... It needn't be wholy scolary, but some content is appreciated. Preferred language is English and if doesn't completely break the bank that's a bonus. I could buy something pot-luck of course, but I was hoping that people here could get me some pointers and spare me costly mistakes. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. And if you can't help me with a book suggestion but simply feel the need to make me jealous by posting a coin from Magna Graecia that leaves me drooling over my computer, you're welcome to do so as well.:) I'll even post a pic myself. Steeped in MG history (and incidently the last coin to make it to Norway before the shut down): [ATTACH=full]1099016[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]1099017[/ATTACH] Akragas. Hemilitron. 10.57 gr. 24 mm. Punic occupation 405-392. Countermark: head of Herakles (or river god?) I assume the c/m on this worn example is a direct consequence of the destruction of the city and that whoever was left had no other choice but to recycle worn coins. Was the mint destroyed? Did they lose access to metal? Punic policy that forbade them to strike? Payment of reparations or tribute perhaps, that left them dead poor? I don't know. See..? That's exactly my point. I have to read more:). Thanks in advance for any replies.[/QUOTE]
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