Berliner Zinnfiguren/Books & Media/Books/Ancient products

Venning, Timothy: Conspiracy and Murder in the late Roman Empire 32,95 €

Sat, 18 Jul 2026 08:34:13 +0200

A compelling and vivid narrative that immerses the reader directly in the events, grounded in rigorous scholarly research using primary and secondary sources. This revisionist account sheds fresh light on emperors, favorites, families, and rivals, revealing murder, conspiracy, and betrayalin short, almost every known "sin"all set against the backdrop of the Roman Empires survival and foundation in both East and West. Major figures are portrayed through their triumphs and failures: from the ambivalent legacy of Hadrian (including his policies in Britain) and Commodusthe "philosopher-king" compared to Prince Albert in the 19th centuryto Constantine the Great and his Christian empire spanning East and West, through to Julians "apostasy" and the resistance to the revival of paganism, and finally the encounter with the Goths within the Christian empire.

Sadler, John: Hadrian's Wall 32,95 €

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 07:30:08 +0200

Discover the impressive history of Hadrians Walla monument to Roman ambition and a testament to Britains ever-changing frontier. From prehistoric beginnings, when Mesolithic hunter-gatherers erected some of the earliest known structures, to the transformative Neolithic era of farming and settled life, this land has long been shaped by human activity. Hadrians Wall marked the northwestern boundary of the Roman Empire, stretching from Bowness-on-Solway to the River Tyne; its imposing stone forts, milecastles, and watchtowers bore witness to military precision and imperial power. The Wall was designed both to impress and to exert control: it served not only to defend Roman territory but also to demonstrate the Empires reach, planning prowess, and engineering mastery. Join author John Sadler in exploring this rugged landscapeonce the very edge of civilizationand discover the forts, command posts, and fortifications that stood defiant against the unconquered tribal lands beyond the border. A story of conquest, culture, and human ingenuity, Hadrians Wall reveals the remarkable people, places, and events that shaped this legendary frontier.

Boye, Anette G.: From the Celts to the Vikings 26,95 €

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 07:30:08 +0200

To understand the folklore and myths of the last millennium and beyond, we must examine the ancient beliefs of the pre-Christian era. This book guides the reader through the history and myths of Germanic and Celtic tribes, exploring how these beliefs shaped folklore over time. Through various examples, it sheds light on different types of beliefsboth within and outside institutionalized religionfor folk beliefs often existed independently alongside official religion, yet were just as integral to human life as any established faith. Today, we often encounter the notion that everyday life is separate from the religious sphere: we attend church on Sundays and then return to our routine lives. In the context of folklore and religious life in the past, however, the boundaries were far more fluid. People had to win the favor of various beings and protect themselves against malevolent magic. Belief in creatures such as fairies was widespread; they appeared in a vast array of shapes and sizes, and their magicdepending on ones own actionscould bring either harm or benefit. Immerse yourself, then, in the world of Northern European history, mysteries, and myths, and discover something that is at once ancient and new.

Venning, Timothy: Royal Mysteries of the Ancient World 32,95 €

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 07:30:08 +0200

The secrets of the rulers of antiquityspanning Greece, Rome, and Mesopotamia in the Near and Middle Eastencompass the mighty Persian Empire (modern-day Iran) during the era when this vast region stood at the center of global geopolitics. The text is based on thorough research into primary and secondary sources, clearly distinguishing between history and legend. The narrative extends to the Christian Roman Empire under Constantine the Great and features key figures such as Cyrus the Great, Darius, Philip of Macedon, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Claudius, Mark Antony, Augustus, and Caligulamany of whom will be familiar to readers. The story offers fascinating, intimate, and even murderous glimpses into the power struggles of the elitefigures ranging from the admirable to the incompetent and the utterly unscrupulous.

Scott, Michael: Temistocle 16,95 €

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 07:30:09 +0200

Themistocles (524459 BC) rose to prominence during an era when Athens was rapidly expanding into a dominant city-state. He quickly became a leading political and military figure: he fought at Marathon, persuaded the Athenians to expand their fleet, and orchestrated the decisive victory over the Persians at Salamis. Michael Scott, a university professor and expert on ancient Greece, paints a deeply human portrait of Themistoclesa man capable of being both resolute and heroic, yet also insecure and unprepared. He was a polarizing figure in Athens, loved and hated in equal measure; his plans and ambitious ideas frequently drew criticism from political rivals. Ultimately, Themistocles was exiled and concluded his political career in Persia, serving as an advisor to Artaxerxesthe son of his arch-enemy, Xerxes. In this biography of the man Thucydides hailed as a "historical hero," Scott illuminates the turbulent world of Athenian politics and the pivotal role historians and biographers play in shapingand sometimes distortingthe image of the great men of their age.

Vandepeer, Charles: Generalship in the Ancient World 32,95 €

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 06:20:08 +0200

How does one assess oneself and the adversary? How is the battlefield chosen? How are elements of surprise and deceptive maneuvers employed in war? What distinguishes a great commander? These timeless questions challenged generals and commanders in antiquity and continue to engage military leaders today. Drawing on historical accounts of commanders, armies, and battles, this book offers insights into the decision-making processes of famous leaders such as Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, and Hannibal, as well as lesser-known yet outstanding commanders like Philopoemen, Xanthippus, and Iphicrates. *Generalship in the Ancient World* is a compelling and accessible work for anyone interested in ancient history, military leadership, and the enduring challenges of warfare. Each chapter is designed as a practical guide; the book draws on a wide range of Greek and Roman accounts of warfare to provide well-founded answers that remain relevant to modern conflicts and military leadership. The work is based on the authors extensive research into Greek and Roman literature on military conflict, as well as his experience as a military intelligence officer, a defense operations analyst, and a scholar in the field of security studies.

Elliott, Simon: Demetrius the Besieger and the Wars of Alexander the Great's Successors 32,95 €

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 06:20:08 +0200

Among the many dazzling figures who emerged during the wars of Alexander the Greats successors, Demetrius Poliorcetes shines brighter than all the rest. The son of Antigonus Monophthalmuswho would later become renowned for his mastery of siege warfaregrew up believing he might one day inherit Alexanders entire empire, given the magnitude of his fathers early successes. He was a true celebrity in his day; he fought alongside his father in the Second War of the Diadochi against the cunning Eumenes, and later in the Third and Fourth Wars of the Diadochi against various Hellenistic adversaries. He was often blamed for Antigonuss death at the Battle of Ipsus (301 BC)since Demetriuss victorious cavalry pursued the enemy off the battlefield, leaving his father to his fateyet he later successfully seized the Macedonian throne and became the first king of the Antigonid dynasty. Unfortunately, Demetriuss reign was short-lived; he was defeated by the combined forces of Pyrrhus of Epirus and his allies in the eastern Mediterranean. Eventually, he fled with his remaining army to Syria, where his troops abandoned him; he died in 283 BC while held captive by Seleucus. Nevertheless, he founded the Antigonid dynasty, which ruled Macedonia until the last king, Perseus, was defeated by the Romans at the Battle of Pydna in 168 BC. This biography of the most flamboyant of the Diadochi tells the story of the forty-year-long "funeral games" following Alexanders death from a fresh perspective: it sheds light not only on the deeds of Demetrius but also on his extraordinary life and the era in which the political balance of power within Alexanders vast empire constantly shiftedsometimes to our protagonists advantage, at other times to his detriment.

Grainger, John D.: Making Peace in the Hellenistic World 32,95 €

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 06:20:08 +0200

Accounts of international relations in antiquity usually focus on wars. Yet wars have a beginning and an end, and the periods in between are times of peace. This book focuses primarily on how peace was established following conflicts. The emphasis is on the Hellenistic era, a period characterized by unique conditions under which diplomatic rules were formulated and observed for well over a century. The great powers of the Hellenistic age were predominantly absolute monarchies. Without exception, the kings were descended from the Macedonian generals who had fought in the war against the Persian Empire and subsequently proclaimed themselves kings. From 300 BC onwards, the Macedonian kings were personally acquainted with one another, which greatly facilitated the conclusion of peace treaties. From these amicable relationships, a diplomatic system evolved that functioned successfully for well over a century, preserving peace throughout the lifetimes of the rulers involved. The system collapsed due to the intervention of the Roman Republic, which did not fit into this framework. While non-Hellenistic monarchiessuch as Syracuse, Parthia, or Bactriaintegrated seamlessly into the system, the generally small republican states never managed to do so. Republican Rome ultimately intervened with its own objectives and methods, gradually dismantling the diplomatic system, even though the monarchies strove to maintain it for as long as possible. John Graingers unusual approachviewing peace processes as being just as significant as warsoffers a refreshing perspective on this era.

Schuller, Wolfgang: Cicero oder der letzte Kampf um die Republik 34,00 €

Sun, 05 Jul 2026 09:35:08 +0200

We know no figure from antiquity better than Cicerothanks to his numerous speeches and countless letters. Even his contemporaries regarded his command of language as the pinnacle of Latin perfection. Yet, for Cicero himself, rhetorical mastery was merely a means to serve his political life's purpose: the preservation and defense of the Roman Republic. He fought for this goal with utter devotion and ultimately sacrificed his life for it. In this biography, Wolfgang Schuller erects a monument to the great republican and his final struggle for the Republic. The author recounts the dramatic story of Marcus Tullius Ciceroa man prepared to die for his political ideals, and who thereby achieved immortality: born in 106 BCan equestrian, orator, and juristCicero became consul in 63 BC and exposed the Catilinarian conspiracy. Later, the "Father of the Fatherland" opposed Caesars autocratic ambitions and supported Octavian, only to be betrayed by him; fighting a losing battle, he was eventually assassinated in 43 BC by the henchmen of Mark Antony.

Shaw, Garry J.: Götter am Nil 18,00 €

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 07:30:09 +0200

Garry J. Shaw guides us through the labyrinth of Egyptian mythology with both expertise and wit. For the ancient Egyptians, the workings of the gods revealed the nature of the world. When the sun rises in the sky each day, it is Re traversing the heavens in his solar barque. Yet these myths encompass not only the world we inhabit but also visions of the afterlife. The gods themselves are deeply humanand often quarrelsome. Their adventures tell tales of murder and mayhem, of the pursuit of power and the force of love: how the envious Seth murders his brother Osiris; how the magically gifted Isis seeks to wrest power from the sun god Re; how Re outwits the intoxicated Celestial Cow, Hathor. These are magnificent stories that open up an entire universeand the world itselfto the reader.

Jackson, Nicholas: Titus 32,95 €

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 07:30:09 +0200

In 70 AD, Titus led the brutal siege and conquest of Jerusalem; later, as emperor, he had to confront one of historys greatest natural disasters: the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, which buried Pompeii. Acting on behalf of his father, Emperor Vespasian, Titus commanded Roman forces during the devastating six-month siege of Jerusalem, a campaign that saw the city destroyed and thousands of its inhabitants killed or enslaved. His support was crucial to Vespasian throughout the following decadea period that saw the new dynasty oversee projects such as the construction of the Colosseum, funded by the spoils taken from Jerusalem. During his own brief reign (7981 AD), he managed the aftermath of the Pompeii disaster, as well as a devastating plague and a massive fire in Rome. His swift, effective response to these challenges, combined with the completion of the Colosseum in 80 AD, earned him great popularity among the people. Although he died unexpectedly in 81 AD, he left behind an enduring legacy. But who was Emperor Titus? Was he a ruler in his own right, or merely living in the shadow of his father, Vespasian? This illuminating biography explores his remarkable life and reignfrom the blood-stained streets of Jerusalem to the splendor of the imperial court in Rome. It is an essential read for enthusiasts of Roman history and for anyone wishing to learn more about one of Romes most influential emperors.

Ogden, Daniel: Modellers Airguide. Volume 41: U.S Air Force Martin B-57 Canberra 24,95 €

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 07:55:09 +0200

The story of Pausanias, the general who defeated the Persians invading Greece and changed the course of history.

Weaving together ancient sources, Daniel Ogden tells the gripping story of the enigmatic and controversial Spartan regent to an underage king. Pausanias (ca. 505ca. 467 BCE) would never have come to power had the Persians not annihilated the Greek forces at Thermopylae in 480 BCE, killing his uncle Leonidas. The next year, Greek forces under the new regents command crushed the Persians at the decisive Battle of Plataea. It was a brilliant victory for Pausanias, but his heroic reputation swiftly declined. He was accused of tyrannical ambition, treachery, rape, and murder and came to a grisly and ghostly end, starved to death in Spartas Temple of Athena.

In this meticulously researched bookthe first full-length biography of Pausanias in EnglishOgden searches for the truth behind the ancient stories. Was Pausanias merely misunderstood and misrepresented, or was he an egotist in thrall to his own success? Despite Pausaniass dark demise, Ogden hails his greatest achievement: by defeating the Persians he ensured the future of Classical Greek culture and the development of Western civilization as we know it.

Jungsteinzeit 2.0 9,90 €

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 07:50:09 +0200

Issue 4/2026 of the "Bayerische Archäologie" series examines a fascinating era from around 6,000 years ago. During the so-called Copper Age, the sedentary lifestyle in Bavaria evolved further, giving rise for the first time to a distinct local culture characterized by large earthworks, wetland settlements, aesthetically pleasing pottery, and unique burial customs.

Burmeister, Stefan: Verlorene Krieger 17,95 €

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 07:35:07 +0200

Special Issue 36 in the series "Archäologie in Deutschland." The Thorsberg Bog in northern Schleswig-Holstein and the Nydam Bog in southern Denmark rank among the most outstanding Germanic archaeological sites. Between the 2nd and 5th centuries AD, complete sets of military equipment were deposited there. Weapons, armor, and personal effects constitute the impressive remains of vanished warrior groups. These unique sites count among Northern Europes most significant archaeological testimonies and continue to puzzle researchers to this day. The finds tell tales of violence and faith, of victory and defeat, of ritual acts and complex power structures. They stand as silent witnesses to past warsand, at the same time, serve as keys to a world that remains alien to us today.

Colloredo Mels, Pierluigi Romeo di: From Augustus to Nero 25,00 €

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 07:35:07 +0200

The Julio-Claudian dynasty is undoubtedly the most fascinating, notorious, and heavily romanticized lineage in all of world history. For two thousand years, our imagination has remained captive within a vast narrative cageone artfully constructed by historians such as Tacitus and gossip-loving biographers like Suetonius: representatives, or at least sympathizers, of that very senatorial aristocracy from which the early emperors had gradually stripped power and which they had humiliated. Thus, for centuries, we have contented ourselves with these "dark legends": we believed in the infallible and pious Augustus while ignoring his cold, calculating ruthlessness; we shuddered at the alleged vices of the aging Tiberius in his refuge on Capri; we mocked Caligulas obsession with horses, pitied the stammering idiocy of Claudius, and cursed Neros pyromaniacal sadism. The book you now hold in your hands possesses the great and rare merit of sweeping away the smoke of senatorial propagandaalong with the encrustations of a moralizing historiographyand restoring to us the flesh, the blood, andabove allthe political logic of these first, extraordinary rulers of the world. The author undertakes a rigorous historiographical cleansing, demonstrating that Caligula was by no means a madman, but rather a clear-thinkingalbeit ahead-of-his-timetheorist of absolute monarchy in the Hellenistic mold; that Claudius may well have been the Empires greatest administrator; and that Nero strove for a cultural revolution whose traces endure to this very day.

Cascarino, Giuseppe: Castra 34,95 €

Sat, 25 Jul 2026 08:15:07 +0200

In this work on Roman military technology and engineering, all aspects of the element thatmore than any otherheld the secret to the Roman army's invincibility are addressed in a single monograph for the first time: the military camp. As both a primary instrument of conquest and a symbol of the proverbial rationality of Roman genius, the *castrum* often evolved within just a few years from a simple mobile encampment into the foundational core of many of the most important Italian and European citiestraces of which remain visible to this day. Drawing upon standard literary, historical, and iconographic sources, as well as archaeological finds, the construction techniques, internal organization, and technical features of the various types of camps and fortifications are analyzed in detailfrom their origins through the Late Imperial period, when, with the consolidation of the frontiers, these camps were transformed into permanent fortresses. The text is complemented by over 200 original drawings, diagrams, tables, and photographs, and includes the first Italian translation of *De Munitionibus Castrorum*, presented with facing text.

Cascarino, Giuseppe: La via flaminia 36,95 €

Sat, 25 Jul 2026 08:15:07 +0200

The Via Flaminia is not merely one of the many consular roads radiating outward from Rome. For over 2,000 yearsand indeed right up until the opening of the *Autostrada del Sole* around 1960it served as the most direct and fastest route to Northern Italy and the rest of Europe. The adventure of a group of historical reenactorspassionately devoted to ancient Romewho spent over two weeks retracing the ancient route from Rome to Rimini on foot in order to rediscover forgotten relics and treasures of our great history, points the way toward the rediscovery and appreciation of one of the world's once-most-important roads. The textenriched with over 150 drawings, diagrams, photographs, tables, and helpful appendices, as well as 56 color topographical platesanalyzes the subject of Roman roads in general and the history of the Via Flaminia in particular. It describes in detail the 14 daily stages into which the route is divided, with the aim of providing a genuine guidebook for traversing this ancient roadexactly as was practiced in ancient Rome.

Cascarino, Giuseppe: Navi di Roma 38,95 €

Sat, 25 Jul 2026 08:15:07 +0200

The notion that the Romans were "forced" into naval dominance in the Mediterranean is as old as Roman history itself, yet it holds true only in part. An analysis of historical events and the latest underwater discoveries reveals a deeply rooted maritime culture whichalongside the strength of the legionsproved to be a decisive instrument for Roman expansion into the *Mare Nostrum*. Featuring over 400 drawings, diagrams, photographs, tables, and helpful appendices, this text offers a comprehensive and modern overview of Roman ships, history, and naval technology, spanning from their origins to the beginning of the first millennium AD.

Cascarino, Giuseppe: Gli elmi dei romani 34,95 €

Sat, 25 Jul 2026 08:15:07 +0200

The Roman helmetworn in combat by the Roman army throughout its history spanning over twelve centuries, from the founding of the city in 753 BC to the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 ADunderwent numerous changes in form, material, and size. Its primary function was to protect the head of the Roman infantryman or cavalryman from the offensive weapons of the enemy. In this text, the author examines the various types of helmets developed over the centuries, illustrating his discussion with black-and-white images.