Scrinium Classical Antiquity

HIGGINBOTHAM, J., Piscinae. Artificial Fishponds in Roman Italy. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill / London, 1997. XIX,284p. Richly ills.(Line drawings and B&W photographs). Cloth wrps. Nice copy.‘This long-awaited study vividly illustrates how the function and popularity of artificial fishponds (piscinae) mirrored social and political trends of the late Republic and Early Empire in Roman Italy. By that time, the cultivation of salt- and freshwater fish by the owners of seaside villas had come to symbolise extravagance and private luxury in the literary tradition of the Republic. Because of the enormous expense of construction and maintaining these fishponds, their history is peopled by some of the more colourful figures of Roman aristocratic society, several of whom acquired piscine nicknames or bizarre reputations for their flamboyant pursuit of this hobby. The anecdotes [of some of these figures - ND] provide a lively literary and historical backdrop to the careful study of the archaeological remains of piscinae presented in this book. As the author rightly points out, the agricultural handbooks are of little value in the study of ancient pisciculture (…). It is therefore necessary to supplement the literary sources with a detailed examination of the archaeological remains in order to comprehend fully the practice of artificial fish breeding among the Romans and how it evolved over time. The book is divided into two principal parts: an introductory survey of all aspects of Roman pisciculture, and a detailed gazetteer of the physical remains of piscinae. The survey begins with a chapter on fishpond construction and operation (…). A second chapter catalogues the variety of fish known to have been bred in these ponds and includes much of the anecdotal material about the popularity of the individual breeds among the Romans. The third chapter (…) is a fascinating appraisal of the ways in which the popularity of piscinae mirrored cultural trends among the elites (…). The geographical organisation of the individual examples in the gazetteer is somewhat frustrating. This catalogues the 56 best-preserved remains in Italy (…). Each clearly written and concise entry is the product of thorough in situ examination of the remains (…) and most are supplemented by a useful plan and/or photograph. (…) Since locating any site referred to in the introductory material requires consulting the index (…) a typological or chronological catalogue might have been more effective. (…) Nevertheless, this book brings together an impressive array of literary and archaeological material and constitutes the definitive study of this unique architectural form in Roman Italy. (…) a handsome and copiously illustrated volume.’ (CHRISTOPHER PARSLOW in The American Journal of Archaeology, 1998, pp.638-639). € 47.50 (Antiquarian)

HIGHAM, Th.F., Orationes Oxonienses Selectae. Short Latin Speeches on Distinguished Contemporaries. Clarendon Press, Oxfod, 1960. XI,108p. Cloth with dust wrps. € 25.00 (Antiquarian)

HIGHET, G., The Anatomy of Satire. Princeton University Press, 1962. XV,301p. Cloth wrps. € 29.00 (Antiquarian)

HIGHET, G., Juvenal the Satirist. A Study. Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1954. 1st ed. 373p. Cloth. Some foxing on free endpapers and edges. Inside clean. Nice copy. € 29.50 (Antiquarian)

HIGHET, G., Juvenal the Satirist. A Study. Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1955. Photomechanical reprint 1st ed. 373p. Cloth with dust wrps. Dust wrps to head and tail spine a bit jammed. Some foxing on free endpapers and edges. € 27.50 (Antiquarian)

HIGHET, G., Poets in a Landscape. Penguin, Harmondsworth, 1959. 270p. ills. Pocketbook. Pages a bit yellowed. € 8.50 (Antiquarian)

HIGHET, G., Poets in a Landscape. Hamish Hamilton, London, 1960. 2nd impr. 276p. ills. Cloth. Part of wrps glued on french page. One edge bit rust stained. € 19.50 (Antiquarian)

HIGHET, G., The Classical tradition. Greek and Roman influences on western literature. CP, Oxford, 1949. XXXVIII,763p. Original blue cloth. Spine gilt titled. Spine a bit bumped. Lower part fore edge with water stain. Signature on free endpaper. Pages a bit yellowed. 'In my opinion 'The Classical Tradition' is a remarkable achievement. It is astonishingly well informed, it is irradiated by a fine intelligence, and it effectively written. The author calls it a sketch of the subject, which (the subject being so vast) is a fair description. But it has no existing rival and it will not be soon or easily superseded. (...) 'The Classical Tradition' has a sub-title: Greek and Roman Influences on Western Literature'. This more clearly defines its scope, which includes not only English (and American) but French, Italian, German, and even Spanish literature. A preponderant amount of space is devoted to English writers. This is natural in an English book; but it might be urged that it distorts the perspective, because classical, or at least Latin, influence on our literature, though very great, is not so great as it is on the literatures of France or Italy. Admitting that English literature may need a larger commentary just because its debt to Greece and Rome is less easy to make out, we may still wonder now and again at the allocation of space to men and movements. Thus little consideration is given to the masters of modern latinity (...). 'The Classical Tradition' is much more than a handbook; it is a work of original thought and constructive art.' (J.A.K. THOMSON in The Classical Review (New Series), 1951, pp. 42-45). € 15.00 (Antiquarian)

HIGNETT, C., Xerxes' Invasion of Greece. Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1963. XIII,496p. Cloth. Cover slightly stained. Private library mark on bottom spine. (Rare).From the library of the late Sir Kenneth James Dover. € 125.00 (Antiquarian)

HIJMANS, I.H., Romeinsch zakenrecht. Tjeenk Willink, Zwolle, 1926. 2nd rev.ed. XII,328p. Cloth. Gilt titling on spine and front cover. Spine discoloured. € 25.00 (Antiquarian)