Product Description
by Marios Koutsoukos (Author)
The oracle of Delphi, the sacred abode of the raving prophetess, the Pythia, was for centuries one of the most celebrated and influential religious centers in the ancient Greek world. There, the magnificent temple of Apollo was not only gilded in riches of gold and bronze but also in the jewels of everlasting wisdom: the Delphic Admonitions. These were brief "catchphrases" conveying moral, philosophical and even practical teachings, inscribed on pillars around the temple. They were attributed to the Seven Sages of antiquity, a group of philosophers who laid the cornerstone in the edifice of western culture and intellect. This work contains a selection of 120 of the most principle Delphic Admonitions translated in English and each one is presented with an accompanying historical and philological commentary so that the reader may understand them both in the context of the ancient world as well as in that of their application to modern-day life. Complete with a detailed introduction exploring the many mysteries surrounding Delphi's long and fascinating history, an appendix containing the Delphic Admonitions in the original ancient Greek and numerous references to classical Greek and Roman literature, "Navel of the Earth" is, in effect, an anthology of history, philosophy and theology as well as a useful handbook for those wishing to embark on the mysterious and rewarding journey of rediscovering the sublime wisdom of antiquity.
Author Biography
Marios Koutsoukos was born in August, 1983. He is a bilingual author, writing in both his native Greek and in English. He has a degree of French Language and Literature from the National University of Athens framed on his wall and a mess on his desk. Through ever-continuing formal and informal study from an early age he has acquired a working knowledge of ancient and medieval Greek, as well as classical Latin. An amateur historian and antiquarian, he is deeply fascinated by ancient texts, old books, the "overlooked voices" of the past and the study of western esoteric traditions. When writing, his genre of choice is fiction but, as a professional author, he has been known to dabble all across the board. For more information, news, books and blog rants feel free to visit his official website: www.marioskoutsoukos.com
