Love of Nature among the Greeks and Romans

H. Rushton Fairclough

• Publisher: Bonhopai Books
• Year: 2025
• eBook ISBN: 9781779790590
• Edition: 0
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Ancient History
• Index: History

H. Rushton Fairclough's Love of Nature Among the Greeks and Romans explores how the ancient Greeks and Romans perceived, appreciated, and expressed their relationship with the natural world. Through a rich analysis of classical literature, poetry, and philosophy, Fairclough traces the evolution of nature's role in Greco-Roman thought, from the mythological landscapes of Homer to the pastoral serenity of Virgil and the philosophical musings of Lucretius.

 

The book examines the shifting attitudes toward nature, from the divine reverence of early Greek poets to the more pragmatic and aesthetic appreciation found in later Roman writings. Fairclough highlights how nature was not only a source of inspiration but also a reflection of cultural ideals, moral lessons, and personal contemplation. He delves into themes of nature as a setting for heroism, an object of scientific curiosity, and a retreat for poetic reflection.

 

 With its insightful exploration of classical texts, Love of Nature Among the Greeks and Romans offers a deep understanding of how the ancients viewed the environment, influencing artistic and philosophical traditions for centuries. This book is an essential read for classicists, historians, and anyone interested in the enduring legacy of nature in Western thought. 

Table of contents

• Title page
• TABLE OF CONTENTS
• ILLUSTRATIONS
• I. PROLOGUE
• II. MYTHOLOGY AND RELIGION
• III. ART
• IV. AGRICULTURE AND OUTDOOR LIFE
• V. HOMERIC POETRY
• VI. LYRIC POETRY
• VII. THE GREEK DRAMA
• VIII. THE ALEXANDRIAN AND LATER AGES (THEOCRITUS AND THE ANTHOLOGY)
• IX. ROMAN LITERATURE
• X. EPILOGUE
• BIBLIOGRAPHY