In recent years, ethnic conflicts and “ethnic cleansing” are all-too familiar topics in the news and have focused renewed academic attention on the subject of ethnic identity. A Companion to Ethnicity in the Ancient Mediterranean presents a comprehensive collection of essays that explore questions relating to ethnicity and cultural identity in the societies of the ancient Mediterranean world. Featuring contributions from a wide range of Classical Studies scholars and specialists from around the world, chapters span the diverse civilizations ranging from ancient Egypt and Israel, through Greece and Rome, and into Late Antiquity. Essays explore modern theories of ethnic identity formation and reveal the timeless complexity of questions relating to ethnicity. A discussion of ethnicity by ancient and modern writers also offers a vector of interpretation vital to the understanding of many foundational cultures. Scholarly and thought-provoking, A Companion to Ethnicity in the Ancient Mediterranean offers extraordinary insights into the roots of ancient ethnic identity and its links to the modern world.
