Today’s Harrowing Historical is: How to Mellify A Corpse: And other Human Stories of Ancient Science & Superstition by Vicki León
Synopsis from the publisher:
From the lofty thoughts of Pythagoras and Plato to the ideas and ingenuity of everyday ancients, How to Mellify a Corpse explores the science and superstition of the ancient world as only Vicki León could.
In How to Mellify a Corpse, Vicki León brings her particular hybrid of history and humor to the entwined subjects of science and superstition in the ancient world, from Athens and Rome to Mesopotamia, the Holy Land, Egypt, and Carthage. León covers subjects as diverse as astronomy and astrology, philosophy and practicalities of life and death (including the titular ancient method of embalming), and ancient mechanical engineering. How to Mellify a Corpse of course invokes legendary thinkers (Pythagoras and his discoveries in math and music, Aristotle’s books on politics and philosophy, and Archimedes’ “Eureka” moment), but it also delves deeply into the lives of everyday people, their understanding and beliefs.
A feast for the curious mind, How to Mellify a Corpse is not only for those with an interest in the experimental: it’s for anyone who’s inspired by the imagination and ingenuity humanity uses to understand our world.
Click on over to Linus’s Blanket for a discussion with author Vicki León on the ghoulish beliefs ancient civilizations used to have about All Hallows Eve. And be sure to also check out my review of How to Mellify A Corpse!
This was such a good unique book. I see you are read Penelope’s Daughter and I hope you love it, I LOVED it. Hope all is well with you and happy Halloween girl!
Lizzy J recently posted..Happy Halloween! Want to learn how to get a Marie Antoinette Hair
I have wanted to read this book since first hearing of it. I have visited Vicki’s blog and it is wonderful. If history were taught this way, there would be no problem keeping students’ interest.
The title wins alone — hopping along to see the author discussion!
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I thoroughly enjoyed this book and reviewed it on my blog as well!
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