Product Review

This classic book by the `doyen of papyrologists' describes the economy and society of Roman Egypt from the ground level up, using the testimony of papyri. The unique climate of Egypt has preserved tens of thousands of records, covering a period of some 4,000 years from 3000 BC to AD 1000. Focusing on just part of this period (30 BC to AD 285), this book offers the perfect introduction to the possible uses of such material. The author takes a thematic approach, discussing the various areas of daily life into which papyri offer unique insights. From the production of food, to `works and days of Gods and Goblins' and `rendering unto Caesar', Naphtali Lewis uses quotations from the sources combined with an encyclopedic knowledge of the cultural context to bring a seemingly obscure class of evidence to life. "Lewis's writing is masterful in the amount of knowledge displayed and brilliant in the clarity with which complicated subjects are discussed." - Michael Woloch, The American Historical Review.