The Oracle’s Poisoned Breath by Robin Wickens | Greek and Roman Myth History

The Oracle’s Poisoned Breath is a gripping non-fiction investigation into the real historical pressures behind legendary myths from ancient Greece and Rome.

This book explores how monsters, gods, oracles and foundation legends may have been shaped by plague, volcanic disaster, political propaganda, sacred ritual, gender tension, trade routes, fossils, shipwrecks and the deliberate manufacture of imperial myth.

From Delphi’s mysterious vapours to Medusa’s protective face, from Atlantis and the eruption of Thera to Aeneas the Trojan refugee, from the Sibylline Books to Caesar’s comet, each chapter asks what ancient people were really trying to explain when they told stories of gods and monsters.

Perfect for readers who enjoy ancient history, mythology, archaeology, folklore, strange nonfiction and the darker truths behind famous legends.