The Divine Spark of Syracuse
Distributed for Brandeis University Press
152 pages
|
5 1/2 x 8 1/2
- Contents
- Review Quotes
Table of Contents

Contents
A Note on Transliteration and Translation • Introduction • Plato and Syracuse • Plato in Syracuse • Archimedes in Syracuse • Caravaggio in Syracuse • Notes • Index
Review Quotes
Angela Leighton | Times Literary Supplement
"In this delightful book Ingrid Rowland tells a story which weaves history, biography and a sense of place around three figures from the past: Plato, Archimedes and Caravaggio. For the non-specialist reader like myself, this unusual combination makes for a page-turning read. Rowland’s intelligent light touch can speak to a general readership, while never ignoring the complexities of historical evidence, personal testimony, hearsay, or legend. The Divine Spark of Syracuse offers a packed and thrilling journey into the various pasts of this great city. By the end it has become one of the main protagonists."
Bryn Mawr Classical Review
“For the general reader unfamiliar with the material, it will make an informative and entertaining read.”
James Grantham Turner, University of California, Berkeley
“Another bravura performance by Ingrid Rowland. Rowland’s signature blend of biography and topography brings the ancient Greek city to life, with its dazzling contrasts of darkness and light, cruelty and genius. These animated lectures take us all the way from Plato’s cave, in the ancient slave quarries of Syracuse, to Caravaggio’s dramatic Santa Lucia, the patron saint whose name means Holy Light.”
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