This unusual book by John Matthews traces his connection with a Faery or Sidhe being. It is full of wisdom and interesting detail about this cousin race to humanity. It includes six exercises and an illustration of a Great Glyph which acts as a tool of attunement with these graceful beings.

The consecration of the city of Constantinople in 330 CE on the emplacement of the Greek city of Byzantium was one of the most important moments in the whole of Graeco-Roman history. The foundation of the city responded to important changes in the social, political, and cultural character of the Roman empire of the first three centuries. In its role as the capital of the Byzantine Empire, it provided a setting for a new religion and the framework for more than a thousand years of continued Roman history in the east. From Byzantium to Constantinople explores, in great detail, the Graeco-Roman context of the city and its early history in the first century of its identity as the new Rome.

The book surveys the events that led to the establishment of Constantinople, the circumstances of its foundation, and the first hundred years of its development as an imperial capital city resting upon a new religious identity. Based on a description and critical evaluation of the sources of the earlier history of the city of Byzantium, it attends to one document in particular--the Notitia Urbis Constantinopolitanae--a regional survey of the resources and monuments of the city, written in the early fifth century but preserving many details of the city as it had developed from its Greek and Roman background. Ranging from descriptions of Constantinople's facilities for the fighting of fires and distributions of bread, to the number of churches established in this period, the Notitia allows for a study of the economic and social diversity and housing conditions of its regions.

Constantinople, the new Rome founded by the first Christian emperor, was not built in a day nor did it lack an earlier history as an important city in a strategic location. The integration of these diverse and variously problematic sources enables the foundation of Constantinople to be understood in terms of a developing understanding of its role, and as a series of initiatives that could be accommodated by the resources of the government as it responded to new and distinctly non-Classical loyalties.

Foreword by Neil Gaiman

The world's leading Arthurian authority reimagines one of the most beloved and influential legends--the story of King Arthur and his Knights--for a new century in this gorgeous keepsake edition, illustrated with luminous full-color paintings and drawings by internationally acclaimed Tolkien artist John Howe.

The stories of King Arthur and Merlin, Lancelot and Guinevere, Galahad, Gawain, Tristan and the rest of the Knights of the Roundtable, and the search for the Holy Grail have been beloved for centuries and are the inspiration of many modern fantasy novels, films, and shows. These legends began when an obscure Celtic hero named Arthur stepped on to the stage of history sometime in the sixth century, generating a host of oral tales that would be inscribed some 900 years later by Thomas Malory in his classic Morte D'Arthur (The Death of Arthur).

The Great Book of King Arthur brings these legends into the modern age, using accessible prose for contemporary readers for the first time. In addition to the stories in Morte D'Arthur, John Matthews includes many tales of Arthur and his knights either unknown to Malory or written in other languages, such as the story of Avenable, the girl brought up as a boy who becomes a famous knight; Morien, whose adventures are as fantastic and exciting as any found in Malory's work; and a retelling of the life of Round Table favorite Gawain, from his strange birth to his upbringing among the poor to his ascension to the highest position--Emperor of Rome.

In addition, there are some of the earliest tales of Arthur, deriving from the tradition of Celtic storytelling. The epic hero is represented in such powerful stories as The Adventures of Eagle-boy and The Coming of Merlin, which is based on the early medieval text Vita Merlini and tells a completely new version of the great enchanter's story.

The Great Book of King Arthur includes 15 full-color paintings and 25 pencil drawings.

Voyages with the Celtic Saints recounts the inspired lives of the Celtic saints, who carried the torch of the new faith of Christianity to the wild tribespeople of Britain and Ireland. Finding many parallels between their own wisdom and that of the Druids and other teachers of the Celtic people, they adapted their own teachings to include and reshape that of the older wisdom.

- Features stories from the lives of 14 inspiring Celtic saints who lived between the third and seventh centuries CE
- Scholar John Matthews retells and provides commentary on these stories, making them relevant and accessible to modern readers
- Meditation notes and questions at the end of each chapter for those wishing to deepen their understanding of the stories and question their own voyage
- Updates from prior edition with new illustrations by renowned artist Joe Machine and two additional entries on women saints, St. Gwenfrewi and St. Goibniu
- Includes inspiring foreword by David Spangler, one of the founding figures of the modern New Age movement

Reveals forgotten Arthurian lore hidden in the prophetic language of a medieval text

- Includes the story of Merlin's birth as the son of a demon, how he was born already able to speak, how his magic ensured he was not killed by his babysitter, and details of his affair with the Lady of the Lake

- Shares stories of Percival's first contact with the Grail and King Arthur's connection with the legendary mystical king Prester John

- Includes early Welsh prophecies attributed to Merlin, prophecies compiled by historian Geoffrey of Monmouth, and the letter of Prester John that inspired Columbus

Maarten Haverkamp acquired a French book from 1498 titled The Prophecies of Merlin that claimed to be prophecies given by the legendary magician. The book was really a compilation of documents collected by an unknown 13th century monk. Working with John Matthews, Maarten spent 5 years translating the mysteries hidden in this obscure book.

Presenting their translation and commentary, the authors share forgotten stories of early Arthurian literature and magic. They share the tale of Merlin's birth from a demon, how he was born able to speak, and how his magic ensured he was not killed by his babysitter. Merlin's affair with the Lady of the Lake is detailed, ending with his imprisonment in a tomb. Other stories include Percival's first contact with the Grail and King Arthur's connection with the mystical king Prester John. To reveal the esoteric meaning of this work, the authors include Welsh prophecies attributed to Merlin (translated by Matthews), other prophecies attributed to Merlin that were compiled by Geoffrey of Monmouth, and the original letter of Prester John that inspired the Polo family and Columbus to search for India.

Revealing connections to the cosmological model of the Theli and real life magic, the authors also show how The Prophecies of Merlin sheds new light on the world of King Arthur and the women who learned magic from Merlin.

A new translation of the poems of sixth-century Celtic bard and shaman Taliesin that reveals the mysteries of Druidic practices.

- The first collection of Taliesin's major poetry with commentary by John Matthews, author of more than 40 books on the Celts.

- Reveals Druidic prophecy, methods of divination, and the rites, rituals, and beliefs that were essential to Celtic spiritual practice.

- Features Taliesin's works as keys to the Arthurian legends.

Taliesin, Chief Bard of Britain and Celtic shaman, was a historical figure who lived in Wales during the latter half of the sixth century. Encoded within his work are the ancestral beliefs of the Celtic and pre-Celtic peoples. In addition, his verse is established as a direct precursor to the Arthurian Legends--and Taliesin himself, shaman and shapeshifter, is said to be the direct forebear to Merlin. Though the bard's work is steeped in the rich traditions of druidic practice, few have explored the revelations of his writings--the secret poetic language of the bards, revelatory information about divination, the ancient mysteries of the Druids, and the cosmological rites that were central to Celtic worship.

John Matthews, one of today's preeminent Celtic scholars, sheds new light on the poems of Taliesin and on the vast body of allusion, story, and myth that grew from his body of work and shamanic practice. With the help of fellow Celtic scholar Caitlin Matthews, the author presents completely new translations of Taliesin's major poems in their entirety, uncovering the meanings behind these great works for the first time.

Rare and previously unpublished tales of one of the most famous legends in literature is brought to life for a new generation by one of the world's leading Arthurian experts and illustrated by an acclaimed Tolkien artist.

It is a time of magic and adventure, of chivalry and courtly love, when great evil must be met with heroic deeds. It is a time of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.

Realms of the Round Table presents for the first time an extensive collection of forgotten tales, retold for a new generation of readers by a modern-day Merlin, the world-renowned Arthurian authority, John Matthews. Contained within are a rich feast of Arthurian love stories and tales that delve deep into the darker mysteries of the Great Wood and the denizens of fantastic lands beyond.

Here also is a heady mixture of magic, faery lore, wisdom and mystery--capturing extraordinary tales of Camelot's greatest knights, such as Sir Lancelot and Sir Gawain, and others less well known, and soaring from high adventure to mystical accounts of the Grail. There is even an Arthurian Christmas tale

These stories honor the work of Thomas Malory in his legendary Le Morte D'Arthur. They are dramatically brought to life by the luminous paintings and drawings of internationally acclaimed Tolkien artist, John Howe. With an introduction by Sir John Boorman, director of the classic film Excalibur, Realms of the Round Table is a glorious reimagining of the most influential work of English fantasy ever written that will surprise and capture anyone who has ever been enchanted by tales of Camelot.

This is a print on demand book and is therefore non- returnable.

The chief excellency of these Letters is, that they present the subject of DIVINE DECREES, without the forbidding aspect, which it is apt to assume in the view of many persons. One thing the reader may be assured of, that whether he should coincide in opinion with the author or not, he will find nothing in the volume calculated to wound the most delicate feelings. A spirit of meekness and kindness, eminently characteristic of the writer, pervades the whole. - Archibald Alexander, from the Preface

Sean Nelson lives an ordinary life as a security guard. Not the manliest job, but his looks make up for it -- a tall, well-built man with short blonde hair and bright blue eyes. A traumatic accident causes a chemical imbalance in his brain, triggering a split personality. Sean fluctuates between pure evil and the norm, two very different life styles are revealed between mid-night and dawn. His second dark personality controls his nightmares, which intervenes with his regular lifestyle, while he learns to control the inevitable.

Sean Nelson lives an ordinary life as a security guard. Not the manliest job, but his looks make up for it -- a tall, well-built man with short blonde hair and bright blue eyes. A traumatic accident causes a chemical imbalance in his brain, triggering a split personality. Sean fluctuates between pure evil and the norm, two very different life styles are revealed between mid-night and dawn. His second dark personality controls his nightmares, which intervenes with his regular lifestyle, while he learns to control the inevitable.

A beautiful and evocative collection of poems to guide you through fifteen centuries of Celtic mythologies, traditions and histories.

This is an inspiring, magical and beautifully packaged collection of Celtic poetry compiled by a leading authority on Celtic tradition. Arranged into five thematic chapters, this anthology reflects the uniquely Celtic love of nature, history, love, myth, magic and spirituality.

From the earliest times, the language-loving Celts revered their bards: they established a poetic tradition beginning in the 6th century with the intricate magical verse of Taliesin. It continued in the rich medieval works of Dafydd ap Gwilym and Rhys Goch and stayed strong in the 19th and 20th centuries with Gerald Manley Hopkins, and writers such as R.J. Stewart, Robin Williamson and Catherine Fisher. Matthews has chosen the finest works by the most diverse range of poets and translated many of the oldest for this volume. His selection will offer readers a window on to the world of the ancient Celtic peoples, celebrating their culture and the great masterpieces of lyricism and brilliance that have survived the ages.

Explores the tales of King Arthur and the round table using insight and meditation.

This book has been considered by academicians and scholars of great significance and value to literature. This forms a part of the knowledge base for future generations. So that the book is never forgotten we have represented this book in a print format as the same form as it was originally first published. Hence any marks or annotations seen are left intentionally to preserve its true nature.

Merlin remains the most famous and familiar image of the magician we possess. Best known as the advisor of the young King Arthur, he was also a famous seer, whose books of prophecies have been reprinted countless times since the Middle Ages and are still in print today. He has reappeared in numerous guises in modern times, in film, TV and books, as well as being studied as an exponent of shamanism, seership and ancient wisdom. Arthurian expert John Matthews examines the many guises of Merlin ‒ as seer, prophet, magician and, perhaps surprisingly, as lover, and as an inspirer of people from all walks of life. He traces the historical origin of Merlin as a Celtic warrior, the later literary forms of his growing legend in the myths of Arthur, and his more recent manifestations in fantasy writing. Also explored is the important connection between Merlin and the Druids. Spanning the ages and delving into some of the most colourful corners of human history, The Book of Merlin presents a new look at an age-old character. The author has provided a new translation of the poems of Myrddin Wyllt, Merlin's prophecies in the wilderness: 'Snow to my knees, ice in my beard.'

Here is a fascinating collection of traditional Celtic stories to amaze and entertain you. Animal tricksters, boasters, and heroes all dwell herein, set amidst the dazzling universe of Celtic lore. Now you can use these archetypes of the shamanic tradition help you in your own life today.

Using the web link included in the book to play the drum music and allow yourself to be safely carried on a wave of sound to experience your own shamanic journey. In this gentle trance you can find your Totem Animal, and the 20 Totem Animal cards included will help you choose animal helpers for particular situations--for guidance on life issues, for self-empowerment, or simply for fun. The possibilities are endless. Replaces ISBN 978-1-85906-400-9

The 18th century was a wealth of knowledge, exploration and rapidly growing technology and expanding record-keeping made possible by advances in the printing press. In its determination to preserve the century of revolution, Gale initiated a revolution of its own: digitization of epic proportions to preserve these invaluable works in the largest archive of its kind. Now for the first time these high-quality digital copies of original 18th century manuscripts are available in print, making them highly accessible to libraries, undergraduate students, and independent scholars.
Western literary study flows out of eighteenth-century works by Alexander Pope, Daniel Defoe, Henry Fielding, Frances Burney, Denis Diderot, Johann Gottfried Herder, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, and others. Experience the birth of the modern novel, or compare the development of language using dictionaries and grammar discourses.
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The below data was compiled from various identification fields in the bibliographic record of this title. This data is provided as an additional tool in helping to insure edition identification:
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Harvard University Houghton Library

N021442

Anonymous. By John Matthews. A satire, in verse, on the current mode of garden planning, notably the popularity of topiary work; with many references to Lancelot Brown. The titlepage is engraved.

London: printed for R. Faulder, 1794. 2],28p.: ill.; 4

A wide-ranging survey of the history of the Roman Empire--from its establishment to decline and beyond

Empire of the Romans, from Julius Caesar to Justinian provides a sweeping historical survey of the Roman empire. Uncommonly expansive in its chronological scope, this unique two-volume text explores the time period encompassing Julius Caesar's death in 44 BCE to the end of Justinian's reign six centuries later. Internationally-recognized author and scholar of Roman history John Matthews balances broad historical narrative with discussions of important occurrences in their thematic contexts. This integrative approach helps readers learn the timeline of events, understand their significance, and consider their historical sources.

Defining the time period in a clear, yet not overly restrictive manner, the text reflects contemporary trends in the study of social, cultural, and literary themes. Chapters examine key points in the development of the Roman Empire, including the establishment of empire under Augustus, Pax Romana and the Antonine Age, the reforms of Diocletian and Constantine, and the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Discussions of the Justinianic Age, the emergence of Byzantium, and the post-Roman West help readers understand the later Roman world and its impact on the subsequent history of Europe. Written to be used as standalone resource or in conjunction with its companion Volume II: Selective Anthology, this innovative textbook:

• Combines accessible narrative exposition with thorough examination of historical source material
• Provides well-rounded coverage of Roman economy, society, law, and literary and philosophical culture
• Offers content taken from the author's respected Roman Empire survey courses at Yale and Oxford University
• Includes illustrations, maps and plans, and chapter-by-chapter bibliographical essays

Empire of the Romans, from Julius Caesar to Justinian is a valuable text for survey courses in Roman history as well as general readers interested in the 600 year time frame of the empire.

Offers a broad range of texts spanning six centuries of imperial Roman history--Volume II of Empire of the Romans, from Julius Caesar to Justinian

Empire of the Romans: From Julius Caesar to Justinian: Six Hundred Years of Peace and War, Volume II: Select Anthology is a compendium of texts that trace the main historical changes of the empire over six hundred years, from the death of Julius Caesar to the late Middle Ages. The second volume of Empire of the Romans, from Julius Caesar to Justinian, this anthology balances literary texts with other documentary, legal, and epigraphic sources. Acclaimed author John Matthews presents texts that reflect individual, first-person experiences rather than those from historians outside of the time periods of which they write.

Each selection includes an introduction, annotations on points of interest, author commentary, and suggestions for further reading. Excerpts are organized thematically to help readers understand their meaning without requiring an extensive knowledge of context. Six sections--running in parallel to the structure and content to Volume I--explore the topics such as the building of the empire, Pax Romana, the new empire of Diocletian and Constantine, and barbarian invasions and the fall of the Western Empire. Selected texts span a wide array of subjects ranging from political discourse and Roman law, to firsthand accounts of battle and military service, to the civic life and entertainment of ordinary citizens. This volume:

• Covers a vast chronological and topical range
• Includes introductory essays to each selected text to explain key points, present problems of interpretation, and guides readers to further literature
• Balances the different categories and languages of original texts
• Enables easy cross-reference to Volume I
• Minimizes the use of technical language in favor of plain-English forms

Whether used as a freestanding work or as a complement to Volume I, the Select Anthology is an ideal resource for students in Roman history survey courses as well as interested general readers seeking a wide-ranging collection of readings on the subject.

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