Fishing from the Earliest Times.

Angling has a history far older than the modern sport, and this study reaches back to the earliest records to trace it. Drawing on classical literature and ancient art, it reconstructs how the peoples of the ancient Mediterranean and beyond went about catching fish.

What it's about

The book gathers evidence from Greek and Roman writers, from myth, poetry, and the visual record, to build a picture of fishing in antiquity. It considers tackle and technique, the place of fish in ancient life and economy, and the surprisingly rich literature the pursuit inspired long before the printing press.

Themes

Continuity and antiquity, the relationship between people and the waters they depend on, and the deep cultural roots of a familiar pastime run throughout. There is scholarly delight here in showing how old a modern pleasure really is.

Why it still matters

For anglers, it offers the pleasure of a very long lineage; for classicists and historians, a well-sourced study of daily life and material culture in the ancient world. It stands as a model of enthusiasm married to learning.

Who it's for

Anglers curious about the origins of their craft, students of the classical world, and readers who enjoy the history of everyday human activities.