A classical dictionary containing a copious account of all the proper names mentioned in ancient authors with tables of coins, weights, and measures used among the Greeks and Romans and a chronological table

About this book

Lemprière’s Classical Dictionary is a reference work that gathers every proper name found in the Greek and Roman literary tradition, supplementing each entry with the values of contemporary coins, weights, and measures, and concluding with a chronological table that stretches from the biblical creation of the world to the fall of the Western Roman Empire. The opening pages explain the author’s intent to provide a “most accurate and satisfactory account” for students and scholars, noting the careful consultation of ancient poets, historians, and modern commentators, as well as the inclusion of tables drawn from Dr. Arbuthnot’s calculations. The transcriber’s notes at the start of the text describe modern editorial choices, standardised punctuation, expanded abbreviations, and clarified references, so readers can navigate the 19th‑century scholarship with ease.

Written in the scholarly prose of the early 1800s, the dictionary reflects the period’s reverence for classical learning and its methodical, citation‑heavy style. It will appeal to students of classics, historians of antiquity, and anyone who enjoys detailed, encyclopedic compilations of myth, geography, and ancient economics. Those who appreciate meticulous cross‑referencing and the occasional antiquated spelling will find Lemprière’s effort a valuable companion for research and for the pleasure of revisiting the world of Greece and Rome.