"I sing of arms and the man" wrote Vergil at the start of the Aeneid, one of Rome's most iconic origin stories as it explores the tumultuous journey of Aeneas from Trojan prince to Roman hero. But did Aeneas actually flee from Troy? How did this story affect the Romans' perspective of themselves? And did they believe it? In Rome Before Rome, Philip Matyszak explores the myths and legends, heroes and villains that shaped the Roman sense of self.

There are few books which explain how these different legends fit into Rome's overall narrative—and none which explore the range of myths Matyszak describes. Some of the legends are well known, from Romulus and Remus to the Rape of the Sabines; others are more obscure, suchas the story of the Latin king Picus, who was turned into a woodpecker. Whether renowned or unfamiliar, all are significant in their own way and have had a profound impact on centuries of Romans. Even today these myths continue to reverberate throughout western culture in films, TV shows, and plays. Matyszak dissects these myths, investigating the historical texts of Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Plutarch, and Livy as well as Vergil's epic poem the Aeneid and Ovid's Metamorphoses. Rome Before Rome continually reveals the ways in which Rome's mythological past may not be as illustrious as traditionally chronicled.

How did one enter the underworld? What secrets were hidden in the temple of Mithras? And what did the Oracle at Delphi really say? In Sacred Places of the Ancient World, historian Philip Matyszak takes readers on a thrilling journey through the spiritual heartlands of antiquity, uncovering the hidden rituals, mysterious deities, and powerful beliefs that shaped ancient civilizations. Blending archaeological research with myth and classical texts, Matyszak explores the awe-inspiring places revered by the Romans, Greeks, Egyptians, Mesopotamians, and others long before the rise of Christianity and Islam. This is a world where vengeful gods and goddesses ruled, magic was real, and the natural world pulsed with supernatural power.

Divided into four historical periods, the book begins with prehistoric belief. Matyszak delves into a time when temples were less prominent and the natural world served as the stage for spiritual experience, from sacred springs in Sicily to ominous bogs in Ireland, revealing the interplay between landscapes and the sacred. Next, he explores the more organized religions of Greece and Rome where gods and rituals were woven into daily life, from the enigmatic Eleusinian Mysteries to the whispering Oracle at Dodona and the towering Capitoline Temple. Along the way, Matyszak uncovers lesser-known marvels like the tomb of Achilles and Plato’s Academy before moving to the fringes of the Roman Empire, where belief systems blended or broke away entirely. This is a captivating read for lovers of ancient magic, the occult, and the forgotten spiritual worlds that continue to shape our understanding of the past.