Sacred Places of the Ancient World

With his signature flair, historian Philip Matyszak explores the strangest and most spellbinding places of ancient belief, where gods walked, spirits lingered and the underworld was just a step away.

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, 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.

About the Author

Philip Matyszak has a doctorate in Roman History from St John’s College, Oxford. He is the author of many popular books on Classical civilization and the ancient world, including Forgotten Peoples of the Ancient World, Lost Cities of the Ancient World, Ancient Magic in Greece and Rome as well as The Greek and Roman Myths.