How to Fit All of Ancient Greece in an Elevator
Published on 3. July 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
288 pages
978-0-00-859610-1 (ISBN)
Description
'Irresistibly fascinating'
MARIE CLAIRE GREECE
'Essential' VICTORIA HISLOP
'Brilliantly conceived' PAUL CARTLEDGE
An enormous bestseller in Greece, this is a bold, witty retelling of the story of Ancient Greece by a rising star in archaeology
Two strangers meet in a trapped elevator. One is an archaeologist, the other isn't. A simple question, 'What do you do?', becomes the springboard for a dialogue that weaves a fascinating tale.
Archaeologist Theodore Papakostas takes the reader on a spectacularly iconoclastic and hugely engrossing journey through ancient Greece, from its beginnings in prehistory to its end. Marvelling at the exalted moments in history as well as the more mundane, Papakostas introduces the reader to countless fascinating stories about the cradle of western civilisation - many of which upend received wisdom about the empire as well as about archaeology itself. Along the way, he settles questions such as: What did a Minoan princess pack for a trip to Egypt? How did a raunchy dance lead to the birth of Democracy? Why did Heraclitus suggest that Homer should be slapped?
A whistle-stop tour through three hundred years of Greek history, How to Fit All of Ancient Greece in an Elevator is an unforgettable love letter to the treasures we've inherited from the ancient world, as well as to those who have helped us unearth them.
MARIE CLAIRE GREECE
'Essential' VICTORIA HISLOP
'Brilliantly conceived' PAUL CARTLEDGE
An enormous bestseller in Greece, this is a bold, witty retelling of the story of Ancient Greece by a rising star in archaeology
Two strangers meet in a trapped elevator. One is an archaeologist, the other isn't. A simple question, 'What do you do?', becomes the springboard for a dialogue that weaves a fascinating tale.
Archaeologist Theodore Papakostas takes the reader on a spectacularly iconoclastic and hugely engrossing journey through ancient Greece, from its beginnings in prehistory to its end. Marvelling at the exalted moments in history as well as the more mundane, Papakostas introduces the reader to countless fascinating stories about the cradle of western civilisation - many of which upend received wisdom about the empire as well as about archaeology itself. Along the way, he settles questions such as: What did a Minoan princess pack for a trip to Egypt? How did a raunchy dance lead to the birth of Democracy? Why did Heraclitus suggest that Homer should be slapped?
A whistle-stop tour through three hundred years of Greek history, How to Fit All of Ancient Greece in an Elevator is an unforgettable love letter to the treasures we've inherited from the ancient world, as well as to those who have helped us unearth them.
Reviews / Votes
'Papakostas himself is absorbed by these stories and he approaches every historical event enthusiast-ically' TLS'Innovative and engaging ... A charming guide to the ancient Greek world' Argo
'Dr Theodore Papakostas is a professional archaeologist with a great knack of bringing the ancient world startlingly to life, with bubbling wit and flair and some great stories' Daily Mail
'The author is erudite and well informed, capable of giving us a full-blown primer of the ancient world ... accompanied by an intelligent and lively account of the development and practice of archaeology' Country Life
'Theodore Papakostas has achieved the rare feat of making real archaeology fun. Perfect for both casual readers and history enthusiasts lounging on a Cycladic beach this summer' Monocle
'This book is an essential read - it's much more than a book about ancient Greece! It's about civilisation, where we came from, and who we are. It's so lightly and humorously written and yet packed with wisdom and learning. I can't recommend it highly enough!' Victoria Hislop, bestselling author of The Figurine and The Return
'A novel idea brilliantly executed. Though full to the brim with information, Theodore has written this in a way that feels accessible and very easy to follow. From now on, I'm only accepting my education via mysterious archaeologists in lifts' Lizzy Tiffin, author of Bad Girls of Ancient Greece
'Papakostas both captures and captivates the imagination in this brilliantly conceived revisit of the old "what have the ancient Greeks done for us?" trope ... Read, laugh out loud, learn - and be elevated' Paul Cartledge, bestselling author of The Spartans: An Epic History
'Papakostas uses social and traditional media to make history and archaeology irresistibly fascinating to all, even to those who were unbearably bored with the subjects at school' Marie Claire Greece
'Papakostas "breaks the rules" and brings archaeology to the general public with humour and light heartedness' HuffPost Greece
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
HarperCollins Publishers
Product notice
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 194 mm
Width: 128 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
256 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-00-859610-1 (9780008596101)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Theodore Papakostas
How to Fit All of Ancient Greece in an Elevator
Book
08/2024
William Collins
€21.50
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Theodore Papakostas
How to Fit All of Ancient Greece in an Elevator
E-Book
08/2024
William Collins
€7.79
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Persons
Dr Theodore Papakostas is an archaeologist. He earned his bachelor's degree in Archaeology from the University of Reading and his MA in Prehistoric Archaeology from the University of Nottingham. He has participated in excavations in Greece and the UK and has worked at the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki and the Archaeological Service of Kilkis. He completed his PhD in Classical Archaeology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in 2017.
Theo, who is known as 'Archaeostoryteller' on all social media, has presented two documentary series on Greek television and his podcast (Archaeostoryteller) is one of the top five most popular podcasts in Greece.
Theo, who is known as 'Archaeostoryteller' on all social media, has presented two documentary series on Greek television and his podcast (Archaeostoryteller) is one of the top five most popular podcasts in Greece.