The Making of a King: Antigonus Gonatas of Macedon and the Greeks (Hardcover)

The Making of a King: Antigonus Gonatas of Macedon and the Greeks By Robin Waterfield Cover Image
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About the Author


Robin Waterfield is an independent scholar and translator living in southern Greece. In addition to thirty volumes of translations of works of Greek literature, he is the author of numerous books, ranging from children’s fiction to Greek history, most recently The Making of a King, also published by the University of Chicago Press.

Praise For…


"Waterfield wisely takes the city states of European Greece as the backdrop for Antigonus’ life and the arena where his influence was principally felt. The Making of a King is only in part a biography of Antigonus. It also details the decline, economic devastation and political fragmentation of post-classical Greece, and makes plain why the Stoic and Epicurean schools, both founded during Antigonus’ youth, became so central to Greek intellectual life."
— James Romm

"Waterfield succeeds in putting forth a brilliantly written account of one of the least known and most underestimated figures in Greek history alongside the third-century historical context out of which he emerged. Both the general reader without any prior knowledge and the student who already knows his way around these issues will gain from this study. The third century needs more attention, and Waterfield has taken some very important steps to wake this period to life."
— Bryn Mawr Classical Review

"The Making of a King is an extremely welcome addition to scholarship, and it does illuminate what it sets out to illuminate. Readers will find it a superb introduction to the history of the period and will profit from it regardless of their level of prior experience. Historians of royal dynasties and royal courts will also find this an interesting and useful work, especially if they are unfamiliar with the period or the person of Antigonus Gonatas."
— Royal Studies Journal

[Waterfield] succeeds in his biography to educate the reader on Antigonus and on third-century Greece. The book is well written, with the prose being pleasing and enjoyable to read. Both general and scholarly audiences can gain substantial insights into a broad range of subjects from [Waterfield]’s efforts, which have done justice to the fascinating epoch that was the early Hellenistic period."
— The Classical Review

"Within this fine volume, Waterfield has allowed Antigonus to emerge from behind those more well-known figures of the Hellenistic age. Deservedly he takes his place among the most accomplished kings, warriors and statesmen of the 3rd century. This would make a fine addition to any course on the rise and fall of Macedon and its re-emergence."
— The Journal of Classics Teaching

"Noting the relative dearth of sources for the Hellenistic period, Waterfield deftly (and candidly) infers what may have happened when those records go mute. His limpid prose makes a confusing plot and rapidly changing cast of characters accessible for experts and general readers alike."
— Michigan War Studies Review

“General, patron of the arts, votary of the god Pan, generous king, and occasional tyrant, Antigonus Gonatas ruled the legendary Kingdom of Macedon, and Waterfield’s The Making of a King is the perfect introduction to this eccentric and exciting figure. Waterfield’s fame lies in is his ability to make sense and write enthralling accounts of the most perplexing periods of Greek and Roman history. The life and times of Antigonus Gonatas are such a labyrinth, rendered by Waterfield’s fierce intelligence and vibrant prose into a smooth road for the rejoicing reader.”
— J. E. Lendon, author of Soldiers and Ghosts: A History of Battle in Classical Antiquity

“Not merely an impressive biography of Antigonus Gonatas but also an excellent introduction to the whole early Hellenistic era. The author combines meticulous research with an accessible writing style to bring to life an oft-neglected period of ancient history.”
— Philip Matyszak, author of Forgotten Peoples of the Ancient World

“With a wealth of information, elegant prose, and wit, Waterfield presents a colorful image of Antigonus alongside other men and women of the era's royal families. He engages readers with anecdotes from Plutarch's Moralia and highlights comparisons with modern powers, bringing this rich ancient story to a new audience.”
— Ioanna Kralli, Ionian University in Greece

“Waterfield blends biography and history to give a layered account of the events of the third century through the life, times, and character of Antigonus, one of the most successful of the Antigonid kings of Macedon. Antigonus’s rule of the Greeks is a defining feature of this period, but it has rarely been treated in such depth. Waterfield has done commendable work in opening third-century Greece and the Antigonid kingdom to a general audience."
— Shane Wallace, Trinity College Dublin


Product Details
ISBN: 9780226611372
ISBN-10: 022661137X
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Publication Date: April 6th, 2021
Pages: 296