The reviewed monograph is a unique compendium of information about the role of birds in the culture of the Ancient world. It is difficult to imagine any nation, in life of whom birds did not played a significant role, but in the culture of the Ancient world, birds occupied a special place. The material presented in the monograph covers a fairly long period of time from the VIII century BC to the IV century AD and mainly the cultures of Ancient Greece and Rome. The author of the book is a unique fusion of a scientist, translator from ancient Greek, connoisseur of ancient texts and a practicer, who devoted a significant part of his life to the study and observation of birds in nature. It is difficult to call Professor J. Mynott an Amateur ornithologist, because he embodies an amazing fusion of enthusiasm of a bird-watcher and exceptional awareness of a professional who is able to identify the bird by forms, sounds or behavior. The monograph is not a simple collection of various facts about birds, it is really a scientific study that introduces into scientific circulation a huge number of ancient texts, many of which were previously not translated into English and were known only to a narrow circle of specialists. The book is of great interest to a wide range of readers from specialists in the history of the Ancient world to people interested in ornithology and cultural history.
