In the Footsteps of Orpheus: The Discovery of the Ancient Greek Underworld.
London: Robert Hale, 1967. First Edition. Hardcover, Octavo. 208pp Original light brown cloth with gilt titling to spine. B&W photographic plates, maps and plans. Index. The author hypothesised that the story of Orpheus in the Underworld as recounted by Vergil in book 6 of the Aeneid was not merely based on myth or imagination, but was a reflection of actual historical fact. In 1958 Paget and a friend, Keith Jones, travelled to Italy in an effort to prove his theory. Together they explored and excavated over a hundred tunnels at Baiae, on the Bay of Naples, and in 1962 he declared that he had discovered the Oracle of the Dead, a tunnel system used in Orphic rites in which a suppliant was led to an underground river (identified as the Styx). In his work, "In the Footsteps of Orpheus", Paget details his rater controversial theories, explores the history of the Orphic rites, and chronicles his explorations and discoveries. Cloth has a few light marks and corners are gently bumped, owner's stamp on front free endpaper, otherwise a tight, clean VG + copy in VG+ dust jacket (dust jacket a little darkened, a little chafed and creased around the edges, one or two minor chips, now protected by removable mylar sleeve.) Quite uncommon. Item #68712
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