May TIOLI: Ancient World

This is a discussion thread for May's TIOLI challenge to read a book about the ancient world. The main TIOLI thread is here.

So, what books are you reading? Where and when are they set? Do you read a lot of books about the ancient world, and if so, what are your favourite time periods?

I'm studying ancient history, so there are plenty of books that I want to read for this challenge. I'm hoping to get through:

Reading and Writing in Babylon
The Heavenly Writing
Ancient Astrology
Astral Magic in Babylonia

All are non-fiction books about the ancient near east, three dealing with astrology or celestial divination. I've started all of them and really need an excuse to finish them already!

I will have to dig out my books on Ancient Egypt. . .

I have put Pagans and Christians on the list, but however much I like and enjoy reading it, I'll be vastly surprised if I finish it in May. I guess stranger things have happened.

Ancient Rome is my favorite although I enjoy reading about most ancient cultures. I just finished reading or actually listening to Imperium, a historical novel by Robert Harris. The book is set from 79-64 BC and follows the political aspirations of Cicero. It's told by his slave Tiro, who invented short hand, and assists Cicero in his climb to the top. This is an absolutely gripping read as Cicero has to fight massive corruption and comprise some of his ideals as while facing off against some of the most powerful men of his day Pompey, Crassus, and a young Caesar. I can't wait to get to the sequel, Conspirata, later this month!

I've also just started The Lost Books of the Odyssey and The Silver Branch. I'm hoping to get to one of my books on the Assyrians, as well, but we'll see.

I'm about 1/4 way thru A Forest of Kings: The untold story of the Ancient Maya.
The untold story is being told through the deciphering of the Maya alphabet, calendar and stone tablets scattered throughout the Maya empire. The first settlements go back to 1000 B.C in the Copan Valley of Mexico and this book ends in 1697 when the last Maya kingdom falls.
This fascinates me because we've been fortunate to travel to many of the ruins, time to pull out the pics and recall what I've seen.

Carmenere, A Forest of Kings sounds really interesting! I'll look out for that one - I love Latin American history!

I've just begun Peruvian Prehistory: An Overview of Pre-Inca and Inca Society edited by Richard Keatinge. I think it might take me a while to get through it....I also frequently consult Early Celtic Art by Paul Jacobsthal at work, although I have never attempted to read it from start to finish.

Greetings, all --

I picked up Cahokia: Ancient America's Great City on the Mississippi because I may be in St. Louis briefly this Fall, and the one place I really want to see is Cahokia.

I enjoyed the book and have posted a review, but I have to say I probably would have liked it even more if my interests didn't lean more toward the cultures of Mesoamerica and the Andes. I also have a soft spot for Pompeii and Herculaneum -- there are so many books I could read for this Challenge!

>5 Carmenere:
Carmenere, I read A Forest of Kings quite a long time ago before a trip to Guatemala. I remember that I loved (the book -- Guatemala, too). I don't know if I'll have a change to re-read it this month because I have so many unread books on my shelves, but I may give it a shot.

I'm thinking about reading Libraries in the Ancient World, if I can get to it this month.