This book is an innovative historical study of piracy in the Graeco-Roman world from the Archaic period to Late Antiquity. It explores the conditions which allowed piracy to flourish in the ancient Mediterranean, especially the close relationship between warfare and piracy, and examines the impact which pirates had upon ancient society. Surprisingly, in view of the prominence of pirates in many works of Classical literature, this book is the first to offer detailed analysis of the portrayal of piracy by ancient writers, including Homer, Cicero and the ancient novels, taking account of the political, social and literary contexts which shaped their accounts.