Greece [antikvár]

Foreword T he influence of Ancient Greece, the cradle of western civilization, is still felt today in all spheres of modern life, from philosophy and politics to literature and art. Through the centuries, the power of Greek history and culture to fascinate each new generation has shown no sign of waning. Tourists still flock to visit the splendid remains of Greek antiquity; exhibitions on the ancient Greeks continue to draw huge crowds. Every year, general and specialist studies, excavations and research reveal whole new areas of knowledge and intellectual and aesthetic delights. And yet no book intended for the general reader and no textbook for students has yet succeeded in approaching this fascinating and complex subject in a way that combines the wealth of topics, with concise coverage of each, matching iitformative text with dazzling illustrations. Our objective is therefore to take readers on an amazing journey in search of ancient Greece and its civilization and to offer them new insights into the Classical world through outstanding pictures, many of them never previously published. All the illustrations have been selected to reflect the narrative sequence and also to help place each topic addressed in its historic and cultural context. It is hoped, too, that this work will stimulate the interest of anyone intending to study ancient Greece and its civilization in greater depth. An overview of the history and culture of the Greek and Hellenistic worlds is followed by an outline of developments in art, from its Aegean origins to the Roman conquest. Here 14 Oedipus and the SphinXf^om the central tondo of an Attic red-figure kylix of the late 6th to the early 5th century BC. This well-known mythical story symbolizes man's quest for truth and knowledge in the face of the unknown. 74-15 Signed by Exekias as potter and also attributed to him as painter, this beautiful black-figure amphora is dated to between 540 and 530 BC. The scene depicted, with such graphic realism, shows Achilles slaying the Amazon queen Penthesilea. 15 Attic vase painting often drexv on the repertory of epic literature, as seen in this black-figure amphora, signed by Exekias, of about 540 BC. Here the Greek heroes Achilles and Ajax are intent on a game of knucklebones. descriptions are brought to life by splendid and detailed illustrations, together with reconstructions of the most significant monuments and entire cities, specially commissioned for this book. Completing the volume is a spectacular itinerary which takes in the most beautiful cities and colonies of ancient Greece - the mainland, the islands, Asia Minor and Magna Grnecia. Finally, a brief glossary of technical terms and a selection of titles for further reading should assist the reader to a fuller understanding of ancient Greece - one of the most formative and influential periods of human history.