Dawn in the Aegean
The emergent Greeks
The great sanctuaries: Delphi and Olympia
Athens: the school of Greece
The sacred sites
An expanding nation
Post-classical Greece
Bibliography
Index

"The roots of Greek civilization reach back into legend but the artifacts the Greeks produced can still be appreciated. Although much of the Grecian achievement was destroyed by later conquerors, the buildings which remain prove that the Greek ideal in art and architecture is still valid today. As early as the Bronze Age, the Minoan culture demonstrated the Greeks' love of beauty. Bronze cult figurines and superb wall paintings show the heights artistic talents had reached. Greek civilization reached its zenith under Pericles in the Classical Period. The magnificent remains of the Acropolis, and especially the Parthenon, built of Pentelicus marble, bear witness to the flowering of Greek culture. The famous remains at Delphi include many buildings of this period, including the inspiring temple of Zeus. Alexander conquered most of the known world, and the Hellenic culture flourished from Greece to India. The legendary library at Alexandria is still the epitome of excellence and Greek statues still the standard by which others are judged. Red-glazed and painted vases are treasured exhibits in museums throughout the world. Treasures of Ancient Greece is a lively account of Ancient Greece as revealed through its material culture. This beautifully illustrated book will delight both the art historian and the general reader." --Jacket