Product Description

Superb, detailed reconstructions of buildings provide the starting-point for a vivid exploration of these two great cities and the lives of the people who inhabited them. Peter Connolly's illustrations and reconstructions have a unique authority, with their blend of superb draughtsmanship, imagination, and meticulous research. The text appeals to a wide spectrum of readers, from young adults to professional historians.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #38842 in Books
• Published on: 2000-11-23
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Review
"A fascinating, close-up picture of what daily life was like for the inhabitants of the two most celebrated cities of the Western Classical Age. Private houses, public spaces, city streets, shops, restaurants, Greek temples, Roman baths, clothing, hairdos, utensils, customs, beliefs, manners, and mores are among the many areas that Connolly covers.... Lucid, succinct, easy-to-follow, and the hundreds of illustrations--photographs, maps, drawings, and diagrams--are attractive and very much to the point."--The Christian Science Monitor
"Strewn with minutely detailed cityscapes, cutaway views, and interiors, this hefty urban study recaptures the architectural glories of two great cities in their heydays.... Equally suited to casual readers or serious study."--Kirkus Reviews (pointer review)
"Remarkable... The elaborate maps and lavish illustrations that grace every page most vividly communicate the tenor and the texture of classical antiquity.... A superior historical, sociological, and architectural survey."--Booklist
"Peter Connolly's eminent reputation as an archaeological illustrator can only be enhanced by this superb book... He has made two great civilizations come alive on the page.... If you want to know exactly what it looked like when Socrates attended the famous Symposium with Agathon and Aristophanes, or what Suetonius saw when he described Nero's Golden House, this is the book to tell you."--Times Educational Supplement
"A fascinating, close-up picture of what daily life was like for the inhabitants of the two most celebrated cities of the Western Classical Age. Private houses, public spaces, city streets, shops, restaurants, Greek temples, Roman baths, clothing, hairdos, utensils, customs, beliefs, manners, and mores are among the many areas that Connolly covers.... Lucid, succinct, easy-to-follow, and the hundreds of illustrations--photographs, maps, drawings, and diagrams--are attractive and very much to the point."--The Christian Science Monitor
"Focuses on the development and growth of each city, with superb, colorful illustrations that help the reader visualize all aspects of life and building construction." -- Dig!

Customer Reviews

Fascinating
This is NOT just a school text; anyone interested in the Roman period should get a copy. I have been interested in the Classics for over 40 years and I have just bought this book and I am hugely impressed. The illustrations alone are fascinating and educational, the additional text makes it even better. The sort of book you can dip into and wander round and become absorbed into. Adults will find it rewarding, do not be put off by it being described as a school text - it is so much more.

The perfect book on the subject for older children
This book is a mixture of text and drawings aimed at older children. The quality of the writing and attractiveness of the artwork adds up to a package which is first class. It also is useful for older students, providing much valuable consolidation for dryer texts such as Aristotle.

Athens and Rome have their own halves of the book, and are comprehensively described in terms of buildings, society, religeon etc.

I used this as a support for an 'A' level in Classical Civilisations (as a mature student), but my 10 year old son, who has recently progressed beyond Terry Deary's wonderful 'Horrible Histories' series, also found it enthralling. This is a marvellous piece of work, being detailed enough for the advanced student, and accessible for children. It easily deserves 5 stars.

Fantastic
I've been a fan of Peter Connolly's books since I was a child. Anyone who is familiar with his work will know that he is an expert at historical reconstructions. By combining the latest archaeological work with careful reading of the historical accounts, Connolly can draw brilliant pictures that bring the Classical World to life.

This book looks at the cities of Athens and Rome at the heights of their powers. While the book is full of birds-eye views of city landscapes as well as building cutaways, this book is more than just a look at architecture. It also provides lots of information on Athenian and Roman daily life, from work and play, to women and children's lives, government and politics, law, clothing and fashion, arts and crafts, technology etc.

For instance a quick flick through the book and I can find sections on topics such as divorce, illness, slavery, banking, hairstyles, and drinking parties.

Those looking for technical information on Classical buildings will not be disappointed either. There are sections on building materials, construction techniques and masonry styles. These sections cover everything from drainage pipes and aqueducts, to houses, villas, defensive walls, theatres, dockyards and even famous buildings like the Colosseum and the Parthenon.

Without a doubt this is the most well written, accessible and beautifully illustrated book on Classical architecture and society available today. Interested laypersons both young and old will find this book a brilliant introductory title, while dedicated Classicists will find it invaluable. Absolutely Brilliant!