Complete Greek Temples, The

The great colonnaded temples of the ancient Greeks are the most impressive of all the monuments left behind by Greek civilization. As feats of design and construction they have never been surpassed, and the best-preserved examples - such as the Parthenon in Athens - still excite wonder and admiration. Once there were hundreds of these glorious structures, dotted around the Mediterranean wherever the ancient Greeks settled and founded cities. No less than steeples or minarets today, they were instantly identifiable icons of an ancient religion and a way of life. This book is the first to tell the complete story, with hundreds of accompanying illustrations, from their debated origins in the Greek dark ages to their transformation at the end of antiquity. It also includes for the first time in English a gazetteer of all the known colonnaded temples of the ancient Greeks. Summarizing the latest thinking on Greek temples, Tony Spawforth brings new discoveries to light and discusses not only the architecture but also the historical and cultural context of these unique buildings. The result is an authoritative source book and a compelling guide for scholars, students, and travelers, and for anyone with a desire to know more about the ancient world. 350 illustrations, 130 in color.