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Ancient Civilisations: life, myth and art #2
Stara Grčka: Život, mit i umjetnost
Knjiga koja veliča kulturnu baštinu i maštovito mitološko naslijeđe stare Grčke – od kipova s Partenona, preko mitskih putovanja Odiseja i Jazona do uzvišenih ideala Olimpijskih igara.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
144 pages, Hardcover
First published May 13, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 26, 2025
Emma Stafford is a recognized expert in Greek mythology, with extensive publications on the personification of the divine in ancient Greek culture and individual legend cycles. In Exploring the Life, Myth, and Art of Ancient Greece, she presents an introduction to Greek civilization through three main components: Life, Myth, and Art.
In my opinion, however, the author made a misstep by focusing too heavily on her area of expertise. Of the book's 144 pages, about 100 are dedicated to myths, legends, and religious festivals. The section on art, by contrast, is limited to just five pages. While the book is filled with beautiful images that offer a visual impression of various art forms, these images often lack proper context or a comparative evolution. For example, it would have been helpful for the reader to see the three architectural styles presented in sequence for better clarity.
Regarding the "Life" component, one glaring omission is the topic of warfare. Although military service was a central part of the lives of many Greek citizens, particularly in the city-states, there is no dedicated section on this subject—only passing references in the political history section. Given that most art depicted conflict, aiming to instill martial virtue, and that warfare was one of the most significant and intimidating experiences in the lives of Greek men, this is a notable oversight.
Overall, the book offers a decent introduction to Greek history, but it leans heavily on mythology and the worship of the gods. If you're looking for a more balanced exploration of the daily life of the ancient Greek citizen or their art, there are better resources available.
In my opinion, however, the author made a misstep by focusing too heavily on her area of expertise. Of the book's 144 pages, about 100 are dedicated to myths, legends, and religious festivals. The section on art, by contrast, is limited to just five pages. While the book is filled with beautiful images that offer a visual impression of various art forms, these images often lack proper context or a comparative evolution. For example, it would have been helpful for the reader to see the three architectural styles presented in sequence for better clarity.
Regarding the "Life" component, one glaring omission is the topic of warfare. Although military service was a central part of the lives of many Greek citizens, particularly in the city-states, there is no dedicated section on this subject—only passing references in the political history section. Given that most art depicted conflict, aiming to instill martial virtue, and that warfare was one of the most significant and intimidating experiences in the lives of Greek men, this is a notable oversight.
Overall, the book offers a decent introduction to Greek history, but it leans heavily on mythology and the worship of the gods. If you're looking for a more balanced exploration of the daily life of the ancient Greek citizen or their art, there are better resources available.
August 29, 2024
A good overview of Ancient Greek life and mythology, but notably missing a lot.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews