Από τις προσωπικότητες που συνδέονται με τα μεγαλύτερα επιτεύγματα του ελληνικού κλασικού πολιτισμού πολλές κατάγονταν από την Αθήνα, ενώ άλλες έφθασαν εδώ απ' όλη την περιοχή της Μεσογείου για να συμβάλουν στην εξαιρετική πνευματική και καλλιτεχνική άνθηση αυτής της περιόδου. Πολιτικοί και ιστορικοί, θεατρικοί συγγραφείς και καλλιτέχνες, φιλόσοφοι και ρήτορες, όπως ο Θουκυδίδης, ο Αισχύλος, ο Σωκράτης, ο Φειδίας, ο Ευριπίδης, ο Δημοσθένης, ο Αριστοτέλης, ο Πραξιτέλης, ήκμασαν εδώ κατά τον 5ο και 4ο π.Χ. αιώνα, την εποχή που η Αθήνα ήταν η πιο ισχυρή πόλη - κράτος της Ελλάδας. Όλοι αυτοί οι άνδρες φύτεψαν τους σπόρους του Δυτικού πολιτισμού.
Ο καθηγητής John M. Camp, με το ολοκληρωμένο αυτό βιβλίο του, παρουσιάζει μιαν ενημερωμένη επισκόπηση των μνημείων της αρχαίας Αθήνας και της Αττικής, κάνοντας μια πλήρη περιήγηση στην περιοχή αυτή. Το πλούσια εικονογραφημένο έργο του θα προσελκύσει όχι μόνο τους επιστήμονες και τους σπουδαστές του Ελληνικού πολιτισμού αλλά και τους επισκέπτες που εξερευνούν τις αρχαίες τοποθεσίες.
John Camp is the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Professor of Classics at Randolph-Macon College. He received his B.A. from Harvard University in 1968, and his M.A. (1972) and Ph.D. in Classical Archaeology (1977) from Princeton University. He has worked in the Athenian Agora since 1966, first as an excavator, later as assistant director, and now as the director, which he became in 1994.
An excellent survey of Athenian archaeology (and that of Attica more generally). The book is divided into two parts: (1) a chronological/narrative overview (spanning the neolithic period through late antiquity); (2) brief individual site summaries, with plans and bibliography. The illustrations are largely high quality. Definitely recommended for any students of classical archaeology/classics, and for any enthusiasts or travelers who wish to familiarize themselves more thoroughly with ancient Athens than conventional guidebooks might allow.
I thought I already knew what was interesting about the most significant archaeological sights in Athens, but still decided to read this before going back again this month. I have to say I’m very glad I did.
This is a really excellent text. It is clear and well written, fully illustrated and comprehensive. A good read on its own, but an even better preparation before a visit to the city. I got a lot from this book; I looked at familiar things differently and discovered plenty that was new to me.
This was a pleasure to read at the time, but it also significantly enhanced my sightseeing.
This was a great book--well written and good illustrations. I would have liked some clear maps, but it did not detract from the book. I have been to many of the places Camp talks about in Attica, which helped visualize the sites he describes. I would recommend this book highly and am appreciative of Camp's diligent work on this topic.