Built in the fifth century b.c.; the Parthenon has been venerated for more than two millennia as the Westrsquo;s ultimate paragon of beauty and proportion. Since the Enlightenment; it has also come to represent our political ideals; the lavish temple to the goddess Athena serving as the model for our most hallowed civic architecture. But how much do the values of those who built the Parthenon truly correspond with our own? And apart from the significance with which we have invested it; what exactly did this marvel of human hands mean to those who made it?In this revolutionary book; Joan Breton Connelly challenges our most basic assumptions about the Parthenon and the ancient Athenians. Beginning with the natural environment and its rich mythic associations; she re-creates the development of the Acropolismdash;the Sacred Rock at the heart of the city-statemdash;from its prehistoric origins to its Periklean glory days as a constellation of temples among which the Parthenon stood supreme. In particular; she probes the Parthenonrsquo;s legendary frieze: the 525-foot-long relief sculpture that originally encircled the upper reaches before it was partially destroyed by Venetian cannon fire (in the seventeenth century) and most of what remained was shipped off to Britain (in the nineteenth century) among the Elgin marbles. The friezersquo;s vast enigmatic processionmdash;a dazzling pageant of cavalrymen and elders; musicians and maidensmdash;has for more than two hundred years been thought to represent a scene of annual civic celebration in the birthplace of democracy. But thanks to a once-lost play by Euripides (the discovery of which; in the wrappings of a Hellenistic Egyptian mummy; is only one of this bookrsquo;s intriguing adventures); Connelly has uncovered a long-buried meaning; a story of human sacrifice set during the cityrsquo;s mythic founding. In a society startlingly preoccupied with cult ritual; this story was at the core of what it meant to be Athenian. Connelly reveals a world that beggars our popular notions of Athens as a city of staid philosophers; rationalists; and rhetoricians; a world in which our modern secular conception of democracy would have been simply incomprehensible.The Parthenonrsquo;s full significance has been obscured until now owing in no small part; Connelly argues; to the friezersquo;s dismemberment. And so her investigation concludes with a call to reunite the pieces; in order that what is perhaps the greatest single work of art surviving from antiquity may be viewed more nearly as its makers intended. Marshalling a breathtaking range of textual and visual evidence; full of fresh insights woven into a thrilling narrative that brings the distant past to life; The Parthenon Enigma is sure to become a landmark in our understanding of the civilization from which we claim cultural descent.
#553285 in eBooks 2013-08-07 2013-07-24File Name: B00EATYFSK
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. The print is too small to be easily read.By D. ReinsteinUnlike many large compilations of folk songs; this book contains many that are still covered by active copyright. AS a person who came into my adulthood in the 60s; I was surprised and delighted to find many tunes (with the melody-line sheet music; chords and words) I was not accustomed to seeing in such collections - even in those marketed as comprehensive fake" books (which are rarely than any more - collections of pirated copyrighted material.) On the other hand; I was unfamiliar with about half of the songs in the book and while I am always open to learning a new tune; these pages are small (6" X 9") and impossible to read at arms length; rendering the book helpful only if placed a foot or less away from my eyes.It is OK; but just OK and too small to be really useful on a music stand. Perhaps it is better for younger eyes - but it is those of us with older eyes who are most apt to be interested in the music of this era.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. This is a nice book; and Im using it a lotBy Larry TuckThis is a nice book; and Im using it a lot. Really good collection of songs for the money. You have to understand before buying that it is a "fake book" -- it provides melody in standard notation; lyrics; and chord names. There a no tabs and no chord grids. So it may not be suitable for a beginner. It probably best suited to an intermediate level guitarist who knows a lot of chords and can "fake" strum patterns and solos (which is why its called a fake book). Keeping that in mind; it does what its intended to do. Most songs are on one page; or a two-page spread; so you dont have to fuss with turning pages. The 6X9 edition is handy because it fits in the outside pocket of my gig bag; but the trade off is its a bit small to read. If youre worried about reading it; go for the larger-size edition.4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Nice; but super limited...By ChinaLakeGood; but not practical. Too small to really see on Kindle. I probably have 30 different fake books. Just saw some songs none of my fake books had. I play live and make insert pages for songs I use. Fake books are impossible live. I copy down chord changes and lyrics so I have a 1 page guide for my book. Dont need lead line- usually play w singers. Thot maybe I could send songs to On Song for my IPad. Nope. Books still more useful. Old school lives on....