by Mary Beard
Harvard University Press, 2002
Comments: The Parthenon is one of the most recognizable buildings in all of classical architecture, and perhaps the most revered. It also has one of the most complex histories, having been in active use for over 2,100 of its 2,500 years in existence and weathering the rise and fall of numerous empires. This book presents the story of its creation, use, and transformation into the ruins we see today, and how over time different civilizations have adapted it to meet their own needs. The author covers all the important developments in its evolution, including the cultural forces that shaped and reshaped it, the events leading to its destruction in 1687, and the story behind the modern restoration efforts.
Known for its exceptional beauty and masterful use of proportion, the Parthenon may be the most perfect expression of architectural form that humanity has ever produced. This little book is a very good overview of it for anyone with an interest in classical architecture.
Copy Notes: Hardback, first edition, photographs and illustrations
