Bøger udgivet af Getty Publications

Ancient Greek culture is one of the vital wellsprings of Western civilization. It has shaped its art and architecture, its drama and literature, and its philosophy and politics. "Life, Myth, and Art in Ancient Greece is a superbly illustrated guide to the ideas, beliefs, and achievements of this extraordinarily creative culture. Organized by themes such as "Images and Imagination" and "Pride, Fate, Glory," each chapter includes a number of short sections on a particular topic as well as several specific "features"--concepts, individuals, or sites such as Mt. Olympus or the Parthenon--related to one of these topics. Included in the book are the adventures and conflicts of heroes from Herakles to Odysseus; the stories of such gods as Apollo and Aphrodite; the Dionysian revels; the noble ideals of the Olympic games; the Eleusinian mysteries, so secret that today we can only speculate about what they involved; and an overview of the Greeks' notable achievements in art and temple architecture. "Life, Myth, and Art in Ancient Greece offers an accessible and enlightening introduction to a rich cultural heritage that continues to shape our world.

During the last millennium B.C., before the coming of the Romans, the Etruscans built a thriving civilization in the western Mediterranean basin, which was rich in natural resources. From the eighth century B.C., Etruria became a destination on the Italian peninsula for refined works by artisans of the Hellenic regions, the Near East, and central Europe, and for masters from these regions, who emigrated and began to work for the local clientele. These artisans would contribute significantly to the development of an art that was recognizably Etruscan. The influence of Etruscan civilization on other cultures has received less attention from archaeologists than has the effect of the Eastern and Greek worlds on Etruscan culture. This lavishly illustrated volume seeks to redress this imbalance by tracing the Etruscans' impact beyond Etruria. It focuses on the panorama of their commerce and the Etruscan ideological and cultural initiatives that radiated from their native territory into other regions. Etruscan civilization spread across a surprisingly vast area, from ancient Italy out into the Mediterranean basin and continental Europe. The book devotes new attention to details that vary from region to region, with a number of chapters devoted to regional specialists. They offer fresh perspectives on the history, art, and political organization of a culture that, in many ways, remains mysterious.