The Architecture of Petra (British Academy Monographs in Archaeology) [Hardcover]

Judith McKenzie (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 16, 1991 | ISBN-10: 019727000X | ISBN-13: 978-0197270004

The Petra tombstones in Jordan are famed for their "baroque" architecture carved out of pink sandstone by the Nabataeans. This comprehensive survey, the first volume in the new British Academy Monographs in Archaeology series, dates many of the famous Petra monuments against similar rock-cut tombs at Medain Saleh in Saudi Arabia. Through close examination of the monuments as well as the little known remains of Ptolemaic Alexandria, the Hellenistic city founded by Alexander the Great, Murphy reveals that the earliest baroque architecture was that of Ptolemaic Alexandria. The style was then transmitted to Petra and Pompeii. Lavishly illustrated with over 700 photographs and figures, including a detailed catalog of the monuments, the volume uncovers Petra as a city, rather than merely a necropolis.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An important and wonderfully produced book....A paragon of exposition for detailing and illustrating the architecture of a single community and relating it to comparative evidence from other communities. In revealing the splendors of Petra, this book serves as a model for scholars approaching the study of all ancient cities."--Choice

"Judith McKenzie's new book reconsiders all of the Classical structures at Petra, and is the new standard reference for its architecture....This book is very thorough, provides a convincing analysis of the development of architecture of Petra, and is extensively illustrated with plates of good quality....McKenzie is to be praised for providing a new standard source on Petra's architecture, as well as chapters of great interest on Hellenistic architecture in Alexandria and on the Second Style."--American Journal of Archaeology

"An important addition to the long scholarly debate concerning the chronology of the spectacular rock-carved tomb facades of Petra....The Architecture of Petra is a vigorously informative survey of the vast but not easily available scholarly material on this enigmatic city at the fringes of the classical world."--Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians

About the Author

Judith McKenzie, Rhys-Davids Junior Research Fellow in Archaeology, St Hugh's College, Oxford.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 494 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (May 16, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 019727000X
• ISBN-13: 978-0197270004
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,515,121 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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