Customer Reviews

Architecture and Meaning on the Athenian Acropolis

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Robin Rhodes' intuitive approach to one of the most discussed monuments in the history of art and architecture equips the reader to comprehend the work of a society which, facing destruction, re-interprets a building tradition hundreds of years in the making to express the innovative, nostalgic, and brilliantly defiant nature of the turbulent 5th century B.C.E. Drawing from scuptural attitudes, ritual practices, and political atmospheres, Rhodes places the Athenian Acropolis not at an assumed "zenith" of Greek architecture, but in a very alive and therefore constantly evolving context of artistic achievement. This books appeals to those who enjoy free thought in the most enlightening sense of the words.

Not only is Professor Rhodes's book far from boring, but rare in that it allows easy access to a scholar's interpretation of Greek architecture. I was lucky enough to have been a student in a few of the Professor's classes. A wonderful read for those expanding their knowledge on Greek architecture, or those just beginning.

If you are interested in Greek Architecture, this book is great for examining the Athenian Acropolis as a whole, and how the structures function in relation to each other, and to the viewer. Compared to some of the other books on the subject, this book was extremely readable, not to mention informative. To the first reviewer -I actually had Professor Rhodes for a class several years ago, and I have to say I totally disagree with your assessment. I learned volumes from him, and he couldn't have been a nicer person.