Then and Now: The Wonders of the Ancient World Brought to Life in Vivid See-Through Reproductions [Hardcover]

Stefania Perring (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1991

This book shows full-page colour photographs of the most visited ancient sites throughout the world as they appear today - then superimposes, on acetate overlays, vivid, realistic artist's reconstructions of the same sites as they appeared in their original glory. The sun-baked shell of the Parthenon is restored to its brightly-painted greatness on Athen's Acropolis. The stones and columns of the Roman Forum are joined up and filled in to recreate one of the great public places of the world. Machu Picchu, Angkor Wat, the Aztec Temples of the Sun, the Palace of Knossos, the Second Temple, Pompeii, and more are shown in their prime. In addition to photos and overlays, the text explains every element in each scene, placing it in its cultural, historical and social context. More illustrations and diagrams highlight other important points.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This is a spectacular glimpse of 20 ancient architectural wonders representing various civilizations from ancient history. A small format was selected (about 24 cm. high), yet this volume is packed with superb illustrations of artifacts and short, interesting discussions of the cultural milieu of each site. Each monument selected includes an area photograph of the monument as it looks today, enhanced by an acetate overlay supplying reconstructions of original features. For most libraries; it will appeal to readers interested in ancient history, archaeology, and the artistic splendor of the ancient world.
- Paula I. Nielson, Loyola Marymount Univ. Lib., Los Angeles
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Macmillan General Reference (October 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0025994611
• ISBN-13: 978-0025994614
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 8.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #638,140 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great teaching tool. Excellent pictures!, July 19, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Then and Now: The Wonders of the Ancient World Brought to Life in Vivid See-Through Reproductions (Hardcover)

A man loaned this book to a friend of mine. She immediately ordered it and showed it to me. I immediately ordered it also. I used this book to teach a children's class today. One of the parents saw it and had me order them a copy.

I especially enjoy the pictures of places I have visited. To see how these places could have looked originally with the artist's renders overlaying the current pictures is amazing.

Great teaching tool for adults as well as children. As they say, "a picture is worth 1,000 words."

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite coffee table book, October 6, 1997

By 

[e-mail] (Dripping Springs, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Then and Now: The Wonders of the Ancient World Brought to Life in Vivid See-Through Reproductions (Hardcover)

A unique book for lovers of ancient civilizations. The acetate overlays restore present day photographs of ruins to their original colorful glory, as they might have looked back then. Anyone who has ever picked this book up off my coffee table has loved it. The acetate overlays bring back nostalgic memories of browsing through the Britanica as a child.

4.0 out of 5 stars Ancient World Revisited, April 5, 2010

By 

Janet Snyder (Mendocino County, California) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Then and Now: The Wonders of the Ancient World Brought to Life in Vivid See-Through Reproductions (Hardcover)

I bought this book for my young granddaughter who finds it completely fascinating. I thought the book might be a bit dated but to her young eyes it's not. There's nothing like the visual to take her through time and it's done splendidly here. She's only 8 years old but she's already planning to visit every place in the book!