Customer Reviews

The Wall Paintings of Thera

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If like me you're interested in ancient wall paintings, this is a book for you. There are not many books about this subject, and I was very happy to find it. My fascination with these paintings is the joy and happiness they portray. The vibrant way people, birds, dolphins and flowers are portrayed by these ancient artists show a enormous love for life itself. That makes these paintings so special for me, much more than just their historical meaning. Now don't expect a very thick book with photographs of many wall paintings in prime condition. That is impossible with this archeological subject. And the male homoeroticism aspect can be found with some imagination, but only if you realy look for it. The book itself is of a very high quality, printed on high gloss thick paper and with excellent photographs.

This book is a superb illistration of Minoan life on the Greek Island of Akrotiri (Santorini) some 5000 years ago.
The pictures of wall paintings provide a valuable insight into styles, animals, artefacts and the peoples lives during that period.
I have visited the Caldera which was a liftime experience, this book provides inspiration to understand the scale of the tragedy when the middle of the land mass was blown out by a massive volcanic eruption.
The book collated by Chistos Doumas is an extraordinary not to be missed masterpiece.

I was able to work at the excavation in Thera, and this book is really quite helpful in understanding the civilization that lived that lived in Ancient Akrotiri. The book has excellent photographs of the wall-paintings that depict everyday life in Ancient Akrotiri--some paintings that you will probably only see in this book! There is also a wonderful commentary on these wall-paintings by the head of the excavation, C. Doumas, not only explaining what the pictures depict, but also narrating where and how they were found. A good investment, and a wonderful book!