The Parthenon

The Parthenon is more than a magnificent building. Every marble statue, every graceful column, is an expression of a civilization whose three great values still speak to us today: Democracy. At a time of godlike rulers, ordinary citizens voted to build the Parthenon. Humanism. The Parthenon's art honored Athens' water carriers as well as its gods. Balance. The Parthenon's aesthetic brought lightness and grace to height and mass. The Parthenon tells of the rise of Athens - from the religion that nurtured it, through the wars that tested it, to the democracy that ennobled it - culminating in the construction of the great temple on the Acropolis. The book not only captures the human stories, but also vividly illustrates the technical details behind the construction, from quarrying of the marbles to carving of the exquisite frieze. To look at the Parthenon is to see Athens. To see Athens, is to see ourselves.