Alexandra Villing Books

For over 3,000 years the myth of Troy has fascinated artists and audiences alike--from the epic tales of Homer's Iliad and Virgil's Aeneid to retellings from Chaucer to Madeline Miller, and stagings from Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida to Brad Pitt's rendering of the hero Achilles. But what is it about this tale that makes it so eternally appealing, and what do we actually know about historical Troy? This richly illustrated volume tells the story of Troy and the great Trojan War through the lens of objects from the Greek Bronze Age to the twenty-first century. Using the Classical works of art for which the British Museum is internationally known, this book considers the ancient myth through the eyes of Greek and Roman artists. Drawing on the latest research, it chronicles the search for Troy that convinced the world of the city's existence, beginning with the nineteenth-century excavations by Heinrich Schliemann. Focusing on the major characters in the story--Helen of Troy, Achilles and Hector, Aeneas and Odysseus--it illustrates how artists from Cranach and Rubens to Romare Bearden and Cy Twombly have been inspired to explore contemporary themes of war and heroism, love and beauty. Troy sheds new light on a story that has resonated for millennia

This book is an introduction to the city of Athens, its history and its monuments. Its focus is 5th century Athens, the time of the city's heyday. The influence and importance of the city during this period reverberates through the centuries to the present day. As one of the dominant powers in the Mediterranean, Athens became the archetypal Classical city, and its monuments and temples stand as a testament to the glory of the city and its people. This book is structured as a progressive tour that physically takes the visitor through Athens, starting on the Acropolis, moving down the slopes through the Agora, through the city's narrow alleyways past houses, shops and sanctuaries, up to the city gates and beyond, to the Kerameikos cemetery, and finally to the city's harbour, Piraeus. As each chapter provides an interesting and informative introduction to the main areas of Classical Athens it can be used as a reference guide to areas of particular interest as well as a tour. This book can be used as a guide whilst walking the streets of Athens, or sitting at home in an armchair.

A comprehensive introduction to the archaeological site of Knossos and the search for its mythical past, unveiling the myths, mysteries and historical facts of this incredible site.