THE PARTHENON (WONDERS OF THE WORLD)

Its worth a read. It gives a good overall account of the history of the Parthenon and I did learn a few interesting points like its post-temple history.But Beard's general scepticism towards ancient Greece and Hellenephilism shines through and I think undermines the account. An enthusiastic analytical approach would have been engaging - like her works on Rome. You always get the feeling that she thinks that the Greeks were too 'full of themselves' and its all a bit of a fraud.

Mary Beard's book is witty, erudite and challenging. She is never dull, and we learn by stealth! We do not see what the ancient Greeks saw, but we are moved. Yet we can also paradoxically visit it in the British Museum. Freud believed that the Parthenon transcended space and time. Was he right?

Opened my eyes to what has happened to these old stones. What we see now and what she has been though is to our eyes now a tragedy... Makes you understand why the British museum are hanging onto the Elgin marbles..

this is a really enjoyable and comprehensive run through the history of the Parthenon and its sculptures, reviewing what is actually known of its original purpose and the context of its construction, from what original sources remain, and covering its fate through the ages. it also covers the modern debate over the ownership of the marbles held in various museums and describes the new museum in Athens, down to practical details of how sculptures are displayed with reference to their original position on the building. If the magic of the Parthenon has touched you, read this excellent book

An interesting and readable account of the history of the Parthenon from its building and original purpose to the present day. It includes a lively and non partisan story of the Elgin marbles and their ongoing saga.