Life, Myth, and Art in Ancient Rome

Tony Allan

"Life, Myth, and Art in Ancient Rome celebrates the many achievements of Roman culture and delves into its dark side. Romans erected structures so well built and engineered that they still stand millennia later, yet these same buildings also showcased blood sports as public entertainment. The Romans instituted just government, impartial legal and political institutions, and concepts of citizenship, yet its population included slaves as well as patricians and plebeians, and was often riven by intrigue, superstition, and savagery." "This volume is an illustrated introduction to a fascinating, and at times paradoxical, civilization and its art and architecture, ranging from magnificent temples and aqueducts, to exquisite mosaics and jewelry. Placing the art in its cultural context, the author covers themes that have long inspired the Western imagination, including the rise and fall of...

See on goodreads | librarything