Superb, detailed reconstructions of buildings provide the starting-point for a vivid exploration of these two great cities and the lives of the people who inhabited them. Peter Connolly's illustrations and reconstructions have a unique authority, with their blend of superb draughtsmanship, imagination, and meticulous research. The text appeals to a wide spectrum of readers, from young adults to professional historians.

Table of Contents

PART I: ATHENS; 1. The Golden Years - Athens in the fifth century BC; 2. The Keys to Survival - The city's defences, and food and water supplies; 3. The Cradle of Democracy - The workings of the world's first democracy; 4. Daily Life - Life in fifth-century BC Athens; 5. Work - Earning a living in Athens; 6. The Houses of Athens - Athenian domestic architecture; 7. Temples for the Gods - Athenian religious buildings; 8. A Festival for Athena - Celebrations and sports for Athena's birthday; 9. The Theatre - Athenian drama: the world's first plays; PART II: ROME; 1. The Site of Rome - Rome before the Empire; 2. The Imperial City - The transformation of Rome during the reign of Augustus; 3. Government - Roman law and the civil service; 4. Food and Water - Aqueducts and the ports of Rome; 5. Houses and Apartments - Roman houses for rich and poor; 6. Daily Life - Life in Rome in the first and second centuries AD; 7. Shops, Bars and Restaurants - Commercial activity in Rome; 8. Many Gods - Religion and worship; 9. A Day at the Races - Chariot racing at the Circus Maximus; 10. The Theatre - Farce, parody and other aspects of Roman drama; 11. The Colosseum - Gladiatorial games at Rome's arena complex; 12. A New Palace - The great palace complex of Domitian; 13. The Age of Apollodorus - The golden age of Roman architecture under Trajan's chief architect; 14. The Great Baths - Roman imperial thermae (heated baths); 15. The City in Late Antiquity - Rome after the time of Hadrian

Reviews

Gr 9 Up-For anyone assigned a report on the design, construction, and use of the Parthenon or the Roman Colosseum, it would be hard to find a better source than this one. The full-page color drawings are stunning and include a wealth of detail not often found in other sources. Readers may not be aware, for example, of the lively use of color that prevailed on Greek temples and sculpture, but it is well portrayed here. Numerous photographs and reproductions also illustrate the text. The daily life, history, and architecture of Athens and Rome are extensively covered, in more detail than most students will be able to absorb. Advanced readers with a background in ancient history may find some interesting topics for in-depth research. An up-to-date bibliography and a useful index are appended.-David N. Pauli, Missoula Public Library, MT

"A fascinating, close-up picture of what daily life was like for the inhabitants of the two most celebrated cities of the Western Classical Age. Private houses, public spaces, city streets, shops, restaurants, Greek temples, Roman baths, clothing, hairdos, utensils, customs, beliefs, manners, and mores are among the many areas that Connolly covers.... Lucid, succinct, easy-to-follow, and the hundreds of illustrations--photographs, maps, drawings, and diagrams--are attractive and very much to the point."--The Christian Science Monitor
"Strewn with minutely detailed cityscapes, cutaway views, and interiors, this hefty urban study recaptures the architectural glories of two great cities in their heydays.... Equally suited to casual readers or serious study."--Kirkus Reviews (pointer review)
"Remarkable... The elaborate maps and lavish illustrations that grace every page most vividly communicate the tenor and the texture of classical antiquity.... A superior historical, sociologi