The Sites of Ancient Greece

Book excerpt: 'The Sites of Ancient Greece' presents 150 of Georg Gerster's most spectacular and evocative photographs of the landscapes and architecture - both ancient and modern - of Greece, a country he has visited and photographed numerous times in his long career. The photographs in this book were taken between 1996 and 2006. A short preface by Gerster himself and an introductory essay convey a sense of why this country, its history, myths and landscapes, have captured the hearts and minds of so many for thousands of years, from ancient kings and poets to modern holiday-makers. In addition, a map of the featured locations and a timeline listing the key dates, events and eras of the ancient Greek world help set the scene for the picture section to follow. Arranged geographically by region, the images in this book take the viewer on a guided tour of Greece and her islands, from cloud-topped Mount Olympus, home of the Gods, in the northern mainland to the isle of Crete in the Mediterranean Sea.