Books about Greece


Adkins, Lesley, and Roy A. Adkins. Handbook to Life in Ancient Greece. Oxford University Press, 1997.
This is a recently-published reference guide to various facets of ancient Greek culture: history, geography, urban planning, writing, religion/mythology, the military, arts and sciences, daily life, and the economy. The text is composed of written discussions, as well as encyclopedic entries of names, places, etc. Numerous illustrations, diagrams, maps, plans, and timelines supplement the text.


Ancient Greece: the famous monuments, past and present. Muses Publishers, 1997.

This book looks at ten sites in ancient Greece through detailed text and color photographs. There are also before-and-after drawings of selected monuments, where a transparency of the recontructed monument is placed over a picture of the monument as it looks today. Although the text is too advanced for students, the before-and-after drawings are a great educational tool.


Baker, Charles F. III, and Rosalie Baker. Classical Companion. Cobblestone Publishing, 1993.

This resource introduces students to the ancient civilizations of Greece and Rome, and their struggle against foes and overwhelming odds. It includes innovative projects for students, such as building a human-powered airplane and the Greek warship Olympias.


Baker, Charles F. III, and Rosalie Baker. Classical Ingenuity. Cobblestone Publishing, 1996.

This resource helps students learn about artists, architects, and inventors of the ancient Mediterranean world and how their work has inspired future generations. It includes a play, several activities, a teacher's guide, and a bibliography.


Burkert, Walter. Greek Religion. Trans. John Raffan. Harvard University Press, 1985.
This book serves as a handy reference guide to Greek religion and mythology. Each divinity is discussed separately, with descriptions of their personalities and accompanying myths. The remainder of the book focuses on various rituals in Greek religion, and its role in the contemporary society.


Cartledge, Paul, ed. The Cambridge Illustrated History of Ancient Greece. Cambridge University Press, 1998.
This book provides a comprehensive overview of ancient Greek history and culture. The book is arranged thematically, with chapters focusing on such topics as: history, geography, people, women, daily life, religion, and the visual arts. The text is supplemented by maps, plans, diagrams, and color photographs, as well as information boxes on specific topics.


Fullerton, Mark D. Greek Art. Cambridge University Press, 2000.
This recently-published book serves as an introductory text on ancient Greek art. The book is arranged according to themes in Greek art and society, not by chronology. Fullerton focuses on a few major works in detail, in particular the Parthenon, and enhances his discussions with numerous color photographs.


Morkot, Robert. The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Greece. Penguin Books, 1996.
This book provides a brief chronological tour of ancient Greece from the Bronze Age through the Hellenistic period. Each historical era or event is presented in a two-page section, and is recounted through the use of color maps, illustrations, and diagrams.


Pomeroy, Sarah, et al. Ancient Greece: A Political, Social, and Cultural History. Oxford University Press, 1999.
Take a chronological tour of ancient Greek civilization from the Bronze Age through the Hellenistic period. The book offers a multi-valent approach to ancient Greece by blending political and military history with social, cultural, and artistic developments. The text is supplemented by photographs, maps, plans, diagrams, and tables, as well as a variety of primary source material.

© Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University,
Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Rochester and Dallas Museum of Art
For more information please contact odyssey@emory.edu.
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