Classics A Very Short Introduction

This "Very Short Introduction" to Classics links a haunting temple on a lonely mountainside to the glory of ancient Greece and the grandeur of Rome, and to Classics within modern culture - from Jefferson and Byron to Asterix and Ben-Hur. We come into contact with the Classics daily: in our culture, politics, medicine, architecture, language, and literature. What are the true roots of these influences and how do our interpretations of aspects of the Classics differ from their original reception? This introduction begins with a visit to the British Museum to view the frieze which once decorated the Apollo Temple at Bassae. Through these sculptures, John Henderson and Mary Beard prompt us to consider the significance of the field of Classics as a means of discovery and enquiry, its value in terms of literature, philposophy, and culture, and its importance as a source of imagery.