The Parthenon Enigma: a New Understanding of the West's Most Iconic Building and the People Who Made It.

Author: Joan Breton Connelly
Publisher: Vintage (Penguin Random House)
Format: Paperback
Condition: Used
Pages: 544
Published: November 4, 2014

The Parthenon Enigma offers a bold reinterpretation of the Parthenon, the crowning glory of ancient Athens. In this groundbreaking work, classical scholar Joan Breton Connelly challenges long-standing assumptions about the temple’s meaning and reveals new insights into its creators and their world.

Drawing on archaeological discoveries, art history, and ancient texts, Connelly argues that the Parthenon’s famous frieze tells a different story than traditionally believed—one that reflects sacrifice, community, and the civic values of Athens at its height.

Engaging and richly detailed, this book not only redefines our understanding of one of the world’s greatest monuments but also illuminates the people and culture who built it.