The Art and Archaeology of Ancient Greece

I am a professor of art history and Greek and Roman is my area of specialization. I'm currently teaching a class on Greek and Roman art and we're using Barringer's textbook. It's brilliant. She doesn't dumb anything down, instead teaching terminology and complex concepts along the way. I'm thoroughly enjoying the ride as I read along. Each chapter is like listening to a really excellent lecture by an expert. Barringer's extensive experience with the sites and material she discusses shines on every page. This is more than a textbook or an introduction, and it's not a catalogue of artworks. It's about ideas and art and how the two are inextricably entwined in ancient Greek civilization. It's really a captivating read. Plus, the images are fantastic. How Barringer managed to get permission to publish all of these is beyond me. This is an award-winning textbook, and well it should be. To me it doesn't feel like a textbook at all--it feels like a discussion, an explanation, and an invitation to learn more about Greek art. Brava.

Required textbook for university class