Ancient Sicily: Monuments Past and Present (Monuments Past & Present)

This new book in the popular Monuments Past and Present series explores historic sites in Sicily, illustrating important monuments and districts as they appear today, with overlays indicating how the sites are thought to have looked in ancient times. The book begins with a brief history of Sicily from its early contacts with Minoans and Myceneaens, through its division between the Greeks and Phoenicians, to the series of invasions it suffered at the hands of the Carthaginians, the Romans, and the Arabs, each of whom left their mark on the landscape. Organized geographically, the book includes seventeen reconstructions of ancient monuments as well as additional ancient artifacts in six important locations across the island: Syracuse, Taormina, Piazza Armerina, Agrigento, Selinus, and Segesta. Travelers, students, and anyone interested in the history of the Mediterranean region will find this book an excellent resource. The book includes a concise glossary of architectural terms.