Problems in Periclean Buildings

Elderkin, G. W. (George Wicker), 1879-1965Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.7

Word count: 98K words
Chapters: 10

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Problems in Periclean Buildings by G. W. ElderkinAuthor: Elderkin, G. W. (George Wicker), 1879-1965,Language: English, Class: NA: Fine Arts: Architecture, Release Date: Aug 24, 2011

Editor's review

This book is a focused discussion of Athenian architecture in the Periclean period. George Wicker Elderkin raises and examines a number of specific problems from the perspectives of architectural history and archaeology; it is a detailed study rather than a general history. Its value lies in concentrating attention on particular building elements, questions of dating, and disputes over form, making it suitable for readers who already have a basic framework of ancient Greek architecture and wish to go deeper. The discussions rely largely on the archaeological material and scholarly debates of their time, so readers without background knowledge may easily lose the thread among the terminology and arguments. It is best used as a research pamphlet, read alongside basic works on the Acropolis and the Parthenon, and with attention to the currency of its conclusions. Overall, this is a work for specialist interest rather than a leisurely art guide.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Students of ancient Greek architectural history who need specialized material
Researchers interested in the Acropolis and Periclean building activity
Readers with a foundation in archaeology who want to understand early scholarly debates
Readers who need supplementary detailed case studies for a course on architectural history

Not a good fit for

General tourists with no background in ancient Greek architecture
Beginners expecting an illustrated architectural guide
Those who want only a general overview of Athenian architecture and are not concerned with the details of scholarly disputes

Reading tips

Read a general history of ancient Greek architecture first to establish terminology and a chronological framework.
While reading, consult plans of the Acropolis and elevations of the temples to locate the objects of discussion.
Note the author's premises and bear in mind that the conclusions may differ from later archaeological findings.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book an introductory work on ancient Greek architecture?

No. It discusses specific scholarly problems in Periclean architecture and assumes that the reader already knows the Acropolis, temple forms, and basic terminology. It is better suited to specialized research than to introductory guidance.

Can the conclusions in the book still be cited directly today?

With caution. The author relies on the archaeological material and scholarly debates of his time, and later research may have revised some judgments. Before citing, check more recent literature on architectural history and archaeology.

Can it be understood without a background in archaeology?

It will be rather difficult. The arguments involve analysis of building elements, dating, and form, and without background knowledge one can easily get lost. It is advisable to build a foundation in ancient Greek architecture first and then use this book for deeper reading.

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About the author

Elderkin, G. W. (George Wicker), 1879-1965 Author · American · 1879–1965

George Wicker Elderkin (1879–1965) was an American archaeologist and art historian who taught at Princeton University for many years. One work by him is held in our collection, Problems in Periclean Buildings. Judging from its title and from the author's research background, the book belongs to the field of classical architecture and archaeology, focusing on the architectural remains of Periclean Athens and related scholarly questions, and it may examine existing reconstruction proposals and problems of dating. Public information about his life, education, and academic career is limited, and he is little known to Chinese readers; the available Chinese introduction mainly confirms his teaching post at Princeton and his role as a scholar in classical archaeology. His writing is addressed to specialist readers and deals with specific monuments, making it a work of empirical and antiquarian scholarship rather than popular writing for a general audience.