A testament
to humanity's potential and its frailties, ancient Rome has
become a metaphor for both unparalleled dominion and fallen
greatness. From its origins as a Bronze Age settlement on
the Capitol (one of the famous seven hills of Rome), the city-state
rose to regional hegemony as a monarchy, gained control of
the entire Mediterranean as a republic, and became one of
the world's first superpowers before finally, as an unwieldy
bipartite empire, collapsing under its own weight. This book
of postcards reproduces thirty antiquities spanning the history
of ancient Rome. From the collections of The British Museum,
these magnificent artworks and artifacts include portraits
of emperors and gods, illustrations of soldiery and sport,
and remnants of the diverse cultures that came to be assimilated
into Roman civilization. 30 colour postcards 17.5cm x 12cm |
