Kingdoms of Ruin: The Art and Architectural Splendours of Ancient Turkey

Turkey boasts a legacy of extraordinary richness and magnificence. From the dawn of civilization, Anatolia spawned great empires of her own -- Hittite, Phrygian and Lydian -- and then felt the mark of Persia, Greece and Rome. The story of the country is one of migration and conquest, artistic and spiritual splendor, and cities and gods trampled underfoot. The brutal greatness of this complex past is reflected in the ruins populating the region's immense landscape. Some sites, such as Homer-haunted Troy, white marbled Ephesus and the lofty acropolis of Pergamon, are already familiar to the modern visitor. More intrepid travellers encounter fallen cities that may be less famous, but are no less spectacular. They leave wondering what yet awaits discovey along the timeless Aegean coastline, either buried in the shadows of resin-scented pine-forests or clinging to the foothills of distant, snow-capped mountains. In Kingdoms of Ruin, acclaimed photographer Jeremy Stafford-Deitsch presents 150 sublime full-color images to illustrate the unparalleled glory of Anatolia's matchless ancient sites. Some are world famous, some are known only to scholars while a few are visited only by shepherds and treasure hunters. Introduced by an extensive contextualizing essay, Kingdoms of Ruin will be essential reading for historians of antiquity and armchair travellers alike.