Reviewed by: The Parthenon: From Antiquity to the Present John Griffiths Pedley Jenifer Neils , ed. The Parthenon: From Antiquity to the Present. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005. Pp. xvi + 430. CDN $96.95. ISBN 9780521820936. So many books about the Parthenon have appeared in recent years that it is reasonable to ask whether the appearance of yet another is helpful. Iconic the building may be—and the editor of these essays, Jenifer Neils, whose knowledge of the building and its ornament is second to none, makes a good case for the use of that loaded term—but do we really need at this point in the history of Parthenon Studies another series of essays on the structure? The answer is predictable: yes, and no. No, if little or nothing is added to what is already published, and yes, if new evidence is brought to bear, or new theories, or new methods of enquiry and analytical techniques. Moreover, at a moment when the restoration work of Manolis Korres and his team has yielded so much new information, and the new museum at the foot of the Acropolis is now open, it can fairly be argued that another account of the building is timely. The contributors are all seasoned authorities. The contents of the book are as follows: Jenifer Neils, Introduction: A Classical Icon Jeffrey M. Hurwit, Space & Theme: The Setting of the Parthenon Lisa Kallet, Wealth Power & Prestige: Athens at Home & Abroad Barbara A. Barletta, The Architecture & Architects of the Classical Parthenon Lothar Haselberger, Bending the Truth: Curvature & Other Refinements of the Parthenon Katherine A. Schwab, Celebrations of Victory: The Metopes of the Parthenon Jenifer Neils, "With Noblest Images on All Sides": The Ionic Frieze of the [End Page 293] Parthenon Olga Palagia, Fire from Heaven: Pediments & Akroteria of the Parthenon Kenneth Lapatin, The Statue of Athena & Other Treasures in the Parthenon Robert Ousterbout, "Bestride the Very Peak of Heaven": The Parthenon after Antiquity Andrew Szegedy-Maszak, "Well Recorded Worth": Photographs of the Parthenon Richard A. Etlin, The Parthenon in the Modern Era The lead essay by Jeffrey Hurwit focuses on the whereabouts and visibility of the Parthenon on the acropolis. Passing through the Propylaia into a small court, the later fifth century visitor's attention was first drawn to Pheidias' huge bronze statue of Athena: only a small part of the Parthenon was visible. As he or she continued up the slope past other victory monuments, dedications, and the sanctuary of Artemis Brauronia, the view of the building continued to be partially blocked by walls and roofs. It could only be seen in its entirety when the terrace of the Chalkotheke was reached. Thus, in situating the Parthenon, Hurwit reminds the reader of the gradual unfolding of the visual impact and the angled view. He does a lot more. He investigates previous buildings on the site, examines other architectural problems including that of the Opisthodomos, and pays attention to the ideological context. He sees the Parthenon as the high point of an architectural program planned to celebrate the past, and the victory and power of Athena. Lisa Kallet addresses another kind of setting, Athens' political and cultural setting vis-a-vis other poleis. The development of the Athenian empire from the confederacy of Delos is at the heart of the discussion. Events are traced from the battle of Marathon to the completion of the Parthenon, with special attention paid to relations between Athena and Sparta, and the timing of the shift of the treasury from Delos to Athens; interesting emphasis is placed on the Athenian use of inscriptions on stone to record temple inventories, tribute monies, casualty lists, and other matters of public concern. Strong on the wealth of the polis, sources of goods imported to Athens (there is a neat quote from Hermippos), building programs and accounts, this overview is noteworthy for its reminder that all the Acropolis building costs were approved by the demos, the popular assembly. All this extravagant expenditure was authorized by the democracy. There are two specifically architectural studies. Lothar Haselberger takes on the question of refinements: curvature, angle contraction, inclination of columns and other members, and entasis. He is quick to establish that such...