Iran: Sculptures And Sculptors At Persepolis; Journal Of The British Institute Of Persian Studies
Condition: SECONDHAND
This is a secondhand book. The jacket image is a photograph of the exact copy we have in stock. This image shows the condition of this book. Further condition remarks are below.
Condition remarks:
Book: Good
Jacket: No dust jacket
Pages: Good
Markings: Fair - Rubbed edges and bumping on spine and corners
Condition remarks: Condition as shown in image
At the heart of the ancient Achaemenid Empire stands Persepolis — a city of towering columns, monumental staircases, and an astonishing array of sculpted reliefs that have captivated scholars and travellers for centuries. Michael Roaf's Sculptures and Sculptors at Persepolis, published as a volume of *Iran: Journal of the British Institute of Persian Studies*, presents a rigorous and meticulous scholarly examination of the sculptural programme at one of the ancient world's most breathtaking ceremonial complexes, cataloguing the figures, processions, and artisans behind the stone carvings that defined Achaemenid royal ideology. Roaf's work argues with forensic precision that the reliefs of Persepolis were not merely decorative, but a carefully orchestrated visual language of imperial power, ethnic diversity, and dynastic legitimacy. Drawing on detailed stylistic analysis and comparative evidence, the author illustrates how individual sculptors and workshops can be identified through recurring technical habits — a revelation that transforms our understanding of ancient Persian artistic production. This landmark study remains essential reading for anyone serious about the archaeology and art history of the ancient Near East, and leaves open the tantalising question of just how much more the stones of Persepolis have yet to tell us.
Author: Michael Roaf
Format: Paperback
Genre: Ancient history
Condition remarks:
Book: Good
Jacket: No dust jacket
Pages: Good
Markings: Fair - Rubbed edges and bumping on spine and corners
Condition remarks: Condition as shown in image
At the heart of the ancient Achaemenid Empire stands Persepolis — a city of towering columns, monumental staircases, and an astonishing array of sculpted reliefs that have captivated scholars and travellers for centuries. Michael Roaf's Sculptures and Sculptors at Persepolis, published as a volume of *Iran: Journal of the British Institute of Persian Studies*, presents a rigorous and meticulous scholarly examination of the sculptural programme at one of the ancient world's most breathtaking ceremonial complexes, cataloguing the figures, processions, and artisans behind the stone carvings that defined Achaemenid royal ideology. Roaf's work argues with forensic precision that the reliefs of Persepolis were not merely decorative, but a carefully orchestrated visual language of imperial power, ethnic diversity, and dynastic legitimacy. Drawing on detailed stylistic analysis and comparative evidence, the author illustrates how individual sculptors and workshops can be identified through recurring technical habits — a revelation that transforms our understanding of ancient Persian artistic production. This landmark study remains essential reading for anyone serious about the archaeology and art history of the ancient Near East, and leaves open the tantalising question of just how much more the stones of Persepolis have yet to tell us.