Athens – Martín Hürlimann – Thames and Hudson – Fourth Impression - 1960 – Tela

**Athens**: 79 pictures in photogravure
5 in colour and historical notes
Introductory text by rex warner
79 pictures in photogravure
5 in colour and historical notes
Introductory text by rex warner
People have attempted in different ways to explain the miracle of the sudden rise and the peculiar splendour of Athenian civilization. And indeed "miracle" seems an appropriate word when we reflect that in two or there generations a small people living in a small and rocky land changed the world and determined its history by their rapid and brilliant discoveries, that they not only gave us the names of the arts and sciences but in many cases achieved what is still perfection in the practical application of their discoveries. The achievement is so extraordinary and, in a sense, so complete that it may almost seem to us that Athenian civilization, like the goddes Athene herself, must have sprung fully armed into existence by means of a miraculous and inexplicable birth.

Yet we should find it impossible precisely to name the date of this birth or to imagine its circumstances. It is true that the greatest age of Athens began with the setting up of a democratic system of government, with the successes of Athenian arms or imperialism can be satisfactorily attributed the tremendous and unique achievements of the Athenian intellect. Other peoples have been democratic, militarily successful and imperialistic without adding much to the cultural inheritance of mankind. Nor were Athenian theory and practice with regard to political organization and imperialist expansion always approved by the best Athenians of the great age. It should be noted also that, though the Athenians were certainly proud of themselves as innovators, they were equally proud of a long tradition. If they claimed to be "a school for Hellas" because of the novelty and success of their undertakings, they also claimed to be the oldest civilized power in Hellas. Euripides, though an innovator himself and critic of established ways, stresses in his praise of Athens not her inventions but her antiquity.