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 splendour 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 discovery 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-colour 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 contextualising essay, "Kingdoms of Ruin" will be essential
reading for historians of antiquity and armchair travellers alike.
