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2 of 27 found the following review helpful:
 Fictional review? Apr 03, 2007
I wish I could have given 5 stars, but since the book, shipped on January the 7th, still hasn't arrived at the moment of this writing (April the 3rd!), I can't evaluate it properly... and so I have to rely on other people's opinions.
26 of 28 found the following review helpful:
 Once in a lifetime atlas of the Classical world Aug 26, 2001
There has never been an atlas of the ancient world to compare with this incredible piece of scholarship and mapmaking. At a cost of about five million dollars and over a decade in development, it contains highly detailed professional maps equivalent to the best atlases of our modern world. It goes beyond the Mediterranean world to include europe as far as Britain and the east as far India. The last atlas of this time period I purchased had a few dozen imprecise and limited small maps. There are 99 full-color large-scale maps in this volume. I haven't been this excited about a reference book for several years.
86 of 88 found the following review helpful:
All the geographical detail of the Greek and Roman world Nov 22, 2000
Finally, after years in the making, this atlas is finished and I'm glad to have it.This is a great work, all the detailed knowledge about location of cities, shrines, roads, etc, etc., etc., that has been gathered about Roman and Greek sites has been put together in just one atlas. Even individual estates are placed on maps, when convenient. Seamlessly, from one map to another you can trace any route, find any name, and look into the neighboring area. The map by map directory provides further insight into the sources of information, variant ancient names and modern place names (if any), Obviously there's no such a thing as a telescope/microscope. You have to know what you are looking for, because details can sometimes shield the big picture. You need to know the original spelling of a name, or some variant. This book is invaluable when looking for names and places that are nowhere else printed in a map, at least a map that covers an area that places them in context. Now, what else could be useful? Basically, I would have liked three things: - an 'inverse' gazetteer or 'name dictionary'. Look for modern place names and find ancient equivalents. To look for a modern name is difficult. The book is not intended for this. You have to use the search engine in Acrobat, which means that you have to be using a computer. And scroll though the results. There is no straightforward way. So, a 'Modern Names Gazetteer' with ancient equivalents is something I'd like to have. Could a database fulfill this purpose? PDF formats do not allow data management, but the editor must have the data. Someone will provide this. - a different altitude color-coded scale As for the altitude color-coded tints, to my taste, there is at least a brown shade too many. The tinted scale is such, that some maps look a little brownish, because everything above 1000 feet has that background color. Of course, there are contour lines, but you have to look at them and read the numbers. Coding is not very useful in such a situation. Printed names over brown background are not easily readable. - a heavy paper o plastic loose-leaf with the Map Key The Map Key appears only on map 1, on the reverse side of the page, a good idea since the maps are not clogged with repetitive information and space is used for the essential purpose. But then you have to return to it for a reference. Thence, either it will wear out or hopefully you will remember usual references. Not for the casual reader. I've already photocopied it. Overall, an outstanding achievement. Four stars, could have been five if some of the above items had been included.
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