This book shows full-page colour photographs of the most visited ancient sites throughout the world as they appear today - then superimposes, on acetate overlays, vivid, realistic artist's reconstructions of the same sites as they appeared in their original glory. The sun-baked shell of the Parthenon is restored to its brightly-painted greatness on Athen's Acropolis. The stones and columns of the Roman Forum are joined up and filled in to recreate one of the great public places of the world. Machu Picchu, Angkor Wat, the Aztec Temples of the Sun, the Palace of Knossos, the Second Temple, Pompeii, and more are shown in their prime. In addition to photos and overlays, the text explains every element in each scene, placing it in its cultural, historical and social context. More illustrations and diagrams highlight other important points.