From the Publisher
Our understanding of the origins of the Greek architectural orders is largely based on the writings of Vitruvius and modern interpreters. Archaeological evidence has been viewed secondarily and often made to fit within a literary context. Breaking with tradition, Barletta examines both the material and written record, drawing on a diversity of evidence, from early, pre-canonical material to the often overlooked contributions of Western Greece and the Cycladic Islands. The result is a fresh, coherent reconstruction of the development of early Greek architecture.