Penguin Classics: Guide to Greece 1 (Penguin Classics) - Pausanias

Written in the 2nd century AD, “Guide to Greece” by Pausanias is one of the most valuable and vivid ancient travelogues ever composed. This first volume, covering Central Greece, takes readers through the sacred cities and landscapes of Attica, Delphi, Boeotia, and more—offering a firsthand look at temples, shrines, myths, and customs through the eyes of a Roman-era Greek traveler.

Combining archaeological detail, mythological storytelling, and historical commentary, Pausanias paints a layered portrait of Greece’s heartland, guiding readers through its physical and cultural geography with insight and reverence.

Main Themes of the Book

• Sacred geography and ancient religious sites
• Greek mythology as lived experience
• Civic pride, memory, and local traditions
• Eyewitness descriptions of ancient ruins and festivals
• Cultural continuity from Classical to Roman Greece

Reasons to Read this book by Pausanias

• A rare window into ancient Greek topography, mythology, and religion
• An essential source for historians, archaeologists, and classicists
• Penguin Classics translation ensures accessibility and accuracy
• Full of firsthand accounts of lost temples, rituals, and sculptures
• Ideal for readers of ancient literature, travel writing, and Hellenic studies

“Guide to Greece 1: Central Greece” by Pausanias is more than a travel guide—it’s a literary and historical treasure. A must-read for anyone fascinated by ancient Greece, it bridges time through the personal perspective of a traveler who saw and recorded the fading glory of the classical world with detail, awe, and devotion.