Brian Martens

This is the first book to examine holistically the making and trading of marble sculpture at Athens, Greece, from the late second century BCE to the fourth century CE, when Athenian marble-carvers were among the leading producers of figural sculpture in the Mediterranean basin. The study takes at its heart the archaeological evidence found at Athens, which includes over 300 unfinished sculptures and at least 10 workshop spaces. The approach moves away from a canon of isolated works and named artists, and toward a community of carvers and the gathered evidence for their activities, offering new perspectives on the social and economic networks that supported the industry. It demonstrates a thriving demand for Athenian-made sculpture abroad and, most especially, in local marketplaces.