In this groundbreaking work, the author traces both the understanding and practice of atheism in the ancient pagan world. Drachmann brings to life these ancient atheists, and their sometimes problematic interactions with theist society.

From Ralph Van Deman Magoffin's 1922 review in Art and Archaeology: "The book here under review, although very brief, is of particular importance because it contains forty-seven clear plate figures, and especially because its author is the Keeper of the classical department of the Ny Carlsberg Museum in Copenhagen, where are the facsimiles and drawings of many wall paintings of Etruscan tombs made some thirty years ago. "Poulsen has followed the correct method of chronological comparison of style and matter, giving extraneous influence on technique and decorative detail a proper but subordinate place. He finds in the Tomba Campana at Veii ornamentation like that of seventh century B.C. Greek vases, where no narrative element is present. He then traces the development of style and content through various tombs, identifying scenes from Greek myths with certain variations. "These two types of decoration had their vogue before strictly funeral scenes began to appear in the tomb wall paintings, and in the verve of the work, and in the richness of accessories to banquet, funeral processions and ceremonies, Poulsen sees a corresponding Etruscan military, political, and social greatness. "The translation into English by Ingebord Anderson-for the book was originally published in 1919 in Danish as a Museum guide-is excellent."

This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone

This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!