Christopher Wordsworth (1807-1885) became Bishop of Lincoln in 1868. An excellent classical scholar and the author of numerous theological works, he visited Greece during 1832-1833 and was the first British citizen to be received by King Otto (Othon).

His two most memorable works, "Athens and Attica... and Greece, pictorial, descriptive…", are written in a style authoritative since the seventeenth century but free of the pretentiousness of those erudite works in which mythology, observations on contemporary geography and demography, scholarly comments and observations made on the spot are mixed in a hazy manner. A tireless investigator, Wordsworth gives us rigorous descriptions, especially of archaeological sites, makes frequent references to classical authors and enthusiastically records what he sees around him. For all these reasons, his work was an immediate success. For the illustrations of his books, Wordsworth borrowed drawings from publications by H. Belle and the "Expédition Scientifique de Morée", as well as by C.R. Cockerell, Choiseul-Gouffier, Hervé, J.Stuart/N. Revett and others.

The present edition is the translation of “Greece, pictorial, descriptive…” into French. The image collection does not include all of the images of the book but only those plates which were not published in the original English edition whose illustrations are also available on the website.

Written by Ioli Vingopoulou

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  Title page.

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  God Pan.

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  Storm at sea close to the Acroceraunian mountains, Albania.

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  Greek of Aetolia and Acarnania in traditional costume.

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  Landscape at Pineios river.

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  Greek fishermen and sea turtles.

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  Festivities on the eve of the Olympic games at ancient Elis (imaginary representation).The author praises the peaceful character of the inhabitants of Elis compared to the other Peloponnesians.

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  Forest in Arcadia, drawn in accordance with the perception of Arcadia as a pastoral paradise.

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  Representation related to the climate of the Mediterranean countries (Middle East, Greece and Egypt) which, according to the author, contributed to the development of Greek civilization.

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  Ships off the coast of Sounion (imaginary representation).

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  Athenian ships sail out to Salamis (imaginary representation).

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  The Acropolis as seen from the sea.

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  The Acropolis as seen from Acharnae.

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  Aloe plant at the feet of Mount Parnitha.

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  Ariadne on Naxos.

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  Scene at Rhamnous. In the background, the temple of Nemesis.

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  Miltiades and Themistocles (imaginary representation).

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  Leisure scene at the springs of Kifissos river at Mount Penteli.

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  Views of Erechtheion, Propylaea, Hadrian's Arch and the Gate of Athena Archegetis, Athens.

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  Parthenon and the gold and ivory statue of goddess Athena (imaginary reconstruction).

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  Details of the western frieze of the temple of Athena Nike: Battle scene.

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  Remains of the Parthenon.

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  Black-figure and red-figure vases from Athens.

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  A caravan of women leaves Athens.

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  Ships at sea off the port of Piraeus.

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  Pericles surrounded by Athenian women lamenting the death of Themistocles (imaginary representation).

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  The battle of Chaeronea in 338 BCE (imaginary representation).

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  Landscape at Lycorea, the highest peak of Mount Parnassus.

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  Themistocles sends Mardonius away from Athens, before the battle of Plataeae in 479 BCE (imaginary representation).

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  Landscape at the northern part of the Gulf of Euboea.

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  Idyllic landscape at the vale of Tempi, Thessaly.

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  Ottoman officials.

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  Tree with fruits at the site of ancient Ambracia near Arta.

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  Ottoman weapons.

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  Storm at the Ambracian gulf.

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  Inhabitants of Ioannina.

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  The battle of Plaka, 1821.

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  Landscape at Corfu.

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  Storm off the coast of Paxoi island.

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  Part of the wall of ancient Krane outside Argostoli, Cephalonia island.

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  Landscape at Achaia. In the background, the mountain sof Aetolia.

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  Landscape at Achaia.

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  Landscape on Chavos river, near Mycenae.

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  Theramenes is arrested on the orders of Critias.