At the beginning of the 19th century, in the period before th War of Independence, several travellers wrote studies on aspects of ancient and contemporary Greece.. Robert Walpole (1781-1856), a descendant of Sir Robert Walpole, first Earl of Oxford, also considered the first Prime Minister of Great Britain, voyaged to the East around 1803 and returned in 1808. Walpole gathered together in a first precious edition (1817) texts and studies mainly on Greek antiquities. Two enriched re-editions followed in 1818 and 1820.

Most of the texts in Walpole's volume were not published elsewhere or independently. This edition includes in addition to Walpole's articles on various subjects (funerary practices, fishing techniques, ancient Greek vases), the following:
- Texts by J.B.S. Moritt on the Mani region and by naturalist Dr John Sibthorp on the Mani, Cyprus, Attica and Central Greece (Cithaeron, Livadeia, Delphi, Hosios Loukas, etc.) as well as on the medicinal flora of the land, olive groves in Zacynthos and various subjects of everyday life (local products, fauna, customs).
- An article by Dr P. Hunt on Troy and Assos, and a most interesting text by the same author on Mount Athos and the monastery libraries there.
- A letter by J.D. Carlyle and a study by H. Raikes on Lake Copais, the sinkholes, the Euripus Strait, Rhamnus and the Coryceion Cave.
- A study by Colonel Squire on the military architecture of the ancient Greeks and on the Plain of Marathon, the Isthmus of Corinth and the antiquities of Boeotia and Phocis.
- An article by Mr Davison on the pyramids of Egypt, the catacombs in Alexandria, contemporary customs and practices in Egypt, as well as Captain Light's account of his journey to Nubia.
- The Earl of Aberdeen's most interesting text on the mines of Laurion and ancient coinage, and his article on the bas-reliefs from Amyclae.
- Studies by J. Hawkins on the topography of Athens, based on information provided by French consul L. Fauvel, and Walpole's own articles on the Vale of Tempe and the Euripus.
- The edition also includes a panoramic view of Athens by W. Haygarth, a map of Troy and commentaries on ancient inscriptions. Walpole's innovative idea of collecting in one volume a number of small chronicles and essays which could not have been published individually, preserved and transmitted information that would otherwise have remained scattered, as family heirlooms or as manuscripts in private collections.

Written by Ioli Vingopoulou

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  Map of the Troad.

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  Map of ancient Greece.

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  Map of Asia Minor.

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  View of Midas monument in the village of Yazılıkaya, near Eskişehir. The whole of the ancient site is also called Midas City due to its plethora of Phrygian monuments, and forms part of the Phrygian valley.

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  Inscriptions and funeral monuments from Telmessus and Myra, Asia Minor.

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  Relief from Kekova (gr. Kakavas), the port of Myra in Asia Minor.

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  Relief from Kekova (gr. Kakavas), the port of Myra in Asia Minor.

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  Votive stele from Lydia, Asia Minor. God Pan on the upper left.

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  Title page.

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  Ostracon from Attic black-figure vase, showing horsemen.

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  Map of the plain of Marathon.

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  Map of Athens, showing the remains of ancient buildings, according to Fauvel's investigation.

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  Panoramic view of Athens.

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  Panoramic view of Athens.

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  Reconstruction of the ancient fortress on Euripus strait.

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  Plans of the tholos tombs of Orchomenus and Mycenae.

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  The Erechtheion.

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  Panoramic view of Athens.

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  Cycladic figurine.

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  Antiquities from Amyclae, brought to Britan by the Earl of Aberdeen.

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  Scene from Attic red-figure vase.

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  Title page.

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  Drawing of the remains of the northern wall of the Acropolis of Castelli, Patmos (situated to the north of Chora of Patmos).

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  The structure known as “drakospito” (ogre's house) on top of Mount Ocha, Euboea. According to the author, it was and ancient sanctuary. However, although animal remains and fragments of vases have been discovered on the site, to date the exact function of the building has not been established with certainty.

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  The structure known as “drakospito” (ogre's house) on top of Mount Ocha, Euboea. 1. Interior view of the entrance and part of the façade. 2. Plan of the site. 3. Plan and section of the entrance.

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  Strife of Poseidon and Athena, from the western pediment of the Parthenon. Dionysus from the eastern pediment of the Parthenon. Dionysus from the Choregic monument of Lysicrates. The strife of Poseidon and Athena, with other gods present: Ancient vase, which was discovered during the excavations of the walls of the Acropolis and ended up in Cambridge as part of Edward Clarke's collection.

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  Votive stele from Susa, Iran.

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  Enigmatic inscription from a bust of Isis. In the late 18th century the inscription became the cause of controversy among British scholars. Several academics believed that it was an Egyptian bust with Chinese ideograms, produced in the context of Chinese-Egyptian commercial relations, while others considered the item a forgery.

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  Ancient inscription from Amphipolis.

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  Map of the coasts of Syria and Lebanon.

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  Statuette from Egypt.

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  Map of the site of ancient Gortyn, Crete. View of Gortyn.