Athena and Eden
Robert Bowie Johnson, Jr.
(Associate Reviewer - Gail Evans)
2002 Solving Light Books
ISBN: 0970543816

The Hidden Meaning of the Parthenon's East Facade.

Athena and Eden is a landmark book, revealing the surprising identity of Athena, & unlocking the long-hidden meaning of the sculptures which graced the east facade of her famous temple, the Parthenon.

Guest Reviewer Gail Evans writes:

Every now & then a book comes along that inspires me, excites me, enlightens me, pushes the edge of the envelope & gives me food for thought. Athena and Eden by Robert Bowie Johnson, Jr. is such a book.

However, I must also state that I am not an expert on Greek Mythology or ancient Greek architecture, so I cannot argue the toss, & have taken Robert Johnson's arguments at face value given the evidence that he has presented, evidence that is backed up by ancient Greek art & images that clearly illuminate the many points that this author has put across & that highlight his hypothesis. From my standpoint, I think that Athena and Eden is a valid argument for anyone interested in religion in general &/or ancient Greek belief.

When the famous Library of Alexandria in Egypt was burned down in 391 A.D & Christianity became the State religion, 900,000 scrolls containing a wealth of knowledge of the Mediterranean world were lost. If any of these works had survived, perhaps wars would not have been fought in the name of religion as we would have had a different perception, realizing that many of the world's beliefs are joined by a number of common threads. However, all that is left to us today are monuments, statues, pottery & other images waiting to be deciphered in order to reveal their secrets.

This Robert Johnson has done in Athena and Eden, meticulously, succinctly and clearly putting back together the pieces of the east facade (which are scattered all over the world) of the famous Parthenon in Athens dedicated to Athena, Goddess of Wisdom & Power, who ruled over the city that gave birth to democracy. At 159 pages this is a quick, easy, fun & enlightening read with lots of illustrations highlighting each point, & you don't have to have a working knowledge of Greek mythology to enjoy it!

As with many of the Mesopotamian myths that reflect the stories found in Genesis in The Bible, so too does Robert Johnson find similar threads in ancient Greek religious belief. In our educational institutions, we have been brought up to believe that the stories of the Greek Gods & Goddesses are myths & legends. This is actually doing the cradle of Western Civilization a disservice. Their religion was as valid to them as Christianity, Islam & Judaism are to many today. & what is more, Johnson's insights will offer a measure of enlightenment to those with an open mind who are prepared to push the edge of the envelope. Dare to explore & enjoy!

More from Robert Bowie Johson, Jr.: Publishing Basics
(03/30/03)

Gail Evans
2003©Gail Evans
A RebeccasReads.Com Associate Reviewer

Reviewer's Bio:
I currently live in Johannesburg, South Africa & am the author of: The Firstborn of God: Resolving the Contradictions In The Bible, Time Trials & Meditations In My Favourite Places In Southern Africa.