Revising his 1985 Ph.D. dissertation at Princeton University, Papelexandrou (art history, U. of Texas-Austin) explores the visual culture of Greeks during the eighth and seventh centuries BCE, particularly the attachment of three-dimensional bronzes depicting spear-brandishing warriors or youths that were fastened onto the handles of elaborate tripod cauldrons, the most prestigious dedications in Greek sanctuaries in the Geometric and Early Archaic periods. Most historians dismiss them as charming and naive decoration, but he interprets their iconography and function. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)