The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford is home to one of the finest collections of art and archaeology in the world. With some 10,000 objects, it is also the home of the best and most comprehensive collection of Aegean antiquities outside of Greece. Much is owed to Sir Arthur Evans (1851-1941) who managed during his directorship to significantly strengthen the museum's archaeological holdings. Evans is primarily known today for his excavations at the largest palace site in the Aegean, 'The Palace of Minos' at Knossos, on the island of Crete. The collection, along with its rich archival documentation, provides a continuing source of study and inspiration for scholars and the public alike. With the expertise of a distinguished group of contributors, this book draws out many of the stories presented in the museum. Evoking the personalities of some of the individuals involved in its rediscovery, this title is a richly illustrated volume that brings to life the world of the ancient Aegean.