Minerva - September/October 2014

Inside Iberia
Finding some curious treasures in the newly and brilliantly revamped National Archaeological Museum in Madrid. Polly Chiapetta

Hadrian’s passion
The Roman emperor’s love-affair with all things Greek influenced his taste in art and architecture – even the shape of his beard. Dalu Jones

Being Frank about Electra
Playwright Frank McGuinness explains how being brought up in Northern Ireland prepared him for Greek tragedy. Lindsay Fulcher

Ruin, reconstruction and reputation
Towards the end of his life the great artist JMW Turner looked back to the ancient world for painterly inspiration. David Blayney Brown

Lawrence of the Euphrates
Before famously spearheading the cause of Arabia, TE Lawrence spent time working as an archaeologist in the Near East. Anthony Sattin

From the Age of Iron
A new exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art takes a journey from Assyria to the dawn of the Classical age. Joan Aruz and Michael Seymour

Safe havens?
Trekking in Lebanon’s peaceful Qadisha Valley and down to its ancient coastal sites proves to be a harmonious experience. Diana Darke

Memories of China
The brilliant Ming dynasty can be seen as the starting point for modern China – as illustrated in two major exhibitions. Jessica Harrison-Hall