Introduction by John Julius Norwich

I first set eyes on the Mediterranean when I was fifteen.

I have loved it ever since. Why? Well, we all take it for granted, I know; but try to look at it objectively, pretending that you have never seen it before, and you will suddenly realize what a unique phenomenon it is - that there exists no other body of water on the surface of the globe remotely like it. Saved from stagnation by the Straits of Gibraltar, it seems to have been deliberately designed as a cradle of cultures - and this is certainly what it has proved to be.

It nurtured three of the most dazzling civilisations of antiquity, and saw the birth or blossoming of three of our greatest religions; in consequence, the lands surrounding it are richer in painting, sculpture and historic monuments than any comparable area on earth.

Of those three civilisations, Ancient Egypt had relatively little cultural impact beyond the Nile Valley; Greece - and Rome even more - profoundly affected the entire Mediterranean, but there was a huge qualitative difference between them. Rome was a political entity - first a republic, then an empire. St Paul could boast that he was a Roman citizen.

Greece, on the other hand, was a spirit, an idea. It had no frontiers; if you felt Greek and spoke Greek, then Greek is what you were. Homer, or Herodotus, or Pythagoras, all of whom came from the coast of Asia Minor, were Greeks through and through, just as Greek as if they had been born in Athens or Sparta. And, oddly enough, it was the Greek spirit that won through in the end. By the fourth century AD, Rome was dying on its feet. By moving the imperial capital to his new city of Constantinople, Constantine the Great gave the Empire a new lease of life; but Constantinople was part of the Greek world, and gradually the Empire - while still calling itself Roman - became completely Greek. So it remained until Tuesday, 29 May 1453 - one of the most fateful dates in all history - when the Ottoman Turks smashed their way through the walls of the city and the Byzantine Empire, after 1,123 years, ceased to exist.

Voyages to Antiquity itineraries have been planned to reveal as much as possible of the literally inexhaustible wealth that the Mediterranean lands have to offer, and to explain it to people who are genuinely eager to see and to understand.

We are not interested in mere cruises in the sun; our only ship, Aegean Odyssey, has no casinos, no discos, no black tie. On the other hand, we recognise that our fellow-travellers are on holiday; they deserve comfortable cabins and the best food that we can provide. And we also know that there are few pleasures like getting together in the evening over a drink or two to discuss the wonders that we have seen during the day.

So there's our formula: interest and excitement ashore, comfort and relaxation on board. We propose to enjoy ourselves; we hope that you will too.

	The Middle Sea, John Julius Norwich's remarkable book about the Eastern and Central Mediterranean, has inspired our outstanding itineraries. He will be joining us aboard the Aegean Odyssey in June, to accompany our Venice - My Dream Became My Address cruise and in September - on Sicily is The Key to Everything.
Photo credits: Jonathan Himoff