Detailed notes on the illustrations are to be found in RG Text and Vocabulary pp. xvi–xxvi. The following paragraphs provide a more general background.

The illustrations have been chosen to accompany the texts with the purpose of enlivening the stories by introducing a visual dimension to the text. These visual images are taken from the vast body of Greek material that has survived. Most images do not make specific reference to the stories invented for the teaching of the language; they are affective accompaniments.

The majority are scenes on painted pottery (see below); others are a variety of images such as views (p. 3 (The Athenian Acropolis), p. 72 (Delphi), p. 144 (the Athenian agora, reversed)), maps (pp. 3, 28, 38, 227) and plans (p. 92). A few are drawn reconstructions (p. 46 (the Twelve Gods altar), p. 130 (the Athenian agora), p. 148 (the Eponymous Heroes monument), p. 204 (farm)).

A few images help to give particular aid to the background of everyday life (e.g. p. 57 (lamp), p. 53 (coins), pp. 61, 111, 114 (kitchen pots), p. 205 (bronze pitcher)) and of public life (e.g. p. 110 (water-clocks), p. 155 (voting tickets), cover of RG Independent Study (ostrakon)). Some are ‘art’ works, figured marble reliefs (p. 76 (votive of a cobbler), p. 175 (altar frame)), bronze dedications (p. 40 (statuette of Zeus), p. 53 (horse)), terracotta figurines (p. 64 (boots), p. 85 (comic actors), p. 117 (domestic scene)), and a gem (p. 76).