For instance if one knows a modern place name but not the ancient name there is no way to find this in the Directory though one can visually consult the maps. In the CD-ROM data search PDF formats do not allow data management, so finding information can be burdensome. In the Atlas the Map Key appears only on the first map. A foldout comprehensive map key would facilitate ease of use, as would a laminated map-key card. The color-coding makes ease of reading the altitude changes difficult because of the liberal use of brown over 1000 feet.
Contour lines are useful but still lead to too much guesswork.
In 99 full-color maps spread over 175 pages, the Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World recreates the entire world of the Greeks and Romans from the British Isles to the Indian subcontinent and deep into North Africa. It spans the territory of more than 75 modern countries. Since the 1870s, all attempts to map the classical world comprehensively have failed. This new initiative has finally achieved that elusive and challenging goal. The resulting Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World is a reference work of permanent value.