Excavations, surveys and new theoretical approaches in science over recent decades have enlarged our know- ledge about the cultures of the Mediterranean at the time of the Greek colonisation in many details – for the Aegean as well as for the Western Mediterranean. Exchange and discussion of these results was the aim of the symposion ”The Aegean and the Western Mediterranean. Relations and Interaction 8th -5th century B.C.“, held in Vienna in March 1999. The research topics study the effect of the Aegean culture on the countries in the West and the possible reflections on the Greek mother cities. The proceedings of the symposion comprise 60 contributions which deal with the influence and interrelation of cultural phenomena on the basis of a number of main topics: the discussions covered problems of urban planning, of polis and hinterland, of sanctuaries and cults, as well as the artistic relations between the Aegean and the Western Mediterranean in the fields of architecture, sculpture, crafts, ceramics and painting. The final chapters deal with the aspects of trade and problems of colonisation.