Synopses & Reviews
The Nabataean Arabs, one of the most gifted peoples of the ancient world, are today known only for their hauntingly beautiful rock-carved capital--Petra. Here, in the wild and majestic landscapes of southern Jordan, they created some of the most prodigious works of man in the vast monuments that they chiseled from the sandstone mountains. The very scale of their achievement is breathtaking, but beyond mere magnitude is their creative vision, for they transformed the living rock of Petra into an enduring architectural masterpiece.
For nearly two thousand years, their civilization has been lost and all but forgotten. Yet the Nabataeans were famous in their day--Herod the Great and his sons, and a kaleidoscope of Roman emperors, were keenly aware of their power and wealth. Often victims of Greek, Roman, or Herodian duplicity, murder, and power politics, the Nabataeans were major players in the drama of the Middle East in biblical times.
This richly illustrated volume recounts the story of a remarkable but lost civilization and the capacity of its people to diversify their skills as necessity demanded. It describes their nomadic origins, the development of their multifaceted culture, their relations with their now famous neighbors, and the demise of their kingdom. It looks at their continued, if unrecognized, survival as Christians and farmers under the Byzantine Empire and into the early years of Islam.
Review
For anyone who wants to know more about Jordan's most admired landmark--basically, a narrow canyon chiseled into a kind of Middle Eastern Main Street, from its fancy façades to its recessed rooms--or the people who created it, this book offers excellent photography. Library Journal
Review
The Nabataeans created Petra--perhaps the single most astonishing site of the ancient world. Now at last, after two thousand years, Jane Taylor has given them the book they deserve. John Julius Norwich, author of < i=""> Byzantium <>
Review
I very much enjoyed Jane Taylor's book on the Nabataeans. She writes marvelously for her audience. She has complete command of her material and obviously loves it. I was deeply impressed by her book. G.W. Bowersock, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton
Review
Writer and photographer Taylor has created a beautifully illustrated work covering the history of the Nabataeans, an Arab people who lived in the area of present-day southern Jordan and northern Saudi Arabia from about the third century BCE until the sixth century CE...Taylor's clear, incisive writing and copious photographs bring the ancient world of the Nabataeans to life. Highly recommended. Elizabeth Salt
Review
This is an excellent book for the intelligent reader seeking an introduction to this field. The author, a writer and a photographer, has done a fine job, reflecting her love of the subject matter...The book, skillfully written, richly illustrated, and reasonably priced, will serve well its purpose to promote updated knowledge of a fascinating ancient Arab culture beyond the limited circle of professional scholars. The author and the publishers should be congratulated for this achievement. Christopher Reynolds - Los Angeles Times
About the Author
Jane Taylor, a writer and photographer, is the author of High Above Jordan and Imperial Istanbul and coauthor of Testament to the Bushmen.
Table of Contents
Maps
Preface
Prelude Alexander the Great, Frankincense and the Nabataeans
1. They Came from Arabia... The Origins of the Nabataeans and the Incense Trade
2. ...Into a Habitation of Dragons Settling in the Land of Edom and the Emergence of the Kingdom
3. Friends, Foes and Neighbors Relations with Egypt, Syria and Judaea
4. Days of Glory, Days of Dust From Independence to Roman Annexation
5. The Miracle of Petra The Development of the Capital
6. The Delicate Magic of Life Nabataean Gods and Places of Worship
7. Language, Script and Graffiti Speaking Arabic, Writing Aramaic and Carving Inscriptions
8. Babatha The Life, Loves and Litigation of a Woman among the Nabataeans
9. Afterglow of Empire Nabataeans and Christianity in the Byzantine Era
Epilogue The Nabataeans in the Islamic World
Notes
Glossary
Chronology
Bibliography
Index