Synopses & Reviews
Now available in a new edition, this wonderful tour of the Holy Land has been thoroughly revised, expanded, and brought up to date. Perfect for travelers (not least those of the armchair variety), this concise, readable, and even witty book offers both an authoritative look at the history, art, architecture, and archaeological aspects of the region, and expert advice on how to find the sites and monuments of the greatest interest to the visitor. The Holy Land takes the reader from Stone Age caves and the grandiose buildings of Herod the Great, to Roman Roads, Byzantine churches, Crusader fortifications, and beautifully decorated Mameluke houses. Murphy-O'Connor--who has spent twenty years guiding tourists in the Middle East--offers detailed instructions on various routes that will encourage the traveler to venture off the beaten path, and provides the latest information on the most recent excavations, complete with detailed site plans and maps. For the visitor to a region rich in history and religious tradition the guide is indispensable; for the casual reader, it offers hours enjoyment right at home.
Synopsis
This concise, witty, and readable guide is an ideal companion for travelers to the Holy Land. Based on Murphy-O'Connor's many years of directing archaeological field trips, this guide gives clear directions about how to find sites and monuments of interest, from Stone Age Caves and Roman roads to the grandiose buildings of Herod the Great and Byzantine churches and synagogues. This new edition has maps and detailed site plans on nearly every page and includes the reports of the most recent excavations. As well as treating the sites that everyone should see, Murphy-O'Connor encourages visitors to leave the beaten track to discover the amazing variety of the Holy Land's cultural riches.
Synopsis
The Holy Land, as the geographic focal point of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, has immeasurable resonance for the pilgrims it has attracted since as early as the fifth century BC.
The Holy Land is an indispensable, illustrated guide to over 200 of the best Christian, Jewish, and Islamic sites in the City of Jerusalem and the surrounding Holy Land from earliest times to 1700. Each entry explains the history and topography of a site, as well as its function and significance. Father Jerome Murphy-O'Connor provides a brief historical outline from the Stone Age to the Modern Period, and lists sites accordingly.
The Holy Land presupposes little knowledge of history or archaeology and gives clear directions on how to find sites and monuments of interest--both well-known and those less familiar. With entries including the Damascus Gate, the Holy Sepulchre, the Via Dolorosa, Mount Sion, the Dead Sea, Hebron, and Jericho, this indispensable guide includes detailed maps, plans, and illustrations further illuminating these spectacular wonders.
About the Author
Father Jerome Murphy-O'Connor is Professor of New Testament Studies at the École Biblique et Archéologique Française, Jerusalem. He is the author of many books, including
Paul: A Critical Life (OUP, 1996), and
Paul and the Dead Sea Scrolls (1990). Jerome Murphy-O'Connor has a great deal of practical experience in the field of archaeology and after living in Jerusalem for many years he has developed an intimate knowledge of sites in the Holy Land.