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Title details for Jerusalem through the Ages by Jodi Magness - Available

Jerusalem through the Ages

From Its Beginnings to the Crusades

by Jodi Magness
ebook
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A major new history of one of the world's holiest of cities, based on the most recent archaeological discoveries First settled five thousand years ago by a mountain spring between the Mediterranean and Dead Sea, Jerusalem was named for the god (Shalem) that was worshipped there. When David reportedly conquered the city, ca. 1000 BCE, he transferred the Ark of the Covenant—and with it, the presence of the God of Israel—to this rocky outcrop. Here, David's son Solomon built a permanent house for the God of Israel called the first temple, and since then this spot has been known as the Temple Mount. After Babylonians destroyed Solomon's temple in 586 BCE, it was replaced by the second temple, which is the setting for many of the events described in the Gospel accounts. In 70 CE, the Romans destroyed Jerusalem, leaving the Temple Mount in ruins. Two hundred and fifty years later, the emperor Constantine constructed the Church of the Holy Sepulcher around the spots where Jesus is believed to have been crucified and buried, and the church is now considered Jerusalem's holiest site by many Christians worldwide. In the late seventh century CE the focus shifted back to the Temple Mount, when an early Islamic ruler named 'Abd al-Malek enshrined the rocky outcrop in a monument that is still iconic of the city today: the Dome of the Rock. In 1099 Crusaders conquered Jerusalem, and although their rule was brief rule they left a deep impact on the city. Today, much of the old city retains its medieval appearance. For followers of the three Abrahamic faiths, Jerusalem is the place where the presence of the God of Israel dwells—the meeting point of heaven and earth and the locus of divine and human interaction. Jerusalem through the Ages by Jodi Magness explores how these beliefs came to be associated with the city by introducing readers to its complex and layered history, providing a broad yet detailed account, including the most recent archaeological discoveries. Each chapter focuses on a key moment of transition from Jerusalem's beginnings to the Crusades of the medieval period, enabling readers to experience the city's many transformations as it changed hands and populations-Jebusites, Israelites, Judahites, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Jews, Christians, and Muslims. The book also includes a walking guide for visitors who wish to experience the city's many archaeological sites firsthand.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    February 27, 2024

  • Formats

    • Kindle Book

    • OverDrive Read

      • ISBN: 9780190937829

    • EPUB ebook

      • ISBN: 9780190937829
      • File size: 302991 KB

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Kirkus

      February 15, 2024
      A thorough look at the archaeological record of the city's rich history as it parallels--or deviates from--the biblical record. Magness, an archaeologist and scholar of religion, offers a broad overview of the many complicated archaeological layers in Jerusalem's history, concentrating specifically on the construction, rebuilding, and remains of the Temple Mount over the centuries. The author, who has collaborated with many of the specialists noted in the book, moves from the topographic record--the first settlers of the small hill near the Temple Mount called it "foundation of the god Shalem," not "city of peace," as later accounts rendered it--through the work of significant modern archaeologists and surveyors whose sometimes-accidental discoveries revealed the incredible depth to the land and its people. These include Edward Robinson, Eli Smith, Charles Warren, Conrad Schick, and Kathleen Kenyon, among many others. Magness tracks the growth of the city over the Stone, Bronze, and Iron Ages, from early Canaanite towns to the consolidation of power after King David's conquest in 1000 B.C. The Babylonian conquest in 586 B.C. destroyed Solomon's Temple and sent the Israelites into exile, depopulating the land. The subsequent Persian period allowed the rebuilding of the Temple, after which the site experienced civil war, the Roman annexation in 63 B.C., and important expansion under Herod the Great and his successors. Magness lingers on the Christian record and the churches constructed during the Byzantine era, such as Constantine's Church of the Holy Sepulcher, then moves into the Islamic era, followed by the Crusades, which led to relentless bloodshed that has not ceased in the present day. The author also examines water systems, jars, walls, coins, tombs, dwellings, and remains to tell a riveting story of people and their faith. An all-encompassing survey of a city's physical presence and the historical record it reveals.

      COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Formats

  • Kindle Book
  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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