The Holy Land: Guide to the Archaeological Sites and Historical Monuments

by Fabio Bourbon, Enrico Lavagno

The Holy Land an arena of extreme passions, a land of encounters and conflicts among innumerable people and cultures, the ancestral cradle of all possible opposites - this geographic region boasts over 8,000 years of recorded history. From the sand of its deserts, the shores of the Jordan River, and the darkness of its many caves emerge the remains of Israelite fortresses, Roman theatres, Nabataean cities, Byzantine churches, sumptuous Omayyid palaces, crusader castles, and Arab mosques. In addition to being a valuable tool for the most demanding visitor, Holy Land is an emotional discovery of humanity's crossroads. Enhanced by hundreds of photographs, plans, and reconstruction drawings, the text provides a clear and detailed picture of the inestimable art treasures in Israel, Jordan, and Sinai. All major archaeological sites and monuments are analyzed, from Jerusalem to Petra, from the digs at Caesarea to the centuries old St. Catherine's Monastery, including less known but equally fascinating places such as Gamla, Chorazin, and Pella.

This guide is designed for tourists, art lovers, and the business traveler alike, with a glossary of little-known terms as well as a historic survey. Holy Land is an invaluable the many facets and phases of an extremely complicated landscape that has played such a crucial role in shaping human history and society.

227 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Fabio Bourbon è uno scrittore di formazione classica, specializzatosi nella divulgazione della storia delle civiltà del passato e dell’arte antica.

Reviews

[Charity U · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book at Half Price Books, and was delighted to take it home. A few thoughts...

First, the positive:
-It has numerous full-color pictures of archaeological and historical sites throughout Israel and Jordan.
-It DOES include some biblical sites in Jordan, which many books do not (as they concentrate simply on "modern" Israel).
-A helpful guide to carry with you (if you dare to carry a book this big) as you go. It highlights locations, tells you what you modernly see (along with pictures), and gives the history (both biblical and later).

Now, the negative:
-There are numerous spelling errors, some quite serious, many simply typos.
-It was published in 2001, I believe. It's a good book despite that, but it is out of date, particularly in archaeology of Jerusalem, and at various other sites in Israel/Jordan, as excavations are ongoing.
-It doesn't hit every site. Now mind you, hardly any book ever could. And I will never agree with every single site included or excluded. So it's really impossible to please on this point, and it does a tolerably good job, but it's imperfect.
-I also didn't agree with all the dates assigned to various biblical events. Additionally, some of the "biblical" facts were erroneous.

Overall:
I have enjoyed this volume and am reading it through a second time. I would recommend it for readers who have the discernment to see where it comes short, both biblically and archaeologically. It's easy to read, full of pictures, good for a beginner - but should be read with caution, and with the support of the Bible and other literature. All in all, don't pay a bank for this, but if you find it for cheap, it's a good addition to a library and an interesting read for those with an interest in Israel and Jordan.

[Cloay]

- available in SG NLB 933 (Serangoon)

[Yisroel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, and learned a lot from it. Great pictures. I wish the descriptions were written a bit more clearly and cohesively.