The Holy Land: An Archaeological Guide from Earliest Times to 1700

by Jerome Murphy-O'Connor, Orville Theodore Murphy

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.

Genres: Archaeology, History, Nonfiction, Reference, Travel, Biblical Studies, Architecture

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

Reviews

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that one of the other reviewers summed this book up best when they referred to it as "a nerds travel guide." The first section of the book focuses on Jerusalem, the temple mount, and the surrounding area. The second section of the book is an alphabetical record of significant places in Israel. The author includes Biblical, historic as well as contemporary insights. The book does support an old earth perspective.

This book did give me a historic and geographic perspective of the Holy Land that a strict Biblical study would not give. It provoked me to read others on the Crusades as well as the Second Temple Period. I gave the book 4-stars because it was well written and covered the material as well as it could be covered. However, don't pick this book up thinking that you are going to be entertained.

[Shelley]

Excellent pictorial archeological guide through Israel. Wish I had this with me when I last visited Jerusalem.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did not read in its entirety, but used as a resource for our trip to the Holy Land. Great information, would recommend!

[Sarah]

The nerd's-guide to Israel.

[James Hansee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a must resource for anyone traveling to the Holy Land. I read through this book after I had visited the places in Israel. It is beneficial to read before going or after.