GLENN J. CORBETT
One of the most exciting but also challenging aspects of publishing BAR is selecting the cover for each issue. We had some great candidates for our Winter 2024 issue (see a couple of examples below), but ultimately chose a stunning view of the brilliant dome that rises above the aedicule commemorating Jesus’s traditional tomb in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
BAR Alt Winter 2024 cover 1
Selecting the cover is a long process and a team effort. First, we source dozens of photos from authors, photographers, museums, and our own archives to find beautiful and striking images that convey the wonder, grandeur, and discovery of the biblical past, usually as reflected in one of the issue’s feature stories. We then share these images with our wonderful design team, which mocks up various covers and provide critical feedback about why certain ones might work better than others. Ultimately, however, the decision falls to BAR’s editorial and publishing teams, which also consider factors such as when the issue will appear and the cover’s uniqueness relative to past issues. Finally, we choose one cover we believe will invite readers to open the issue to discover more about the biblical world.
BAR Alt Winter 2024 cover 2
We hope our latest cover invites you to read the issue’s lead article, “Written in Stone,” which explores the first official churches built by Constantine in the fourth century to commemorate key moments in the life of Jesus. In “Projecting Prestige,” which we also considered for our cover (see lower image), visit the great Canaanite city of Hazor to learn how Egyptian statues from dynasties of old may have been used to cement the status and prestige of the city’s rulers. Then, follow esteemed archaeologist William Dever as he examines evidence for the Assyrian destruction of ancient Israel’s Northern Kingdom that may help unravel the mystery of “How the Ten Tribes of Israel Were Lost.” Finally, in “The Mystery of Mary and Martha,” investigate scribal changes made to early copies of John’s Gospel that may reflect later Christian attempts to downplay Mary Magdalene’s role in the Jesus movement.
Beyond the issue’s feature articles, pore through ancient spellbooks that reveal the peculiar rituals Romans used to secure the affections of would-be lovers. Examine a decorated Bronze Age vessel from Tel Burna and what its stylized imagery may suggest about Canaanite goddess worship, and then join archaeologists in the laboratory as they try to determine whether opium was as widely used in antiquity as some believe. Learn fascinating stories about Jesus’s childhood that circulated among early Christians and why these noncanonical traditions proved so appealing. Finally, explore the realities of the human experience that may underlie the Hebrew Bible’s many purity laws and how other Near Eastern cultures likely shared similar beliefs.
As you enjoy the latest issue of BAR, take a look at these other covers we considered. Did we choose the right one? Write or email and let us know what you think.
One of the most exciting but also challenging aspects of publishing BAR is selecting the cover for each issue. We had some great candidates for our Winter 2024 issue (see a couple of examples below), but ultimately chose a stunning view of the brilliant dome that rises above the aedicule commemorating Jesus’s traditional tomb in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Selecting the cover is a long process and a team effort. First, we source dozens of photos from authors, photographers, museums, and our own archives to find beautiful and striking images that convey the wonder, grandeur, and […]
