ReViews: The Biblical World—For the Mind and the Eyes

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The Holy Land, as we know, is a place resplendent in history and beauty. Several guide and coffee table books are now available that help put the locations we read about in the Bible into a historical and visual context.

The Uttermost Part of the Earth: A Guide to Places in the Bible

Richard R. Losch

(Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2005)

16 b&w photos and maps, 272 pp., $16.00 (paperback)

The Uttermost Part of the Earth: A Guide to Places in the Bible takes its title from the New Testament book of Acts, where Jesus tells his disciples to be his witness unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8). Author Richard R. Losch, a retired Episcopal rector, takes the reader on brief trips to every major place in the Bible, giving background information and a context for each site. The book is arranged alphabetically and each vignette gives the location of the place, where it is mentioned in the Bible, what is there today and the author’s interpretation of the importance of the history of the place. It is a short, informative look into the places of the Holy Land meant as a sort of reference book to go hand in hand with the Bible.

Handbook to Life in Ancient Mesopotamia

Stephen Bertman

(New York: Oxford Univ. Press, 2005)

114 illus., 3 maps, 416 pp., $19.95 (paperback)

Handbook to Life in Ancient Mesopotamia, by Stephen Bertman, professor emeritus of classics at the University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada, is a comprehensive look into the lives of the Sumerian, Babylonian and Assyrian neighbors mentioned in the Bible and contemporary records. Most of what was once known as Mesopotamia lies within the modern-day borders of Iraq and has long been associated in Biblical tradition with the “cradle of civilization.” More of a reference book than a straight-read, Bertman’s Handbook defines in categorical order the important places, finds and people of Mesopotamia. Illustrated with pictures to back up the information, it is an encyclopedic portrait of life in the region, from the people who lived there, to what they wore, to how they spoke, worshiped, traveled and made their living.

The Archaeology of Ancient Judea and Palestine

Ariel Lewin

(Los Angeles: Getty Publications, 2005)

240 color illus., 16 maps and 14 plans, 204 pp., $39.95 (hardcover)

More visually oriented is the volume The Archaeology of Ancient Judea and Palestine. Each major archaeological site is described in detail from its history in antiquity to the details of modern archaeological excavations, and is accompanied by stunning photographs illustrating the text. An introduction allows the reader to put each of the archaeological places in its historical context, with a special final chapter on the monasteries, churches and synagogues that dot the landscape of the Holy Land. Written by Ariel Lewin, a professor of history at the University of Basilicata in Potenza, Italy, this work is a valuable addition to those who appreciate the pairing of text with visual aids to further understanding.

The Past from Above

Georg Gerster

(Los Angeles: Getty Publications, 2005)

516 color illus., 416 pp., $65.00 (hardcover)

For those who appreciate the visual most of all, The Past from Above is a 400-page feast for the eyes. The aerial photographs, taken by seasoned photographer Georg Gerster, are accompanied by brief descriptions of the sites, a log book of the photographer’s memories and an introduction about the history of aerial photography. Although the book is not specifically focused on the Holy Land, it does offer spectacular views of sites such as Jericho, Caesarea and Masada, to name a few.

The Holy Land, as we know, is a place resplendent in history and beauty. Several guide and coffee table books are now available that help put the locations we read about in the Bible into a historical and visual context.