John R. Bartlett – författare

In his 'Description of the Holy Land', written in Latin around 1283, the Dominican Burchard explores the land in a series of itineraries starting from Acre in the north, and then from Jerusalem in the south. His particular concern is to identify and describe towns and other sites mentioned in the Bible as an aid to pilgrims and biblical scholars. He treated the evidence of the Bible and other sources carefully, he used the evidence of place-names preserved from antiquity, and he knew the land from personal observation, not simply from the writings of his predecessors. His identifications (e.g., of Dan and Beersheba) are not always supported by modern archaeological evidence, but he understood the importance of it, as shown by his explanation of the survival below ground level of early Christian sites, and his discussion of the site of ancient Jerusalem. Burchard's work exists in both a longer and a shorter, abbreviated, version. This book contains the Latin texts, drawn from selected manuscripts, complete with apparatus criticus, and translations of both versions. Introductory chapters cover what is known of Burchard and his career, the manuscript evidence for his two versions of the Descriptio and their relationship, an account of the different printed editions of Burchard's work, a study of his presentation of the geography of the land, and a discussion of early maps showing knowledge of his work. Further chapters explore the churches visited by Burchard, and his use of scripture and other written sources.Burchard names over four hundred places; the identification of biblical places is central to his work. Consistency in the spelling of biblical place-names deriving from ancient Hebrew or Greek and handed down via Latin, Arabic, and through many biblical translations in different languages, is well-nigh impossible. This book includes a list of the Latin names used by Burchard, together with their English equivalents as commonly used by modern scholars, and also as found in the historical maps of the Atlas of Israel (2nd edition, 1970). Palestine Grid coordinates have been added for ease of precise location on the map. Eight maps have been included to illustrate Burchard's knowledge of the Holy Land and the Egypt described in his final chapters.

This book shows how travellers and scholars since Roman times have put together their maps of the land east of the River Jordan. It traces the contribution of Roman armies and early Christian pilgrims and medieval European travellers, Crusading armies, learned scholars like Jacob Ziegler, sixteenth-century mapmakers like Mercator and Ortelius, eighteenth-century travellers and savants, and nineteenth-century biblical scholars and explorers like Robinson and Smith, culminating in the late-nineteenth century surveyors working for the Palestine Exploration Fund. This original and valuable book shows, with full illustrations, how maps of the Transjordan region developed through the centuries, and with its detailed tables and bibliography will aid future scholars in further research.The author took part in archaeological excavations and surveys in Jordan, was Associate Professor of Biblical Studies and Fellow at Trinity College Dublin, has published research papers and books on ancient Jordan. John Bartlett was the editor of the Palestine Exploration Quarterly, and until recently was the Chairman of the Palestine Exploration Fund.

The contributors in this book use the most recent research in key areas - the early settlements of Israel, early Israelite religion, Qumran, Jerusalem, early Christian churches - to show that ancient writings and modern archaeology can illuminate each other, but only when used with professional care. The essays represent a new generation of archaeologists and historians, with new social, political and religious concerns who draw a fresh and vital picture of the emergence of ancient Israel.

The contributors in this book use the most recent research in key areas - the early settlements of Israel, early Israelite religion, Qumran, Jerusalem, early Christian churches - to show that ancient writings and modern archaeology can illuminate each other, but only when used with professional care. The essays represent a new generation of archaeologists and historians, with new social, political and religious concerns who draw a fresh and vital picture of the emergence of ancient Israel.

Articles examine the city of Jerusalem and other Jewish communities of the Mediterranean diaspora, as reflected in the writings of Luke, Josephus and Philo. Topics covered include social identity, everyday life and religious practice.This will be of interest to students of Roman history, biblical studies, ancient Judaism and Hellenistic history.

Articles examine the city of Jerusalem and other Jewish communities of the Mediterranean diaspora, as reflected in the writings of Luke, Josephus and Philo. Topics covered include social identity, everyday life and religious practice.This will be of interest to students of Roman history, biblical studies, ancient Judaism and Hellenistic history.

This book aims to introduce the work of Hellenistic Jewish writers of the period 200 BC to AD 200. Four in particular are studied. The authors of the Letter of Aristeas and the Sibylline Oracles came from second-century BC Egypt. Eupolemus wrote probably in Jerusalem at the same time. Josephus, a priest from Judaea, wrote in Rome in the late first century AD. Using Greek, not Hebrew or Aramaic, and conscious of the position of Jews in the Graeco-Roman world, they wished to demonstrate that their cultural and religious heritage stood comparison with the Graeco-Roman tradition and that Jews were neither so philosophically naive nor so politically troublesome as they were often supposed to be. An opening chapter describing the position of Jews in the Hellenistic world is followed by selected passages, all newly translated, with introductory essays and commentary. The collection makes available to students much material hitherto not easily accessible.

This is a book for anyone interested in the political and cultural results of the entry of the small state of Judah and its capital Jerusalem into the wider Hellenistic world in the second century BCE. In particular it forms a helpful introduction to the biblical writing called 1 Maccabees, which is preserved in the Apocrypha. 1 Maccabees is a history of the rebellion of the Jews against their Syrian rulers in the 160s BCE. The rebellion's leader was Judas Maccabee, and from his family and its success sprang a dynasty that ruled Judah for the century before the arrival of Herod the Great. The author of 1 Maccabees was a keen supporter of that dynasty, and saw their early rulers as made in the mould of the early kings of Israel. The present book introduces the student to modern scholarly research on 1 Maccabees and its author.