The Temple of Jerusalem (Wonders of the World)

Features

• Cover Type: Hard Cover with 208 pages
• Published by: Harvard University Press; New Ed edition March 31, 2005
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0674017978
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0674017979
• Book Dimensions: 7.3 x 4.7 x 0.6 inches
• Weighs: 8.8 ounces

From Publishers Weekly
Though only one retaining wall (the famous "Wailing Wall") survives, the Temple of Jerusalem remains a meaningful symbol in many religious traditions and is a source of inspiration for artists, poets, archaeologists and others who have been captivated by the idea of the once glorious structure. Goldhill, a professor of Greek Literature and Culture at the University of Cambridge, discusses the significance of the Temple to Christians, Muslims, Jews and even Freemasons, who "take their 'passwords' and allegorical meanings from the Temple" for their levels of initiation. He explains that the Temple, built to replace the first one that was destroyed in 587 BC and a second one that was deemed insufficient by Herod the Great, is commonly regarded as the second Temple because the construction of a third would represent the End of Days for Jews and Christians. Though the Temple was destroyed in seventy AD, it still inspired many artistic imaginings that Goldhill acknowledges are a valid part of its "archaeology." These renderings are based on descriptions of the grand appearance of the Temple in scripture, which Goldhill describes at length, along with the many sacred rituals that took place inside. This fourth installment in Harvard's Wonders of the World series (The Parthenon, The Alhambra, etc.) illustrates the temple in fantastic detail and conveys its significance and symbolism both when it was standing and after its destruction. The thorough discussions of a wide variety of interpretations comprise a fascinating and vivid treatment of what Goldhill demonstrates to be "the most potent symbol of the human search for a lost idealthat has prompted struggle, brutal war between cultures and nations, and some of the most moving poetry and art of the Western tradition." 25 halftones, 9 line drawings.
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From Booklist
Built by Herod the Great, king of Judea, the Temple of Jerusalem was destroyed by the Roman emperor Titus ninety years later, in seventy C.E. Goldhill, a professor of Greek literature and culture at the University of Cambridge, presents his book as a "tour of the bizarre and wonderful history of an imagined building: it will take us from sex and politics in the Bible to the violence and romance of the Knights of the Crusades." As a political and religious center, Goldhill says, "it inevitably became the focus of war and social struggle, but as a destroyed building, the space of its absence has attracted the hopes and aspirations of millions of people over the centuries." With 25 halftones and nine line drawings, this book captures in extraordinary detail the remarkable history of this religious monument. George Cohen
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Reader Reviews
The writing is clever, with the right zest of irony. The book is sparkling, with the right cocktail of erudition, trivia bits, political analysis and text criticism. My intention was to browse this short volume just to find the dates and facts I needed, but I found myself reading it almost cover to cover (chapter 10, "Archeology and Imperialism", was too English-centered for my taste, and the last chapter, "The Temple is ours!", failed to teach me something new). The main contribution of the book, in my view, is to put the historical facts in a much broader perspective -- the influence of the destruction of the Jewish Temple on modern political discourse, for example, is disserted in a truly fascinating chapter. Goldhill (great name, since the Temple was located on Jerusalem's most sacred hill!) excels in clarifying the biblical text and in explaining the motivations behind it. The Koran gets the same analytical treatment. The book includes lots of illustrations (black and white, alas), some I've never seen before. If you're looking for an intelligent commentary on the Temple of Jerusalem thru history, don't look any further. Comment | | (Report this)