Pilgrimage in Early Christian Jordan: A Literary and Archaeological Guide

Pilgrimage in Early Christian Jordan: A Literary and Archaeological Guide

by Burton MacDonald
Pilgrimage in Early Christian Jordan: A Literary and Archaeological Guide

Pilgrimage in Early Christian Jordan: A Literary and Archaeological Guide

by Burton MacDonald

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Overview

An interest in places of pilgrimage is very much a part of the life of many people in the modern world. For Christians, it is the Holy Land that holds specific interest - the area where the events described in the Bible, in both the Old and the New Testament, are located. This volume focuses on early Christian pilgrimage in Jordan, the region east of the Jordan River which has so far been little explored by pilgrims and tourists to the Holy Land. Yet many biblical events are said to have taken place here: Moses seeing the Promised Land, the ascension of the prophet Elijah and John the Baptist's ministry and beheading, to name but a few. This book takes an innovative approach to studying these sites. After a general introduction to each site, its biblical significance and a citation of the relevant biblical sources with commentary, the author lists the literary sources that pertain specifically to early Christian pilgrimage activity. This information is complemented with a description of the early Christian archaeological remains found at the site and their interpretation. Illustrated throughout with maps, plans, and photographs and including travel directions as well as suggestions about visits to the sites, this volume is made for scholars, pilgrims and tourists with an interest in early Christian and modern pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780977409495
Publisher: Oxbow Books
Publication date: 02/28/2011
Pages: 264
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Burton MacDonald is Senior Research Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, NS, Canada. His special interests are the archaeology of Jordan, especially the southern part of the country, within the framework of the prehistory and history of the Ancient Near East and its connection to Old Testament / Hebrew Bible Studies and the Christian Religion. He has conducted archaeological fieldwork in Jordan since 1977 and has been the director of numerous archaeological surveys throughout the region. His latest survey projects include the Tafila-Busayra Archaeological Survey (19992001), the Ayl to Ras an-Naqb Archaeological Survey (2005-2007; currently under preparation for publication), and the Shammakh to Ayl Archaeological Survey (since 2010).

Table of Contents

List of Figures VII

Acknowledgments XI

1 Introduction to the Sites 1

2 Early Christian Pilgrimage in Jordan 11

3 Casting Out Demons: Gadara (Umm Qays) and Gerasa(Jerash) 37

4 Elijah the Tishbite: Listib/Al-Istib, Wadi Cherith and Tall Mar Elyas 69

5 The Site of the Baptism and Elijah's Ascension: Bethany Beyond the Jordan 83

6 The Memorial of Moses: Mount Nebo 111

7 City of Churches and Mosaics: Madaba 133

8 Saint Stephen - Deacon & First Christian Martyr: Umm ar-Rasas 149

9 The Beheading of John the Baptist: Machaerus/Mukawer 173

10 Lot's Cave, Incest and a Place of Pilgrimage: Dayr 'Ayn 'Abata 189

11 The Memorial of Aaron: Jabal Haroun (near Petra) 207

Bibliography 225

Archaeological Periods and Dates 241

Indices

Subject 243

Place Names 246

Biblical Passages 249

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