One of your finest writing! Poetical journey through your wonderful choice of words about a place that is the centre for three monotheistic religions and a multicultural melting pot.
Looking forward to the series, having spent so much time studying and then wandering around the country. Whenever we hear apologists for any side in any of the conflicts here (and there are so many more than two!), it feels like the speaker has extrapolated from a tiny speck of dust to describe a sandstorm. When you're there, it feels like there are hidden secrets everywhere waiting to be revealed--can't wait to hear what you've come up with.
I'm a Christian, and fairly devout and a lover of history but I just don't get the obsession around the Holy Land, maybe for the historic significance I do but the religious side is beyond me. God is within us and with us, so why go to a dust ball to see him, when you can see him elsewhere.
That said, the history of the place going back to the Hattians, is awesome, along with the history of the Persians, Romans and of the Crusades is fascinating.
Thank you for this interesting and beautiful post which more or less hits exactly the spot of what I feel compelled to learn more about. You write with a balance and a poetry that I also need. I’m intrigued by the two quotes with which you open the piece. The first I have found in various places online, but I noticed the English translation variously starts with the word Israel or Palestine!!. What do you think is a reliable English translation? I would really appreciate a link to it, and also a link to the (I assume Hebrew) original. The second quote I cannot seem to find online, maybe I’m searching in the wrong way. But again, I would love a link to both a reliable English version with context and the (I assume Arabic) original. Thanks so much for your research and beautiful writing.
Thank you very much for your kind words, John. I actually got both of these quotations (and their translations) from Simon Sebag Montefiore's 'Jerusalem: A Biography', which is a book I can't recommend enough if you're interested in the history of the region. Might be the best history book I've ever read, actually.
Thanks so much for that. In fact, Jerusalem: biography has been on my list to read for a few years now. So now I will definitely get it and read. I also read Tim M-S’s Arabs and Simon Sharma‘s Story of the Jews, vol. 1, both of which were fascinating and immersing. Thanks again for your great ideas and writing – John
This was an absolute privilege to read. Capturing the sheer magnitude of a place, with thoughtful/sensitively worded prose. I am looking forward to you going into more details about all of this.
Thanks, George! If you know any particular stunner paintings that you think I have to include, please let me know. Looking forward to using Aivazovsky’s ‘Passage of the Jews’ and all the John Martin’s biblical overdramatisations
Mikey, I'm really excited about this. Nice reference to Ozymandias.
Also, I think it's kind of cool to know that the four letters forbidden to be spoken aloud are known as the tetragrammaton, which is very holy but admittedly sounds like an attraction at DisneyWorld.
Finally, I'm interrupting you and George, but as a suggestion,
So sorry David, I totally missed this comment the first time around. I'm glad you got the reference to Ozymandias! I like to throw the odd phrase of poetry into a piece to see if anyone can catch them. Thanks for the painting suggestion, think Paul's travels might well be worth a full post by itself
One of your finest writing! Poetical journey through your wonderful choice of words about a place that is the centre for three monotheistic religions and a multicultural melting pot.
Looking forward to the series, having spent so much time studying and then wandering around the country. Whenever we hear apologists for any side in any of the conflicts here (and there are so many more than two!), it feels like the speaker has extrapolated from a tiny speck of dust to describe a sandstorm. When you're there, it feels like there are hidden secrets everywhere waiting to be revealed--can't wait to hear what you've come up with.
So true!
Mikey, this is very well written, if I may say so. And, I'm really excited to hear the story unfold! I like the scope here.
You can definitely say so 😂
I'm a Christian, and fairly devout and a lover of history but I just don't get the obsession around the Holy Land, maybe for the historic significance I do but the religious side is beyond me. God is within us and with us, so why go to a dust ball to see him, when you can see him elsewhere.
That said, the history of the place going back to the Hattians, is awesome, along with the history of the Persians, Romans and of the Crusades is fascinating.
A lovely piece of writing about the significance of this land to billions of individuals today. Looking forward to the series!
I wanted to also say I appreciated the reference to another 'King of Kings' with the "lone and level sands stretch far away" line.
Thank you! Pleased to see someone managed to catch the reference! Might be my all time favourite poem
A personal favorite of mine too. The language is so memorable, the imagery is striking, and the message is powerful.
Thank you for this interesting and beautiful post which more or less hits exactly the spot of what I feel compelled to learn more about. You write with a balance and a poetry that I also need. I’m intrigued by the two quotes with which you open the piece. The first I have found in various places online, but I noticed the English translation variously starts with the word Israel or Palestine!!. What do you think is a reliable English translation? I would really appreciate a link to it, and also a link to the (I assume Hebrew) original. The second quote I cannot seem to find online, maybe I’m searching in the wrong way. But again, I would love a link to both a reliable English version with context and the (I assume Arabic) original. Thanks so much for your research and beautiful writing.
Thank you very much for your kind words, John. I actually got both of these quotations (and their translations) from Simon Sebag Montefiore's 'Jerusalem: A Biography', which is a book I can't recommend enough if you're interested in the history of the region. Might be the best history book I've ever read, actually.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jerusalem-Biography-Simon-Sebag-Montefiore/dp/1780220251
Thanks so much for that. In fact, Jerusalem: biography has been on my list to read for a few years now. So now I will definitely get it and read. I also read Tim M-S’s Arabs and Simon Sharma‘s Story of the Jews, vol. 1, both of which were fascinating and immersing. Thanks again for your great ideas and writing – John
This could not be more timely- great idea!
Excited to begin this journey with you all
Excited to begin this journey with all of you.
This was a wonderful--and very well-timed--story. I am looking forward to the upcoming posts.
This was an absolute privilege to read. Capturing the sheer magnitude of a place, with thoughtful/sensitively worded prose. I am looking forward to you going into more details about all of this.
Thanks, George! If you know any particular stunner paintings that you think I have to include, please let me know. Looking forward to using Aivazovsky’s ‘Passage of the Jews’ and all the John Martin’s biblical overdramatisations
I'll definitely have a think for any more historically accurate works.
But just off the top of my head, these may help you with a bit of inspiration.
Philippe de Champaigne - Temple of Solomon https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/364540
Frederic Church - Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Frederic_Edwin_Church_-_Jerusalem_from_the_Mount_of_Olives_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
Jean Leon Gerome - Golgotha (Jerusalem)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem_%28painting%29
Haha that Church was is at the top of this post! Thanks for these though, didn’t know those other two
Sorry! I was so engrossed by your writing, I guess I didn't realise it was the same picture.
But glad to know the other two might be useful.
Btw do you have an email I can get you on George? Have a collaboration idea if that sounds of interest
Sure, sounds good! My email is gsbsamuel@gmail.com
Mikey, I'm really excited about this. Nice reference to Ozymandias.
Also, I think it's kind of cool to know that the four letters forbidden to be spoken aloud are known as the tetragrammaton, which is very holy but admittedly sounds like an attraction at DisneyWorld.
Finally, I'm interrupting you and George, but as a suggestion,
What about the conversion of Paul by Brueghel?
https://www.khm.at/en/objectdb/detail/328/?lv=detail
So sorry David, I totally missed this comment the first time around. I'm glad you got the reference to Ozymandias! I like to throw the odd phrase of poetry into a piece to see if anyone can catch them. Thanks for the painting suggestion, think Paul's travels might well be worth a full post by itself
Fantastic! Looking forward to more.
I'm looking forward to this.
This might be the finest ad in the history of ads! 😂 Jokes aside, it was a really fine read. And a worthy project to pursue.