Petra and the Lost Kingdom of the Nabataeans - Softcover

Taylor, Jane

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0674017552 ISBN 13: 9780674017559

Publisher: Harvard University Press, 2005

Synopsis

The Nabataean Arabs, one of the most gifted peoples of the ancient world, are today known only for their hauntingly beautiful rock-carved capital--Petra. Here, in the wild and majestic landscapes of southern Jordan, they created some of the most prodigious works of man in the vast monuments that they chiseled from the sandstone mountains. The very scale of their achievement is breathtaking, but beyond mere magnitude is their creative vision, for they transformed the living rock of Petra into an enduring architectural masterpiece.

For nearly two thousand years, their civilization has been lost and all but forgotten. Yet the Nabataeans were famous in their day--Herod the Great and his sons, and a kaleidoscope of Roman emperors, were keenly aware of their power and wealth. Often victims of Greek, Roman, or Herodian duplicity, murder, and power politics, the Nabataeans were major players in the drama of the Middle East in biblical times.

This richly illustrated volume recounts the story of a remarkable but lost civilization and the capacity of its people to diversify their skills as necessity demanded. It describes their nomadic origins, the development of their multifaceted culture, their relations with their now famous neighbors, and the demise of their kingdom. It looks at their continued, if unrecognized, survival as Christians and farmers under the Byzantine Empire and into the early years of Islam.

About this title

About the Author:

Jane Taylor, a writer and photographer, is the author of High Above Jordan and Imperial Istanbul and coauthor of Testament to the Bushmen.

Review:

Writer and photographer Taylor has created a beautifully illustrated work covering the history of the Nabataeans, an Arab people who lived in the area of present-day southern Jordan and northern Saudi Arabia from about the third century BCE until the sixth century CE...Taylor's clear, incisive writing and copious photographs bring the ancient world of the Nabataeans to life. Highly recommended. (Elizabeth Salt Library Journal 2002-08-01)

For anyone who wants to know more about Jordan's most admired landmark--basically, a narrow canyon chiseled into a kind of Middle Eastern Main Street, from its fancy façades to its recessed rooms--or the people who created it, this book offers excellent photography. (Christopher Reynolds Los Angeles Times 2002-09-08)

This is an excellent book for the intelligent reader seeking an introduction to this field. The author, a writer and a photographer, has done a fine job, reflecting her love of the subject matter...The book, skillfully written, richly illustrated, and reasonably priced, will serve well its purpose to promote updated knowledge of a fascinating ancient Arab culture beyond the limited circle of professional scholars. The author and the publishers should be congratulated for this achievement. (Joseph Patrich Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2005-10-01)

About this edition

• Publisher: Harvard University Press
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0674017552
• ISBN 13: 9780674017559
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 224