“This book’s strenght lies in its readable delineation of the Temple Mount’s historical timeline. If the Christian reader can hold his nose, Solomon’s Temple is worth a read as an introductory historical narrative.” (The Institute for Sacred Architecture, 1 September 2013)
“In a book that bears many crown – Jewish, classical, Christian, and Islamic – the writing is accurate, precise, and learned. Readers will learn two things from this book: nothing has changed in 3,000 years, and architecture reflects and refracts this … Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-level undergraduates through researchers/faculty.” (Choice, 1 September 2013)
“In this carefully researched and beautifully illustrated work, Alan Balfour places the Temple Mount within its cultural context, making a vital contribution to our understanding of the Middle East today.”
– Jonathan Schneer, Author of The Balfour Declaration: The Origins of the Arab-Israeli Conflict
“With the skill of a master detective, scholar and architect, Alan Balfour peels away the layers of time to reveal the astonishing history of one of the world’s most significant places.”
– Robert Campbell, The Boston Globe
From the Inside Flap
Alan Balfour, a leading architectural historian, combines scrupulous research, primary documentation and ample illustration, with an authoritative and elegant narration to chronicle the history of a place that serves as a cultural nexus of Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike. He vividly re-creates the will of the players – Solomon, Herod, Christ, Paul, Muhammad – and the epic events that have been played out on this sacred ground, which continues to compel the imagination of all the religions of the book.
The book details the constructions and reconstructions from its founding into the present and the continuing struggle after the Israel–Arab wars; anticipating the future controversies about the possession and use of the site. Alongside the pilgrims, plunderers, and power brokers, Solomon’s Temple depicts the many travellers and artists who have passed through, narrated, and imagined the Temple across the millennia.
From the Back Cover
Alan Balfour, a leading architectural historian, combines scrupulous research, primary documentation and ample illustration, with an authoritative and elegant narration to chronicle the history of a place that serves as a cultural nexus of Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike. He vividly re-creates the will of the players – Solomon, Herod, Christ, Paul, Muhammad – and the epic events that have been played out on this sacred ground, which continues to compel the imagination of all the religions of the book.
The book details the constructions and reconstructions from its founding into the present and the continuing struggle after the Israel–Arab wars; anticipating the future controversies about the possession and use of the site. Alongside the pilgrims, plunderers, and power brokers, Solomon’s Temple depicts the many travellers and artists who have passed through, narrated, and imagined the Temple across the millennia.
About the Author
Alan Balfour is Professor and Dean of the College of Architecture at Georgia Tech. Formerly he has served as dean of Schools of Architecture in Texas and New York and was chairman of the Architectural Association in London. His books include Creating a Scottish Parliament and books on three world cities Shanghai, New York, and Berlin. He has received numerous awards, including the Topaz Medal, the highest recognition given in North America to an educator in architecture.
Wow! eBook
