The Atlas of Sacred Places: Meeting Points of Heaven and Earth (Henry Holt Reference Book) [Hardcover]

James Harpur (Author)

Book Description

Series: Henry Holt Reference Book | Publication Date: November 1994

Surveys more than thirty sites around the globe, from Mexico to Norway to India, describing the spiritual significance of each temple, shrine, mountain, or place of pilgrimage and discussing its architectural details with photographs and maps. 25,000 first printing.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In this collection of 33 essays about holy or sacred sites in the world, the author, a writer and editor based in London, has chosen wisely. Harpur includes not only the expected sites, such as Mount Sinai and Mecca, but other, more obscure sites, such as the Buddhist temple Wat Phra Keo in Thailand; the Shinto shrines in Ise, Japan; and places such as Olympia in Greece and Ephesus in Turkey that are usually overlooked. To call this book an atlas is a misnomer because it usually offers no more than one map per site, and the maps are used as aids to the narratives. The essays introduce the sites, and the exposition never gets beyond the expected descriptions of place and time, with little or no attempt to compare and contrast sites. Consequently, this text is not meant for the serious scholar of comparative religions but as a sampling, both informative and enjoyable, of places where, as the author states, heaven and earth meet. Recommended as a browsing item for public libraries.
Glenn Masuchika, Chaminade Univ. Lib., Honolulu
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

This profiles over thirty sites around the world which are noted places of worship and pilgrimage, using essays to describe the sites and their history, and color photos to capture the essence of their atmospheres. From ancient shrines in jungles to cathedrals, this packs in some excellent overviews of unique places. -- Midwest Book Review

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Co; 1st edition (November 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805027750
• ISBN-13: 978-0805027754
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #723,868 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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This review is from: The Atlas of Sacred Places: Meeting Points of Heaven and Earth (Henry Holt Reference Book) (Hardcover)

While the places throughout the world that are deemed holy or sacred by different cultures may not be considered so by all, each place holds its own beauty, mystery and appeal.

"The Atlas of Sacred Places/Meeting Points of Heaven and Earth" is a full-color guide to 30 sacred sites, including Mount Sinai, the Dome of the Rock, and Lourdes.

Illustrated with magnificent photography, this volume describes why each place is considered sacred and offers prospective pilgrims suggestions on what to see when they visit.