Israel : Past and Present (Spiral-bound)

by Arthur Frommer (Author), Robert Ullian (Editor)
Key Phrases: archaeological park, upper city, Temple Mount, Old City, Beit She'an (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Israel: Past & Present is a beautifully produced guide to the 16 top archeological sites in Israel. It uses pictures and overlays to illustrate what the sites look like now and how they would have appeared in their heyday, centuries ago. For Tiberias, for example, the guide provides some pivotal history--including its founding by Herod Antipas around A.D. 18, its fortification against the Great Revolt in A.D. 66, the Arab takeover in A.D. 636, the arrival of the crusaders in the 12th century, and all the subsequent crusader/Saladin battles, plus the restoration of the city walls in 1562 and the earthquake in 1837 that mangled those walls. There's a picture of Tiberias today, with sections of the ancient walls poking out among trees, cars, restaurants, and hotels, and an overlay with cutouts for the remnant walls that shows the 18th-century southern wall built on crusader fortification foundations. This is a lovely book from which to learn about Israel, inspire those interested in its history, and plan for a trip. --Stephanie Gold

Product Description
Israel's historic and religious heritage is brought to life through a series of color photos of the country's most important sites as you see them today -- with acetate overlays containing vivid reconstructions of the sites as they once were.This unique, indispensable guide lets travelers see the past as never before. It's the perfect companion for anyone who wants to explore the historic and holy sites and see them as they were meant to be seen. Also included:

• An introduction to ancient Israel
• Dozens of full-color photos and maps
• Complete service information, with directions, transportation information, opening times, costs, and nearby places to eat or spend the night

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 96 pages
• Publisher: Frommers (September 24, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028622510
• ISBN-13: 978-0028622514
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,399,803 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best short pictorial summary of the history of Israel ever, November 20, 1999

By A Customer

Book uses unique overlay technique that allows the reader to see what a historical site looks like today as well as what it looked like in its prime. Excellent reference material for pilgrims to the Holy Land. I bought it in Israel and bought three more for friends when I got home.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding visual reference to famous sites., May 24, 1999

By A Customer

Trying to picture the past is often diffcult. This book is an outstanding reference and visual aid for anyone touring or studing Israel. Each of the major sites is shown today and with an overlay of it's former glory.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tour Guide for Traveling to the Past, June 19, 2004

By	bookerbill "bookerbill" (Garner, NC United States) - See all my reviews

This handy little spiral-bound book has thick pages and wonderful photographs of historic sites in Israel. It is a virtual tour book of ancient Israel. The plastic graphic overlays for each page lets you see what the same scene might have looked like in ancient times. This is an excellent study help that allows you to visualize the buildings and places in the time of Jesus. The back of each page provides explanations of the historical and religious significance of the site. The rest of the book includes a glossary, a brief synopsis of ancient history, and maps to pull it all together. Though published by Frommer's, I would suggest that this is wonderful study guide for any student of the Bible, not just travelers to the Middle East. From the fortress at Masada to the church at Kursi, this collection gives you a tour of ancient sites and transports you to that world in a way other books cannot.