Under Jerusalem: The Buried History of the World's Most Contested City
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- Create Date：2021-11-01 06:52:04
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：Andrew Lawler
- ISBN：0385546858
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Summary
A sweeping history of the hidden world below the Holy City--a saga of biblical treasures， intrepid explorers， and political upheaval
These untold stories of archeological digs near and under Jerusalem's sacred sites convey all the colorful and violent and contentious history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict 。。。 A compulsive read。" --Kai Bird， Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and author of The Outlier
In 1863， a French senator arrived in Jerusalem hoping to unearth relics dating to biblical times。 Digging deep underground， he discovered an ancient grave that， he claimed， belonged to an Old Testament queen。 News of his find ricocheted around the world， evoking awe and envy alike， and inspiring others to explore Jerusalem's storied past。
In the century and a half since the Frenchman broke ground， Jerusalem has drawn a global cast of fortune seekers and missionaries， archaeologists and zealots， all of them eager to extract the biblical past from beneath the city's streets and shrines。 Their efforts have had profound effects， not only on our understanding of Jerusalem's history， but on its hotly disputed present。 The quest to retrieve ancient Jewish heritage has sparked bloody riots and thwarted international peace agreements。 It has served as a cudgel， a way to stake a claim to the most contested city on the planet。 Today， the earth below Jerusalem remains a battleground in the struggle to control the city above。
Under Jerusalem takes readers into the tombs， tunnels， and trenches of the Holy City。 It brings to life the indelible characters who have investigated this subterranean landscape。 With clarity and verve， acclaimed journalist Andrew Lawler reveals how their pursuit has not only defined the conflict over modern Jerusalem， but could provide a map for two peoples and three faiths to peacefully coexist。
These untold stories of archeological digs near and under Jerusalem's sacred sites convey all the colorful and violent and contentious history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict 。。。 A compulsive read。" --Kai Bird， Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and author of The Outlier
In 1863， a French senator arrived in Jerusalem hoping to unearth relics dating to biblical times。 Digging deep underground， he discovered an ancient grave that， he claimed， belonged to an Old Testament queen。 News of his find ricocheted around the world， evoking awe and envy alike， and inspiring others to explore Jerusalem's storied past。
In the century and a half since the Frenchman broke ground， Jerusalem has drawn a global cast of fortune seekers and missionaries， archaeologists and zealots， all of them eager to extract the biblical past from beneath the city's streets and shrines。 Their efforts have had profound effects， not only on our understanding of Jerusalem's history， but on its hotly disputed present。 The quest to retrieve ancient Jewish heritage has sparked bloody riots and thwarted international peace agreements。 It has served as a cudgel， a way to stake a claim to the most contested city on the planet。 Today， the earth below Jerusalem remains a battleground in the struggle to control the city above。
Under Jerusalem takes readers into the tombs， tunnels， and trenches of the Holy City。 It brings to life the indelible characters who have investigated this subterranean landscape。 With clarity and verve， acclaimed journalist Andrew Lawler reveals how their pursuit has not only defined the conflict over modern Jerusalem， but could provide a map for two peoples and three faiths to peacefully coexist。
Reviews
Beth SHULAM
，
Andrew Lawler brings a beautifully researched account of the excavations of the city of Jerusalem in the 19th and early 20th centuries。 These were the days before archaeology was a precise science and more of an adventure excursion。 He takes us on the quest for the Ark of the Covenant by these amateur adventurers and how their digs created an international crisis。 I can't help but point readers to the superb article in the current Smithsonian Magazine about this book by its author。 Andrew Lawler brings a beautifully researched account of the excavations of the city of Jerusalem in the 19th and early 20th centuries。 These were the days before archaeology was a precise science and more of an adventure excursion。 He takes us on the quest for the Ark of the Covenant by these amateur adventurers and how their digs created an international crisis。 I can't help but point readers to the superb article in the current Smithsonian Magazine about this book by its author。 。。。more
Geoffrey
，
（Note: I received an advanced reader copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley）Considering how many various powers have held sway over Jerusalem through the centuries and how many of its historical buildings have become mishmashed structures built with and on top the ruins of others， it shouldn’t be that much of a surprise that the history of archaeological digs beneath it’s Old City is a messy one， to put it kindly。 What may be a surprise however is the extent to just how absurdly complex and fra （Note: I received an advanced reader copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley）Considering how many various powers have held sway over Jerusalem through the centuries and how many of its historical buildings have become mishmashed structures built with and on top the ruins of others， it shouldn’t be that much of a surprise that the history of archaeological digs beneath it’s Old City is a messy one， to put it kindly。 What may be a surprise however is the extent to just how absurdly complex and fraught it is。 Since the mid-1800’s， the city has been host to an almost dizzyingly long and eclectic line of different foreign and local figures， organizations， and governments scraping around and under its ruins and holy sites。 Just as varied as the men and women doing all the digging have been their respective motivations and agendas， and almost as diverse are the many controversies that have erupted in their wake。 So such is why I give Andrew Lawler enthusiastic kudos for what he has accomplished with his latest title， Under Jerusalem。 It feels like he did an incredible amount of work to wrangle his complicated and volatile subject material into something digestible for the everyday reader， all while striving to be as objective as he could。 At least， that seems to be the only explanation given the final result - a book that is accessible， almost shockingly fair given the topic， and last but not least， quite a fascinating read。 。。。more
Patricia Romero
，
Under Jerusalem is a 150-year history of the ground just beneath one of the world’s holiest cities。This is the well-researched， and well-written history of Jerusalem。 From the time it was not much of anything to a major religious center， fought over by three or more religions。We begin in 1863， when a Frenchman with an adventurous soul， heard a rumor。 Buried beneath the city there was said to be a mother-lode of biblical treasure。 Archaeology was just beginning to be a thing。 Mainly with the idle Under Jerusalem is a 150-year history of the ground just beneath one of the world’s holiest cities。This is the well-researched， and well-written history of Jerusalem。 From the time it was not much of anything to a major religious center， fought over by three or more religions。We begin in 1863， when a Frenchman with an adventurous soul， heard a rumor。 Buried beneath the city there was said to be a mother-lode of biblical treasure。 Archaeology was just beginning to be a thing。 Mainly with the idle rich who had the time and money to go on a treasure hunt。When De Saulcy dug into a spot in the desert and found an old tomb， others followed quickly。 The dig was great for archaeology but not so great for Jerusalem。 Greed will do nasty things to ordinary people。 As we can see now， Israel is land being fought over every day。 And the claims to Jerusalem are made by many different religions。 What has come out of the digs and finds has turned this area into a war zone。The books' timeline takes us way back in history。 So many people have fought over and claimed this area and so much has been destroyed in the process。 This book is for the history lover， the truth seekers， and the treasure seekers。I loved every second of it。 I have never had an opinion one way or the other on the subject of Israel and Jerusalem。 And I still don’t。 But at least now I know the story。Excellent work！NetGalley/Doubleday November 02， 2021 。。。more
Cassie
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