Customer Reviews:
Well made and informative.......2007-03-13
This attractive and informative book is part of the People of the Ancient World series of books by Scholastic, Inc. The book explains the culture of ancient Mesopotamia, describing the inhabitants' government, economy, science, and culture. Along the way, the reader is treated to many pictures and sidebars.
Overall, I found this to be a well made and informative book. Now, as you might expect with a book written for young readers, the book does not go into any great depth on any subject. But, it is nonetheless very broad in its reach, and it is an excellent resource for readers of any age who want an introduction in the culture of the peoples of ancient Mesopotamia. I highly recommend this book.
Good book for an 8th grader.......2007-02-03
While I do feel that the information in this book is good, it is written so that your 14 year old will have no problem gliding through this book. This is by no means a college level book, although it does have some really nice pictures. I personally would have preferred more thorough information as opposed to large fonts with full page pictures.
Solid information, good illustrations.......2005-02-25
This book is good for anyone seeking an overview of ancient Mesopotamia. There are plenty of color photographs of artifacts, as well as substantial information that seems to be well-researched. Chapters focus on the daily life of people in different occupations (e.g., Merchants and Traders, Peasant Farmers, Doctors and Scientists). The glossary, biographical dictionary, and timeline (covering the period c. 9000 BC to 539 BC) add to the value of this resource.
Book Description
Every year thousands of enthusiasts, both amateur and professional, spend the summer months digging in the sands of Israel hoping to find items that relate in some way to the places or events depicted in the Bible. Thousands more view artifacts in museums and long to know the full stories behind them. Archaeology of the Land of the Bible, Volume II, is the essential book for all of them
In Ephraim Stern's sequel to
Archaeology of the Land of the Bible,
Volume I , by Amihai Mazar, this world-renowned archaeologist who has directed excavations in the Holy Land for many years offers a dramatic look at how archaeological research contributes to our understanding of the connections between history and the stories recounted in the Bible. Stern writes about various artifacts unearthed in recent years and relates them to the Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian periods in the Bible. Accompanied by photographs and illustrations of rare ancient relics ranging from household pottery to beautifully crafted jewelry and sculpture. His discussions bring the biblical world to life.
Customer Reviews:
Hyothesis & Evidence Omitted from West. Civ. History Texts........2006-06-27
Author Capt is testing whether European cultures could be descended from peoples captured and resettled by Assyria. This hypothesis isn't new, and he presents Assyrian cuniform tablet translations, cultural/place names and linguistic migration to support the hypothesis that European cultures are descended from the northern 10 tribes of Israel [Samarian region north of Jerusalem]. Do you remember that Europe was developed by invading tribes such as Scythians, Goths, Huns, and Gauls? Well, evidence indicates that these were from the 10 tribes that Assyrian moved to surround and protect Assyria's borders. [Analogous to Rome's resettling of groups.]
Great!.......2006-06-22
This book is a very good study into what happen to the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel. Mr. Capt did a Great job in back tracking by using the clay tablets that were found in Assyria which list the tribes by the name which was used by the Assyrians which is called the House of Omri. This book is very in depth and very informative. I also noticed a person left one star because Mr. Capt did say anything about the Jews. Of course the Jew's wouldn't be metioned they weren't taken into exile until 586 bce, and that was by Babylonia and not Assyria. When reading about the Ten Tribes people need to know that the ten tribes were not Jews. Over all I give five stars and it is a must have for a historian or an avid Bible reader intrested in research.
Overall good work, with holes.......2004-04-16
Capt does an excellent job tracing the 10 "lost tribes" of Israel into the European continent, citing recovered antiquities and more recent discoveries in existing collections, such as at the British Museum, covering dates up to roughly 150 BC. Likewaise, he seems to give an adequate account of the origin of the basic European "tribes" such as the Germans, the various Celts, etc., picking up their story ca. AD 600.
Where Capt falls short is in the linkage between the two eras. He has very little to connect the two--there are missing centuries in between. Well yes, he does make the linkage, but it is thin compared to the rest of the work. Just when, for example, did the Scythians become Franks? I would like to see a stronger case made for that transistional period.
However, having said that, his explanation of the migration of hte "lost tribes" is excellent. He provides solid documentation even though this book is aimed at a general "Biblical" audience rather than an academic audience of professional archeologists or geographers or such. While he does not use footnotes, the majority of his claims are noted in the text itself. He also supplies a good bibliography, various lists and tables, and other reference material at the end of the text.
Filling in the holes of history............2003-12-31
Biblical archaeologists have always been the "black sheep" in historical circles. They, and their researches, are given validity only if their theories and subsequent proofs discredit the divine aspect of the Hebrew and Christian holy books. E. Raymond Capt is the single, most powerful ally of an accurate view of history, a history recognizing the Hebrew peoples as contributors to, and often catalysts of, world events.
The focus of this book is the migration paths of the twelve tribes of Israel. Documentation includes passages translated from existing and catalogued Assyrian and Babylonian tablets and an in-depth study of regional languages that track the various paths of the Hebrew peoples. Other reviewers have suggested that this book raises more questions than it answers. In truth, this book seeks to answer no questions. It seeks to bring into sharp focus the proofs that currently exist to accurately track the Hebrew peoples.
This book is a must for every student of history. Period
Excellent Book........2001-06-20
This is an excellent book, with breadth far beyond its title. I recommend it to anyone interested in the history of the movements of the Hebrew tribes, especially the so-called "Lost Tribes". They are well documented by Dr. Capt in this fine little book.
(Disregard the silly bad review. You have to read a book before reviewing it.)
Book Description
During this period the dominant powers in the East were Assyria and then Babylonia. Each established an extensive empire that was based on Mesopotamia, and each in turn fell largely through internal strife.
Product Description
This is the story of a missing branch of God's chosen people, the Israelites. Ten tribes of the northern Hebrew kingdom of "Ephraim" were conquered, taken into captivity by the Assyrians in the eight century, B.C., and never heard from again. Jewish and Christian scholars have long speculated on their disappearance, and Christ in the New Testament alluded to their continuing existence. Where did they go? Historian and scholar, W.H. Bennett, a long-time Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society, spent fifty years following their trail. He examined leads such as language, heraldry, culture, and prophecy fulfillment, solving at last the mystery of their disappearance from the Middle-East scene, and their identification in the world today. Over 175 maps, charts, and illustrations, as well as twelve valuable appendices, help tell the story of these lost Israelites. The information contained in this book is an important key to understanding the fulfillment of the Biblical promises and covenants in our modern world.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent companion book to Bennett's other book on the subject.......2007-07-17
Very easy reading on an important subject. This is a great companion to Symbols of our Celto Saxon Heritage which is also written by Bennett. Well documented. This book, however, should just be considered a part of the puzzle. Further reading is a must. Judah's Sceptre and Josephs Birthright by J.H. Allen would be a good follow-up.
A comprehensive book........2007-01-28
This book is comprehensive and well-written. It's one of the best books on the subject of the lost tribes of Israel.
There is information on the camp arrangements of the tribes and the brigade emblems. These emblems are identical with the "four living creatures" found in the Bible.See Ezekiel 1:10 and Revelation 4:7.
Mr.Bennett covers or includes the following:
The mention of Israelite captives on Assyrian monuments.
The witness of the Apocrypha and Josephus regarding the lost tribes.
The Scottish Declaration of Independence(translated into English).
An appendix detailing the view of Jewish scholarship.What is interesting with this particular index is that Jewish scholars have held that the lost tribes of Israel have not re-united with Jewry.
The Index of Scripture Passages and Index of Persons,Places,and Subjects are convenient as a reference.
I recommend this book for anyone that would like to study this subject.
The Story of God's Chosen Servant People.......2006-01-01
This book is the best I have read on the so called "Lost Tribes" of Israel. Easy reading and presented in a way that will make it plain to anyone, who God's true chosen servant people, Israel, really are.
Average customer rating:
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An Introduction to the History of the Assyrian Church
W, A Wigram
Manufacturer: Gorgias Press LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Assyria, Babylonia & Sumer
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ASIN: 1593331037 |
Book Description
The Assyrian Church of the East (often misnamed as the "Nestorian" church) is one of the most ancient churches of Christendom. In this book, the Rev. William Ainger Wigram, head of the Mission of the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Assyrian Church, gives an introduction to the history of the ancient church, covering its Christology.
Book Description
Originally published in 1896, now available, for the first time, the cuneiform text of a complete group of sixty clay tablets created by the scribes of Ashurbanipal, King of Assyria, between 669625 B.C. These tablets were inscribed with prayers and religious compositions of a devotional and magical character and there is little doubt they were compiled from Babylonian sources. Includes a Babylonian-English glossary. 75 illustrations.
Customer Reviews:
A Highly technical manual.......2001-07-28
This book is definately not designed for the novice, rather a professional of Babylonian studies. The book covers Babylonian and Assyrian incantations, ceremomies, and prayers from the 76 cuneiform tablets in the excavation of Nineavah. They were found in the site of Kuyunjuik. The prayers of "lifting the hand" are presented in full with as much technical and related material as possible. The book presents each ritual with details on how to preform the rituals, libations to deities, and what is needed to complete the rituals. The book does contain details to help the novice such as the tablets themselves, an extensive vocabulary, notes, and explainations. There is a good forward from R.A. Gilbert and preface from King himself explaining his expectations of the material. All in all the book does stand up to those expectations and some. One of the most complete Babylonian books that i've ever read. a great compliment and companion to Semetic Magic by Cambell Thompson (1908).
Customer Reviews:
okay.......2007-01-10
I was frankly quite shocked as to how long this took to get to me...I just received it at the end of last week.
Extremely enjoyable, but falls apart on subsequent readings.......2005-06-08
When I was a teenager, I absolutely loved this novel. Nicholas Guild's "The Assyrian" is probably one of the best introductions to Mesopotamia I can think of, and it propelled me to further study ancient Middle Eastern history, especially that of Assyria and Persia. This story is a colosally juicy read, with a fantastic amount of detail, and it mainly involves the adventures of the wronged yet virtuous prince, Tiglath Ashur, and his conflicted relationship with his brother, Esarhaddon, and his love for the lady Esharhamat, Esarhaddon's promised bride. There's lots of bloodshed, brutality, sex, and luridly described battle scenes, exotic religious rituals, and- most interestingly- visions of gods and other descriptions of ancient Assyrian spirituality. The Homeric/biblical style of the novel is flawless, and there is- thank God- no annoyingly preachy Judeo-Christian overtones. The inventive energy of the story is very engaging, and there's no boring exposition; nor does the plot seem to drag at any point, which is one of the biggest problems I have with epics of this sort.
However, I don't mean to say that "The Assyrian" doesn't have its share of problems. I've read this novel three times, and like such movies as "The Incredibles," this book does not seem to hold up on subsequent readings. Upon analysis and study, the number of cliches in this book are absolutely staggering. For starters, our hero Tiglath is dismayingly like a male Mary Sue (the fanfic term for a too-good-to-be-true protagonist). Not only does he have unusually light-colored hair and eyes, but he's brave, good, loyal, handsome, honest, romantic, etc. etc. In fact, I began to wonder: "does he have ANY faults?" His flawed half-brother, Esarhaddon, is a far more engaging character, and on my third re-reading, I began to wish that the story was about him, as opposed to the rather tiresome Tiglath. Also, Tiglath's girlfriend, Esharhamat, is basically Guinevere/Juliet in ancient Assyrian costume; she has no family or friends, her only reason for living is to be Tiglath's girlfriend, and what's more, given the lack of character development, there is absolutely no reason given for her and Tiglath's passionate love, other than that it's in the script. The other female characters fare no better, and are about as wooden as Pinocchio. Naq'ia, Esarhaddon's mother, is The Wicked Queen; Merope, Tiglath's mother, is basically the Good Mommy; Shaditu, Tiglath's sister, is the Hot Crazy Nympho who hangs around ghetto taverns to sleep with lower-class guys, a la Messalina; and Zabibe, the Arab spy who shows up in the second half of the novel, is the Evil Spy Chick Obsessed With S&M. The male characters are generally more interesting, although a number of them come perilously close to becoming the hoariest cliches imaginable- King Sennacherib is one of those distinguished-elder-statesmen types Sir Cedric Hardwicke always played in the 1950s, and Kephalos, Tiglath's slave, is pretty much the Clever Rogue Servant on hand to provide the comic relief.
Another thing which I find odd about the book is that Guild's depiction of royalty doesn't really make sense in a lot of ways. The portrayal of the royal harem in the beginning seems to have more in common with something out of a Robert E. Howard "Conan the Barbarian" novel, as opposed to an actual, believable home for the King's wives. There are hardly any children and no old people living in this place, the King's favorite wife- the evil Naq'ia- has, incredibly, only one child (with no mentions of any dead kids or miscarriages), and all the women in the harem, what's more, seem to be random girls pulled off the street, with no mention of noblewomen, princesses or political matches that had been made, i.e. in the manner of King Solomon's harem.
There is another thing which is very odd. Over and over again, we are told how all the royal princes- even the King and his chief general- sleep on the floor in pallets, which is ridiculous. They had plenty of beds at this time, and any cursory knowledge of ancient art or literature would tell you this. For example, King Solomon, who lived 400 years before this story takes place, would have never slept on the floor, and even a wealthy merchant at this period would have had a folding bed even when traveling. Also, Tiglath is considered admirable by his men for eating the same food as the rank-and-file when on campaign, and not having any luxuries about him; again, this is ridiculous. Ancient Middle Eastern royalty- just like the royalty of any period- did not live the lives of the great unwashed. They had fancy tents, ate good food off of gold plate, slept on beds and did not hang out with the enlisted. Neither would any democratic fraternizing have been considered admirable either; it would have been considered unfitting for a prince's dignity.
I know that I'm probably over-analyzing a popular novel, but it is an unfortunate fact that there are very few books of any literary merit whatsoever written about the Assyrians. "The Assyrian" is actually well-written; the constant incidents are entertaining, the style of the prose is a delight to read, and- his cluelessness about royalty notwithstanding- the author has generally done his homework. I just wish that there had been more thought given to the characterization, and that Mr. Guild didn't rely on cliches and stereotypes to portray this most interesting, and overlooked, period of ancient Middle Eastern history.
Excellent and realistic ancient-times fiction.......2005-02-22
As a big fan of historical fiction, I couldn't help but buying "The assyrian" as soon as I saw it in a bookstore and read the plot summary on the back cover of the book. I've never heard of Nicholas Guild before, but this didn't prevent me from giving this book a try. Sometimes that happens: we don't expect much from a book or a movie, but when we read it or watch it we get enchanted by the author's style, by the characters and by the vivid descriptions of times distant in the past.
"The assyrian" is more than a good surprise, it's one of the finest historic-fiction books I've ever come across. Its main character, Tiglath Assur, son of Sennacherib, King of Kings, faces danger from the beginning of his life, and we follow his plights for the next twenty-five years. Nicholas Guild is clearly a gifted writer, and manages well to use the crude times of the ancient era he is portraying to create an unforgettable story of war, greed and lust.
Both the story and the author style are very similar to two books I really like: Mika Waltari's "The egyptian" and Wilbur Smith's "River god". If you already know those books and/or authors, and you're afraid of reading "The assyrian" because it is less known, stop worrying. This book is as good as Waltari's and Smith's. And it's great to know that "The assyrian" has a sequel, so we will be able to know Tiglath Assur's adventures a little further.
Grade 9.1/10
I LOVE THIS BOOK!!.......2004-12-10
Sorry this is a repeat of what I posted for the sequal book "The Bloodstar"
Just couldn't praise one without the other :P
I first came across these books in my local library (many many years ago in Jr. High) and they blew me away.
I've always been a fan of historical fiction and these books are among my all time favorite. I don't know if they ever gained much popularity or critical acclaim and the fact that they are now both out of print lends me to believe that they probably didn't do so well when they came out in the 80's... but nevertheless, I hold them in the highest regard and I encourage any lover of historical fiction to read them.
I just recently bought the Assyrian again, but Bloodstar is a little steep for me. Guess I'll hunt a copy down at a public library and keep paying the late charges :P
Like some other reader before me said: SOMEONE SHOULD PICK UP THE RIGHTS TO THESE BOOKS AND MAKE AN EPIC MOVIE! THANK YOU!
One of the best I have ever read.......2002-11-01
Being a German national who happens to read English, I cannot accurately express my admiration for Mr. Guild who has written this magnificent story. And for those who like to read the seond part, it is available under the name "The blood star"
I can only implore (is that the right word ?) Herr Guild to write more about Tiglath Ashur. His work ranks right alongside with Wilbur Smith's novels.
Book Description
Christoph Baumer is one of the very few Westerners to have visited many of the most important Assyrian sites, and has written the only comprehensive history of the "Nestorian" (or Apostolic Assyrian) Church, which now fights for survival in its country of origin, Iraq. He traces its apostolic beginnings to the present day, and discusses the Church's theology, christology and uniquely vigorous spirituality. He analyzes the Church's turbulent relationship with other Christian chuches and its dialogue with neighboring world religions such as Zoroastrianism, Manichaeism, Islam, Buddhism and Taoism. Richly illustrated with maps and over 150 full-color photographs, the book will be essential reading for those interested in a fascinating but neglected Christian community which has profoundly shaped the history of civilization in both East and West.
Customer Reviews:
Valuable survey, Nestorian viewpoint .......2007-08-04
This book contains a great deal of detailed historical information about Christianity in Iraq, Iran, Central Asia, India and China from the Middle Ages. It also provides descriptions of the situation of these communities today, and being published in 2006 includes the effects of recent events such as the Iraq War and Iranian revolution. There is also information on a number of Eastern Christian writers that are largely unknown in the West, such as the mystic John of Dalyatha. The book also contains many pictures of church remains in the East. In general this is a very valuable book providing a wealth of information on the history and current situation of Christian communities that have received little attention.
However, the history of the Christological dispute that led to the isolation of the Church of the East is sometimes presented in a confusing way due to the Nestorian identification of nature and hypostasis. As a result the controversy is in places described as if the opposition to Nestorianism was due to a rejection of Christ's humanity instead of opposition to the introduction of a second subject (hypostasis) in Christ alongside of the Logos. The book does however describe this aspect of Nestorian theology in some places(as on p. 41 "It is clear...that for Diodore, one suffered death and another rose from it - an idea which runs as a leitmotif through Nestorian Christology."). The importance of this idea in the controversy can be seen in Paul of Nisibis' sixth century Dialogue with Justinian (available on-line).
The history of the Christological controversy is generally presented from a Nestorian viewpoint and some non-Nestorian historians would dispute parts of the account. An alternative viewpoint can be found in John McGuckin's Cyril of AlexandriaSt. Cyril of Alexandria: The Christological Controversy : Its History, Theology, and Texts which contains a number of primary texts including writings of Nestorius.
Triumph and Tragedy in the Christian East.......2006-10-11
One of the most intriguing and in the end most tragic stories in all of Church history is that of the Church of the East. This church, with its roots in those churches existing outside the Roman Empire once had millions of followers stretching from what is now Iraq to China and possibly Japan. Yet by the twentieth century all that was left of this once vast communion were scattered communities of ethnic Assyrians and Indians with the distinct possibility of complete disintegration. The tale of its birth, rise, fall, and recent signs of rebirth is one all of the Church needs to hear.
Christoph Baumer is in a unique position to tell their story to the West. An author who has written books on Asia and traveled extensively in that region of the world, he is one of the few to have written on the topic of the Church of the East to actually have traveled to many of their important historical sites. In The Church of the East, he gives us a history of this ancient church that is not only captivating reading but also is visually breathaking with beautiful photographs accompanying the text in this "coffee table" sized book.
Baumer begins with the beginnings of the Church and how Christianity crossed from the Roman world into Asia. The early traditions of the St. Thomas the Apostle and early evangelists who brought the young faith from the Roman world across the Euphrates into Persia and then into India are recounted as well as the early establishment of local churches througout the region.
Baumer then turns to the Christological battles that ensued after the persecution of the Church ended with the ascension of the Roman emperor Constantine. Even as the battles with the Arian heretics had not yet ended in a complete victory for Trinitarian Christology, new disputes were brewing between the Alexandrian and Antiochean theological schools. Complicating the matter was the spectre of imperial politics as patriarchs jostled for ecclesial influence and resentment against attempts at ecclesial hegemony from Constantinople grew.
As Baumer rightly points out, these disputes would have a tragic effect for the Church and leave it torn between the Church of the Roman Empire, the miaphysite Churches in Egypt, Armenia, and Ethiopia, and the "Nestorian" Church of the East. The "Nestorian" moniker that has long been applied to the Church of the East is a bit of a misnomer since Nestorius was the Bishop of Constantinople and the position of "Nestorianism" that the Council of Ephesus denounced has never been held by the Church of the East.
Baumer presents a strong case that differences in language, culture, theological presuppositions and personal ambition all played a role in forming the division of Christendom that flowed out of the disputes behind the Councils of Ephesus and Chalcedon. Also, the geopolitical situation of the time also played a major role as Christians in Persia came under suspicion as members of what was now the official religion of Persia's enemy on the world stage.
Baumer then turns to the period following when the Church of the East declared its independance from the Church in the Roman Empire. Faced with persecution from the ruling Sassanians and internal squabbles, the Church of the East still managed to produce some great leaders capable of reforming what ailed the church. During times when persecution abated, there developed a rich theology and spirituality that would guide them in the coming centuries.
Even the conquest of Persia by the Muslim Arabs did not hinder the Church of the East and they opened many monastaries and sent missionaries to foreign lands. Baumer gives an extensive account of the mission to the East that spread the faith throughout Asia. The Church of the East built on its earlier successes in India and spread througout the rest of Asia. For a time won many adherents in China and were tolerated and even given favors by the Mongol rulers.
Of course, their fall would then come from a series of factors that weakened this great church. Baumer give the sad end of the story as the Church of the East was not only weakened by internal struggles, but also was attacked by a new wave of persecution that all but destroyed the gains made in the previous centuries. Cut off from each other, the few remaining communities would struggle to maintain their identities to the present day.
Baumer finishes with the recent history of the Church of the East including the move of the patriarch to Chicago following the genocide against the Assyrians (and other Christians) in the early twentieth century. The author believes a move of the patriarch back to the Assyrian homeland is important to its survival, but one wonders how likely this is with recent events in Iraq.
Overall, Christoph Baumer has written the greatest book available on this misunderstood church. For students of both Eastern Chrisitianity and Church history, it is not to be missed. Both informative and accessible, it fills in an important gap in the Church's knowledge of its own history. It also underscores the fact that Christianity is truly a universal faith.
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