{"product_id":"mosaics-as-history-the-near-east-from-late-antiquity-to-islam-revealing-antiquity-9780674022928","title":"Mosaics as History: The Near East from Late Antiquity to Islam (Revealing Antiquity)","description":"\u003cp\u003eOver the past century  exploration and serendipity have uncovered mosaic after mosaic in the Near East--maps  historical images  mythical figures  and religious scenes that constitute an immense treasure of new testimony from antiquity. The stories these mosaics tell unfold in this brief  richly informed book by a preeminent scholar of the classical world.  G. W. Bowersock considers these mosaics a critical part of the documentation of the regions ancient culture  as expressive as texts  inscriptions on stone  and architectural remains. In their complex language  often marred by time  neglect  and deliberate defacement  he finds historical evidence  illustrations of literary and mythological tradition  religious icons  and monuments to civic pride. Eloquently evoking a shared vision of a world beyond the boundaries of individual cities  the mosaics attest to a persistent tradition of Greek taste that could embrace Judaism  Christianity  and Islam in a fundamentally Semitic land  and they suggest the extent to which these three monotheistic religions could themselves embrace Hellenism.  With copious color illustrations  Bowersocks efforts return us to Syrian Antioch  Arabia  Jewish and Samaritan settlements in Palestine  the Palmyrene empire in Syria  and the Nabataean kingdom in Jordan  and show us the overlay of Hellenism introduced by Alexander the Great as well as Roman customs imported by the imperial legions and governors. Attending to one of the most evocative languages of the ages  his work reveals a complex fusion of cultures and religions that speaks to us across time.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45665815461941,"sku":"ByrdShop_0674022920","price":41.34,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780674022928.jpg?v=1782408300","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/mosaics-as-history-the-near-east-from-late-antiquity-to-islam-revealing-antiquity-9780674022928","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}