jjares reviewed The Dead Sea: The History and Legacy of the Most Unique Lake in the World on + 3299 more book reviews
First, I'd like to thank the author for the abundant photos of the Dead Sea (there are more than 25 in all). Because the amount of water has fallen and risen over the centuries, there is a great deal of history and archeology in this region. In some places, there are salt statues. It is the home of the largest group of cemeteries in the ancient world. In the last 50 years, almost half of the Dead Sea has disappeared; the fear is that more (or all) of it will disappear in the future.
The Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth where one can still stand on dry land. With a salinity of 33.7%, the Dead Sea is one of the world's saltiest bodies of water. The author takes the reader through the history of the region from the time of Abraham and Lot (and his wife) to the current issues facing the region. There were people living near the Dead Sea as early as 4500 BCE.
The author mentions the various circumstances the Dead Sea is mentioned in the Bible. A common practice in the ancient world for conquerors was to uproot inhabitants and disperse them so they could not reform into cohesive groups to revolt. That behavior is what destroyed the 10 tribes of Israel. I was surprised to learn that Jerusalem was uninhabited for much of the 6th century BCE.
The author then talks about the very interesting stories of Masada, the Essene scribes and then the Qumran Dead Sea Scrolls. After sharing the important events in the region over the generations, the author talks about what the countries involved are trying to do to save the Dead Sea. Very interesting reading.
The Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth where one can still stand on dry land. With a salinity of 33.7%, the Dead Sea is one of the world's saltiest bodies of water. The author takes the reader through the history of the region from the time of Abraham and Lot (and his wife) to the current issues facing the region. There were people living near the Dead Sea as early as 4500 BCE.
The author mentions the various circumstances the Dead Sea is mentioned in the Bible. A common practice in the ancient world for conquerors was to uproot inhabitants and disperse them so they could not reform into cohesive groups to revolt. That behavior is what destroyed the 10 tribes of Israel. I was surprised to learn that Jerusalem was uninhabited for much of the 6th century BCE.
The author then talks about the very interesting stories of Masada, the Essene scribes and then the Qumran Dead Sea Scrolls. After sharing the important events in the region over the generations, the author talks about what the countries involved are trying to do to save the Dead Sea. Very interesting reading.
