Research Catalog

Title

Apocalypse : earthquakes, archaeology, and the wrath of God / Amos Nur ; with Dawn Burgess.

Author

Nur, Amos.

Publication

Princeton : Princeton University Press, ©2008.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

Burgess, Dawn, 1967-

Description

xi, 309 pages : illustrations, maps; 24 cm

Summary

"What if Troy was not destroyed in the epic battle immortalized by Homer? What if many legendary cities of the ancient world did not meet their ends through war and conquest as archaeologists and historians believe, but in fact were laid waste by a force of nature so catastrophic that religions and legends describe it as the wrath of god? "Apocalypse" brings the latest scientific evidence to bear on biblical accounts, mythology, and the archaeological record to explore how ancient and modern earthquakes have shaped history - and, for some civilizations, seemingly heralded the end of the world. Archaeologists are trained to seek human causes behind the ruins they study. Because of this, the subtle clues that indicate earthquake damage are often overlooked or even ignored. Amos Nur bridges the gap that for too long has separated archaeology and seismology. He examines tantalizing evidence of earthquakes at some of the world's most famous archaeological sites in the Mediterranean and elsewhere, including Troy, Jericho, Knossos, Mycenae, Armageddon, Teotihuacan, and Petra. He reveals what the Bible, the Iliad, and other writings can tell us about the seismic calamities that may have rocked the ancient world. He even explores how earthquakes may have helped preserve the "Dead Sea Scrolls". As Nur shows, recognizing earthquake damage in the shifted foundations and toppled arches of historic ruins is vital today because the scientific record of world earthquake risks is still incomplete. "Apocalypse" explains where and why ancient earthquakes struck - and could strike again."--Jacket.

Subjects

• Earthquakes > Economic aspects
• Archaeology and natural disasters
• Earthquakes > Social aspects
• Earthquakes > Political aspects
• Excavations (Archaeology)
• Extinct cities
• Social change > History
• Human beings > Effect of environment on > History
• Earthquakes > History
• Civilization, Ancient

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (pages 289-304) and index.

Contents

King Agamemnon's capital -- How earthquakes happen -- History, myth, and the reliability of the written record -- Clues to earthquakes in the archaeological record -- Under the rubble : human casualties of earthquakes -- Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls : destruction that preserves? -- Expanding the earthquake record in the Holy Land -- Earthquake storms and the catastrophic end of the Bronze Age -- Rumblings and revolutions : political effects of earthquakes -- Earthquakes and societal collapse -- Glossary.

Call Number

JFE 14-8146

ISBN

• 9780691016023 (alk. paper)
• 069101602X (alk. paper)

LCCN

2007026170

OCLC

154677274

Author

Nur, Amos.

Title

Apocalypse : earthquakes, archaeology, and the wrath of God / Amos Nur ; with Dawn Burgess.

Imprint

Princeton : Princeton University Press, ©2008.

Type of Content

text

Type of Medium

unmediated

Type of Carrier

volume

Bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 289-304) and index.

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Table of contents

Table of contents

Table of contents

Added Author

Burgess, Dawn, 1967-

Research Call Number

JFE 14-8146