Program Description: "What Makes Jerusalem Special?" with Prof. Jodi Magness
Prof. Jodi Magness' newest book, Jerusalem Through the Ages: From Its Beginnings to the Crusades (Oxford University Press, 2024), presents a broad yet detailed account of Jerusalem, one of the world’s oldest, holiest, and most contested cities. Jodi's presentation will journey us back thousands of years to understand how this remote and relatively poor mountain town came to be sacred to followers of the three Abrahamic faiths.
If Prof. Jodi Magness seems familiar to you, you probably have seen her on numerous TV archeology programs. Archaeologist and scholar of religion, Dr. Magness serves as UNC's Kenan Distinguished Professor for Teaching Excellence in Early Judaism. She has participated in 20 different excavations in Israel and Greece, including co-directing the excavations of Masada's Roman siege works. Recent excavations led by Dr. Magness in Israel's Galilee have brought to light a monumental early 5th century synagogue with stunning mosaics .Among her award winning books are Masada: From Jewish Revolt to Modern Myth (2019 finalist - National Jewish Book Award in History); The Archaeology of Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls (2003 winner Biblical Archaeology Society’s Award, Best Popular Book in Archaeology) and The Archaeology of the Early Islamic Settlement in Palestine (2006 Irene Levi-Sala Book Prize - Archaeology of Israel).
