Review

"Master of all the written, archaeological, and epigraphic sources, ever alert to fine nuances in political developments and architectural elements, and possessed of a writing style in which elegant simplicity and clarity is often elivened by a rhetorical flourish. Burns has proved himself a chronicler worthy of a city that for three thousand years drew to itself those who made the history of the region."

- Jerome Murphy-O'Connor, Revue Biblique

"Ross Burns wears his massive learning lightly and the book will be a lively and enlightening guide for anyone contemplating taking the Road to Damascus."

- Professor Sam Lieu, Macquarie University, Australia

"Burns has succeeded outstandingly in providing a coherent and fascinating survey of Damascene history, interesting for the art historian, archaeologist, and historian alike ... highly readable ... plausible and attractively written account of both the Hellenistic and Roman periods ... with passion and an excellent eye for detail ... a fluent and interesting account of the urban history right up to the brink of modern Syria."

- Antti Lampinen, Arctos

Synopsis

Lavishly illustrated with beautiful photographs and original plans, "Damascus" provides for the first time in English a compelling and unique exploration of a fascinating city. "Damascus" traces the story of this colourful, significant and complex city through its physical development, from its obscure origins in the Bronze Age through the changing cavalcade of Aramaean, Persian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Turkish and French rulers right up to the end of Ottoman control in 1918. Examining how every layer of history in Damascus has built precisely on top of its predecessors for at least three millennia, this book looks at the detailed, and largely untouched archaeological record of one of the oldest continuously inhabited capitals in the world.

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