Absalom! Absalom!

Absalom! Absalom!

William Faulkner borrowed the title of his famous novel from King David’s cry of distress when he learned of the death of his rebellious son Absalom. For several centuries, the collective memory of this biblical passage has crystallized around a funerary...
The Tower of the Flock or Shepherds’ field

The Tower of the Flock or Shepherds’ field

Whoever visits Bethlehem on a modern pilgrimage almost always begins the itinerary with a quick stop at the “Shepherds ‘field.” It is located in the municipality of Beit Sahur, southeast of Bethlehem. The holy site is under the care of the Franciscan Custody of...
Pilate’s Inscription in Caesarea

Pilate’s Inscription in Caesarea

Caesarea Maritima was developed almost from scratch by Herod the Great in the latter decades of the first century BC. Herod’s intention was to compete with – if not to surpass – other large Mediterranean harbours such as Alexandria, the Piraeus of Athens, or Seleucia...