ReViews

Royal Cities of the Biblical World

Joan Goodnick Westenholz, ed. (Jerusalem: Bible Lands Museum, 1996) 334 pp., $95

In this elegantly produced, lavishly illustrated catalogue for the Bible Lands Museum’s current major exhibit, Jerusalem—A Capital for All Times, Royal Cities of the Biblical World (running through December 31, 1996), readers will find a collection of concise, well-written essays on the archaeology and history of eight important cities of the ancient Near East. Although the roster of ancient capitals included here is clearly not meant to be exhaustive (Mari and Thebes are two obvious omissions), this catalogue, edited by Joan Goodnick Westenholz, chief curator of the Bible Lands Museum, presents an eclectic survey of recent archaeological excavations and historical interpretations relating to major urban sites throughout the region.