Indiana Jones meets The Da Vinci Code in an old Egyptian synagogue--the amazing story of one of the most important discoveries in modern religious scholarship. In 1896, Rabbi Solomon Schechter of Cambridge University stepped into the attic of the Ben Ezra Synagogue in Cairo, Egypt, and there found the largest treasure trove of medieval and early manuscripts ever discovered. He had entered the synagogue's genizah--its repository for damaged and destroyed Jewish texts--which held nearly 300,000 individual documents, many of which were over 1,000 years old. Considered among the most important discoveries in modern religious history, its contents contained early copies of some of the Dead Sea Scrolls, early manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible, and other sacred literature. The importance of the genizah's contents rivals that of the Rosetta Stone, and by virtue of its sheer mass alone, it will continue to command our attention indefinitely. This is the first accessible, comprehensive account of this astounding discovery. It will delight you with its fascinating adventure story--why this enormous collection was amassed, how it was discovered and the many lessons to be found in its contents. And it will show you how Schechter's find, though still being "unpacked" today, forever transformed our knowledge of the Jewish past, Muslim history and much more.

Holy Treasure and Sacred Song explores the complex interplay between relic cults and the liturgy in medieval Tuscany. Drawing on documentary, literary and visual evidence rarely considered together, it reveals that liturgical texts, music, and ritual were integral to the clergy's well-informed promotion of saints buried in their churches.

This book is acknowledged as the only work dealing exclusively with the identification and description of international gallantry awards, past and present. The multitude of illustrations allows the reader to readily identify those awards most likely to be encountered. The work embraces forty-three countries and describes 270 decorations together with their various classes. A ten page ribbon chart shows 216 different world gallantry ribbons all in full colour.

Sacred music is a universal phenomenon of humanity. Where there is faith, there is music to express it. Every major religious tradition and most minor ones have music and have it in abundance and variety. There is music to accompany ritual and music purely for devotion, music for large congregations and music for trained soloists, music that sets holy words and music without words at all. In some traditions—Islamic and many Native American, to name just two--the relation between music and religious ritual is so intimate that it is inaccurate to speak of the music accompanying the ritual. Rather, to perform the ritual is to sing, and to sing the ritual is to perform it. This second edition of Historical Dictionary of Sacred Music contains a chronology, an introduction, appendixes, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 800 cross-referenced entries on major types of music, composers, key religious figures, specialized positions, genres of composition, technical terms, instruments, fundamental documents and sources, significant places, and important musical compositions. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about sacred music.

Focusing on the ninth to the fourteenth centuries, this study analyzes the ways in which relics functioned as material media for the interactions of Buddhist clerics, the imperial family, lay aristocrats, and warrior society and explores the multivocality of relics by dealing with specific historical examples. Brian Ruppert argues that relics offered means for reinforcing or subverting hierarchical relations.

In the novel, The Tibetan Book of the Dead, Archaeologist Dr. Nima Ganpa heads an expedition to the no-man's land of the Western Himalayas for the recovery of primordial clay tablets of the "original" Bardo Thodol passed down by the founder of Swastika Bon. Its discovery would potentially change the history of Tibet-the many established and well-entrenched doctrines, practices and institutions of Tibetan Buddhism. The ancient clay tablets contain sutras, tantric yoga techniques, and secretive vehicles to guide the initiate to attain spontaneous enlightenment, breaking the suffering of the endless cycle of death and rebirth. They offer a shortcut to attain Nirvana. However, the archaeological expedition immediately attracts the attention of agents of Dharamsala, Tibet's sacred treasure hunters and a syndicate for stolen antiquities headed by a former Nazi SS and a former CIA who have been involved with the affairs of Tibet since the 1930s. Only Dr. Ganpa can stop the madness of the Forces of Light against the Forces of Darkness in an apocalyptic Armageddon of Shambhala.

Collecting the Good War "This generation of Americans has a rendezvous with destiny."—Franklin Delano Roosevelt Hailed as "The Greatest Generation," the men and women who fought in World War II carried an unimaginable burden. Their date with destiny, both horrendous and heroic, shaped the world we know today. This newly expanded second edition of Warman's World War II Collectibles serves as a living tribute to these brave souls, as well as a guide to the remarkable and historical items that survived titanic battles. Brimming with expert collecting advice, detailed information and spectacular color images, this book is designed to provide perspective and guidance to the extraordinary world of World War II collectibles. This one-of-a-kind package features: • 1,100 full-color photos of collectibles from Allied and Axis forces • Coverage of uniforms, headgear, accouterments, medals, firearms, bayonets, knives, daggers, swords, and personal items • 3,000 listings with updated current-market prices • Helpful collecting advice, price and availability ratings, and reproduction alerts

The Liahona isn’t the only “type” or symbol in the scriptures. In fact, Moses tells us that all things testify of their Creator. This means that there are symbols all around us that can teach us things of eternal value—if only we can open our eyes and hearts to their messages. We know that God’s symbolism teaches messages that words simply can’t. But these symbols don’t exist just so we can be impressed with an interesting bit of knowledge and move on unaffected by the insight. Symbolism is meant to shape who we are, not just what we know. Gospel Symbols: Finding the Creator in His Creations will Show you new levels of understanding in words and rituals you probably take for granted Provide you with life-changing insights Supercharge your study of eternal principles Enhance your understanding of the ordinances and ceremonial practices of the biblical Church In a clear, easy-to-understand approach, this book combines ancient scriptures and modern insights to teach you and your family the precious truths found only in gospel symbols.

This volume explores the changing process of evaluating objects during the period of Japan’s rapid modernization. Originally published in Japanese, Antiquarians of Nineteenth-Century Japan looks at the approach toward object-based research across the late Tokugawa and early Meiji periods, which were typically kept separate, and elucidates the intellectual continuities between these eras. Focusing on the top-down effects of the professionalizing of academia in the political landscape of Meiji Japan, which had advanced by attacking earlier modes of scholarship by antiquarians, Suzuki shows how those outside the government responded, retracted, or challenged new public rules and values. He explores the changing process of evaluating objects from the past in tandem with the attitudes and practices of antiquarians during the period of Japan’s rapid modernization. He shows their roots in the intellectual sphere of the late Tokugawa period while also detailing how they adapted to the new era. Suzuki also demonstrates that Japan's antiquarians had much in common with those from Europe and the United States. Art historian Maki Fukuoka provides an introduction to the English translation that highlights the significance of Suzuki’s methodological and intellectual analyses and shows how his ideas will appeal to specialists and nonspecialists alike.