The Tomb of Christ

It would, perhaps, be embarrassing to say that I'm reviewing this book ten years after its original publication and 12 years since my last visit to Jerusalem unless the history of the subject material itself--the tomb of Christ--was something measured not in years but rather in centuries. It is, moreover, exactly 1000 years since the tomb as well as the surrounding Church of the Holy Sepulcher was almost destroyed in a mad act of religious intolerance ordered by the Egyptian caliph al-Hakim. In an age when there are a lot of scholarly and not so scholarly al-Hakims running around trying to smash religious icons, Martin Biddle takes a remarkably objective and professional look at the historical development behind this religious "hot potato." He spins out in text, illustration, computer imagery, and astonishing photography the fascinating story of an edifice that provoked one commentator to say: "Of all sacred buildings it has perhaps been worse treated by man than any other." Approaching his subject both respectfully and critically, Biddle uses a wide range of sources to document the history of the tomb of Christ, offering much valuable information about the layout of 1st century Jewish tombs and a well thought-out argument about the original form and ongoing evolution of the 4th century Constantinian monument ("aedicule"). It is clear, moreover, that part of Biddle's objective in writing about the tomb of Christ is to comprehensively document its current condition so as to facilitate its future restoration, a goal desired by all those religious groups sharing "ownership" of this holy site, no matter how much they might disagree about the details of restoration. (Will it take another Saladin to reopen that right-hand entrance to the church?!) It is also clear that in the course of his research Biddle developed a positive and even warm relationship with those groups--Greek Orthodox, Latin, Armenian, and a number of others--who bring life and worship as well as theological disagreements to the place which has so long been the destination of pilgrims and tourists alike. Be warned that this book contains much technical information. For a more readable account of the tomb and church, allowing one to see not only the art and architecture but also the liturgical life of the various religious communities using the church, see Biddle's companion volume, "The Church of the Holy Sepulcher". These books are a bit pricy when purchased as new. I was able to get a used copy of "The Tomb of Christ" in excellent condition for a fraction of the original price.

I bought this book after returning from a visit to Jerusalem. The Church of the Resurrection (Holy Sepulchre) had made a huge impression on me, and I wanted to know more about the actual history and archaeology of the place to go along with the pious legends offered by the tour guides. This book captures the layers and contradictions of the tomb itself: demolished and rebuilt repeatedly over the last seventeen centuries, currently housed in a tacky 19th century shrine that is held together with wire and good wishes, fiercely guarded by competing ranks of Greek Orthodox, Coptic, Syrian, Armenian, Ethiopian and Roman Catholic clergy. Using modern investigative techniques and a remarkable survey of historical representations of the aedicule, Biddle is also able to make a convincing reconstruction of the original tomb from at least Helena's time, and to make plausible conjectures about the simple first-century burial chamber that lies underneath, obscured and hallowed by seventeen centuries of bric-a-brac and prayer. The photographs are remarkable (I can tell you how difficult this space is to capture effectively), and the reconstruction drawings are clear, but this book goes far deeper than a mere travelogue or coffee-table book. It absolutely enriched my experience and understanding of this holy and all-too-human place.