"Over Holy Ground" is a 30-minute aerial tour of the lands of the Bible. People of varying interests may find this birds-eye view video documentary informative and interesting. First, of course, would be people of faith, especially Christians and Jews. Others may be historians or students or others who just enjoy ancient history. Students of archaeology may find some scenes fascinating. And, it should be of interest to tourists and anyone who enjoys traveling to different and exotic places.
This film shows some of the lands of the great cradle of civilization, which are so rich in history and archaeology. The great differences of nature and land forms are apparent, especially in the topography of the Old Testament lands East of the Great Sea. There, the rugged and rough wilderness and desert are in stark contrast to the lush terrain of the Fertile Crescent that was so named by American archeologist James Henry Breasted in 1914. One will have a much better sense of what it was like to travel these lands in ancient times.
This film has panoramic and close-up views that probably are not available anywhere else. It shows the land, historic regions and sites, and cities and places that were filmed from the air for a video series, "The Footprints of God." The series was produced over several years and has nine other videos of about 90 minutes each. The format of the series follows the Bible, history and Catholic teaching. The aerial filming was done from helicopters in Israel, Egypt, Turkey, Greece and Italy.
Much of the film is of the ancient Biblical lands, but it also has aerial views along the northern Mediterranean from Turkey and Greece to Rome, Italy. The film has occasional Biblical citations and commentary with some of the scenes. And, the last segment of Rome has commentary about the Catholic Church.
The video is in segments by countries and regions. Here are the scenes and places shown in those segments.
Egypt shows Giza, the Sinai Desert, Mt. Sinai and St. Catherine's Monastery at the base of Sinai. Next is the Mediterranean Coast of Israel, the ancient port site of Caesarea, the Roman aqueduct and the Carmel Range and Mount Muhraqa, Israel. That is followed by a Lower Galilee panorama and landscape, and Sepphoris and underground cisterns; then, Nazareth and the Basilica of the Annunciation, and Mt. Tabor and the Basilica of the Transfiguration.
Next is the upper Galilee region, Caesarea Philippi and the Jordan River in the North. The lower Galilee region is dominated by the Sea of Galilee. Around it are scenes of the Church of the Primacy of Peter, Capernaum, the Church of the Beatitudes, Chorazin, and Bethsaida. Then comes the Eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, Kursi in the Golan Heights, and the southern outlet of the Jordan River. The camera next flies over the Judean wilderness, over Masada, and over the Dead Sea, and the Salt Mountain Range West of it.
Turning West and then North across the Judean wilderness, scenes show Machpelah, burial place of Abraham, and then Hebron. At Ein Karem is the Church of the Visitation and at Bethlehem, the Church of the Nativity. In and around Jerusalem from the air, one sees the Temple Mount, the Old Walled City, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Mount of Olives, the Church of the Nations at Gethsemane, the Church of St. Anne, and the Western Wall. Then come Mount Zion and the Church of the Dormition, and then Mount of Olives and the Chapel of the Ascension.
The main aerial scenes in Turkey are of the expansive archaeological area of the once great city of Ephesus. The remains of many buildings spread across the site. Scenes show the public baths, the Basilica of St. John, the Church of the Virgin Mary, the Arcadian Way and theatre, and Mary's House. From there, the camera flies over Izmir (ancient Smyrna) and the Mediterranean Coast, up to Istanbul (Constantinople), and Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque; and then over Iznik (ancient Nicea) and the Sea of Iznik.
The aerial scenes of Greece begin with the Island of Patmos and the Monastery of St. John the Theologian. At Athens, the camera flies over the Acropolis. A panorama scene shows the narrow man-made Corinth Canal across the Isthmus of Corinth. This four-mile long canal connects inlets of the Aegean and Adriatic Seas and shortens the sea distance around Greece by 200 plus miles. Other scenes are of Acrocorinth and the site of the temple of Aphrodite, and Corinth and the Temple of Apollo.
The last segment of this film has birds-eye views of Rome and its surrounding area. Scenes show the Appian Way, the Basilica and the Catacombs of St. Sebastian and the City Gate into ancient Rome. Next is the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Wall, the Tiber River and the Basilica of St. John Lateran. The camera then flies over the Roman Forum and Colosseum. And the final scenes are of St Peter's Basilica and square and Vatican City.
I have been to most of the places that this film shows - on the ground. This aerial tour gives another dimension to one's experience of traveling through and seeing the lands and sites of ancient history and the Bible. For anyone who has not yet gone but has thought about traveling to these places, this short film may be a pleasant inducement to do so. And, whether or not one travels to see such places in person, this film is a good aid in studying and understanding the places and times in biblical history.
This film shows some of the lands of the great cradle of civilization, which are so rich in history and archaeology. The great differences of nature and land forms are apparent, especially in the topography of the Old Testament lands East of the Great Sea. There, the rugged and rough wilderness and desert are in stark contrast to the lush terrain of the Fertile Crescent that was so named by American archeologist James Henry Breasted in 1914. One will have a much better sense of what it was like to travel these lands in ancient times.
This film has panoramic and close-up views that probably are not available anywhere else. It shows the land, historic regions and sites, and cities and places that were filmed from the air for a video series, "The Footprints of God." The series was produced over several years and has nine other videos of about 90 minutes each. The format of the series follows the Bible, history and Catholic teaching. The aerial filming was done from helicopters in Israel, Egypt, Turkey, Greece and Italy.
Much of the film is of the ancient Biblical lands, but it also has aerial views along the northern Mediterranean from Turkey and Greece to Rome, Italy. The film has occasional Biblical citations and commentary with some of the scenes. And, the last segment of Rome has commentary about the Catholic Church.
The video is in segments by countries and regions. Here are the scenes and places shown in those segments.
Egypt shows Giza, the Sinai Desert, Mt. Sinai and St. Catherine's Monastery at the base of Sinai. Next is the Mediterranean Coast of Israel, the ancient port site of Caesarea, the Roman aqueduct and the Carmel Range and Mount Muhraqa, Israel. That is followed by a Lower Galilee panorama and landscape, and Sepphoris and underground cisterns; then, Nazareth and the Basilica of the Annunciation, and Mt. Tabor and the Basilica of the Transfiguration.
Next is the upper Galilee region, Caesarea Philippi and the Jordan River in the North. The lower Galilee region is dominated by the Sea of Galilee. Around it are scenes of the Church of the Primacy of Peter, Capernaum, the Church of the Beatitudes, Chorazin, and Bethsaida. Then comes the Eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, Kursi in the Golan Heights, and the southern outlet of the Jordan River. The camera next flies over the Judean wilderness, over Masada, and over the Dead Sea, and the Salt Mountain Range West of it.
Turning West and then North across the Judean wilderness, scenes show Machpelah, burial place of Abraham, and then Hebron. At Ein Karem is the Church of the Visitation and at Bethlehem, the Church of the Nativity. In and around Jerusalem from the air, one sees the Temple Mount, the Old Walled City, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Mount of Olives, the Church of the Nations at Gethsemane, the Church of St. Anne, and the Western Wall. Then come Mount Zion and the Church of the Dormition, and then Mount of Olives and the Chapel of the Ascension.
The main aerial scenes in Turkey are of the expansive archaeological area of the once great city of Ephesus. The remains of many buildings spread across the site. Scenes show the public baths, the Basilica of St. John, the Church of the Virgin Mary, the Arcadian Way and theatre, and Mary's House. From there, the camera flies over Izmir (ancient Smyrna) and the Mediterranean Coast, up to Istanbul (Constantinople), and Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque; and then over Iznik (ancient Nicea) and the Sea of Iznik.
The aerial scenes of Greece begin with the Island of Patmos and the Monastery of St. John the Theologian. At Athens, the camera flies over the Acropolis. A panorama scene shows the narrow man-made Corinth Canal across the Isthmus of Corinth. This four-mile long canal connects inlets of the Aegean and Adriatic Seas and shortens the sea distance around Greece by 200 plus miles. Other scenes are of Acrocorinth and the site of the temple of Aphrodite, and Corinth and the Temple of Apollo.
The last segment of this film has birds-eye views of Rome and its surrounding area. Scenes show the Appian Way, the Basilica and the Catacombs of St. Sebastian and the City Gate into ancient Rome. Next is the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Wall, the Tiber River and the Basilica of St. John Lateran. The camera then flies over the Roman Forum and Colosseum. And the final scenes are of St Peter's Basilica and square and Vatican City.
I have been to most of the places that this film shows - on the ground. This aerial tour gives another dimension to one's experience of traveling through and seeing the lands and sites of ancient history and the Bible. For anyone who has not yet gone but has thought about traveling to these places, this short film may be a pleasant inducement to do so. And, whether or not one travels to see such places in person, this film is a good aid in studying and understanding the places and times in biblical history.