Myths in Stone - Religious Dimensions of Washington D.C.

1. Auflage 2001
ISBN: 978-0-520-21481-1
Verlag: University of California Press

Buch, Englisch, 354 Seiten, Cloth Over Boards, Format (B × H): 158 mm x 236 mm, Gewicht: 721 g

Washington, D.C., is a city of powerful symbols—from the dominance of the Capitol dome and Washington Monument to the authority of the Smithsonian. This book takes us on a fascinating and informative tour of the nation's capital as Jeffrey F. Meyer unravels the complex symbolism of the city and explores its meaning for our national consciousness. Meyer finds that mythic and religious themes pervade the capital—in its original planning, in its monumental architecture, and in the ritualized events that have taken place over the 200 years the city has been the repository for the symbolism of the nation.

As Meyer tours the city's famous axial layout, he discusses many historical figures and events, compares Washington to other great cities of the world such as Beijing and Berlin, and discusses the meaning and history of its architecture and many works of art. Treating Washington, D.C., as a complex religious center, Meyer finds that the city functions as a unifying element in American consciousness. This book will change the way we look at Washington, D.C., and provide a provocative new look at the meaning of religion in America today. It will also be a valuable companion for those traveling to this city that was envisioned from its inception as the center of the world.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Meyer, Jeffrey F.

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Religionswissenschaft Religionswissenschaft Allgemein
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Weltgeschichte & Geschichte einzelner Länder und Gebietsräume Geschichte einzelner Länder Amerikanische Geschichte
• Geisteswissenschaften Architektur Gebäudetypen Öffentliche Gebäude, Gewerbliche Bauten

Inhaltsverzeichnis

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Introduction

PART I The Axis of Power
Reflections: On Pennsylvania Avenue
from the Capitol to the White House
I Capital and Capitol: City at the Center of the World
2 A Balancing Act: Pennsylvania Avenue and Power
3 A "National Church" and Its Holy Scriptures

PART II The Axis of Enlightenment
Reflections: From the White House to the jefferson Memorial
4 The White House and Presidential Religion
5 The Washington Monument: Enigma Variations
6 The Jefferson Memorial: Image of Enlightenment Faith

PART III The Axis of Memory
Reflections: From Arlington Cemetery to the Capitol
7 Memento Mori: The Lincoln Memorial and the Honored Dead
8 The Changing Meaning of the National Mall
9 Back to the Capitol: Artists' Voices

NOTES
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX

Über Autor(innen)

Jeffrey F. Meyer is Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. He is the author of The Dragons of Tiananmen: Beijing as a Sacred City (1991).