Book Description

A detailed introduction to the meaning of title, San Calixto Catacombs, the book and the author is provides in the beginning and a few images relating to Christ and the contemporary Roman empire are added.The word 'Ben' is frequently used as a shortened version of the given name Benjamin as well as Benedict, Bengt, Bennett, Benoit, Benvolio, Bentley, or Ebenezer and other names. In Arabic and Hebrew, "Ben" means "son of" forming part of surnames, e.g. 'Abraham ben Abraham' is 'Abraham son of Abraham'. Besides many other, one of the Biblical meanings for Hur is- 'A prominent official in Israel. With Aaron he held up Moses' hands during the battle against the Amalekites (Exodus 17:10,12) and assisted him as judicial head of the people during Moses' stay in the mount (Exodus 24:14). There is yet another description from urbandictionary.com which describes, "If one is said to be "Ben Hur" it implys that one is a man of small stature....yet a large amount of sexual appeal. Thus one can never be....bigger than Ben Hur." Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, a novel by Lew Wallace, was first published on November 12, 1880. It was considered "the most influential Christian book of the nineteenth century" and was the best-selling American novel from the time of its publication, superseding the sale of Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852). It remained at the top until the publication of Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind (1936). Following release of the 1959 MGM film adaptation of Ben-Hur, which was seen by tens of millions and won 11 Academy Awards in 1960, the sales of this book surpassed Gone with the Wind. Blessed by Pope Leo XIII, the novel was the first work of fiction to be so honored religiously. The story recounts the adventures of Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish prince and merchant in Jerusalem at the beginning of the 1st century. Judah's childhood friend Messala returns home as an ambitious commanding officer of the Roman legions. They come to realize that they have changed and hold very different views and aspirations. During a military parade, a loose tile is accidentally dislodged from the roof of Judah's house and hits the Roman governor, knocking him from his horse. Although Messala knows that they are not guilty of attempted assassination, he condemns the Ben-Hur family. Without trial, Judah is sent to the Roman galleys for life; his mother and sister are imprisoned in a cell previously used for lepers and all the family property is confiscated.Through good fortune, befriending and saving the commander of his ship, Judah survives and is trained as a soldier. He returns to Jerusalem, where he seeks revenge against his one-time friend and redemption for his family. Running in parallel with Ben-Hur's narrative is the unfolding story of Jesus, who comes from the same region and is a similar age. The two reflect themes of betrayal, conviction and redemption. With the Crucifixion, Ben-Hur recognizes that the Christ stands for a different goal than revenge, and he becomes Christian, turning to supporting the new religion with money which he has inherited, inspired by love and the talk of keys to a greater kingdom than any on earth.Lewis "Lew" Wallace (April 10, 1827 - February 15, 1905) was an American lawyer, Union general in the American Civil War, territorial governor and statesman, politician, and author. Wallace served as governor of the New Mexico Territory at the time of the Lincoln County War and worked to bring an end to the fighting.Of his novels and biographies, he is best known for his historical novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1880), a bestselling book since its publication, and called "the most influential Christian book of the nineteenth century." It has been adapted four times for films.