The book examines names such as Salem, Jerusalem, Hierosoluma, Moriah, Zion, Ilia, Beit il Maqdis and al-Quds, tracing their etymology, linguistic development, historical use and symbolic meaning in Hebrew, Greek, Latin and Arabic. In doing so, it shows that the city’s names are not merely alternative labels for the same geographical place. They represent different religious memories, theological interpretations and cultural visions of Jerusalem.
This is precisely why the book is important. Public discussions about Jerusalem often focus on politics, territory and conflict. This study adds another dimension: the role of language in shaping how communities imagine, remember and claim the city. As the authors stress, names are not neutral; they encode collective memory and theological meaning. Understanding how Jewish, Christian and Islamic traditions name Jerusalem helps us understand how each tradition conceptualizes the city itself.
For onomastics, the volume is especially valuable because it demonstrates how place names can function as compressed cultural texts. A toponym may preserve an ancient layer of language, a sacred narrative, a political transformation, or a liturgical tradition. Jerusalem’s names are therefore not simply historical curiosities: they are witnesses to contact, continuity, conflict and shared heritage across centuries.
The book is also designed for a broad readership. According to the press release, it is intended not only for specialists, but also for readers interested in the cultural and religious significance of Jerusalem. This makes it a useful bridge between academic onomastics, religious studies, historical linguistics and public humanities.
At a time when Jerusalem remains at the centre of global attention, The Names of Jerusalem reminds us that the history of the city is also a history of naming. To ask what Jerusalem is called is also to ask who remembers it, who venerates it, who interprets it, and how language continues to shape one of the world’s most meaningful urban spaces.
Bibliographic information:
Aaron Demsky, Christophe Rico and Iraj Sheidaee. The Names of Jerusalem: Jewish, Christian and Islamic Traditions. Polis Institute Press, 2026. ISBN: 978-965-7698-20-4. Price: $32.46.
