"The Baptist" is no stranger to the spotlight. Here's a list of his celebrity appearances, plus some of the best books, movies and websites about him – together with handy links so you can go searching and shopping. |
Celebrity Appearances
John the Baptist has had a decent film career, played by Charlton Heston (The Greatest Story Ever Told, 1965), Michael York (Jesus of Nazareth, 1977) and Robert Ryan (King of Kings, 1961). John also makes a guest appearance in Bob Dylan's Tombstone Blues, torturing a thief and then trying to find a hole to get sick in.
Oscar Wilde's play, Salome, explores the events surrounding John's death, from the point of view of Herod's step-daughter Salome, whose dance persuaded Herod to give her John's head. Wilde adds to the it-wouldn't-happen-in-a-soap-opera flavour of the story by having Salome fancy John.
The first-century Jewish historian Josephus mentions John in his book, "Jewish Antiquities". He praises John's message and his baptism, and says that Herod killed him because he feared he would lead the people in a rebellion. Read the extract here.
Books
The Cave of John The Baptist
Shimon Gibson
Order from the UK or
US
The Library of Qumran: On the Essenes, Qumran, John the Baptist, and Jesus
Hartmut Stegemann
Order from the UK or
US
Movies
Salome (1997)
Director: Christoph Von Dohnanyi
Order from the UK or
US
The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)
Director: George Stevens
Order from the UK or
US
Jesus of Nazareth (1977)
Director: Franco Zeffirelli
Order from the UK or
US
King of Kings (1961)
Director: Jeffrey Hunter
Order from the UK or
US
Websites
The rather sexy portrait by Caravaggio – click!
John's life in Lego – click!
John as Catholic Saint – click!
John as Orthodox Saint – click!
John in the Catholic Encyclopedia – click!
John in the Jewish Encyclopedia – click! |
