Sacred Landscapes of Greater Syria: Joseph Besson's 1660 Jesuit Perspective

Abstract Joseph Besson's 1660 account of Jesuit missions in Syria offers a rare glimpse into the region's cultural landscape from the perspective of French Jesuits living among diverse communities of Jews, Christians (Greek-Orthodox and Catholic), and Muslims. Drawing on unpublished Jesuit relations from 1625 to 1659 and an unsigned map of Syria, this article explores Besson's portrayal of Greater Syria, a region encompassing modern-day Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, and western Jordan, within the Ottoman empire. A detailed analysis reveals that the map is likely an original Jesuit creation, highlighting how Jesuit spirituality influenced their interpretation of physical spaces. Furthermore, the study illuminates the Jesuits' role in shaping European views of the Orient and the Holy Land, contributing to the early development of Orientalism.