More assorted shots of J-town..
This wall is holy to Jews because it is all that remains of the second temple, which was razed in 70 A.D. by the Romans following their victory over rebellious Jews. According to leading rabbis, the holy presence (imbued by the Ark of the Covenant) has never left this site. Also, it's pretty much all the Jews have got, what with the Temple Mount itself being under Muslim administration.
After the dense, sinuous twisting of Old Jerusalem's winding alleys, the Temple Mount is shockingly large and expansive. This was only one of several simultaneous soccer games.
These stairs lead down to Solomon's Stables, a series of vaults actually constructed by Herod in order to reduce pressure on the retaining walls (the bedrock at this point drops well below the level of the Temple Mount plaza). The Christian Crusaders called these vaults Solomon's Stables because (1) they didn't know Herod from Solomon and (2) they kept their horses there. Classy guys, those Crusaders.
Mmm.. peaceful greenery.
The Dome of the Rock, built in 691 A.D. atop the highest point of Mount Moriah, the 'Foundation Stone.' That's 80 kilos (176 pounds) of pure gold on the dome, donated in 1993 by King Hussein of Jordan. At current prices, 80 kg of gold is worth over $3.4 million.
According to Jewish tradition, the Foundation Stone is where the Earth itself began, where Adam, Cain, Abel and Noah offered up sacrifices to God and where Abraham nearly sacrificed his son Isaac. It was the centerpiece of the first and second temples, the Holy of Holies, where the Ark of the Covenant rested. It is also, according to Muslim tradition, the location to which Mohammed traveled in his Night Journey (to the 'farthest mosque,' assumed to be in Jerusalem) and from which Mohammed ascended to heaven to meet Allah.
Maybe now you see why Jerusalem is so problematic.
Unfortunately, non-Muslims (infidels, if you will) are not permitted to enter the Dome of the Rock. Fortunately the internet is a power that shall not be denied.
Quite frankly, I don't see what all the fuss is about. Moving right along..
I went to the so-called Tower of David in Jerusalem, "so-called" because it was those ignoramuses the Crusaders that first christened the fortifications at Jerusalem's high point (other than the Temple Mount) "David's" tower. As a point of fact, this strategic location was probably first fortifed during the Hasmonean period, around 200 B.C.E. Herod the Great oversaw a major expansion, building three massive square towers from 37 - 40 B.C.E., the foundations of which underlie the existing structures.
It's a damn cool lookin' castle, all around, and there's a really nice museum scattered throughout. Unfortunately, interesting, nicely laid out, well-explicated museums don't photograph well (let me know if any of you are, in fact, interested in nine separate photos mapping out the historical expansion and contraction of the city of Jerusalem. Yeah, didn't think so)
Even worse, all of those seats on the lower right of the panorama are for the Sound and Light Show! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, "Amidst the archaeological remains in the Citadel’s courtyard and to the sound of original music, the story of Jerusalem unfolds through giant breathtaking, virtual reality images." Buy your tickets now!
Ugh, gag me with a spoon.
Somewhat oddly, the best view of (Jewish holy site) the Western Wall is from the walkway up to (Muslim controlled holy site) the Temple Mount.
This wall is holy to Jews because it is all that remains of the second temple, which was razed in 70 A.D. by the Romans following their victory over rebellious Jews. According to leading rabbis, the holy presence (imbued by the Ark of the Covenant) has never left this site. Also, it's pretty much all the Jews have got, what with the Temple Mount itself being under Muslim administration.
According to Jewish tradition, the Foundation Stone is where the Earth itself began, where Adam, Cain, Abel and Noah offered up sacrifices to God and where Abraham nearly sacrificed his son Isaac. It was the centerpiece of the first and second temples, the Holy of Holies, where the Ark of the Covenant rested. It is also, according to Muslim tradition, the location to which Mohammed traveled in his Night Journey (to the 'farthest mosque,' assumed to be in Jerusalem) and from which Mohammed ascended to heaven to meet Allah.
Maybe now you see why Jerusalem is so problematic.
Unfortunately, non-Muslims (infidels, if you will) are not permitted to enter the Dome of the Rock. Fortunately the internet is a power that shall not be denied.
Behold! The most contentious fucking rock on the planet! Photo credit: damonlynch.
Quite frankly, I don't see what all the fuss is about. Moving right along..
I went to the so-called Tower of David in Jerusalem, "so-called" because it was those ignoramuses the Crusaders that first christened the fortifications at Jerusalem's high point (other than the Temple Mount) "David's" tower. As a point of fact, this strategic location was probably first fortifed during the Hasmonean period, around 200 B.C.E. Herod the Great oversaw a major expansion, building three massive square towers from 37 - 40 B.C.E., the foundations of which underlie the existing structures.
The Temple Mount is the big square thing in back. Herod's Palaces and the Tower of David are opposite, where the walls crook in a bit.
Here's what it looks like today ("It's only a model")..
..and here's the view from the top of the tower (about 180° from the previous view).
It's a damn cool lookin' castle, all around, and there's a really nice museum scattered throughout. Unfortunately, interesting, nicely laid out, well-explicated museums don't photograph well (let me know if any of you are, in fact, interested in nine separate photos mapping out the historical expansion and contraction of the city of Jerusalem. Yeah, didn't think so)
A mosaic left over from when the Byzantines were in charge.
Ok, now this is actually outrageously cool. Those rocks at the bottom of the pit? The round ones?
2,200 year old cannon balls, left over from when the Seleucids besieged Jerusalem. Seriously, how cool is that?
So cool I took a picture of the sign, too.
And what 2,000 year old castle would be complete without an espresso stand?
Even worse, all of those seats on the lower right of the panorama are for the Sound and Light Show! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, "Amidst the archaeological remains in the Citadel’s courtyard and to the sound of original music, the story of Jerusalem unfolds through giant breathtaking, virtual reality images." Buy your tickets now!
Ugh, gag me with a spoon.
I was wondering if you have any more pictures or angles of the Model of what it looks like today.
ReplyDeleteIf so please could you forward them to this email address.
high_deliverance@hotmail.com
Thank you.