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A Short Look at the Old City of Jerusalem

A Short Look at the Old City of Jerusalem

by Samuel | Jul 21, 2020 | Blog, Impressions, The Holy Land

If there is any place, which is known far beyond its borders, it must be Jerusalem. Whether we are dealing with history, culture, religion, or present day political events, this city has something to say. And does it ever do so. An old Palestinian man walking in the...

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Notes from the Holy Land
Remnants of Roman columns found in excavations of Remnants of Roman columns found in excavations of the original cardo in the Old City of Jerusalem, the main street leading across the city, where vendors would have their stands, offering all kind of goods for both locals and visitors.

The columns used here are of the Corinthian style, recognizable for its smooth column and the ornate capital looking like a flower head. This was also the most common style of columns used by the Romans, making them easily recognizable to most.

The original cardo is found under ground level today, witnessing of the actual physical growth of the city, having buildings being built upon older buildings.
A book wagon in Tel Aviv. Even though Tel Aviv is A book wagon in Tel Aviv.

Even though Tel Aviv is known as the secular capital of Israel, full of people partying all the time, it's also a city which embraces intellectual leisure. 

Like the rest of the country, books are a crucial part of the Israeli life, and are readily available, whether on libraries, education centers, or, as here, in book wagons found different places in the city.
A Muslim girl in the streets of the Old City of Je A Muslim girl in the streets of the Old City of Jerusalem. 

Roughly half of the population in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian territories) is Muslim.

Islam has been present in the Holy Land since the second half of the 630s CE, when he area was conquered by the Muslim army, taking over from the Christian Byzantine empire. Since then, besides a period with Christian dominance in the medieval era (1099-1187), the Holy Land has been under Muslim dominance until the victory of the British forces at the end of the first world war, creating the Palestinian mandate, which would lead to the creation of the Jewish state of Israel.

Islam was also the dominant religion until the 20th century, where several waves of Jews started entering the Holy Land, changing Judaism from being a small minority religion to the dominant religion in what would become Israel, while Islam has stayed the dominant religion in the Palestinian territories.
Mass in St. Peter's Church in Jaffa. This is a ch Mass in St. Peter's Church in Jaffa.

This is a church with history. While the present building was built between 1888 and 1894, the original church was built in 1654, built over a medieval citadel, originally built in the latter half of the 13th century.

The significance of the church is of more importance than one would think for a church, which is found some way from Jerusalem and other places, otherwise mentioned in the New Testament. However, Jaffa is the place where Peter the Apostle is believed to have raised Tabithat, one of Jesus' disciples, just as Jaffa was the main port for Christian pilgrims travelling to Jerusalem. St. Peter's Church was ready to welcome and comfort them, when they arrived to the Holy Land.
Qubbat Yusuf - for our commemoration The Dome of Qubbat Yusuf - for our commemoration 

The Dome of Joseph, or as it's known in Arabic, Qubbat Yusus, is a structure built on the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif, just south of the Dome of the Rock.

The big inscription is an Ayyubid inscription praising Salah al-Din, whose full name was Salah ad-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub, for his reconquest of Jerusalem from the Crusaders in the year 1187 CE / 582 AH, referring to a bridge which was built. The structure itself was built in 1681 CE by the Ottoman governor Yusuf Agha, to commemorate Salah al-Din and his conquest.
The Round Tower as seen from the bottom of the sta The Round Tower as seen from the bottom of the stairs up to the HaKirya Bridge.

The round tower is one of three towers of the Azrieli center, the two others being square and triangle. Together they form one of the most recognizable landmarks of Tel Aviv, housing both a shopping mall and office buildings, as well as an incredible indoor observation deck at the top of the round tower, which also is the tallest of the three tower.

The Azrieli center is placed next to the HaShalom train station, with trains going north, south, and to Jerusalem, and is a traffic hub, welcoming travelers from all over the center of Israel.

The center was designed by Israeli-American architect Eli Attia, though finished by Tel Aviv firm of Moore Yaski Sivan Architects, constructed from 1996 to 1999.
Jews praying the Morning Prayer at the Western Wal Jews praying the Morning Prayer at the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem.

The Western Wall is the most famous part of the remnants of what was known as the Second Temple, the most holy places for Jews. While it doesn't look like much today, thousands of Jews visit the place on a daily basis, to both to participate in communal prayers, as well as giving their own private hopes for God to improve their own or someone else situation. 

While the wall itself is not holy, but only acted as a foundation for the Temple Mount, this is the closest to the spot, where the Temple is believed to have stood, Jews today can gather and participate in prayer.
The Dome of the Chain with the golden dome of the The Dome of the Chain with the golden dome of the Dome of the Rock behind it.

While the the two main structures of the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif without a doubt are the Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, the area has a number of other structures of varying importance and significance. 

One of these structures, which itself holds great importance, is the Dome of the Chain. The structure, a free standing dome, was built the same year as the Dome of the Rock, in 691 CE, and is the spot where the judgement day will occur in the end of days, having a chain preventing the sinful to pass through to the heavens, and only allow the righteous believers through.
The Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem, w The Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem, which contains two of the most holy places for Christians.

Believed to be where we find Golghata, the place for Jesus' crucifiction and his final resting place, before he would raise again, fulfilling the needed sacrifice, which would rinse those who believe in him from their sins.
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