The Walls of Jerusalem, Israel.
In my European travels, I have seen many impressive walls and towers, ancient and medieval, for example, in Avila, Spain; or Carcassonne, France; BUT…. Probably, at least once in your life, you met a woman or a man who couldn’t be called beautiful, but nevertheless, she/he was unbelievably and inexplicable charming and attractive. Same with the Walls of Jerusalem.
Something cryptic in their simplicity forces you to raise your camera and shoot, shoot, and shoot at every turn, whether you are on the walls, inside, or outside of them. It’s a pleasure to stroll on them. It’s a pleasure to stroll beside them. It’s a pleasure to look at them. It’s a pleasure to touch them. My God, I even spoke with them. And they answered. They told me:
- how the city of Jebus was built there in the middle of the Bronze Age. It was small, but already fortified with walls;
- how David, the king, conquered Jebus and renamed it the City of David;
- how Solomon, David’s son, built the First Temple and extended the walls to protect it and the Temple Mount;
- how the city was destroyed in 587 BCE by Babylonians;
- how Persians beat the Babylonians and allowed Jews to return and built the Second Temple, the city, and the walls which were extended by Herod the Great and later by Agrippa I;
- how the walls were almost completely devastated during the First JewishRoman War (6673 CE), and how Jerusalem lay in ruins the following 60 years;
- how the Roman Emperor Diocletian started to erect new walls in 289;
- how most parts of the walls were destroyed again in 1033, that time by an earthquake, and were rebuilt by Fatimids;
- how Saladin’s nephew ordered the walls be broken down in 1219, because he didn’t want them to be used by Crusaders if they reconquered the city, and how for the next three hundred years, Jerusalem existed without the walls;
- how in the 16th century, Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent built the new walls on the remnants of the old ones, and they have stood to this day. The tombs of its architects can be found near Jaffa Gate. One historian says the sultan ordered the creators of the walls be executed for some mistakes made by them during the construction, others think he wanted to prevent them from repeating such a miracle elsewhere.
Almost three thousand years of history: the walls of Jerusalem have a lot to tell you. You just need to listen.
The Dormition Abbey on Mount Zion, Jerusalem, Israel.
Jaffa Gate has been the main entrance to the Old City of Jerusalem for many hundreds of years, but today, it is not so much a gate as a wide aisle.
Jaffa Gate, the Old City of Jerusalem, Israel.
However, some of Jerusalems gates look and “sound” the same as they used to many centuries ago. Damascus Gate, for example.
From inside, you can appreciate all the beauty of Jerusalem’s walls only in Armenian and Jewish quarters. To explore them from outside, every admirer of real architecture must walk along the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem from Dung Gate to Lion Gate.
More about Israel:
Fabulous Caesarea
Via Dolorosa: My Way of the Cross
February 13, 2019 at 9:03 am
That is a great concise summary of the history of the walls.
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February 13, 2019 at 9:06 am
Many thanks.
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February 13, 2019 at 10:11 am
Wonderful info and images. 😀
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February 13, 2019 at 2:19 pm
Thank you very much.
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February 13, 2019 at 11:28 am
Excellent post Victor!
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February 13, 2019 at 11:45 am
Thanks a lot, Andrew.
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February 13, 2019 at 11:52 am
I have wondered what secret conversations walls may be able to reveal!
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February 13, 2019 at 2:19 pm
I think everyone will hear something special.
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February 13, 2019 at 11:32 am
Reblogging to my sister site Timeless Wisdoms
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February 13, 2019 at 2:17 pm
Thank you very much, Anna.
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February 13, 2019 at 2:50 pm
Thank you for a great post
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February 13, 2019 at 7:08 pm
Really wonderful!
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February 13, 2019 at 10:59 pm
Many thanks, Pam.
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February 14, 2019 at 6:49 am
Jerusalam breathes history. Must see in a lifetime.
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February 14, 2019 at 7:30 am
Exactly. There are many historical places in Israel, but Jerusalem is the most interesting one.
Thank you.
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February 14, 2019 at 6:06 pm
What a fascinating post, Victor! Once again, you’ve taught me a good deal about the history of the places you visit. And once again, you’ve awed me with your beautiful images. Wonderful work, Victor!
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February 14, 2019 at 9:21 pm
A magical city. I’m missing it all the time.
Thank you, Heide.
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February 15, 2019 at 7:20 pm
Well done, Victor
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February 15, 2019 at 10:24 pm
Thank you, Shelly.
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February 16, 2019 at 2:04 am
So interesting. Lovely photos. Thanks.
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February 16, 2019 at 6:00 am
Thank you for reading and commenting, Coral.
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February 17, 2019 at 4:12 pm
This was a great way to tell the readers about the history of the place, having the walls do the talking. Wonderful post, Victor.
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February 17, 2019 at 9:59 pm
Thanks a lot, Anneli.
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February 19, 2019 at 11:47 am
Your photos are so crisp and color sharp, Victor – amazing shots captured – thank you so much for sharing these and for the list of history details. I love that! Have to read through it again and let it sink in more. Great post!
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February 19, 2019 at 12:01 pm
Many thanks, Lara.
Jerusalem is the embodiment of the history.
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February 23, 2019 at 5:41 pm
Great images and summary of the history of the walls.
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February 23, 2019 at 11:08 pm
Thanks a lot, Priya.
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February 23, 2019 at 7:26 pm
Certainly one of the most emblematic remnants from the past of this most-contested place on the planet. Despite its tumultuous history, I really hope that one day in the not-too-distant future peace can eventually come to Jerusalem — one that can be felt by whoever regardless of their faith.
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February 24, 2019 at 12:21 am
You have told it yourself: this is the the most contested place in the world. I’m afraid nothing will change while there Christianity and Muslim exist.
Thank you, Bama.
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March 7, 2019 at 1:57 am
Great photos!
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March 7, 2019 at 5:30 am
Many thanks.
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March 10, 2019 at 1:10 pm
Were you in Israel this year?
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March 10, 2019 at 2:21 pm
These are just my memories.
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March 31, 2019 at 9:45 pm
This makes want to go.
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April 1, 2019 at 7:28 am
Thank you, Anita.
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