Jerusalem, this ancient and mysterious city, is one of the most controversial places in the world. It is the holiest site of Judaism, ** religion and Islam, and the capital of Israel and Palestine. Its history is full of wars and disasters, and its culture blends the best of East and West, as well as the clash of different religions. Its scenery shows the magnificence of the desert and also bears witness to the splendor of human civilization.
The Origin of Jerusalem
There are several versions of the name of Jerusalem, one of which is that it comes from a portmanteau of the Hebrew words "yerusha" (heritage) and "shalom" (peace), meaning "heritage of peace." Another theory is that it comes from the combination of the names of two cities in the Bible: Jebusites and Salem. Jebus was the name given to the city by the Canaanites, and Salem was the residence of the high priest Melchizedek, who blessed the family of Abraham who came here.
According to archaeological finds, the development of Jerusalem dates back to the fourth millennium BC and is one of the oldest cities in the world. The earliest written accounts are found in the Egyptian Cursed Prayer and the Amalnai Texts, which mention the city in the 19th and 14th centuries BCE, respectively. In the 10th century B.C., King David led the Israelites to capture the Jebusite citadel, making it his capital, and moved the Ark of the Covenant here, erecting the tabernacle and laying the foundation for the later temple.
The Temple in Jerusalem
The Temple in Jerusalem is the holiest place in Judaism and an important holiest site for religion and Islam. It is located on the Temple Mount. The history of the temple can be divided into three phases: the First Temple, the Second Temple, and the current Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The First Temple was built by King Solomon in the 10th century BC and was the religious and political center of the kingdom of Israel. It contains the Holy of Holies of Holies, which is said to be the abode of God and the depository of the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark of the Covenant was a gold and wood chest containing the tablets of the Ten Commandments, Aaron's rod, and a jar of Mana. The Jews believed that this was the cornerstone of the creation of the world and the place where Abraham sacrificed his only begotten son. The First Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.E., and the Ark of the Covenant has been missing.
The Second Temple was rebuilt in 515 BC and was a symbol of the return of the Jews from Babylon. It was enlarged by Herod the Great in the 20th century BC and became one of the most spectacular structures in the world at the time. It also has an important place in the religion because Jesus used to teach, pray, and drive away the traders here. The Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD, leaving only one of the Western Wall, which is today the Wailing Wall, the holiest place for the Jews.
The Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque were built in the 7th century AD and are the third holiest sites in Islam, after Mecca and Medina. Muslims believe that their Prophet Muhammad once traveled here by night from Mecca to pray with the souls of all the Prophets and then from the Holy Stone of the Dome of the Rock**. The Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque are masterpieces of Islamic architecture and are famous all over the world for their golden domes.
The Old City of Jerusalem
The Old City of Jerusalem is a walled ancient city that covers an area of 1 square kilometer and is divided into four districts: the Apostolic Quarter, the Muslim Quarter, the Jewish Quarter and the Armenian Quarter, which brings together many historical sites of the three religions.
The Disciple District is the largest area of the Old City and an important focus in the minds of the world's top disciples. There is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the place of Jesus' death, crucifixion and resurrection. According to apostolic tradition, Jesus was crucified here on Mount Golgotha, and his tomb is in what is now the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which is also the place where he was resurrected. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is jointly administered by different ** denominations, mainly Greek Orthodox Christians, Roman Catholic Franciscan friars, and Armenian patriarchal bishops. Every year, large numbers of pilgrims from all over the world come here to visit Jesus' empty tomb and pray here for comfort and salvation. There are other important churches and sites in the Disciples area, such as the Way of the Cross, the Tower of David, and the Church of Santa Anna, among others.
The Muslim Quarter is the second largest area of the Old City and the holiest place in Islam. On the huge platform known as Sharif Haram or Holy Sanctuary by Muslims, there is the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third largest mosque in the Islamic world. Muslims believe that their Prophet Muhammad once traveled here by night from Mecca to pray with the souls of all the prophets. Not far away, the Dome of the Rock hides the holy stone, from which Muslims believe Muhammad**. Every year, large numbers of Muslims come here, but every Friday during Ramadan, Ramadan, hundreds of thousands of Muslims come to the mosque to pray.
The Jewish Quarter is the smallest area of the Old City and the holy site of Judaism. Here there is the Wailing Wall, which is the holiest place for the Jews. The Wailing Wall is a remnant of the Second Temple, a point of contact between Jews and God. Jews believe that the glory of God still exists here, so they come here to pray, weep, and bless. They would also shove slips of paper with their wishes written into the cracks in the walls in the hope that God would hear their prayers. There are also some other important synagogues and sites in the Jewish Quarter, such as the Heron Gate, the Jewish Great ** Memorial, and the City of David, among others.
The Armenian Quarter is the oldest part of the Old City and home to the Armenians. The Armenians were the first people to accept the religion and began to settle in Jerusalem in the 4th century AD. They established their own churches, monasteries and schools here, maintaining their own cultural traditions. The most important building in the Armenian Quarter is the Church of St. James, which is the headquarters of the Armenian Church and the cathedral of the Armenian patriarch. This church was built in honor of the Apostle James. There are other important churches and sites in the Armenian Quarter, such as the Church of St. Torsma, the Church of St. Mark, and the Great Monument of Armenia.