Gates in Jerusalem's Old City Walls
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There are eight (nine) gates in Jerusalem's Old City Walls.
Name | Alternative names | Construction Year | Location |
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The Damascus Gate, [1] (http://community.webshots.com/s/image3/2/89/79/28328979eQOJpGnlKN_fs.jpg) | Nablus Gate, Bab al'Amoud - The Gate of the Pillar, Sha'ar Shechem | 1537 CE | Middle of the northern side |
The Dung Gate, [2] (http://www.thirdtemple.com/old-city-outerwall/dung_gate_interior.jpg) | Gate of Silwan, Mograbi Gate, Sha'ar Ha'ashpot | 1538-40 | South-eastern side |
Herod's Gate, [3] (http://www1.huji.ac.il/md/vjt/HeroGate.jpg) | Flowers Gate, the Sheep's Gate, Bab-a-Sahairad, Sha'ar Hordos | ??? | North-eastern side |
The Golden Gate, [4] (http://www.inholyland.net/images/goldgate.jpg) | Gate of Mercy, the Gate of Gold, the Gate of Eternal Life, Sha'ar Harahamim | 5th century CE | Middle of the eastern side |
The Jaffa Gate, [5] (http://www.thirdtemple.com/old-city-outerwall/jaffa%20gate.jpg) | Gate of the Friend, Bab al-Halil (Chevron Gate), The Gate of David's Prayer Shrine, Porta Davidi, Sha'ar Yaffo | 1530-40 | Western side |
The Lion Gate, [6] (http://www.holylandhotel.com/Album/images/0061_jpg.jpg) | Lions' Gate, The Gate of Jehoshafat, St. Mary's Gate - Bab Sitt Miriam, St.Stephen's Gate, The Gate of the Tribes, Sha'ar Ha'ariot | 1538-39 | Western side |
The New Gate, [7] (http://www.thirdtemple.com/old-city-outerwall/new_gate2.jpg) | Gate of Hammid, Bab al-Jedid, Sha'ar Hahadash | 1887 | North-western part |
The Zion Gate, [8] (http://www.thirdtemple.com/old-city-outerwall/zion_gate_exterior.jpg) | Gate of the Prophet David, Gate to the Jewish Quarter, Sha'ar Tzion | 1540 | Southern part |
Note: The links after the gate names links to photos of the gates
There is also another series of blocked gates called the Huldah Gates, accessible from the Southern Wall Excavations. Dating from the Herodian period, these two gates were used by pilgrims coming to the Second Temple and were within the city walls until Crusader times. The gates lead to a series of tunnels beneath the Temple Mount. Because of the large crowds of people that thronged the Temple during the pilgrimage festival, one gate was used to enter the Temple compound and the other to exit it. One exception was mourners, who would use the opposite route.
See also: Jerusalem's Old City Walls, Jerusalem's Old City, City gate
External Links & References
- Jerusalem Old City Walls (http://www.trekker.co.il/english/jerusalem-walls.htm)- Photos and additional information.
- http://www.amyisrael.co.il/brijnet/aje/j3000/gates/j3000.htmhe:שערי ירושלים