Exploring History in Jerusalem Israel

Jerusalem, one of the world’s oldest towns, preserves unrivaled strands of history from a diverse range of peoples. These include Canaanite, Israelite (Jewish), Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Roman, Christian, and Muslim civilizations. As a result, millions of people flock to this sacred city to experience Jerusalem’s history firsthand. Visitors can readily explore this history through a plethora of landmarks, most of which sit in the Old City. Even a brief 2-3 day trip gives travelers a solid sense of its remarkable past.

Explore the History in Jerusalem at the Mount of Olives

The Mount of Olives

Start your exploration of Jerusalem’s history on the Mount of Olives. From this vantage point, you gain a panoramic perspective of the Old City, taking in all four sections at once: Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Armenian. Many believe this holy hill marks the location where God will begin raising the dead on Judgement Day. For Christians, it also holds the spot where Jesus ascended to heaven following his resurrection. Builders completed the Church of the Ascension on the Mount of Olives in 1910, and it boasts the greatest views of Jerusalem.Learn more at TripAdvisor – Mount of Olives.

Tradition holds that the Church of Dominus Flevit stands on the spot where Jesus wept for Jerusalem. Further down the hill sits the onion-domed Russian Church of Mary Magdalene. The Gardens of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations follow next. Finally, the Tomb of the Virgin Mary serves as the Mount of Olives’ last major landmark.

The Western Wall and the Jewish Quarter

The Western Wall

The Western Wall stands as the only intact retaining wall of the First Temple in Jerusalem. Today, it holds the title of the holiest monument in Jerusalem. The Jewish people have made it a place of pilgrimage since the Ottoman era. Many call it the Wailing Wall because people lamented the loss of the temple in AD 70. The Old City’s Jewish Quarter stretches roughly from the Zion Gate east to the Western Wall Plaza.

History buffs should not miss the Jerusalem Archaeological Park at the southern end of the Western Wall Plaza. Archaeologists have uncovered amazing vestiges of old Jerusalem there. Additionally, the Western Wall Tunnels carry you beneath the city and back to the ancient city level – an experience well worth adding to your itinerary.

Tower of David

The Tower of David

The Citadel, sometimes known as the Tower of David, has no link to David. Instead, King Herod built it around 24 BC to protect his palace. His original fortress featured three towers named after his brother Phasael, wife Mariamne, and friend Hippicus. After Titus captured the city in AD 70, the Romans stationed a garrison there. Over time, the citadel fell into ruin. Subsequently, the Crusaders, Egypt’s Mamelukes, and Turks all restored it during their respective reigns over Jerusalem. Today, the Tower of David Museum inside tells the full narrative of Jerusalem’s remarkable history.