Jerusalem is one of the oldest and most important cities in the world, with a history that spans over 3,000 years. The city is located in the Judean Hills of Israel, and has been inhabited by a number of different civilizations throughout its history.
SalemOptix, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Main findings from biblical times are the
walls from the days of the First Temple
ivories from the days of the First Temple
plates of the blessing of the priests
Jerusalem is perhaps best known as a religious center, and is considered sacred by three of the world’s major monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The city is home to many important religious sites, including the Western Wall (also known as the Wailing Wall), the Dome of the Rock, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
The city was founded in the 4th millennium BCE, and was initially a small settlement known as Jebus. It was conquered by King David in the 10th century BCE, and was subsequently made the capital of the Israelite kingdom. Under the reign of King Solomon, the city was expanded and a grand temple was built.
Jerusalem was later destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE, and many of its inhabitants were taken into captivity. The city was rebuilt by the Jews following their return from exile, and the Second Temple was constructed in the 5th century BCE.
In the 1st century CE, Jerusalem was occupied by the Romans, who destroyed the Second Temple in 70 CE following a Jewish uprising. The city subsequently became an important center of early Christianity, and was also conquered by the Islamic armies in the 7th century CE.
Jerusalem has been the site of numerous conflicts throughout history, and has been conquered and ruled by various empires and kingdoms, including the Crusaders, the Ottoman Empire, and the British. Today, the city remains an important center of religion, culture, and history, and continues to be a source of contention in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
3D – 1st temple period