The Tombs of the Prophets

Though burial sites might not seem like the most exciting stop on most vacations, being able to visit the Tombs of the Prophets on a Holy Land tour is definitely a treat! This ancient underground burial site is located close to the top of the Mount of Olives and is believed by Jews and Christians to be where Haggai and Zachariah were buried. Filled with mystery, the semicircular catacombs are kept by the Russian Orthodox Church. One of the first things Christian Israel tours point out are the 50 rock-cut, empty graves that are spread out and connected by corridors. This burial site was in use by Jerusalemites for about a thousand years, from 500 BCE to 500 CE. Archaeologists wonder what this place was originally used for, prior to being a burial ground, as it has a rock-cut trough with what was once a water pipe. As with so many other things in Jerusalem, there is so much more than what can be seen on the surface! (America Israel Travel)