Jerusalem

Mount Acra

Mount Acra is located in Jerusalem on the north side of Mount Zion between the Tyropoeon Valley and the Hinnom Valley. it is interesting that Simon Maccabeus nearly filled up the Tyropoeon Valley which is located between Mount Bezetha and Mount Acra. He also reduced the height of Mount Acra in order to make it lower than Mount Moriah where the Temp...

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The Antonia Fortress in First Century Jerusalem

In 35 B.C. King Herod rebuilt the Baris, a strong fortress to protect the Temple Mount. It was located on the Northwest corner of the Temple Mount and called the Fortress of Antonia, named after Herod’s friend Marc Antony and another of Herod's landmarks. It stood 115 feet high and was partly surrounded by a deep ravine 165 feet wide. It functioned...

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The Tower of Mariamme in First Century Jerusalem

The Mariamme Tower was the smallest of Herod's three towers standing 74 feet tall. It was named after Herod's beloved Hasmonean wife whom he had murdered. Josephus said "the king considering it appropriate that the tower named after a woman should surpass in decoration those called after men."...

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El Khuds

El Khuds is the name given by the Mohammedans, and it is known by this name at the present time to Moslems. Jerusalem regained its name with the creation of the State and Country of Israel despite the fact that the Muslims control the Temple Mount....

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Recent History of Jerusalem

After the devastating destruction of Jerusalem by Titus of Rome in 70 AD there was more disturbing history. In 135 A.D. Bar Cocheba, a false Messiah, organized a revolt against Rome and took possession of the city of Jerusalem, and attempted to rebuild the Temple. The Roman army suppressed the revolt and 580,000 Jews were slaughtered and Judah was ...

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Josephus

"Like a snowy mountain glittering in the sun" ~ Josephus...

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The Palace of the Hasmoneans in First Century Jerusalem

Located on the Western side of the Upper City. It contained a roof called the Xystus with where the people in the large square below could be addressed. It had large courts, living quarters, baths, and a service court....

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The Golden Gate in First Century Jerusalem

Golden Gate or Susa Gate. During the time of the First Temple the Eastern Gate (also called Shushan or HaKohan gate) was the main entrance into the Temple area. It was also the gate that Jesus entered on a humble donkey in His triumphal entry. If one were to stand on the Mount of Olives he could look over this Eastern Gate into the huge area pr...

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Herod's Palace in First Century Jerusalem

King Herod built a fantastic fortified palace to provide protection for the Upper City. Just like the Temple, Herod's Palace was constructed on a platform, about 1000 feet (from north-south), and 180 feet (from east-west). The Palace consisted of 2 main buildings, each with its banquet halls, baths, and accommodation for hundreds of guests. It was ...

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Jerusalem’s Location

Jerusalem is located 14 miles west of the Dead Sea, 33 miles east of the Mediterranean. Bethlehem lies about 5 miles to the southeast. The city is situated on an uneven rocky plateau at an elevation of 2,550 feet. It is 3,800 feet above the level of the Dead Sea. It is poetically called "beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth" (Ps 48:2)...

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