Absalom's Pillar: Kidron Valley, off Hashiloah Road, opposite
Gihon Spring. A large conical monument above one of the several tombs to be
found in the valley. Absalom was David's son and tradition incorrectly ascribes
this Second Temple pillar-like construction to him - (2 Samuel, 18:18). Also
known as Pharaoh's Tiara because of its Egyptian appearance.
(Bus Nos. 42, 43)
Abu Tor: east of Railway Station. Panoramic view of Old City and Kidron
and Hinnom Valleys. Arabic name ``Abu Tor'' means ``Father of the Ox.''
(Bus Nos. 5, 6, 7, 21)
*African Quarter: Ala 'Uddin (Aladdin) Street, Moslem Quarter.
Inhabitants may be descendants of 16th-century pilgrims or labourers from
Sudan, Chad and Somalia. Housed in 13th-century Mameluke school and hospice,
former of which Ottomans converted into prison cells for condemned men.
(Walk No. 2)
Agnon House: 16 Klausner St. Talpiot. The house of author S.Y. Agnon,
winner of the Nobel Prize for literature. The house contains Agnon's study and
library of 10,000 books with its original furnishings, including the desk at
which he wrote. Visting hours: Sun.-Thurs. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. to 1
p.m.
(Bus No. 7)
Agricultural Museum: 13 Rehov Heleni Hamalka, off Rehov Yafo, was
inaugurated in 1961 by the then Minister of Agriculture, Moshe Dayan. Israelis
justifiably take pride in their advanced agricultural technology exhibits here
range back to farming methods used 2,000 years ago (presses, pipes, wells, etc)
Open: daily, 7.30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Friday until 2 p.m. Admission free.
(Bus Nos. 4, 18, 21)
American Colony: northeast of city. Quarter founded by American
Christians in the 19th century. Contains U.S. Consulate, St. George's
Cathedral, the YMCA in East Jerusalem and the American Colony Hotel.
(Bus Nos. 25, 27)
Ammunition Hill (Givat Hatahmoshet): flanked by Sderot Eshkol and Nablus
Road, near foot of Mt. Scopus. It was a strategic military area in Jordanian
hands from 1948 to 1967 when, after heavy fighting, the Israelis took it and
went on to take East Jerusalem. Jordanian bunkers left as memorial to dead who
fell in bitter fighting. The memorial and museum are dedicated to the
reunification of Jerusalem after the Six Day War. Open: Sun.-Thurs. 9 a.m.-4
p.m., Fri. 9 a.m.-l p.m. Admission free.
(Bus Nos. 4, 9, 25, 26, 28, 48)
*Antonia Fortress: remains of Herodian palace-fortress guarding north
side of the Temple. Pontius Pilate resided in it when Jesus was brought before
him. Remnants at start of Via Dolorosa. .
(Walk No. 3)
Arab Legion Camp: constructed with Jewish tombstones pulled from Mt. of
Olives cemetery during Jordanian occupation 1948-67. East of Bethany, on the
old road to Jericho.
(Route No. 1 )
Archaeological Excavations: Many landmarks give a revealing insight into
Jerusalem's exciting history. Some of the most fascinating are the Citadel, the
City of David and Warren's Shaft and the Ophel Archaeological Garden (see
separate entries).
Armenian Bird Mosaic: in St. Polyeuctus' Chapel, on Rehov Haneviim one
block away from Damascus Gate - a 5th-century CE pavement dedicated to an
``unknown soldier,'' and all the Armenians who fell in battle and whose names
are known only to God. Possibly the earliest memorial of its kind, the mosaic
depicts various birds around a vine.
(Bus Nos. l, 27)
*Armenian Orthodox Monastery: extending over the summit of Mt. Zion, the
monastery adjoins the Armenian Patriarchate, the Cathedral of St. James, a
library (established by oilman/philanthropist Calouste Gulbenkian in 1929), and
a seminary. Of special interest is the collection of Armenian manuscripts in
the Church of St. Theodoros.
The Patriarchate has an impressive salon, built in 1853. The Cathedral of St.
James: beautiful ornate interior. Named after two saints - the Apostle James,
son of Zebedee, and James, cousin of Jesus. The latter's remains were
discovered in the Kidron Valley below more than 300 years after his martyrdom
(by stoning) and reinterred on Mt. Zion under what is now the main altar of
this 11-12th-century church building. (There was a Byzantine monastery on the
site in the 7th century and a Georgian church in the 11th century.) The head of
James the Greater (the Apostle), which was severed from his body in 44 CE, is
entombed in the chapel to the left as you walk in. There are three altars: one
to St. James the Less, one to the Virgin, and one to John the Baptist. The
carvings and the painted tiles are remarkable. Admittance only if modestly
dressed and during services. Open: daily 7-8 a.m., 3-3.30 p.m.
The Chapel of Etchmiazine was formed in the 17th century when the arcades of a
vestibule leading to the monastery were sealed off. Before leaving, ask to be
shown the Mardigian Museum of Armenian Art and History and the Gulbenkian
Library (which houses over 50,000 volumes). There is a separate entrance to the
library and the museum. Open: Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Entrance fee.
(Walk No. l, Buses to Jaffa Gate Nos. 3, 13,19, 20, 30)
*Armenian Quarter: southwestern section of Old City and Mt. Zion the boundaries
are the city's Walls to the west and the south, St. James' St. to the north and
Ararat St. to the east. The Quarter comprises churches, the patriarchate and
the House of Caiaphas. Armenians officially declared Christianity as their
State religion in the 4th century and established religious and secular
communities in Jerusalem, where they enjoyed relative tranquillity. Today's
community numbers between three and four thousand.
(Walk No. 1 )
Artists' House: 12 Rehov Shmuel Hanagid. Exhibition Hall of Jerusalem's
painters and sculptors. Meeting place for artists and art-lovers. Includes a
gallery of Jerusalem and Israeli artists' works, art-supply shop and
restaurant. Open Sun. -Thurs. 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., 4-7 p.m. Fri. 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Sat. 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Admission free.
(Bus Nos. 4, 7, 8, 9, 31, 32, 48)
Artur Rubinstein Panorama: near the Kennedy Memorial an observation
point in the shape of a piano, with marble keys.
Augusta Victoria Hospital: on ridge between Mt. Scopus and Mt. of
Olives. Built 1910 by Germans as sanatorium, following visit of Kaiser Wilhelm
II to Jerusalem. British Government House 1920-27. Scene of fierce fighting in
Six Day War. Now hospital maintained by Lutheran World Federation.
(Bus Nos. 4, 9, 26, 28)