Tax Museum: 32 Agron St. Exhibition relating to history of
taxation in Palestine and Israel. Open: Sun., Tues., Thurs. 1-4 p.m. Mon., Wed.
10a.m.-noon. Admission free.
(Bus Nos. 6, 15, 18, 19, 21, 22)
*Temple Mount (Mount Moriah): The site of various Jewish sanctuaries
throughout the ages, starting with the altar where Abraham prepared to
sacrifice Isaac, rebuilt by Jacob during his flight from Esau, and
reconstructed by King David when he built the foundations and prepared the
materials for the permanent Temple on Mount Moriah. The latter is the name of the
natural ridge stretching from the northwest to the southeast. After raising the
level of the slopes around the top of the narrow ridge, King Solomon erected
the First Temple here.
After the Babylonian exile the ruined Temple was rebuilt by Zerubabel and Ezra.
After the Seleucid desecration and partial ruin, the Maccabees did the same.
Then a grandiose sanctuary, which served as a huge fortress and national
administrative centre and treasury, was erected by Herod the Great in 18 BCE.
This was the Temple mentioned in later religious and historical sources.
The Temple Mount was coveted by innumerable powers and religions: heathens and
Christians, Persians and Mongolians and Moslems, Crusaders and colonisers.
Today the Mount is topped by beautiful Moslem edifices: the Dome of the Rock
and El-Aksa Mosque. Under them, a mysterious subterranean system awaits
exploration: a maze of tunnels, water and drainage conduits, storage rooms and
treasure chambers, hide-outs and siege fortifications.
(Walk Nos. 1 and 2)
Third Wall Remains (off Nablus Road at the entrance of the American
consulate): what's left of the third city wall (from Jaffa Gate to the West
Jerusalem Russian Compound and back to this spot) thought to have been begun by
Agrippa, in 41 CE, to enclose the city by then expanding beyond the northern
walls.
(Bus No. 27)
Ticho House: Simtat Ticho, off 7 Rehov Harav Kook. A branch of the
Israel Museum, containing artworks by the late Anna Ticho, and Hanukka lamps
collected by her husband, an eye specialist. Open: Sun.-Thurs. 10 a.m. - 5
p.m., Fri. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Admission free. There is a garden restaurant, open
from 10 a.m. to midnight during the week, Fri. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
(Walk No. 5 or Bus Nos. 5, 6, 15, 18, 21)
Tomb of David: Mt. Zion. Traditional site of his tomb, as result of
erroneous early belief that David's city extended to Mt. Zion. If not in Ophel,
as some people believe, David might have been buried somewhere in Bethlehem.
However, this enormous, probably Crusader tomb was ``identified'' as David's by
(Spanish) Rabbi Benjamin in 1173, and it has continued to be referred to as
such ever since. Open daily 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Fri. 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
(Walk No. 1. Bus Nos. l, 38)
Tombs of Bnei Hezir: Kidron Valley, next to Absalom's Tomb. Hebrew
inscription above Doric column indicates tombs of Hasmonaean priestly family.
Some Christians believe skeleton found in 4th century was that of Jesus'
cousin, James. James may have hidden here after Jesus' arrest. In 15th century,
site claimed as Tomb of St. James.
(Bus Nos. 1 , 42, 43)
Tomb of Hulda the Prophetess: domed catacomb opposite Church of Pater
Noster, Mt. of Olives. Key from officials at nearby mosque.
(Walk No. 4)
Tomb of Jehoshaphat: Kidron Valley, behind Absalom's Tomb. Large hewn
alcove decorated with ornately-carved frieze of acanthus leaves. 1st or 2nd
centuries CE.
(Bus No. l, 42, 43)
Tombs of the Kings: Saladin Street. Named erroneously as final resting
place of kings of Judah. Actually family tomb of Queen Helena of Adiabene (in
Mesopotamia) who came to Jerusalem in the 1st century CE and converted to
Judaism. Contained 30 tombs hewn from rock and decorated with symbols of
plenty. A rolling stone was used to block the entrance. A torch is necessary.
(Bus No. 27)
Tombs of the Prophets: supposedly Haggai, Malachi and Zechariah, also
some later Greek scribblers. Located just off the Mount of Olives Road (from
Pater Noster) leading to the Jewish Cemetery and Observation Point. (Use a
torch.)
(Walk No. 4)
Tomb of Simon the Just: near Mt. Scopus Road, Sheikh Jarrah quarter.
Tomb of 4th-century CE scholar, High Priest Simon. Jewish pilgrimages to tomb
since l3th century.
(Bus Nos. 2, 25, 27, 40)
Tomb of the Virgin Mary: in Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption, Mt.
of Olives. Open: weekdays 6-11.30 a.m., 2-5 p.m. (See Grotto of Gethsemane.)
(Walk No. 4. Bus Nos. l, 42, 43)
Tomb of Zechariah: Kidron Valley, near Gihon Spring. A massive monument,
it was carved out of a single piece of rock, and capped with a pyramid, with
pillars on its sides. The name might refer either to the prophet Zechariah or
to Zacharias, father of John the Baptist. It is thought to be a 1st-century CE
tomb. The controversial scholar-archaeologist John Allegro, following information
in one of the Dead Sea Scrolls, excavated around here in the early 1960s in
search of Temple treasures hidden from the Romans. A tunnel leads up from here
to the Bnei Hezir tombs.
(Bus Nos. 1, 42, 43)
Tourjeman Post: 1 Chail Hahandasa St., near former Mandelbaum Gate. This
historic house was restored by the Jerusalem Foundation in 1983. Built in the
1930s on land owned by Hassan Bey Tourjeman, the house served as an Israeli
military post on the border with Jordan during the War of Independence and the
years of Jerusalem's division. When the city was reunified, the building was
partly restored and now features an exhibition of photographs, documents and
audio-visual material showing Jerusalem then and now. Open: Sun.-Thurs. 9
a.m.-4 p.m., Fri. 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
(Bus Nos. 1, 11, 27, 99)
*Tower of David (Museum of the City of Jerusalem): Jaffa Gate. Set in
the magnificentlty restored ancient Citadel, the Tower of David Museum traces
Jerusalem's long and eventful 4,000 years of history through state-of-the-art
displays and exhibits. Also featured is a 19th-century model of Jerusalem,
panoramic viewpoints, an evening Sound and Light Show in the Citadel's
courtyard and the Murder Mystery - a special activity for tourists every
Saturday night at 9 p.m. Open: Sun.-Thurs. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (winter 10 a.m. - 4
p.m.) Fri., Sat., holidays: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. (winter 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.)
(Bus Nos. l, 13, 19, 20)
Tower of the Ascension: the most prominent landmark in the Mount of
Olives area. From a rock in what is today a small Russian Orthodox church, Mary
watched Jesus ascend to heaven. John the Baptist's severed head was said to
have been buried nearby. See Jerusalem and the Dead Sea from the top of the
tower.
*Tower of the Storks: northeast corner of Old City Wall. So named
because storks once rested here during their yearly migrations.