BAD PUBLIC ART at Hartsfield
view of the Jerusalem Forest at the the end of Yad Veshem, the museum of the holocaust.
Cattle Car Memorial at Yad Veshem (original)
coffee break, trying to stay awake on an emotionally intense day
Stephen, the best tour guide, planning our walk through the Old City
first view of the Old City, looking south at the northwest corner of the city wall
Jaffa Gate
first glimpse through the gate at the old city
busy street
Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It has been locked every night by the same Muslim family since the Ottoman period.
Because of the Church's checkered past and infighting among the sects that lay claim to different parts of the building, this ladder hasn't been taken down in app 150 years. The religious institutions involved here are the Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic (Franciscan), Coptic, Armenian, Syrian, and Ethiopian Christian churches. Someone correct me if I'm mistaken.
The Stone of Unction--commemorating where Jesus was laid for annointment before burial. This is not the actual stone as it only dates from 1810, however, some of a certain persuasion find it holy enough to kiss it. *Oy*
on top of what's left of Calvary, in the Greek Chapel. Pilgrims make the sign and touch the rock.
underneath, fissure in the rock offered as evidence of the earthquake
Going in to St. Helena's Chapel (subterranean) are crosses scratched into the stone, started by the Crusaders
Church of St. Helena (mother of Emperor Constantine and rewriter of histories)
Chapel of the Discovery of the Cross, deeply cut into the stone of Calvary/Golgotha
Rotunda housing the Tomb Monument (not original)
looking upwards at the dome in the center of the building called the Greek Choir
In the St. Nicodemus Chapel of the Syrians, behind the rotunda. The Syrian Christians are the poorest of the groups here and cannot maintain the space. Its outer wall dates from the 4th century structure. In this area Joseph of Arimathea's grave would have been and looked like those in the following pictures.
entrance to St. John's Chapel (Armenian)
short door
small door in a former large door
Please view ISRAEL VIDEO #1 at my profile on youtube. www.youtube.com/JustinMissesCO
very old cistern behind the church
ascending from it
street market in the arab quarter, looking up to the Damascus Gate
taking a break at the Austrian hostel
looking down into the Arab quarter. please view ISRAEL VIDEO #2 at youtube.
Via Dolorosa
Wailing Wall, early evening. please view ISRAEL VIDEO #3 at youtube.
excavations off of the Wailing Wall plaza
in the Jewish Quarter, on a passage called the Cardo, from heart
Lutheran Church of the Redeemer
soccer in the street
Y M C A
Montefiore Windmill in Yemin Moshe, to the west of the city. The cluster of expensive houses near it is called Mishkenot Sha'ananim. The windmill was originally part of a flour industry scheme. Saw a recital in a room beneath it.
Looking east and a little south from the windmill, a mosque in the valley and the West Bank separation wall snaking along the top of the hill.
Rachel's sister and niece at the King David
This wierd succulent that looks like a slightly overgrown agave, but then grows a huge stem (app 10') blooms, drops seeds, subsequently the whole plant dies
Driving through the desert in the West Bank on a trip to the Dead Sea
approaching sea level (the even line across the hill above the right exit lane)
150 meters below, 250 more to go
glimpse of Jericho
Qumran, Dead Sea Scrolls found near here
MASADA
The end of the cable car ride to the top of the plateau. To the left of the cables near the base is a square wall-- remains of a camp of the Roman army. please view ISRAEL VIDEO #4 on youtube.
Looking south to the Dead Sea
north to the Dead Sea
storehouse ruins
in the bathhouse, beneath the floor that has been cutaway, heated water flowed through the opening in the wall underneath this and 2 more rooms, gradually cooling. Built by Herod adjacent to his northern palace
in the outdoor courtyard of the bathhouse
ruins of another Roman camp northwest of the plateau. below it in the picture is the remains of an 8' wall the Romans built around Masada during the siege to prevent the Jews from escaping
blinking in the sun
looking down the three levels of the northern palace that Herod built. the location is perfect--the only place on the plateau where there is any breeze.
from the base looking upward
cisterns, where the few survivors of the siege hid
Byzantine sandstone tower near the Masada synagogue remains. The synagogue, what's left of it, is the oldest anywhere, from the Second Temple era.
this room housed pigeons in these squares. they used them for meat and fertilizer
the Roman ramp
directly down from the breach in the wall, where Herod's western gate stood.
Byzantine Western Gate, slightly south of the Herodian gate that was breached
5th century Byzantine church
mosaic floor
tiled wall
a channel on the side of the cliff that gathered rain water into the cistern system
at the Dead Sea
floating
coated in clay
Bedouin settlement in the desert, it looks completely transitory to me, like a section of leadville, co leaving town on the south side.
a Jewish settlement in the West Bank
Stephen's house
Kyle Hoyt, a classmate from Michigan
me, Jenni, Stephen, Taki
Hinnon Valley, south of the Old city and Crusader-named Mt Zion
Excavations near the Citadel and Jaffa Gate
The Armenian church, St. James' Cathedral, possibly where he was beheaded.
through the arch on the right is the location of Herod's residence, not excavated.
Zion Gate
Church of the Dormition (1906)-- where Mary died. This suppostion and many others started when the Crusaders, after conquering, had to start giving names to places. It amuses me that there was little to no biblical or archeological support usually. Among other things on the incorrectly named Mt. Zion are the possible site of the Last Supper and the Crusader's site for King David's Tomb.
Mount of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane to the left. The highest steeple is the Russian Chapel of the Ascension.
the Garden, the gold onion domes are the Russian Church of Mary Magdelene.
city wall, stepped
Kidron Valley, the circular area of trees above center and to the right is Pool of Siloam (Shiloah), the base of the City of David, original Jerusalem. The city extended to the left up the slope of the authentic Zion (see next picture) which ends at the base of the Temple Mount.
A certifiable remaining chunk of Herod's temple, the base of a bridge up to the temple mount. Above it (smaller stones) are much newer, Byzantine and Muslim.
Inside excavations against the Wailing Wall, open only to men. I saw mostly very religious Jews in this area, there are libraries recently installed. Beneath this area one can go down to the original foundation and street level of the Second Temple.
Dome of the Rock
Muslim only in name. 8 sided architectual design (typical shape for a 6th c. church) by the Coptic Christians, mosaics created by Armenian Christians.
Souq al-Qattanin (Cotton Market), oldest market in Jerusalem
Wandering the streets
typical sky in Jerusalem, deep blue, cloudless
When I stopped to lean against these bars to cool down, I felt a draft of COLD air and it comes through those vents up from lower, ancient levels of the city. spooky.
Back in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, in St. Helena's
In the Syrian Chapel, behind the sealed door are family tombs of five Jewish families from Second Temple era. I find it interesting that in the poorest, least adorned space does one find what Christ's grave really looked like.
Mahane Yehuda Market (shuk or souq?), a fascinating shopping experience.
an excellent, cheap lunch there
spices, Stephen and Tziporah
FIGS
Juices that take care of what ails you.
Iraqi Market
me, Stephen, Taki, Yaki, and Anat ;-)
psychedelic
could be a Brighton phone #
Full moon at Stephen's
contemplating it
Santiago Calatrava bridge, I was obsessed with it.
At Caesarea, first glimpse of the Mediterranean.
Roman Amphitheater
panorama, palace on left, circus, and medieval village in distance
Roman pool ruins, later Byzantine fish market
most likely 'place of hearing' where Paul stood
ruins of 6th c. Byzantine fortress built around the Roman Amphitheater
the circus, or hippodrome
Byzantine storehouses built into the circus
the walled crusader city with 19th c. Ottoman mosque turret inside it
the harbor--Herod's jutted more than twice as far into the sea
Crusader moat
in the bathhouse
Al-Jazzar Mosque in Akko (ancient Acre)
notice how man made and un-uniform the domes appear
streets of Akko
barely awake for supper in Karmi'el
fine example of Russian influence on fashion in this window
first (and best) glimpse of the Sea of Galilee. please view ISRAEL VIDEO #5 at youtube.
Tiberius at night
Waking up at Yair's house in Korazim with the Sea in the distance
getting some love from Marsha the cat
Breakfast
the ruins of Korazim, whose inhabitants Jesus cursed along with those of Capernaum and Bethsaida for their lack of faith (Matt. 11:20 24)
Greek Orthodox Church of Capernaum
Capernaum: home of Peter, Andrew, James, and John. The location of Peter's house in all likelihood, firm archaeological basis. Note the octagonal shape of walls from a 4th c. Christian church built on the site of Peter's house. Above all this, seemingly floating, is a modern (70's or 80's) Catholic church.
village ruins excavated
Capernaum synagogue site, remains date to first c. but after Christ's death. Not the actual synagogue frequented by Jesus. Note the many Roman influences.
Church of the Heptapegon, likely location where Christ fed the masses with 5 loaves and 12 fishes
On the grounds of the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter
Yair, Stephen, me
Mount of Beatitudes, most likely location.
caught in the wind
western plain, fertile and agricultural
swimming and cooling off at the kibbutz
strange, green tree. anyone know what it is?
dinner at Aya's mom's house. Aya, me, Stephen, Yair.
Hamesh Lamalah
Mango tree
limes
green, unripened lychees
at the Israel Museum, exhibition of Israeli art from the last 10 years
please view ISRAEL VIDEO #6 on youtube.
Shrine of the Book, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are kept at the Israel Museum, Knesset building in background to the right. please view ISRAEL VIDEO #7 on youtube to see the 1/50 scale replica of the city of Jerusalem circa AD 66.
dinner on the last night
Jenni, Stephen
parking is atrocious in the city
taki
vixen
Aya and me around midnight
Hezekiah's Tunnel into the pool of Siloam, where the blind man was healed after Jesus told him to wash in it
excavations at the top of Mt Zion and City of David, south side of the Temple Mount. please view ISRAEL VIDEO #8 to hear a surround sound call to prayer from numerous minarets at Arab mosques.
base of the Mount of Olives
Grotto of St. James, left, and the Tomb of Zechariah
Tomb of Zechariah
inside the Grotto
spooky
grazing in the Valley of Jehoshaphat beneath the city wall and Temple Mount
Yad Avshalom, or Tomb of Absalom, legendary and I stress legendary tomb of David's son. This is in front of the Tomb of Jehoshaphat
from the Mount to the Garden
backwards glance at the Mount
Church of All Nations at the entrance to the Garden of Gethsemane. (financed by 12 nations, including the US). It houses a sheet of bedrock where it is said Jesus was praying when he was arrested. Also called the Basilica of the Agony.
Gethsemane and home to some of the oldest olive trees in the world
looking out at Gethsemane from the Lion's Gate
on the wall in the Arab Quarter overlooking the Muslim cemetery and the Garden
Arab boys who played soccer with me
ruins surrounding the Pool of Bethesda
Lion's Gate and Via Dolorosa
feigning disgust with service
lots of knee
Last picture in Israel
