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During the Canaanite period (14th century BCE), Jerusalem was named as Urusalim on ancient Egyptian tablets, probably meaning "City of Shalem" after a Canaanite deity. During the Israelite period, significant construction activity in Jerusalem began in the 10th century BCE (Iron Age II), and by the 9th century BCE, the city had developed into ...
When all the available information has been assembled, the most that can be said is that there was probably an Israelite ruler called David, who made Jerusalem his capital sometime in the tenth century BCE.
Sep 12, 2024 · Melchizedek, in the Old Testament, a figure of importance in biblical tradition because he was both king and priest, was connected with Jerusalem, and was revered by Abraham, who paid a tithe to him. Learn more about the biblical story of Melchizedek in this article.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Melchizedek, who appears in the Old Testament, is important in biblical tradition because he was both king and priest, connected with Jerusalem, an...
- Melchizedek is an old Canaanite name meaning “My King Is [the god] Sedek” or “My King Is Righteousness” (the meaning of the similar Hebrew cognate).
- Melchizedek’s religion would have been part of the Canaanite tradition. The god whom Melchizedek serves as priest is “El ʿElyon,” a name of Canaani...
- Melchizedek is thought to have been the king of Jerusalem. Salem, of which he is said to be king, is very probably Jerusalem. Psalm 76:2 refers to...
- The Old City of Jerusalem. Compact but filled with historical and religious sites, this is the main section of Jerusalem to visit, especially for first time visitors.
- Western Wall. The Western Wall is considered to be the most important religious site in the world for Jewish people. Structurally speaking, the Western Wall is the retaining wall for Temple Mount.
- Temple Mount and Dome of the Rock. Temple Mount is the holiest site in Judaism, the third holiest site in Islam, and a revered site for Christians. At one time, the Jewish second Temple was built here but was later destroyed by the conquering Romans.
- Mount of Olives. The Mount of Olives sits outside of the old city of Jerusalem. This hillside overlooks the old city, giving visitors an awesome view of Jerusalem.
- Archaeology of The Biblical Period
- Tombs
- Jerusalem & Judaism
- Christianity
- The Byzantine Era
- Islamic Jerusalem
- The Crusader Period
- The Complexity of Jerusalem
The major source for the history of ancient Jerusalem is the Bible and the writings of Flavius Josephus (36-100 CE). In the 19th century, archaeological excavations began in and around Jerusalem essentially to try to prove the biblical stories and to affirm the existence of its major characters such as King David and Solomon. In the modern era, exp...
Some Canaanite rock-cut tombs in the city date from 3100-2900 BCE. The earliest Israelite tombs date from the 800s BCE, and then the next surviving levels come from the Second Temple Period, late Roman and early Byzantine eras. Near the Zion Gate in the Old City is a tombthat Jews honor as the tomb of King David. However, many archaeologists have c...
In the book of Deuteronomy 12:5 (and other places), the Israelites are commanded not to worship at any site except in the place that the Lord "will choose." After the conquest of Jerusalem, this 'place' was aligned with the biblical tradition that Jerusalem sat atop the site known as Mt. Moriah, the mountain where Abraham demonstrated his faith whe...
Jerusalem remains significant for Christians who continue to revere the Old Testament traditions of the Jews. However, it is much more famous for the holy sites connected to stories of Jesus in the gospels. The pool of Bethesda has recently been excavated; it was found among the later pagan temples of Asclepius and Serapis(most probably built in Ha...
Constantine moved the capital from Rome to Byzantium and renamed it Constantinople in 330 CE. This new center of the Roman Empire survived for another thousand years after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. This era saw the building of many churches in Jerusalem and archaeologists continue to uncover ruins in and around Jerusalem. One of the sig...
Jerusalem was captured by Islamic forces in 638 CE. In 691 CE, the Umayyad Caliph Abd al-Malik commissioned the building of the shrine known as the Dome of the Rock on the site of the destroyed Second Temple. The Dome of the Rock is one of the oldest examples of Islamic architecture, and is known as the Haram-esh Sharif, or "the Noble Sanctuary." A...
In the First Crusade (1095-1102), Christians were called upon to rescue the Holy Land from Islamic rule. Jerusalem was captured by western allies and became an independent kingdom ruled by Raymond IV and Godfrey of Boullion in 1099. This Kingdom of Jerusalem lasted until 1187 when the city was retaken by Saladin(1137-1193). Many of the churches and...
Jerusalem remains the historic center of three major religions. This has often fomented tension and sometimes riots. In addition to disagreements over access to sacred space, Jerusalem is also crucial in the historical narratives employed by Jews and Palestinians. In the continuing debates over sovereignty between the Israelis and the Palestinians,...
- Rebecca Denova
Mar 24, 2023 · For believers, a visit to Jerusalem is a pilgrimage to one of the most sacred sites in the world. The number of religious tourist attractions here can be baffling for first-time visitors, but luckily most of the top sightseeing landmarks and things to do are secreted within the lanes of the compact Old City district.
Jerusalem is one of the world's oldest cities, with a history spanning over 5,000 years. Its origins trace back to around 3000 BCE, with the first settlement near the Gihon Spring. The city is first mentioned in Egyptian execration texts around 2000 BCE as "Rusalimum."
