|
|
|
Gold in the Mount of Olives
 |
|
| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
When the sun is low in the late afternoon, you understand why the city is nicknamed "Jerusalem of Gold", especially in the old city, but also on the hills surrounding it.
Basically the Mount of Olives is a huge cemetery (see below), going back to biblical times.
When the mount was controlled by Jordan (1948-1967) a large part of the cemetery was destroyed to make room for a road (I have included the truck so the road is more evident, also for scale), and the Seven Arches Hotel on the summit (then called Intercontinental Hotel, in 1964 the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was created in a meeting there).
Jesus is said to have spent a good deal of time on the mount, teaching to his disciples (Matthew 24-25), returning after each day to rest (Luke 21:37), and also coming there on the night of his betrayal (Matthew 26:39).
Some decades later, in the year 70 AD, the mighty 10th Legion of the Roman Army camped on the mount during the Siege of Jerusalem, that ultimately led to the destruction of the city, and the spreading of Jews all over the world.
On the cemetery: the Mount of Olives is cited as the place where the dead will be resurrected in the days of the Messiah. For this reason, Jews have always sought to be buried there, and from biblical times until today, the mountain has been used as a Jewish cemetery.
There are an estimated 150,000 graves on the Mount, including the tombs of biblical figures such as Zechariah and Avshalom.
Notable people from modern times buried in the mount: former Prime Minister of Israel Menachem Begin; British media tycoon Robert Maxwell; Shmuel Agnon (1970 Nobel Prize in Literature); Eliezer Ben Yehuda (created the modern Hebrew language). |
pasternak, michiels, Gerrit, pierrefonds, smash2707 has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekEarth members may rate photo notes. |
|
|
| Discussions |
| None | | You must be logged in to start a discussion. |
|
ירושלים של זהב
ושל נחושת ושל אור
הלא לכל שירייך אני כינור
This is my favorite song, Daniel... thanks for reminding me of this song and of this incredible city...
hello Daniel,
An interesting story, i didn't know it. It has quiete a history ! If you could only cut the hotel ( in real ;D) from the mountain, it's an ugly thing and it destroys the whole surrounding (like many hotels do, i hate it so much and can get angry so hard for that !!)
The photo makes me think of the books of AB Yehoshua ( one of my favorite authors ) - it's like this that i imagine the surroundings of his novels.
greetings, inn
- Gerrit
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4026 W: 86 N: 4872]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(23821) - [2008-02-20 6:49]
-
Hi Daniel,
interesting story and picture. Well presented, this mountain, like a golden wall, and good framing.
Regards, Gerrit
Hi Daniel,
The Mount of Olive is impressive with the afternoon that its is receiving giving a golden tint to the scenery. The point of view is giving depth to the photo which is clear and precise. The subject is well framed. Well done, have a nice day.
Pierre
Great POV and beautiful compo. Excellent note. The light was great and the golden color looks beautiful. Regards, Yvonne
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 867 W: 9 N: 253]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(4064)