I finally had the time and patience to wait in a long line to get up on top of the Temple Mount, which is just above the Western Wall. This is taken from the Western Wall plaza, you see the wooden bridge that tourists or visitors go across to get up to the Temple Mount. They only open certain hours, and you have to go through security screening and a metal detector to be allowed entry. All the flags you see hanging on the bridge are in preparation for Israel Independence Day which is Thursday this week. Lots of celebrations, fireworks, airshows, etc. planned.
There are 2 lines at the Dung Gate - one to get to the Western Wall, and one to the Temple Mount. Jews do not go up on the Temple Mount, as you can see from this sign, it is considered too holy, and they are not allowed to go up there.
Now I am up on the bridge, looking down on the Western Wall. The far side is for men, the near for women.
Looking away from the Western Wall towards the plaza, the large open area is still the men's side. The Western Wall is simply what's left of the retaining wall that Herod the Great built when he improved the Temple. It surrounds and holds up the Temple Mount, where the beautiful 2nd Temple built by Solomon used to stand.
Up on the Temple Mount, the first thing I see is a group of Muslim women have a meeting of some kind. Maybe studying the Qur'an?
This is the entrance to the Al-Aqsa Mosque. It is the only Mosque up there, the Dome of the Rock is not a Mosque, but is considered the third holiest site for Sunni Muslims.
This is where you sit to wash your hands and feet before entering the holy site.
First view of the Dome of the Rock.
This is a beautiful structure, and so huge when you see it in person.
See the detail of decoration, the tile Arabic writings, etc.
Turning to the East, we see the Mount of Olives through these arches. The Golden roofs is the Church of Mary Magdalene, a Russian Orthodox church.
This is what I was trying to find! The inside of the Eastern Gate, or Golden Gate...the gate that Jews believe the Messiah will come through to enter Jerusalem! This is the gate that Jesus likely came through on Palm Sunday. Read Ezek.44:1-3, this gate has been shut for centuries since the time of the Ottoman empire, and won't be open again until the "Prince" (of Peace:) comes through it. Hosanna!
The bottom of the gate.
The top of the gate, some kind of Arabic sign, not sure what it says...
Steps going down to the gate (taken through a gate...we can't get near it)
Steps going back up to the platform.
Here our shadows are on a piece of the bedrock of Mount Moriah which is exposed.
The entrance to the Dome of the Rock. Inside is a Only Muslims can enter, these guys are putting their shoes back on after being inside. I wanted to go in, but couldn't so I found this pic for you:
OK, this is what it looks like inside the Dome of the Rock (yes, I got this picture off the internet:), and this what it said about this photo:
Looking down from the golden drum, this is the sacred rock that is the focus and namesake of the Dome of the Rock. Jews believe that it was on this rock that Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac, and this stone may have once stood in Solomon's Temple. Muslims believe that the Prophet Muhammad took flight on his winged horse from this rock on his Night Journey to heaven, leaving imprints behind. Muslim tradition also has it that it an angel will appear here with a trumpet call to announce the Last Judgement at end of the world.
Getting ready to leave the Temple Mount through the gate of the Cotton Merchants, which takes us into the Muslim Quarter.
Straight through the gate, here's the street we ended up on.
Snapped this picture of Al-Aqsa Mosque (so you can see where we just were), and Mount of Olives in the background.
The security entrance to the Western wall and the Temple Mount, and the wooden bridge you walk on to get up there.
Walking back through the Jewish Quarter, I noticed a huge flag banner draped around the dome of the Hurva Synagogue, in preparation for Israel Independence day! Thanks for coming with me to the Temple Mount:)
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