Around the Zion Gate

Photos from around the Zion Gate and surrounding area.

The Zion Gate is one of eight gates into the old City of Jerusalem, although one gate, the Golden Gate, has been bricked up and closed for hundreds of years.  The Zion Gate was constructed in 1540, and was a continuation of the Street of the Jews (also known as the Cardo).

The outside of the Zion Gate.  It is not deteriorating from age, those are bullet holes from the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.

More bullet holes...

The wall inside the gate.  No bullet holes!

Not sure what this building is, but I liked the color contrast between the wall in front and the building in back, as well as the Friar in the niche in the wall (see below for a close-up).  The flag is the Jerusalem Cross, also called the Crusader's Cross, and is usually associated with Catholic organizations.

Looking up at the Abbey of Dormition.  According to local tradition, it was on this spot where the Virgin Mary died.

Another view of the abbey.

The Abbey of Dormition.

A bronze of King David.  Some Catholic historians believe that King David is buried near this spot.  However, according to the Bible, in 1 Kings 2:10, "Then David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David."

Note the metal shutters.  They remind me of the metal storm shutters you see on houses in the Outer Banks.  But these shutters aren't for stopping storms; they're for stopping bullets!

A city as old as Jerusalem is always requiring some sort of renovation.

A series of side streets in the old city...

The wall outside the Zion Gate.

The wall outside the Zion Gate.

The wall outside the Zion Gate.

The wall outside the Zion Gate.

You can actually see at least two periods of wall construction in this photo.  The "newer" wall, probably built in the 1500s, on top of an older wall.