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When you go for a trip to Jerusalem, you should not miss the various gates
of Jerusalem. These are
Gate of Gold: This is one of the famous Gates of Jerusalem and is also
known by the names Gate of Mercy, Gate of Eternal Life, Sha'ar Harahamim. According
to ancient Jewish legends, it is through this gate that the Messiah will again
enter Jerusalem. A theory by the Christians is that before his death, Jesus
entered Jerusalem for the last time through this gate. In Islamic tradition
it is believed to be the gate about which is mentioned in Quran, that justice
will be delivered on the Judgment Day through this gate.
Herod's Gate or the Flower Gate- The first name was given erroneously
to this gate by the pilgrims who thought it leads to Herod's palace. In Arabic
it is known by the name Flower Gate.
Lion's Gate- According to legend, once the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the
Magnificent had a dream, that he would be devoured by lions, if he does not
built a wall around the city and protects the citizens. Therefore he built the
wall with a gate which had lions engraved on both the sides.
Zion Gate- You will find the Zion Gate in the Old City named after Mount
Zion and in Arabic it has the name ''Prophet David's Gate'', since you have
to pass through this gate to go to King David's tomb on Mount Zion.
Damascus Gate: This is the largest and most beautifully adorned among
all the Gates of Jerusalem, in the Old City. From here you can take the road
to Nablus from where you can go to Damascus.
Jaffa Gate: This gate is known in Arbaic as Bab-el-Khalil or the gate
of Hebron since you can get the main road to Hebron from here. The other name
of this gate is Jaffa Gate because of the starting of the road leading to the
Jaffa city also from here. Of all the Gates of Jerusalem, this gate which is
the main entrance point to the Old City is also the only gate found in the western
side of the city. It was witness to the English General Allenby's entrance to
Jerusalem in 1917.
Dung Gate: In the book of Nehemiah this gate is regarded as a dispatch
point for the discarded food of the city and hence the name.
Sha'ar Gate: According to Nehemiah, of all the Gates of Jerusalem his
trip to the city of Jerusalem began from Shaa'r HaGai which is a site on the
road leading to Jerusalem. In Arabic the name is Bab el Wad, meaning the Valley
Gate.
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