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Ottoman Jerusalem |
- Damascus Gate
built by the Ottoman ruler Suleiman
by Amineh Ishtay
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The Damascus Gate was
built in 1542 by the Ottoman ruler Suleiman the Magnificent in the
surrounds of the old city of Jerusalem. This wall is the largest and
most splendid of all the other walls.
It is located on the wall’s northern side. Parts of this charming
higher, imposing wall are built with massive stones that date back
to the time of Herod. The wall is pierced by 8
gates-seven are open and one is closed. Until 1887, each gate was
closed before sunset
and opened at sunrise. There are three gates in the north wall:
-Damascus Gate, New Gate, Herod’s Gate.
Damascus Gate is the most beautiful one where the Arab bazaar and
marketplace begins.
In Arabic the Damascus Gate is called Bab-al-Amud :Gate of Columns”
because of the
column that once stood in the square inside the gate or because of
the street of columns,
which crossed the Byzantine city from the gate.
At the Damascus Gate is possible to see men and women in traditional
Arab costume
selling bunches of vegetables and fruits, young men straining to
pull and push heavy carts
up and down the sloping staircases that are so characteristic of the
Old City, and Arab
women out buying their family groceries. |
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