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Tunnel under the Western Wall
A view down the passage leading to the Western Wall tunnel. Only recently completed,
the tunnel runs along the edge of the western wall of Herod's temple, from the
openly exposed portion near the southwest corner of the old temple, all the
way to the other end, at the site of the Antonia fortress.
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Herodian Stone
Ferrell Jenkins points out the distinguishing edging of a Herodian stone, apparently
left unused in the construction of the temple.
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Stones of the Western Wall
In this picture from inside the tunnel, we see just one of the enormous stones
that Herod used for the wall around his temple. The camera is at one end of
a stone, and Thaxter Dickey is standing way down at the other end of the
same stone. This single, quarried stone is measured as 40 feet long, 11
to 14 feet wide, and 10 feet high, weighing 407 tons. As the disciples said
to Jesus as they left the temple in Mark 13:1, "What wonderful stones and
what wonderful buildings!"
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Inside the Tunnel
Almon Williams kneels down inside the Western Wall tunnel.
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Mount Moriah in the Tunnel
David Williams touches a spot on Mount Moriah, at the point in the tunnel where
the stone wall meets up with the mountain upon which the temple was built. Herod
carved the natural rock to look like an extension of his man-made stone wall.
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Shopping in the Old City
Dick Clay and Pat Davidson from Springfield, Missouri, take a quick break inside
a gift shop in the Old City.
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Souvenirs
Just some of the fabulous merchandise that can be purchased in the markets
along the Via Dolorosa.
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Cell Phones in the Old City
It seems almost everyone in Israel has his own cellular phone. Even children.
Here, in the heart of the Old City, our guide Yehuda Guy pauses to use his cell
phone, while Pat Stagner studies the path we have just traveled.
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Walking the Via Dolorosa
Ferrell Jenkins, shown here in front of the "Holy Rock Cafe" along
the Via Dolorosa, is flanked by Carter and Ann McDoniel.
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The Marketplace
The bustling marketplace in Old Jeruslaem.
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Ethiopian Cleric
Near the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, an Ethiopian cleric shows us the cross-shaped
Scriptures from which he read to us.
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Church of the Holy Sepulchre
The entrance to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which contains (one possible)
site for the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
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Hill of Calvary?
This rock inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is believed to be the Hill
of Calvary, upon which Jesus was crucified.
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Burial Slab
An Armenian? woman kneels down to worship at this slab, considered to be spot
where the body of Jesus was anointed and prepared for burial. Also in the Holy
Sepulchre Church.
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Dome of the Church
A view looking up into the huge dome of the church that covers, it is believed,
the site of the tomb where Jesus was buried and resurrected.
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The Cardo
Children in the Jewish Quarter play along the Cardo, the street that ran into
the "heart" of the city during Byzantine times.
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The Broad Wall
The Broad Wall, a portion of the wall of Jerusalem built under the leadership
of Nehemiah after the return of the Jews to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon.
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The Western Wall
A picture of me facing the Western (Wailing) Wall, wearing my paper head covering.
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The Dome of the Rock
The Dome of the Rock, the Muslim shrine that dominates the Temple Mount, is
built around the spot on Mount Moriah where Abraham was thought to have prepared
to offer up Isaac as a sacrifice. The Muslims also believe that Mohammed ascended
into heaven from this same rock. It was on this mountain that all of the Jewish
temples were built.
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Bethesda
Ruins at the pool of Bethesda. These were once one of the five porticoes around
the pool.
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A Tomb
Thaxter inspects a tomb with a rolling stone that may have been like the one
in which Jesus was buried.
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Place of the Skull
Another possible site for the crucifixion: This rock formation appears to have
a shape like a skull. Golgotha = Place of the Skull.
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The Garden Tomb
Our tour group, waiting to enter the Garden Tomb, another possible site for
the burial of Jesus, near the Place of the Skull. (Note that Ferrell Jenkins,
Joyce Kearney, and David Williams are not pictured here.)
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