Azeka, Sokho, and Gezer

On Thursdays, we eat lunch our dig site and then visit other archaeological sites, some of which have already been excavated and other that are in the process of being excavated. The three sites that we have visited so far have been Azeka, Sokho, and Gezer. Azeka and Sokho are in the Elah Valley are are on either side of Qeiyafa and Gezer is located more in central Israel.

Azeka was a biblical town which was responsible for guarding the Elah Valley from the highest point. Azeka is mentioned in the books of Joshua, I Samuel, 2 Chronicles, Jeremiah, and Nehemiah. During 10th century BCE, this was the area that the Philistines used to mass their forces against Saul and where Goliath taunted the army of the Lord as written in I Samuel 17.

Tel Azeka

Overlooking the Elah Valley from Tel Azeka.

Another view...Qeiyafa is the hill in the middle of the picture.

At Azeka.

The next site we visited was Sokho which is on the opposite side of Qeiyafa. Like Azeka, Sokho was used by the Philistines and it is where they camped before David fought Goliath. Sokho is not currently being excavated, but I believe Professor Garfinkel has plans to start excavating there in 2014.

The Elah Valley.

Another view.

On top of Sokho.

View from Sokho.

The last site we visited was Gezer which was one of the most prominent cities in the Canaanite and Israelite periods. Like Megiddo and Hazor, Gezer has a gateway from the time of Solomon, which has been confirmed through the layer of destruction underneath it. One of Solomon's wives was given Gezer as a dowry once they were wed. Apart from the gateway, their have been other findings, like the water system which link this city to both Solomon's time and the cities of Megiddo and Hazor.

A replica of the Ostracon found at Gezer in the 19th century.

The translation of the Ostracon.

The history of Gezer.

The Canaanite Tower.

The water system.

A close up of the water system.

City gate from the time of Solomon.

4 of the 10 standing stones at Gezer believed to be from 1500 BCE.

Gezer is a feeding area to numerous flocks of sheep and goats.

Michelle with the herd.

More sheep and goats.

A baby!

Walking tour of the Old City

Last Saturday, a few of us from our dig site went on a walking tour of the Old City with Professor Yosef Garfinkel for almost 6 hours! We toured the Armenian, Jewish, Muslim, and Christian Quarters. We started our tour at Jaffa Gate, which is next to the Christian and Armenian Quarters.

Walking along the Old City wall

Jaffa Gate which was built by Suleiman.

Jaffa Gate, the western most gate, which was originally used as a road to Hebron.

Bagels that are being sold at the Jaffa Gate.

The only two graves which are inside the Old City. It is believed that they were the architects of the Jaffa Gate and after it was built they were killed so they could not build a better, rival gate for another ruler.

Inside the city walls.

Part of the citadel to the Jaffa Gate

The tower of David.

After walking through the Jaffa Gate, the first place we went to was the Armenian Quarter. The Armenian Quarter is the smallest quarter with the smallest population within the Old City. Most of it is closed off to the public, which helps maintain their privacy. 

Outside the Cathedral of St. James in the Armenian Quarter.

Inside one of the Armenian Churches.

another picture inside the church

tiles along the outside wall of the church

Hand painted Armenian pottery.

Hand painting the pottery in the back of the shop.

gorgeous Armenian pottery

more pottery...the designs and colors were amazing looking

Armenian table

All throughout the Armenian Quarter are posters about the Armenian Genocide.

The next quarter we visited was the Jewish Quarter which I think is the cleanest quarter of the Old City.

The Jewish Quarter!

Houses within the Jewish Quarter.

The Syrian Orthodox Church inside the Jewish Quarter.

Inside the Syrian church where they believe the Last Supper was held.

inside the Syrian church.

A view of the Dome of the Rock from the roof of the Jewish Quarter.

The bazaar in the Jewish Quarter.

The Western Wall from the Observation deck.

Another view of the Western Wall.

Dome of the Rock from the Observation deck.

The Muslim Quarter was the next stop on our walking tour, which is the largest quarter within the city walls. It extends from the Lion's Gate in the east, along the wall of the Temple Mount in the south, to the Damascus Gate in the west. Inside the Muslim Quarter are Jewish and Christian landmarks, including the first seven stations of the Via Dolorosa and the Western Wall Tunnels.

The Cotton market, which leads to the Dome of the Rock.

Some of the items being sold in the Cotton market.

The closest that non-Muslims can get to the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount. At the end of one of the streets of the Cotton market are two guards and if you stand at the top of the steps, you are about 300 feet from the Dome of the Rock.

Another picture...in the 1990's, the King of Jordan financed the restoration of the dome and now it is made of 24 karat gold, instead of bronze alloy.

Smoking Hookahs is a favorite past time in the Muslim Quarter.

Spices

Throughout the Muslim Quarter their is Mamluk architecture from the 13th-15th centuries.

Mamluk architecture uses two colors of stones and is known for its arches.

another view.

A Mamluk arch.

The less populated side streets of the Muslim Quarter.

A drawing on one of the walls depicting the Dome of the Rock and the black box represents that the person who lives here went on a Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca.

Our last stop was to part of the Christian Quarter. We mainly walked through the bazaar and went to the Church of the Sepulchre. Instead of going in the the Church of the Holy Sepulchre through the main entrance though, we came in through the roof, where there is an Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church on the roof of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Inside the Ethiopian Church.

The tiles in the Ethiopian church.

Lina Restaurant, which has the best Hummus in the Old City.

Michelle and I with Yosi

The streets of the Christian Quarter