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.Jericho stretches out east of the tel of ancient Jericho, which dates back to 10,000 years, and is most famous for the fall of it walls, caused by the holy ram's horn trumpets blown by Joshua's priests. Jericho was the first city to be conquered by the Hebrews after the Exodus. It was razed to the ground and cursed, then rebuilt by Ahabin the 9th century BC. It was later fortified by the Maccabees. Jesus passed through Jericho several times.
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One theory attributes derivation of the name from the moon (Yareah) cult practiced there by the Canaanites. Another theory attributes the name to the pleasant fragrance (reah) of its flora. ON THE ROAD TO JERICHO (FROM JERUSALEM): Al-Izzariyyah The Palestinian village of Al-Izzariyya is home to the famous Church of Bethany: A chapel dedicated to Lazarus, who according to the New Testament was raised from the dead by Jesus Christ, built on his tomb during the 4th century, and later replaced by a church.
attributes the name to the pleasant fragrance (reah) of its flora. |
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Al-Khan Al-Ahmar Also known as the Good Samaritan Inn. A 16th century Ottoman structure where travelers stopped to refresh themselves and their animals. On the opposite side of the road there are visible but inaccessible remains of the church of St. Euthymius which was built on the site to commemorate the famous story of the Good Samaritan who helped Jesus on his return journey to Jerusalem.
Saint George Monastery and Wadi Qelt Greek Orthodox monastery built in the 19th Century hewn out of the rock in the Wadi Qelt, which is a natural rift in the hills with high, sheer rock walls extending 45km between Jerusalem and Jericho. The narrow and difficult road lining the Wadi was once the main road to Jericho. It is now used only by tourists visiting the monastery, the wadi, the springs, and the ancient water systems. During the Persian invasion of Palestine in AD 614, the monastery was destroyed and many of its monks were killed. Skulls and mummies of the deceased are on display at the monastery. The most spectacular attractions are the 6th century mosaics in the floor of the church of St John. Maqam Al-Nabi Musa The tomb of Prophet Moses is a splendid example of early Islamic architecture set in an awe-inspiring landscape. The mosque is considered holy because it houses the grave of prophet Moses according to local tradition. The tomb has been the site of an annual pilgrimage festival or mawsim at least since the time of the great Muslim leader Salah Eddin (Saladin). Until 1947, every spring Muslims celebrated the week-long Nabi Musa festival here.
The huge cemetery outside the walls of Nabi Musa is reserved for Muslim pilgrims who died here during the festivals or those who asked to be buried here because of the sanctity of the site.
Mount of Temptation (Jabal Quruntul) The Mount of Temptation rises about 350m west of Jericho overlooking the Jericho oasis and the Jordan Valley. Here, after his baptism in the Jordan River, Jesus was led into the desert by the Holy Ghost to be tempted by the Devil and spent 40 days and nights fasting and meditating during the temptation of Satan (the monastery’s name, Deir Quruntul, is derived from the Latin word ‘quarantena’ meaning forty). The present Greek Orthodox monastery was built in 1895 and has Byzantine art treasures as well as a stone on which Jesus is believed to have sat during the Temptation.
SITES IN JERICHO:
Tel Al-Sultan The most ancient city of Jericho is situated on a mound overlooking the oasis; excavations at the site uncovered settlements dating from 9000 BC and more than 23 layers of ancient civilizations. Visible structures include the oldest known stairs in the world, the oldest wall, and the massive, round, defense tower dating from before 7000 BC. Those finds make Jericho arguably the oldest continually inhabited site on earth. Ein-Al-Sultan (Spring of Elisha) Close by the hill of Old Jericho is the Spring of Elisha. The Bible tells of the prophet Elisha, disciple of Elijah, healing the water of the spring at the request of people of Jericho. This spring is still operating, providing an important water source for the inhabitants and their gardens. Ancient Synagogue Not far from the Spring of Elisha, in a small Arab house standing in a grove of trees, there has been found a beautiful mosaic floor belonging to a synagogue of the 5th-6th Century. In the center of the mosaic is a picture of Menorah (candelabrum), the emblem of Israel. A Hebrew inscription reads ‘peace upon Israel’ •Qasr Hisham – Hisham’s Palace The extensive remains of a winter palace commonly called Hisham's Palace because it was first thought to have been built by the Umayyad Caliph Hisham bin Abdul Malek (724-743 AD), but later rather attributed to his nephew and successor Al-Walid bin Yazid (743-744) because its unorthodox decoration is incompatible with the character of the austere, righteous Hisham. The palace is a complex of buildings, baths, mosques, and colonnaded courts. Its mosaics and stucco ornaments are fine examples of early Islamic art and architecture. The mosaic floors of the baths and the tree of Life of the guest room (also called the Tree of Human Cruelty) - one of the most beautiful mosaics in the world - are the major attraction.
POLITICAL ISSUES
• In the city are two refugee camps (Aqabat Jaber and Ein Sultan Refugee Camps)
• In the Jericho district, several Israeli settlements have been built, mostly on land confiscated from the Palestinian owners. |