THE CITADEL OF DAVID IN JERUSALEM

Citadel of David and King David

One of the symbols of modern Jerusalem is the ancient fortress "Migdal David" at the Jaffa Gate of the old city.
The name "Migdal David" translates as "the tower of King David," but it is more accurate to refer to the entire structure as the Citadel of David.
Well, there is a tower there - these are the preserved lower tiers of the Patsael tower, which was built in the first century BC by the Jewish king Herod.
So, how about King David?

Yes, this has nothing to do with it. The error was revealed.

The error most likely appeared after Herod in the fourth century AD. The Mount of Zion was regarded by the first Byzantine Christians as a location in the city on the slope of which the Church of the Holy Sepulcher was built and a residential quarter for Christians.
Because Mount Zion is here, the existing ruins are part of the legendary city of Jewish King David.
This is how the name was spelled in Jerusalem: the citadel or tower of David, even though this location has no direct relation to King David.

City Citadel

After the Romans destroy the city and the Jewish temple, a fortified fortress-citadel appears in this location in Jerusalem. For centuries, from the first centuries of our era to the beginning of the twentieth century, this site housed a garrison, army weapon depots, a prison for dissidents and robbers, and the residence of the city's ruler.
The fortress was surrounded by high stone walls that preserved ancient masonry and earlier structures.

In the Middle Ages, the Citadel of David was surrounded on three sides by natural ravines, and the side facing the city was separated by a moat filled with collected rain and sewage.

According to legend, the city's defenders hid here during the Persian invasion

The Citadel of David became the townspeople's last and impregnable fortress against the Crusaders, who were never able to take the fortress. According to the chroniclers, the European Christians were generous in allowing the Muslims who had surrendered to the mercy of the victors to leave the holy city and travel to Damascus.

What should you see at the Citadel of David?

Since the 1920s, the Museum of the Citadel of David has been under construction.
Archaeological excavations have been and continue to be conducted in and around the fortress.

Found earlier layers than King Herod's reign. And this place has always protected the city from enemies coming from the north, dating back to the time of the first Jewish kings.

If you decide to visit the David Citadel, the most important thing to see in the fortress itself, which includes walls, towers, loopholes, and various defensive structures from various eras.
Go down to the basements, if only to see how well-suited they were for housing the most dangerous criminals. Climb the citadel's highest towers with courage; from there, you'll get a bird's-eye view of the old city and its environs. If you enjoy taking photographs from a bird's eye perspective, this is the place for you.

During the reign of King Herod the Great, the lower tiers of the Patsael Tower were preserved. In the first century BC, The lower tiers of King Herod the Great's Patsael tower have been preserved. 1st century BC If you want to get a closer look at the Patsael Tower, which has been preserved from King Herod's time, you can do so after visiting the museum complex on the square in front of the Jaffa Gate. See what kind of masonry I'm talking about? How does it appear? That's right, on large stone blocks with the Western Wall's distinctive beveled frames. No surprise, one technique, one time.

And further,  Pay attention to how the ancient builders built tall stone structures by using the ziggurat principle - they built a powerful stone rectangular platform 8-10 meters high, then built the next smaller area on top of it, and so on up to the sky.

The Citadel of David Museum's exhibits is mostly models and multimedia.

In the evening, they put on a colorful light show honoring Jerusalem's three thousand-year history as well as its bright future.
The light show is worth seeing at least once.

COMBINE A VISIT TO THE DAVID CITADEL WITH A CLASSIC JERUSALEM TOUR