There have been many famous cities in the history of mankind. However, the most mysterious of them was Jerusalem. The history of this place has known more wars than any other settlement on the planet. Despite this, the city survived and today continues to flourish, being a shrine for three religions.
History of the Ancients: Pre-Canaanite Jerusalem
As evidenced by archaeological finds on the territory of the sacred city, the first settlements of people were here 3000 years before the birth of Christ. The first written mention of the name of the city Rushalimum dates back to the 19th-18th centuries BC. e. Probably, the inhabitants of Jerusalem already at that time were at enmity with the Egyptians, since the name of the city was recorded in the ritual inscriptions of curses for the enemies of Egypt.
There are different versions about the origin of the name of the settlement. Thus, the name Irushalem is considered to be the earliest, denoting that the city was under the protection of some ancient deity. In other manuscripts, the name is associated with the word "peace" ("shalom"). But in the first book, the Bible, Jerusalem is called Shalem, whichmeans "Canaanite". This is due to the fact that before the Jews, the city belonged to the Canaanite pagan tribes.
Jerusalem in the Canaanite period
The history of Jerusalem at this time, although it contains little written evidence, is full of interesting events. Thus, having become a city-state, Jerusalem played an important role in its region. It was ruled by a dynasty of kings who simultaneously served as priests of an unknown deity - the patron of the city.
In the XIV-XII centuries BC. e. the twelve tribes of Israel return from Egypt. Under the leadership of Joshua, they conquer the city-state, breaking the resistance of five neighboring kings who have united against them. However, the resistance of the local population was too active, and, not being able to keep the city, the Jews give it to the people of the Jebusites.
Jerusalem is the capital of King David
For many years remained under the rule of the Jebusites Jerusalem. The history of the city at that time did not contain particularly striking events - constant wars between Jews and Jebusites exhausted it. However, only in the X century BC. e. under the leadership of King David, the city was finally conquered by the Jews. The Jebusites were expelled from the central part of Jerusalem, but for a long time they remained to live on the outskirts.
Having conquered Jerusalem, David declared the city the property of the tribe of Judah, to which he himself belonged. Moreover, over time, Jerusalem received the status of the royal capital. With the relocation to the city of the shrine of the Jews, the Ark of the Covenant, the history of Jerusalem as a religious center began.
King David during his yearsreign did a lot for the development of the city. However, Jerusalem truly became a “pearl” during the reign of his son, Solomon. This king built a majestic Temple in which the Ark of the Covenant was kept for many years. Also under Solomon, the Jebusites were finally expelled from the city, and Jerusalem itself turned into one of the richest settlements in the region. However, after the death of Solomon, there was no worthy successor, and the kingdom of the Jews broke up into two states: Northern and Southern. Remained in the possession of the Davidic dynasty ruling the Southern Kingdom, Jerusalem.
The history of the holy city in later years is a list of wars. Thus, less than ten years after the death of Solomon, the Egyptian king attacks Jerusalem. Reigning King Rehoboam pays a huge ransom to save the shrine, destroying the city's economy.
Over the next two hundred years, Jerusalem was captured and partially destroyed by the ruler of the Northern Kingdom of the Jews, and later by the Syrians. During the Egyptian-Babylonian war, the holy city belonged to the Egyptians for a short time, and then was conquered by the Babylonians. In retaliation for the uprising of the Jews, the ruler of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, destroyed the city almost to the ground, and moved most of the population to his country.
Second Temple Period
After the destruction by Nebuchadnezzar, Jerusalem was empty for seventy years. The history of the Jews resettled in Babylon over the years is full of amazing examples of heroism and loy alty to their religion and traditions. Jerusalem for them became a symbol of freedom, and therefore they dreamedgo back there and restore it. However, the Jews received such an opportunity only after the conquest of the Babylonians by the Persians. The Persian king Cyrus allowed the descendants of Abraham to return home and rebuild Jerusalem.
88 years after the destruction of the holy city, it was partially restored, especially the Temple, where ceremonies began to be held again. In the next five centuries, until the birth of Jesus, Jerusalem passed from one conqueror to another. The history of the holy city during this period is the ongoing struggle of the Jews for independence, which was never crowned with success. In the IV century BC. e. Jerusalem was captured by Alexander the Great, and later by his successor, Ptolemy I. Despite their dependence on the Greeks and Egyptians, the Jews had autonomy, which allowed Israel to flourish.
In the II century BC. e. Hellenization of the population of Jerusalem begins. The temple was robbed and turned into the sanctuary of Zeus, the supreme god of the Greeks. Such an act causes mass protests among the Jews, which develop into an uprising led by Judas Maccabee. The rebels manage to capture part of Jerusalem and clear the Temple of pagan cult objects.
Jerusalem in the time of Jesus Christ. Roman and Byzantine periods
In the middle of the 1st century BC. e. Jerusalem becomes one of the provinces of the Roman Empire. The history of the city during this period is full of events important for one of the most widespread and influential world religions - Christianity. Indeed, during the reign of the Roman emperor Octavian Augustus (King Herod the Great ruled in Jerusalem), Jesus Christ was born. Having livedonly 33 years old, because of the envy and intrigues of Jewish spiritual leaders, He was crucified in Jerusalem on Mount Calvary.
After the resurrection and ascension of Christ, the disciples began to spread His doctrine. However, the Jews themselves reacted negatively to the new religion and began to oppress their brothers who professed it. Continuing to dream of independence, in the second half of the 1st century, the Jews rose in revolt. For 4 years they held Jerusalem until the emperor Titus came to power in Rome, who brutally suppressed the uprising, burned the Temple and destroyed the city. Jerusalem was in ruins for the next few decades.
During the reign of Emperor Hadrian, the Roman colony of Aelia Capitolina was founded on the ruins of the city. Because of the desecration of the holy city, the Jews rebelled again and held Jerusalem for almost 3 years. When the city passed back to the Romans, Jews were forbidden to live in it under pain of death, and a temple of Venus (Aphrodite) was built on Golgotha.
After Christianity became the official religion of the empire, Jerusalem was rebuilt again by order of Emperor Constantine. Pagan temples were destroyed, and Christian churches were erected at the place of execution and burial of the body of Christ. Jews were now allowed to visit the city only on rare holidays.
During the reign of the Byzantine rulers Julian, Eudoxia and Justinian, Jerusalem flourished again, becoming the capital of Christianity. Jews were treated better and were sometimes allowed to settle in the holy city. However, in the 7th century, the Jews, having united withPersians captured Jerusalem and destroyed many Christian sanctuaries. After 16 years, the capital was recaptured by the Byzantines, and the Jews were expelled.
Jerusalem under Arab rule
After the death of the Prophet Muhammad, the admirers of the religion he founded, Islam, led by Caliph Omar, seize Jerusalem. Since then, for many years the city remains in the hands of the Arabs. It is noteworthy that when building mosques, Muslims did not destroy the shrines of other religions. They also allowed Christians and Jews to live and pray in the now tri-religious capital. From the VIII century, Jerusalem gradually loses the status of the capital for the Arabs. In addition, religious wars in the city did not subside until the arrival of the crusaders.
The conquest of Jerusalem by the crusaders. Mamluk period
At the end of the 11th century, the head of the Catholic Church, Urban II, initiated the conquest of Jerusalem by the Crusader Knights. Having captured the city, the crusaders declared it their capital and massacred all the Arabs and Jews. In the early years of the reign of the Knights Templar, the city was in decline, but soon managed to stabilize the economy of Jerusalem due to the numerous pilgrims from Europe. Jews and Muslims were banned from living here again.
After the conquest of the religious capital by Saladin, it became Muslim again. The Crusaders' attempts to take Jerusalem were unsuccessful. In the 30-40s of the XIII century, the city was divided between Christians and Muslims. But soon the Khwarezmian army captured the city and ravaged it.
From the middle of the XIII century, Egypt was conqueredMamluk Muslims. For more than 60 years Jerusalem belonged to them. At that time, the Jews again had the opportunity to return to their homeland. However, the city did not receive huge economic development during this period.
Jerusalem as part of the Ottoman Empire. City under British rule
XVI century was marked by the rise of the Ottoman Empire. Sultan Selim I was able to conquer the holy city of three religions, and his son Suleiman was engaged in the reconstruction of Jerusalem for a long time. Over time, this sultan allowed Christian pilgrims to visit the holy city.
Years later, Jerusalem ceased to be perceived by the Turks as a religious center and gradually faded away, turning into one of the fortresses for defense against nomadic tribes. But in later eras, its economy has known ups and downs. Over the years, pilgrims became the main source of income, and their number increased. Shrines of Muslims, Jews and various Christian denominations were built here.
The capital of the three religions belonged to the Turks until 1917, when the Ottoman Empire, having lost the First World War, was destroyed. From that time until 1948, Jerusalem was administered by Britain. The British government tried to give the opportunity to live peacefully in the city to all believers, regardless of denomination. In addition, Jews could now settle in their ancient capital. Therefore, over the next decade, their numbers increased, which contributed to the economic development of the city.
However, by the beginning of the 30s, Muslims, noticing an increase in the numberJewish population and fearing to lose their privileges, began to revolt. In subsequent years, hundreds of people died in the city due to numerous Arab-Jewish conflicts. Ultimately, the British, with the assistance of the UN, decide to make Jerusalem a free city where both Jews and Arabs can live.
The return of Jerusalem by the Jews. Modern Jerusalem
Declaring the holy city international could not stop the Arab-Israeli conflicts, which soon escalated into war. As a result, in 1948, Israel became an independent country, which received Western Jerusalem, but at the same time, the area called the Old City remained in the power of Transjordan.
After many years of wars and various treaties that neither Arabs nor Jews respected, in 1967 Jerusalem was again united and named the capital of the State of Israel. It is noteworthy that in 1988 Israel was declared the capital of the Palestinian state and is still officially part of it. However, both solutions are still not recognized by most countries of the world, including the UN.
Today, despite numerous disputes about the ownership of the city, representatives of most nations live in it. In addition to Jewish, Arabic, German and English, there are also Russian communities here. Being the capital of three religions, Jerusalem is full of Jewish and Christian temples and Muslim mosques built in different eras. Thanks to tourism and an organized system of city government, Jerusalem is now on the rise.
Wailing Wall
Not to mention the legendary Wailing Wall,considering the history of the holy city, because this place is sought to be visited by everyone who arrives in Jerusalem. The Wailing Wall (Jewish history knows it as the Western Wall) is the only part of the structure of the Second Temple that has survived to this day. It is located near the Temple Mount in the Old City. It is believed that on this very mountain, once the progenitor of the Jews Abraham was going to sacrifice his son Isaac.
Despite the repeated destruction of the city, the Wailing Wall survived and became a symbol of hope and firmness for the Jews. Ever since the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman Emperor Titus, the Western Wall has been a place of prayer and mourning for Jews. For 19 years (since 1948), the Arabs did not allow Jews to this sacred place. But since independence, millions of pilgrims of all religions come here every year. According to Jewish tradition, the space near the wall is divided by a small wall so that men and women pray separately. Also popular among tourists is the tradition of leaving notes with cherished desires between ancient bricks.
Museum "New Jerusalem": the history of the monastery
With the adoption of Christianity in the Roman Empire, interest in Jerusalem increased. After the construction of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher there, many rulers wished to build churches in their countries similar to those in Jerusalem. Since then, every temple or monastery built in the likeness of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher has been called "New Jerusalem". History knows many such New Jerusalems, later called Calvary. CostsIt should be noted that the European Calvary more often copied the holy city itself, and not the structure of the temple.
But in Russia at the beginning of the 17th century, Patriarch Nikon, not far from Moscow, built a copy of the Jerusalem Church of the Holy Sepulcher, as well as a monastery called "New Jerusalem". The history of the monastery has more than three and a half centuries. It was then, in 1656, that the construction of the monastery complex began, which was supposed to be an exact copy of the sacred places for every Christian in Jerusalem. For ten years, Nikon supervised the construction and decoration of the monastery. However, later the patriarch fell into disgrace, and the last stages of the construction of the monastery were completed without him.
Being not only one of the most beautiful, but also the richest monasteries in the Russian Empire, New Jerusalem has repeatedly tried to deprive the land. But this was done only during the reign of Peter I. Fortunately, with the ascension to the throne of his daughter Elizabeth, who took the monastery under her personal protection, the monastery flourished again. This period of prosperity, when the monastery owned 22,000 acres of land and more than 10,000 peasants, was short-lived. After the accession of Catherine II during the reform of the seizure of land from the property of churches and monasteries, the monastery lost most of its possessions and existed only at the expense of pilgrims and donations. Fortunately, their number has increased year by year. And with the construction of the railway at the end of the 19th century, the number of pilgrims per year exceeded thirty thousand people.
AfterRevolution, in 1919, the history of the "New Jerusalem" is interrupted, as it is closed. And three years later, the Art and History Museum was opened in its place. During the Second World War, the German invaders blew up many buildings on the territory of the museum complex, in particular, the Resurrection Cathedral. After the victory, many buildings were restored, and since 1959 the museum has been open to the public again.
After the collapse of the USSR in 1993-1994, after long negotiations, the museum was turned into a monastery. However, the Museum and Exhibition Complex called "New Jerusalem" continued to exist on its territory. Today, like a century ago, pilgrims from all over the world come here not only to admire this amazing architectural monument, but also to pray.
Because of humanity's love of war, many great cities of the past were destroyed, and today only ruins stand in their place. Fortunately, a different fate befell the capital of the three religions - Jerusalem. The history of this city has sixteen serious destructions, and each time, like a mythical Phoenix bird, Jerusalem rose from the ashes. And today the city is flourishing, inviting everyone to see with their own eyes the places where Jesus Christ lived and preached.
