"Tower of David"

Author(s)
Original towers built by Herod the Great
current towers, bastions, monumental entrance, minaret and most structures built by Ottoman sultan Suleiman the Magnificent

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URI
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12424/982730
Abstract
~Located near Jaffa Gate, this well fortified citadel having five towers lies where Herod's three monumental guarding towers stood at the western gates of the Second Temple Period Jerusalem. These towers, built circa 24 BC, were destroyed circa 135 AD by Roman Emperor Hadrian. Byzantine Christians wrongly assumed the monumental ruins were the remains of King David's palace, hence the name "Tower of David" or "David's Citadel". Circa 638, the citadel was restored by the Muslims. Circa 1099 the Crusaders built a tower surrounded by a moat inside the citadel, which became the seat of the Crusader Kings of Jerusalem. After conquering Jerusalem by Saladin in 1187, the Mamluks destroyed the place circa 1260 and rebuilt it later. The citadel later was rebuilt and renovated several times by the Ottoman sultan Suleiman the Magnificent between 1537 and 1541. He also added a monumental entrance to the citadel that still stands today. The towering minaret was added circa 1635, as part of an Ottoman mosque that existed at the site. The citadel was used as a barracks for Ottoman-Turkish soldiers for about 400 years. Today the citadel serves as a museum and an archaeological park under Israeli rule
Date
Built on the ruins of the Herodian Towers erected originally circa 24 BC and destroyed circa 135 AD; Circa 638 it was partially restored; circa 1099 a fortified tower and moat were built; destroyed circa 1260 and rebuilt again; between 1537-1541 the place was extensively overhauled with towers, bastions and a monumental entrance; a mosque's minaret was added circa 1635
Type
Architecture and City Planning
Identifier
oai:oaicat.oclc.org:ASITESPHOTOIG_10313410257
Thumbnail: http://media.artstor.net/imgstor/size2/asitesphoto/d0001/sites_photos_r10470260_as_8b_srgb.jpg
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Ranking: 43750
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