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Jericho Ten Thousand Years
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The
origin of the name “Jericho” is from the Semitic
language. It is a
Canaanite word that means “city of the moon.” The word
is derived from yeriho or yarah. According
to Anis Freiha, the Canaanite God Yarah gave its name to
Jericho, called Ariha in Arabic. Jericho is the Biblical
name, “city of palm trees,” while its Arabic name Er-Riha means “perfume.”
Sunset over Jericho
Jericho is
known for its subtropical climate that makes it an
extraordinary garden, ideal for winter vacation. It was
used as a resort by the wealthy people of Jerusalem,
Bethlehem, and Ramallah who wished to escape the harsh
winter. In ancient times, there were isolated farms on
the valley’s fertile land. Cleopatra was undoubtedly the
most famous of Jericho’s landowners, her estate was a
gift from Mark Antony in 35 BC.
Old Jericho
Jericho is
over 800 feet below sea level, making it the lowest
inhabited place on earth. It’s the first walled city in
the world and it was one of the most important cities in
the country in the time of Jesus and John the Baptist.
Jesus passed through Jericho on his way to Jerusalem and
John the Baptist baptized his believers in the Jordan
River.
This year, Jericho, made
famous in the Bible, and one of the earth's lowest and
oldest inhabited cities, has launched a year-long
celebration of its 10,000th anniversary. In the Bible’s
Old Testament the book of Joshua (6:1-16) relates how
the ancient Israelites captured Jericho by following
God's instruction to walk round the city for seven days
sounding a ram's horn leading to the collapse of its
walls.
Jordan River
Sites of interest in Jericho
Deir Hajla:
The monastery is outside the city of Jericho. It was
founded in 455 CE by St. Gerasimus, who, according to
legend befriended a lion that lived by his side until he
died.
Deir Hajla
The Tree of Zacchaeus:
Jesus met with the chief publican, Zacchaeus, who
repented after Jesus came to his house. Zacchaeus, a man
of small stature, climbed a sycamore tree in order to
get a better view of Jesus, who was surrounded by a
large crowd. Jesus visited his home, and as a result
Zacchaeus repented and gave half of his property to the
poor and promised to compensate those whom he had
exploited.
The Tree of Zacchaeus
The Mount of Temptation:
The Monastery, perched on the side of the mount of
temptation, offers a stunning panorama over the Dead
Sea, Jordan Valley, and Jericho. On this mountain Jesus
fasted for 40 days and was tempted by the devil. During
the Byzantine days, numerous Christian hermits settled
in the caves around the monastery. The monastery dates
from the 12th century. It has two churches
associated with the temptation of Christ: one
constructed near a cave, the other on top of the
mountain.
The Mount of Temptation
The Sugar Mills:
Jericho’s sugar mills (Tawahin al-Sukkar) date
back to the prosperous reign of the Umayyads. Later, the
Crusaders restored them and exported Jericho’s sugar to
Europe.
The Sugar Mills
Hisham’s Palace
(Khirbet al-Mafjar):
The Hisham palace was one of the most impressive
country residences of the Omayyad period; archaeologists
call it “the Versailles of the Middle East.” It was
built at the beginning of the eighth century by Omayyad
Caliph Hisham Ibn Abd al-Malik (724-743), only to be
partially destroyed 20 years later in an earthquake.
Hisham’s Palace
Herod’s Winter Palace
(Tel Abu al-‘Alayiq): This elevated spot has been
home to palaces during several historical periods. The
Hellenistic era saw the construction of what are known
as twin palaces. Herod built no less than three in all:
the first, when the famous Egyptian queen Cleopatra
reigned over the whole Jordan Valley; the second, after
an earthquake and the third, after Cleopatra’s suicide,
was built with hard mud brick made from clay mixed with
sand, because it had become clear that the climate in
Jericho was not suited for Rome’s building materials.
Only the traditional Roman baths were built in the Roman
style.
Herod’s Winter Palace
Nabi Musa:
This sanctuary in the desert was erected under Mameluke
sultan Baybar (1260-1277). Muslim tradition has it that
this is the burial place of the prophet Moses (Nabi
Musa). In the 1820s, the Ottomans began a popular festival
at the site. During the festival, Palestinians from
Haifa, Jaffa, Nablus, and Jerusalem regularly partook in
the celebration, sending delegations of dancers, poets,
and artisans to represent their cities and villages.
In
modern history, the site became a gathering place for
the politically active. As a result the site was closed
in 1937 by the British government. Later, it was transformed
into a Jordanian, then an Israeli military camp. Today,
a local Palestinian family lives at the sanctuary.
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Nabi Musa 1920 |
Aerial view of Nabi Musa |
The Dead Sea:
It lies at the lowest point of the great Afro-Syrian
divide (the Great Rift), over 400 meters below sea level.
The surface of the Dead Sea is the lowest point on
earth, its base being 800 meter below sea level.
Swimming in the Dead Sea is a unique experience; because
there is so much salt in the water, it is easier to
float than to swim. The water can be extremely painful
for the eyes or any open cuts.
The Dead Sea
Tel es-Sultan
(ancient Jericho): Tel al-Sultan is a mound northwest of
the present city. Archeologists believe that the city
was heavily fortified and had 2,000 inhabitants. The
fortress built at Tel al-Sultan stretched over six acres
and had 20 foot walls. The public buildings had arched
gates and courtyards and stone columns. Unearthed skulls of women
had head dresses similar to the one still worn by rural
women in Palestine. Tombs included household items such
as weaving looms, clothes, beddings, mats, tables,
chairs, plates, jugs, copper basins, water jars, pots
and clay ovens. Family tombs contained traces of food,
cooked or grilled mutton , and the remains of cereals,
pomegranates, and raisins, next to the bodies.
Ein al-Sultan
(Spring of Elisha):
According to local lore, one of the kings of Jerusalem
had his eyes poked out here by the Babylonians – thus
the Arab name, “Sultan’s eye.” The Bible tells of the
prophet Elisha healing/cleansing the polluted water of the spring
at the request of people of Jericho. The spring still
provides an important water source for the people of
Jericho and their farmlands.
Jericho is an extremely interesting place for the
foreign visitors and Palestinians alike because of its
long history, rich array of cultural artifacts, and
stunning sights in which desert and oasis converge. And
it’s also heartwarming to visit it because of the nice and hospitable
people, the (citrus!) fruits, as well as its pleasant and mild
climate during wintertime.
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Sources: |
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Palestine with Jerusalem, Henry Stedman, England: Bradt
Publications, c2000 |
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Palestine: a guide, Mariam Shahin, Massachussetts:
Interlink Books, c2005 |
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Palestine & Palestinians: guidebook, Beit Sahour: Alternative
Tourism Group, c2005 |
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Dances with the Gods, Wafa Stephan Tarnowski, Nicosia: Rimal
Publications, 1997 |
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2000 years of pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Edited by Eliezer
Sucks TelAviv: Cordinata, c1998 |
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The Holy Land from the Air, Amos Elon, Jerusalem: The
Domino Press, 1987 |
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- Around the Holy City: between Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Jericho, Amnon Ramon,
Jerusalem: The Jerusalem Institute for Israel
Studies, c2000 |
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