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The Holyland Model of Jerusalem, also known as Model of Jerusalem at the end of the Second Temple period () is a 1:50
scale model A scale model is a physical model that is geometrically similar to an object (known as the ''prototype''). Scale models are generally smaller than large prototypes such as vehicles, buildings, or people; but may be larger than small protot ...
of the city of
Jerusalem Jerusalem is a city in the Southern Levant, on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains between the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. It is one of the List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest cities in the world, and ...
in the late
Second Temple period The Second Temple period or post-exilic period in Jewish history denotes the approximately 600 years (516 BCE – 70 CE) during which the Second Temple stood in the city of Jerusalem. It began with the return to Zion and subsequent reconstructio ...
. The model, designed by
Michael Avi-Yonah Michael Avi-Yonah (; September 26, 1904 – March 26, 1974) was an Israeli archaeologist and historian. During his career he was a Professor of Archaeology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and served as secretary of Israel's Department of A ...
, was moved from its original location at the Holyland Hotel in
Bayit VeGan Bayit VeGan (, lit. ''House and Garden'', also Bayit Vagan) is a neighborhood in southwest Jerusalem. It is located to the east of Mount Herzl, and borders the neighborhoods of Kiryat HaYovel and Givat Mordechai. History Bronze Age A 4,000-ye ...
, Jerusalem, to a new site at the
Israel Museum The Israel Museum (, ''Muze'on Yisrael'', ) is an Art museum, art and archaeology museum in Jerusalem. It was established in 1965 as Israel's largest and foremost cultural institution, and one of the world's leading Encyclopedic museum, encyclopa ...
in June 2006.


History

According to Yael Padan, the model was built in 1962–1966, a time when almost the entire area it depicts was under Jordanian rule and therefore off-limits for Israeli archaeologists and visitors alike. This endowed the model with a multi-layered purpose, of replacing the original site, educating the Israeli public, and creating a sense of national belonging and continuity. According to
Annabel J. Wharton Annabel Jane Wharton (also known in print as Ann Wharton Epstein) is an American art historian with wide-ranging interests from Late Ancient & Byzantine art and culture through to modern architecture and its effect on ancient landscapes. She is ...
, the model, measuring , was commissioned in 1966 by the banker Hans Kroch, the owner of the Holyland Hotel, in memory of his son, Yaakov, an IDF soldier who was killed in Israel's 1948 War of Independence. The model was designed by Israeli
historian A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human species; as well as the ...
and
geographer A geographer is a physical scientist, social scientist or humanist whose area of study is geography, the study of Earth's natural environment and human society, including how society and nature interacts. The Greek prefix "geo" means "earth" a ...
Michael Avi-Yonah Michael Avi-Yonah (; September 26, 1904 – March 26, 1974) was an Israeli archaeologist and historian. During his career he was a Professor of Archaeology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and served as secretary of Israel's Department of A ...
based on the writings of
Flavius Josephus Flavius Josephus (; , ; ), born Yosef ben Mattityahu (), was a History of the Jews in the Roman Empire, Roman–Jewish historian and military leader. Best known for writing ''The Jewish War'', he was born in Jerusalem—then part of the Judaea ...
and other historical sources. The model includes a replica of the Herodian Temple. From 1974,
Yoram Tsafrir Yoram Tsafrir (; 30 January 1938 – 23 November 2015) was an Israeli archaeologist. His research has included the Byzantine influence on ancient synagogues, demography of Palestine in the Byzantine period, mosaics at Horvat Berachot, excavatio ...
(1938–2015) superintended the Holyland Model of Jerusalem. In 2006, the model was relocated to the southern edge of the Billy Rose Sculpture Garden at the
Israel Museum The Israel Museum (, ''Muze'on Yisrael'', ) is an Art museum, art and archaeology museum in Jerusalem. It was established in 1965 as Israel's largest and foremost cultural institution, and one of the world's leading Encyclopedic museum, encyclopa ...
. In preparation for the move, the model was sawn into 100 pieces and later reassembled. The Holyland Hotel spent $3.5 million on the move.


Notable depictions

The Jerusalem model features a number of notable and important structures, as the model was based on the writings of Josephus at the time of its construction. Since then some modifications have been made to the model, such as the removal of the Hippodrome,because the archeological research didn't corroborate its existence which is controversial. To its probable existence point the fact that they organized feasts and celebrations in the city similar in fashion to the Greek ones.


Districts

The city was divided into districts. On the eastern range, from north to south, stood the Temple complex on the Temple Mount; the
Ophel ''Ophel'' () is the biblical term given to a certain part of a settlement or city that is elevated from its surroundings, and probably means fortified hill or risen area. In the Hebrew Bible, the term is in reference to two cities: Jerusalem (as ...
; and the
City of David The City of David (Hebrew: עיר דוד, ''Ir David'') is the historic heart of Jerusalem and widely regarded as the original location of the ancient city established by King David over 3,000 years ago. Situated just south of the Temple Mount, the ...
. On the western range, the Upper City covered the highest area to the west and the southern slopes, with the Lower City on the lower southeast slopes.
Bezetha Bezetha (), also called by Josephus the New City, was a suburb of Jerusalem during the late Second Temple period. It was located north and north-west of the Temple, built opposite the Antonia Fortress (now in proximity to the Convent of the Sist ...
was the northern New City.


Notable structures

Following is a list of notable structures that are or were originally depicted in the Holyland Model of Jerusalem. Some have been archaeologically confirmed, some not. # Temple Mount: the model depicts the
Temple Mount The Temple Mount (), also known as the Noble Sanctuary (Arabic: الحرم الشريف, 'Haram al-Sharif'), and sometimes as Jerusalem's holy esplanade, is a hill in the Old City of Jerusalem, Old City of Jerusalem that has been venerated as a ...
and the Herodian Temple during the first century CE. The trail offers the view of the Temple Mount from the east. #
Pool of Bethesda The Pool of Bethesda is referred to in John's Gospel in the Christian New Testament, (John 5#Healing at Bethesda (5:2–15), John 5:2) in an account of healing the paralytic at Bethesda, Jesus healing a paralyzed man at a pool of water in Je ...
#
Pool of Siloam The term Pool of Siloam (, ) refers to several rock-cut pools located southeast of the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem. The pools were fed by the waters of the Gihon Spring, carried there by the Siloam tunnel. The Lower Pool or "Old Pool" ...
#
Towers A tower is a tall Nonbuilding structure, structure, taller than it is wide, often by a significant factor. Towers are distinguished from guyed mast, masts by their lack of guy-wires and are therefore, along with tall buildings, self-supporting ...
next to Herod's royal palace:
Mariamne Mariamne is a name frequently used in the Herodian royal house. In Greek it is spelled Μαριάμη (Mariame) by Josephus; in some editions of his work the second ''m'' is doubled (Mariamme). In later copies of those editions the spelling was ...
,
Phasael Phasael (died 40 BCE; ,; ; from ), was a prince from the Herodian Dynasty of Judea. Name Origins and early career Phasael was born in the Hasmonean Kingdom to a Jewish aristocratic family of Edomite descent. His father, Antipater the Idumaean ...
and Hippicus Tower. The theory that the still extant stump corresponds to Phasael Tower is contested by
Hillel Geva Hillel () is a Jewish masculine given name and a surname. It may refer to: Given name * Hillel the Elder (110 BC–10 AD), Babylonian sage, scholar, and Jewish leader * Hillel, son of Gamaliel III (3rd century), Jewish scholar * Hillel II, Jewis ...
, who identifies it with Hippicus Tower. #
Herod's Palace Herod’s Palace may refer to any of several palace-fortresses built (or rebuilt from previous fortresses) during the reign of Herod the Great, King of Judea from 37 BC to 4 BC. Mostly in ruins today, several have been excavated. * Herod's Palace ...
# The Upper Market # Herod's theatre # Hippodrome (now removed from the model) # Monument of King
Alexander Jannaeus Alexander Jannaeus ( , English: "Alexander Jannaios", usually Latinised to "Alexander Jannaeus"; ''Yannaʾy''; born Jonathan ) was the second king of the Hasmonean dynasty, who ruled over an expanding kingdom of Judaea from 103 to 76 BCE. ...
# Tomb of
Huldah Huldah ( ''Ḥuldā'') is a prophetess mentioned in the Hebrew Bible in and . After the discovery of a book of the Law during renovations at Solomon's Temple, on the order of King Josiah, Hilkiah together with Ahikam, Acbor, Shaphan and As ...
#
Antonia Fortress The Antonia Fortress (Aramaic: קצטרא דאנטוניה) was a citadel built by Herod the Great and named for Herod's patron Mark Antony, as a fortress whose chief function was to protect the Second Temple. It was built in Jerusalem at the easte ...
# Tomb of King David # Fish Gate: It was located somewhere near (probably east of) the modern Damascus Gate, close to the fish market. It is also believed to have been mentioned in the Book of Nehemiah. # Psephinus Tower: It was located on the north-western corner of the Third Wall of Jerusalem.


See also

* Jerusalem during the Second Temple Period *
Replicas of the Jewish Temple Replicas of the Jewish Temple are scale models or authentic buildings that attempt to replicate either the Temple of Solomon or the Second Temple (Herod's Temple) in Jerusalem. Sources for the description of the Temple are found primarily in the w ...
*
Second Temple The Second Temple () was the Temple in Jerusalem that replaced Solomon's Temple, which was destroyed during the Siege of Jerusalem (587 BC), Babylonian siege of Jerusalem in 587 BCE. It was constructed around 516 BCE and later enhanced by Herod ...


References


Further reading

*


External links

{{Commons category, Holyland Model of Jerusalem
Israeli museum website
Miniature parks Temple Mount Dioramas Second Temple Herod the Great Collection of the Israel Museum