Ancient Destinations Israel

Many followers of Judaism, Islam and Christianity visit the Middle East to worship its numerous holy sites. Israel is no exception. It is a place full with sacred stones, ancient temples and biblical stories. To this day, Israel still remains a top ancient destination of pilgrimage and prayer for many travellers.

Photo: Caleb Zahnd

The Western Wall or Wailing Wall of the Middle East is located inside Jerusalem's old city. Within this ancient city there once stood the original Temple of Solomon. Unfortunately, the temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC. A second Jewish temple was then erected on the same spot and that too was burnt down by the Romans in 70 AD. The Western Wall is considered the last remaining piece of the original Jewish temple that was built by Herod the Great. The original length of the wall was estimated to be about 485 m but today it stretches 60 m long and stands 18 m high. (More Photos)

The Western Walll is considered the most holiest place of worship for all Jewish people. Both men and women can be seen praying at the wall every day. The men are given the much larger area and are seperated from the women by a divider. The Jewish connection to the Western Wall dates back to more than 3000 years ago!

Photo: oligopistos

Another well known site in Israel is the Dome of the Rock. This structure is located on the Temple Mount in the old city of Jerusalem. It was built between 687 and 691 AD by Caliph Abd al-Malik. The golden capped dome stretches 20 meters across and rises about 35 meters high. (More Photos)

For all Muslims, the dome is considered a very sacred place and it is believed to be the spot where the Prophet Muhammad ascended to God in heaven. The location of the Dome of the Rock also connects it to both Jewish and Christian narratives.

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