Temple Mount (Al-Haram al-Sharif) Overview
Temple Mount, a walled section of the Old City of Jerusalem, is a site of tremendous religious significance to Jews, Muslims and Christians. The area, which is one of Jerusalem's most famous landmarks, is believed to be the site of the holy rock where Abraham offered his son Isaac for sacrifice. It is also reputedly the site where Solomon erected the First Temple to house the Ark of the Covenant, which had been brought to Jerusalem by his father David, and also the area from where Mohammed ascended to heaven. The Babylonians captured Jerusalem in 587 BC and burned down the temple, exiling many of the people to Babylonia. A Second Temple was subsequently constructed in 515 BC, only to be destroyed by the Roman Emperor Titus in AD 70. Today, the site is dominated by the Dome of the Rock and is also home to the silver-domed Al Aqsa Mosque, which is a Muslim place of worship, as well as the Islamic Museum, which houses a collection of Korans, as well as Islamic artifacts and relics.
Contact Addresses
For more information on Temple Mount, contact the Ministry of Tourism (see Tourist Information above).
Transportation
Air: Ben-Gurion International Airport. Road: Bus: Public services to the Dung Gate. Car: Hwy-1 (from Tel Aviv).
Tourist Information
Misrad Hatayarut (Ministry of Tourism)
PO Box 1018, King George Street 24, Jerusalem, Israel
Tel: (02) 675 4811. Fax: (02) 625 7955. Website: www.infotour.co.il
Israel Government Tourist Office
UK House, 180 Oxford Street, London W1D 1NN, UK
Tel: (020) 7299 1111. Fax: (020) 7299 1112. E-mail: information@igto.co.uk
Website: www.goisrael.com
Location
Israel
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