Jerusalem

Jerusalem ({{coor dm|31|46|N|35|14|E|}}; Hebrew: {{Audio|He-Jerusalem.ogg|יְרוּשָׁלַיִם }}; Yerushalayim; Arabic: {{Audio|ArAlquds.ogg|??????}} al-Quds; see also names of Jerusalem) is an ancient Middle Eastern city of key importance to the religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It is the capital of the State of Israel.

Geography and demography

Geography

Jerusalem is situated in {{coor dms|31|46|45|N|35|13|25|E|}}, upon the southern spur of a plateau the eastern side of which slopes from 2,460 ft. above sea-level north of the Temple area to 2,130 ft. at the southeastern extremity. The western hill is about 2,500 ft. high and slopes southeast from the Judean plateau.

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Jerusalem is surrounded upon all sides by valleys, of which those on the north are less pronounced than those on the other three sides. The principal two valleys start northwest of the present city. The first runs eastward with a slight southerly bend (the present Wadi al-Joz), then, deflecting directly south (formerly known as "Kidron Valley," the modern Wadi Sitti Maryam), divides the Mount of Olives from the city. The second runs directly south on the western side of the city, turns eastward at its southeastern extremity, then runs directly east, and joins the first valley near Bir Ayyub ("Job's Well"). It was called in olden times the "Valley of Hinnom," and is the modern Wadi al-Rababi, which is not to be identified with the first-mentioned valley.

Related Topics:
Kidron - Mount of Olives - Valley of Hinnom

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A third valley, commencing in the northwest where is now the Damascus Gate, ran south-southeasterly down to the Pool of Siloam, and divided the lower part into two hills (the lower and the upper cities of Josephus). This is probably the later Tyropoeon ("Cheese-makers'") valley. A fourth valley led from the western hill (near the present Jaffa Gate) over to the Temple area: it is represented in modern Jerusalem by David Street. A fifth cut the eastern hill into a northern and a southern part. Later Jerusalem was thus built upon four spurs.Today, neighboring towns are Bethlehem and Beit Jala at the southern city border, and Abu Dis to the East.

Related Topics:
Pool of Siloam - Tyropoeon ("Cheese-makers'") valley - Bethlehem - Beit Jala - Abu Dis

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Neighborhoods, places and monuments

• See: List of places in Jerusalem

Jerusalem has a large number of places of religious and historic significance including the Western Wall, Al-Aqsa Mosque, and Church of the Holy Sepulchre, among many others (See Religious Significance above). It is also home to a number of key Israeli government buildings, including the Kenesset and Israeli Supreme Court, and Israeli institutions, including Hebrew University.

Related Topics:
Western Wall - Al-Aqsa Mosque - Church of the Holy Sepulchre

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Demographics

See the Demographics of Jerusalem

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When it first appears in historical records, Jerusalem was inhabited by a Canaanite tribe. The Bible specifies them as the Jebusites, and says they ruled it until its conquest by King David. After taking control of it from the Canaanites, Jews formed the majority of the population of Jerusalem until its destruction by Rome in the second century. Following that, the city's historical demographics were uncertain, although it probably became a majority Muslim city by the time of the Crusades, and an official 16th century survey shows that the city was largely Muslim. By 1844 Jews formed the largest single group in the city, and a majority by the late 19th century. According to the current official census as of 2003, Jerusalem's population was 693,200 people, of which 464,500 (67.0%) were Jews and 228,700 (33.0%) were non-Jews (Note that this number is for the expanded municipality of Jerusalem as claimed by Israel).

Related Topics:
Canaanite - Jebusite - David - Crusades

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