David's Tomb

The grave of David (Hebrew: קבר דוד המלך ) on Mount Zion in Jerusalem is venerated as the tomb of the biblical King David, who ruled about 3,000 years ago over Israel and Judah. It is an important holy site in Judaism.

Authenticity

The authenticity of the actual tomb of David is doubtful. According to the Bible (1 Kings 2,10 EU), he was like the other kings of Judah buried in the city of David, which is located approximately 700 meters to the east. After centuries of tradition, the grave of David is but in a building near the Dormition Church. Maybe, but this tradition arose only in the Byzantine period.

History

The emergence of structure is unclear. Maybe it is a synagogue dating from the 1st century AD or an early Christian church. At the conquest by the Persians 614, in which the neighboring basilica of Hagia Sion was destroyed, the building was damaged. In the 12th century the Crusaders built a church, the lower floor was the latest at that time worshiped as the grave of David. The Franciscans built a monastery here in 1335. 1524 seized by the Turkish Sultan Suleiman the sanctuary and turned it into a the " prophet " David dedicated Mosque ( al - Nabi Da'ud ). In the Israeli War of Independence, Israel captured in 1948 the grave of David back, which has since been re- used as a Jewish sanctuary.

Building

Upstairs same building is the Upper Room, where Jesus Christ according to Christian tradition, on the eve of his crucifixion with his disciples celebrated the Last Supper. Adores The lower floor of Christians as a place of foot washing (John 13:1-5 EU), is considered by Jews as the resting place of the biblical king. It consists of four rooms. The first was seen from the entrance of the lower part of the Franciscan Church of the 12th century. On two further chambers followed by a third, which can not be accessed by visitors. Here is the large cenotaph, covered with splendid clothing from the 16th century with Hebrew texts. Behind the cenotaph is a built in the 4th century, north facing niche whose original purpose is unclear.