Absalom's tomb
The Tomb of Absalom ( Hebrew יד אבשלום Yad Avshalom ) is an ancient grave monument in the Kidron Valley near Jerusalem . It dates from the 1st century AD .
Names
The striking monument has had many names over the centuries: "Tomb of Hezekiah" ( pilgrims from Bordeaux , 4th century), "Joschafats tower" ( Arkulf , 7th century), "cooking pot" (Phocas, 12th century). Traditional Arabic names are "Pharaoh's House" or "Pharaoh's Cap".
Since the Madrich Yeruschalayim (10th century) the name Yad Avshalom, "Monument to Absalom", which refers to the Bible passage 2 Sam 18,18 LUT , has been used. Accordingly, Absalom, David's childless son, had a memorial stone erected. However, it was by no means this much younger monument.
history
The grave monument can be assigned to an aristocratic Jewish family from the time of the Second Temple ; her name is not known.
An underground rock grave, to which steps led down from the south, was carved out of the surrounding rock, so that a free-standing, house-like structure was created. This was intended to particularly honor the person buried here.
During the time of the crusaders, hermits had settled in the graves of the Kidron valley, and so a recourse also related to the Abschalom grave. Over the centuries, almost half of the monument sank into the rubble. Hans Tucher and Felix Fabri testify for the 15th century that passers-by threw stones at it to express their disgust for Absalom's disobedience (according to the biblical account, Absalom tried to rebel against his father, and he died).
description
The monument is about 20 meters high and consists of two parts. The lower part is a burial chamber hewn out of the rock, which is now separated from the surrounding rock by a 2.5 to 3 meter wide walkway. The grave cube rises on a base and pedestal, the sides of which are divided by pilasters.
Above it you can see a narrow architrave , a Doric frieze with triglyphs and non-image metopes and an Egyptian hollow. Above the hollow on the south side is the entrance to the burial chamber. There are two niche bank graves in it, but when the grave was converted for residential use, additional openings were made.
Further above, there are square, round and conical stone layers, each separated by a bundle of rings. The closing stone is shaped like a lotus flower.
literature
- Max Küchler : Jerusalem. A handbook and study guide to the Holy City. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 2007, ISBN 978-3-525-50170-2 . Pp. 708-712.
- Titus Tobler: The Siloah Spring and the Mount of Olives. With an artistic side dish. St. Gallen 1852. pp. 267-281.
Web links
Coordinates: 31 ° 46 ′ 38.1 ″ N , 35 ° 14 ′ 20 ″ E