Jerusalem Citadel: Between Historical Constants and the Zionist Narrative
| dc.contributor.author | ’Abla Al-Muhtadi | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-02-16T04:23:50Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-02-16T04:23:50Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025-01 | |
| dc.description.abstract | From the dawn of history, humanity has witnessed countless invasions and wars, driving civilizations to develop methods of defense, fortifying their gathering places, which would later evolve into cities. One of the earliest and most vital forms of defense, particularly for cities coveted by invaders, was the construction of walls, the digging of trenches, and the building of towers and fortresses to monitor enemy movements and safeguard the city.¹ Archaeological discoveries reveal that Jerusalem's Old City stands as one of the oldest fortified Arab cities. It has been unequivocally established that the Jebusites, an ancient people, were the first to establish Jerusalem. They built their city on the Hill of ad-Duhur, located in the southeastern part of Old Jerusalem,² overlooking the village of Silwan. This was confirmed by the discovery of the Jebusite wall, dating back to the third millennium BC.³ Modern historical studies further assert that due to the city’s robust fortifications, it was once known as the Fortress of Zion,⁴ a name that predates the Hebrew presence in the region. Thus, Zion is a name with deep roots in Jerusalem’s history, long before the arrival of the Hebrews. The Jerusalem Citadel stands as a testament to the city's ancient significance, one of its most striking archaeological landmarks. Unlike most cities in the Levant and Palestine, which lacked such structures, towers and fortresses were reserved for central and vital urban centers. The citadel’s importance lies in its strategic position, built on a vulnerable lowland where the southwestern and northwestern hills converge. Rising from the remnants of earlier fortifications, it anchored the city’s wall at its most critical corner, demanding the strongest defenses.⁵ | |
| dc.identifier.issn | 2707-9767 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://dspace.alquds.edu/handle/20.500.12213/9712 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Al-Quds University | |
| dc.title | Jerusalem Citadel: Between Historical Constants and the Zionist Narrative | |
| dc.type | Article |