Cave of Patriarchs, Israel
From series “The Surviving Artifacts of Jewish Civilization”
In Judaism, the second holiest place after the Temple Mount is the Cave of the Patriarchs, also known as the Cave of Machpelah. It’s located in the historic crypt of Hebron. According to the biblical tradition, Isaac, Abraham, Jacob, and their spouses are buried there. Directly above the cave, a very beautiful monumental building stands. Its height is 12 meters. The exact construction date is unknown. According to the available data, it hadn’t have a roof previously.
The building has been destroyed and rebuilt many times. Today, it features the refined decoration that is traditional for Islamic art. The main shrine, hidden behind imposing walls of the crypt, is an entrance to the cave. That’s a small hole into which an inextinguishable lamp is traditionally dipped. It’s prohibited to enter, so it isn't known for certain, how does it look like. Contemporaries could only pretend it basing on the surviving ancient descriptions. According to historic manuscripts, the cave has two sections. Some of the manuscripts suggests that under the crypt there is another hidden cave.
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Tomb of Aaron, Jordan
Babylon Ruins, Iraq
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Cave of Patriarchs - interactive map
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