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Jerusalem Archaeological Park
The Kidron Valley
 
Site 38: Absalom's Tomb Observation Point

The observation point built near the southeast corner of the Temple Mount, at the top of the slope descending to the Kidron Valley, provides a good view of the slopes of the Mount of Olives.


The observation point is designed as a small theater, with the paving stones in the center simulating the plans of the Kidron Valley tombs. Visitors facing east can see the slope of the Mount of Olives, with the numerous tombstones of the Jewish Cemetery (Tour 5, Site 44) on the upper part. At the foot of the slope stand the monumental tombs from the Second Temple period: Absalom's Tomb (the Cave of Jehoshaphat - behind it - is not visible from here); the Tomb of Bnei Hezir; and the Tomb of Zechariah. To the south (right) on the same slope, bordering on the village of Silwan, are the remains of a First Temple period tomb known as the 'Tomb of Pharaoh's Daughter'; below the lowest row of village houses are the openings of other tombs of First Temple times (see Tour 2, Site 24). Prominent on the north (left) side of the slope of the Mount of Olives are several Christian monuments, among them the Church of Dominus Flevit (Tour 5, Site 45) and the basilica of the Agony (Tour 5, Site 47).
Behind the observation point, beyond the Ophel Road, the southeast corner of the Temple Mount is revealed in all its splendor, rising to a height of some forty meters above its surroundings. This part of the Temple Mount is supported by a system of vaults creating a large underground space known as 'Solomon's Stables'; this construction enabled Herod to extend the area of the Temple Mount to the south. Visible in the east wall, about thirty-two meters to the north (right) of the corner, is a vertical 'seam' where courses of stones differing in size and in dressing meet; to the north (right) the style is characteristic of the Hasmonean period, to the south (left) the masonry is typically Herodian. This is clear evidence indicating that the Temple Mount enclosure was smaller in the Hasmonean period than it is today, having been extended southward to its present limits, probably under Herod's rule.

At the top of the Herodian wall, to the south (left) of the 'seam', a few stones project slightly from the wall. These are the remains of an arch, similar in shape to Robinson's Arch on the other side of the Temple Mount (Tour 1, Site 9); this arch too supported a staircase that led up to the Temple Mount, toward the Royal Stoa.
Abutting the southeast corner of the Temple Mount is a section of the Byzantine wall erected by the empress Eudocia. Built of well-dressed ashlar blocks, it runs southwestward, along the north side of the Ophel Road.

A stone-paved path descends from Absalom's Tomb Observation Point to the bed of the Kidron Valley and the tombs hewn along its east bank.
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