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» Who lived in Jericho before the Jews. Jericho: the most ancient city on earth. Palestinian oasis of Orthodox culture

Who lived in Jericho before the Jews. Jericho: the most ancient city on earth. Palestinian oasis of Orthodox culture

Today there is little reminder of the past glory and greatness of Jericho, chosen by the kings as a palace city. Envoys from all sides came here with gifts from the rulers of neighboring countries, traders and pilgrims. Nowadays, it is an ordinary Middle Eastern city, with only ruins and ancient legends reminding us of its history.

ECHO OF JERICHO TRUMPETS

Jericho is a city of difficult fate. It is difficult to count all the historical episodes when it was destroyed to the ground and rebuilt.

Jericho is a city in the territory of modern Palestine, which is currently the oldest known continuously inhabited city in the world. Its history can be traced not only through objects discovered during archaeological excavations, but also by page Old Testament. Jericho is referred to as the “city of palm trees”: there were a huge number of them, and legends tell of Jericho as a place “where houses could not be seen under the green canopy of palm trees.”

True, it was precisely the fact that Jericho was mentioned in the Old Testament text that predetermined the history of its study. For a long time, no one was interested in the real geography of the places described in the oldest part of the Christian Bible - the fact of their existence was taken for granted, but they were not considered sacred. Biblical sites attracted the attention of archaeologists only in the middle of the 19th century.

Based on the results of archaeological excavations in the 1930s and 1950s. experts have found that Jericho was founded in the ninth millennium BC. e. Initially, it was a trading post at the intersection of ancient caravan routes.

The location of Jericho was extremely advantageous from all points of view. It was located away from Mediterranean Sea, where pirates ruled, but at the same time on the navigable Jordan River and next to the Dead Sea, through which trade routes also passed.

The heyday of Jericho occurred in the second millennium BC. e.: at this time the city was surrounded by a powerful double fortress wall, crafts flourished in it, the traditions of which, in particular, were introduced by settlers - bearers of the culture of making molded ceramic products.

By the end of the second millennium, Jericho, whose main population was Canaanites, was destroyed by Jewish tribes. This episode in the history of the city is described in the Bible in the story of the capture of Jericho by the Jewish people, freed from Egyptian captivity, led by Joshua. The walls of the city would have withstood any siege, but the Jews had a special weapon: they blew the trumpets with all their might for seven days, and, as the Bible says, “...by faith the walls of Jericho fell...”.

In the 9th century BC e. Jericho was rebuilt, presumably by the Hyksos culture. True, the city in 587 BC. e. had to suffer defeat from the Babylonians. The strengthened and expanded city again suffered greatly during the First Jewish War (66-70 AD).

Already in the 1st century. n. e. under the Roman Empire, Jericho was rebuilt, southwest of the Old City. During construction, the Romans used a regular Hellenistic-Roman plan, with straight streets and squares, and Old city with its ruins turned into a necropolis. Subsequently, the Byzantines moved Jericho again, this time to the place where it is currently located.

In 1099, Jericho was captured by the crusaders. In 1187, the Sultan of Egypt and Syria, Salah ad-Din (or Saladin), captured the city, after which a period of desolation of Jericho began, which lasted until the 19th century, when a new settlement appeared on the site of the ruins. Subsequently, the city's population was often replenished by refugees who left their homes due to wars.

Since 1993, Jericho has been allocated to the Palestinian Authority under the terms of the Norwegian agreements to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

NEW STATUS OF AN ANCIENT CITY

In 1993, the Palestinian National Authority was created, and the city of Jericho became part of it, but not everyone can get into it.

Currently, experts are still studying the history of ancient Jericho, and they still have a lot of work to do. According to archaeologists, within the city, in addition to the remains of a settlement with round adobe and rectangular foundations residential buildings with central courtyard a layer of 17 cultural layers with a total thickness of about 15 meters has been preserved. Unfortunately, later cultural layers dating back to 2000-500. BC e., were lost as a result of erosion processes.

Experts nevertheless managed to learn a lot about the culture of the ancient inhabitants of Jericho. In particular, scientists were lucky enough to discover a layer dating back to the heyday of Jericho, as well as to the time of the attack on the city by Joshua.

Among the most unusual finds of archaeologists are ancient burials. It turned out that the Natufians - representatives of the Mesolithic culture (12,500-9,500 BC), who once inhabited Jericho - buried their deceased relatives without heads, replacing them with clay masks with shells inserted into the eye sockets, the skulls were separated and buried separately, also decorated with clay and shells. It is assumed that this ritual was associated with the cult of the Moon, which, according to one version, is indicated by the name of the city itself: the word “yareah” means “moon”.

Unfortunately, the nature in the vicinity of the city has become very scarce: instead of palm groves and Jericho roses, balsam trees, now mainly thorny bushes and artificially planted olive trees grow here.

Jericho plays a special role in Christendom. Several monuments from biblical times have been preserved here. In the ancient city, the waters of the spring of the prophet Elisha, which the saint made suitable for drinking, still flow. The Forty Day Mountain, or the Mount of Temptation, towering above Jericho, recalls the forty days of temptation by the devil of the fasting Jesus Christ, which the Holy Scriptures narrate. Nowadays, especially for the convenience of pilgrims, a cable car line has been installed to the top of the mountain.

The tree of Zacchaeus grows in the center of Jericho. According to the New Testament, the publican Zacchaeus climbed onto it to see Jesus Christ. A plot of land over which the branches of an ancient sycamore tree spread, in late XIX V. was donated to the Imperial Orthodox Church Palestinian society, and is currently officially owned by the Russian government.

The ruins of ancient Jericho lie west of the center of modern Jericho, a city whose official and final status has not yet been determined by internationally accepted laws. Its population is about three thousand people, the majority live on international humanitarian aid programs. An additional source of income is serving tourists and Christian pilgrims who visit biblical sites, despite the risk involved due to the tensions in the region.

SIGHTS OF JERICHO

Historical:

■ Fortress tower (8400-7300 BC).

■ Burials from the Natufian culture period.

■ Bronze Age city walls.

■ Ruins of winter palaces of the Hasmonean and Herod the Great dynasties with baths and pools.

■ Ruins of the Byzantine city and palace of the Umayyad caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik (VIII-IX centuries).

Iconic:

■ Synagogue of Israel (1st century, BC).

■ Synagogue of the Byzantine period.

■ Source of the prophet Elisha.

■ Forty Day Mountain (also known as Mount Temptation and Mount Quarantal).

■ Orthodox monastery of Temptation (IV century).

■ Jericho was the first of the Canaanite cities to be conquered by the Israelites, as it was a strategically important point at the entrance to Palestine.

■ Rose of Jericho - annual herbaceous plant of the cabbage family, better known as tumbleweed: at the very beginning of the dry season, the plant dries up, top part separated from the soil and moved by the wind, which promotes seed dispersal. The seeds themselves remain viable for many years and are able to germinate in the ground almost before our eyes, within a few hours.

■ In total, ancient Jericho is mentioned in the Bible more than seventy times.

■ Currently, the only inhabitant of the Temptation Monastery, whose cells are carved directly into the rock, remains a Greek monk.

■ In 2011, a Russian museum and park complex was opened in Jericho as a sign of the development of “spiritual and cultural ties between Russia and the PNA.”

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Location: Palestine (West Bank), near the northern tip Dead Sea.
  • Official status: administrative center of the province of Jericho, Palestinian National Authority (status not fully determined).
  • Language: Arabic.
  • Ethnic composition: Palestinian Arabs.
  • Religion: Islam.
  • Monetary units: Israeli shekel, US dollar, euro, Jordanian dinar, Egyptian pound.
  • Major river: Jordan.
  • Large lake: Dead Sea.

NUMBERS

  • Area of ​​the ruins of Jericho: 0.25 km2.
  • Population in the ruins area: about 3000 people.
  • Area of ​​modern Jericho: 58.7 km2.
  • Population: 20,416 people. (2006).
  • Population density: 347.8 people/km2.
  • Average altitude relative to sea level: - 258 m.
  • Distance: 7 km west of the Jordan River, 12 km northwest of the Dead Sea, 30 km northeast of Jerusalem.

CLIMATE

  • Subtropical.
  • average temperature January: +15°С.
  • Average July temperature: +31°C.
  • Average annual precipitation: 160 mm.
  • Relative humidity: 60%.

The history of Jericho goes back about ten thousand years. Located below sea level, the city is an oasis among the sands - with beautiful palm groves and orchards. Here all year round costs warm temperature, and therefore, even in March, when there is still snow in Russia, orange, apricot and lemon gardens bloom in the city, the flowers of which spread a wonderful fragrance. Alleys of poplars and eucalyptus trees surround fields of peanuts, cabbage and tomatoes...

Jericho is mentioned more than once in the Old Testament.

“And Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho, and the Lord showed him all the land of Gilead even to Dan, and all (the land of) Naphtali, and (all) the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah. , even to the very western sea, and midday country and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of Palms, as far as Zoar” (Deuteronomy 34:1-3).

Jericho became famous because biblical history, according to which it was the first city captured by the Israelites who entered the land of Canaan. The spies from Joshua were hidden in Jericho by the harlot Rahab, from whom they learned that they had terrified the city residents. For six days, Joshua's soldiers walked around Jericho with the ark and accompanied by priests.

“When the priests blew the trumpets the seventh time, Jesus said to the people, “Shout, for the Lord has delivered the city to you!”

The people shouted and blew trumpets. As soon as the people heard the voice of the trumpet, the people shouted with a loud and strong voice, and the wall (of the city) fell down to its foundation, and the people went into the city, each on his side, and they took the city" (Book of Joshua 6:15, 19) .

Erich Tseren in the already mentioned book “Biblical Hills” writes that “in the thousand-year history of various sieges experienced by mankind, there is not a single case that could be compared with the siege of Jericho. Although, according to legends, it often happened that the gods blessed the weapons of the conquerors.” Therefore, even just because of its defensive walls alone, Jericho may be of interest for archaeological research.

The British first began excavations in Jericho in 1868, but had little success and suspended work. After 30 years, German researchers came here, led by Professor E. Sellin. They immediately saw that the English expedition was not digging deep enough. Having begun their excavations in 1908, the Germans almost immediately stumbled upon the ancient city wall. Archaeologists carefully measured these amazing structures and began to look for weak points that could collapse.

Thickness outer wall was equal to approximately one and a half meters, and the inner one reached 3.5 meters: the distance between them reached approximately 3-4 meters. And yet, these grandiose structures actually fell, and the collapse of large parts external walls occurred outward, and internal - inward. Modern scientists believe that they collapsed due to an earthquake that occurred in the Jordan Valley near the Dead Sea.

The Germans abandoned the hill of Jericho, which consisted of shards and broken bricks mixed with the ground. From the Bible they knew that the city was subsequently restored again and handed over to Benjamin, but later the city was captured by Eglon, the king of Moab. Jericho was called the “city of palm trees”, which still grow there in abundance - date and balsam. Then the “sons of the prophets” settled there, who said that the location of the city was good, but the water there was not good. And then the prophet Elisha performed his first miracle: he threw salt into the water, and the water became healthy.

Before Antony gave Jericho's palm grove and balsam gardens to Cleopatra, little was known about the city. From the Egyptian queen this place passed to Herod the Great, who built a palace here, in which he later died.

Thanks to his geographical location Jericho has long been the key to the Palestine Highlands, as many roads converged here. Pilgrims from countries located east of the Jordan gathered in the city when they headed to Jerusalem on the days of major temple holidays. Jesus Christ also came here from Nazareth when he first directed his steps towards the holy city. Before reaching Jericho, the Savior healed a man blind from birth, who was sitting by the road and begging for alms.

Not far from the market square of modern Jericho there is a hill 20 meters high. It was here at the beginning of the 20th century that what remained of ancient Jericho, one of the oldest cities in the world, was discovered. However, on the excavation site, the remains of a powerful tower rooted deep into the ground also attract attention; and to the north of the excavations of ancient Jericho are the ruins of the palace of Hisham ibn Al-Malik, the Caliph of Damascus from the Umayyad dynasty. This magnificent palace was built in the 8th century, but now scientists have only found the remains of two mosques and several baths. The main attraction of Hisham's palace are the surviving mosaic paintings: one of them is especially noteworthy, which depicts the “tree of life” strewn with golden fruits and a lion attacking gazelles.

On the western border of modern Jericho rises the “Forty Day Mountain” (its height is 380 m), which is also called the “Mountain of Temptation”. It was on this mountain, according to legend, that Jesus Christ, tempted by the devil, fasted for 40 days and 40 nights after his baptism. At the top of the mountain there are ruins of a Byzantine church.

On the way to this mountain is the source of the prophet Elisha, and the ruins around it indicate the location ancient city, located five miles from the Jordan River. However, some scholars believe that this is not the location of New Testament Jericho, which may or may not coincide with the location of the small village of Erich, which is sometimes called Jericho.

Today there are, as it were, three Jerichos: Ancient, at a distance of 2 km from it - New Testament, and, finally, the village of Jericho in the southeast of the old city. However, all these three Jerichos are either ruins discovered by archaeologists, or a poor settlement of people unaware of the once tragic history of this place.

During the excavations of Jericho (1930-1936), Garstang made such an astonishing discovery that he considered it necessary to attest to it with a special document signed by himself and two other members of the expedition.

He writes about this discovery as follows: “As for the main fact, there is therefore no doubt left in it: the walls of the city fell outward, and completely, so that the attackers could climb over their rubble and enter the city.”

Why is this fact so unusual? The fact is that the walls of cities do not fall outward, they fall inward. And yet, in the book of Joshua we read: “...and the wall of the city fell down to its foundations, and the people went into the city, each from his side, and took the city” (Joshua 6:19). These walls fell outwards

Jericho - in Hebrew the city is called Yericho, in Arabic Erich.

Jericho, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, is mentioned numerous times in the Bible.

Jericho is the oldest excavated city in the world, with about 10 thousand years of almost continuous occupation.

In addition, it is the lowest city in the world, which is located more than 350 m below sea level in an oasis that is considered the largest in the entire Middle East and is located a few kilometers north of the northern tip of the Dead Sea.

Jericho is a city in the Palestinian Authority, in the West Bank. It is the capital of the province of Jericho.

Population 20,416 Palestinians (2006).

In the Late Bronze Age, Jericho was a prosperous city surrounded by a wall of mud brick. According to one version, the city was destroyed by the ancient Jews who invaded Canaan around 1550 BC. e.

Josephus Flavius, Strabo, Ptolemy, Pliny and others mention him.

Also called the "city of palm trees".

Was here under Constantine the Great Christian church, with a bishop at its head.

In 1948, during the Arab-Israeli War of 1947–49. Jericho was occupied by Transjordan, and in 1967, after the Six-Day War, it was occupied by Israeli troops.

View of modern Jericho

The ruins of ancient Jericho lie west of the center modern city. The first traces of human life here date back to the 8th millennium BC. uh

The New Testament connects the city of Jericho with the story of one of the remarkable acts of Jesus Christ - the healing of the “blind man of Jericho”: the blind man cried out to Christ passing by for healing, and he performed a miracle - the blind man received his sight.


There is only one existing city on the planet, that rivals the longevity of Jericho is Damascus.

At the beginning of the last century, 3 expeditions dug Tel Jericho in the hope of finding the biblical city. Only on the third attempt did archaeologists manage to get to the bottom of the city walls and tower from the times of ancient Canaan.

It is assumed that the environs of Jericho still hide under the thickness of the earth historical values ​​comparable to the Valley of the Kings in Egypt.

Perhaps the main attraction of Jericho is the mound of the ancient city, Tel Yericho. The Arabs call it Tel es-Sultan, and the source located next to it is En-Sultan, the same one in which the prophet Elisha - Elisha - desalinated the water. It was in this place that the walls stood, which fell from the sound of the Israelites' trumpets. Excavations carried out here many times, dating back to the time of English explorers of the last century, have discovered a lot of interesting things.

The town area of ​​that period is approximately 40 acres and is a large settlement for its time.

An ancient synagogue from around the 8th century was also found in Jericho. n. e. with a mosaic floor that was discovered by chance during the renovation of an old house.

The first excavations of ancient Jericho began in 1907-1908

Biblical Archeology of Jericho

The first excavations of ancient Jericho began in 1907-1908 by K. Watzinger, but the most significant results were obtained during the excavations of J. Garstang, carried out in 1930-1936. During these excavations, irrefutable evidence was found to confirm the messages of the book of Joshua. An ancient city arose from oblivion before archaeologists, the ruins of which very vividly told about its history. Jericho was a fairly typical Canaanite fortress, although large sizes. The city's fortifications consisted of two rows of walls, the outer one 2 meters thick and the inner one 4 meters thick.

The height of the walls was about 10 meters, and between them there was a passage 5 meters wide; this passage connected residential buildings, one of which was the house of Rahab. What struck archaeologists was that the walls of the city collapsed outwards, which was truly amazing, contrary to all odds common sense, but that's exactly how it was. The city wall collapsed to the ground, opening the way into the city for the attackers. During further excavations, traces of the terrible fires that destroyed the city were discovered.

Huge mountains of ash and coal were revealed to the eyes of archaeologists. Since ancient times, it was customary to collect everything valuable and edible from a conquered city, especially if it was then subjected to destruction. But instead, archaeologists discovered entire barns and storerooms filled with wheat, dates, lentils and many other supplies, things and objects, the dating of which showed that the city was destroyed around 1400 BC. Recent research by Dr. B. Wood has fully confirmed this date. It was also proven that the assault on the city took place in the spring, as evidenced by jugs filled with grain.

Conclusions:

1. Indeed, Jericho fell around 1400 BC, which completely coincides with biblical chronology.

2. The walls of the city collapsed outwards.

3. The city was not plundered, for according to Joshua 6:20 everything in it was condemned.

4. The city was destroyed by fire (Joshua 6:23).

5. Houses in the wall were discovered, like the house of Rahab (Joshua 2:15).

6. The city was taken in the spring (Joshua 2:6, 3:15, 5:10).

The main source of water in the city is Ain al-Sultan (the source of Elisha) near the ruins of the ancient city of Tel al-Sultan. The ancient city rises to 21 m and occupies an area of ​​40 thousand m². Here you can feel how ancient this land is - archaeologists have counted 23 separate cultural layers, including the remains of a Neolithic city. The city walls were erected back in 7000 BC. e. and are famous for having fallen at the sound of the trumpets of Joshua's army.

Hisham's Palace of the 8th century. 3 km from the city center - a wonderful example of Islamic architecture with superbly preserved mosaics. The palace was built as the winter residence of Caliph Hisham. Judging by the abundance of various reservoirs in the palace, we can conclude what the rulers preferred - although, they say, the pools were often filled with wine.

To the north of the Ain al-Sultan spring there is a street lined with cypress trees; she reaches out to the Byzantine synagogue. The wonderful mosaic floor is decorated with a central medallion with the inscription "Shalom al-Israel" ("Peace to Israel"). And in the desert outside the city stands the Nabi Musa Mosque, an Islamic shrine dedicated to Moses.

Jericho is a popular city among tourists, despite political tensions in the region. The center of Jericho is spacious and has a friendly atmosphere.

When to come

Do not miss

  • Tulul Abu el-Alayk is the winter palace of King Herod, 2.5 km west of Jericho.
  • Greek Orthodox monastery St. George - carved into the rocks in a desert canyon, surrounded by a magnificent garden.
  • The Greek Monastery of Temptation and views from the top of Jebel Kurun Tul, where Jesus fasted and saw the devil.
  • Mosaics of the Naharan synagogue of the 4th century.
  • The Essene monastery, 20 km south of Jericho, is the place where the Qumran manuscripts were found.

Should know

West Bank of the Jordan River 8 km east of Jericho - closed military zone. Do not be surprised that as a result of the intifada, Jericho turned out to be a half-forgotten place.

About the most ancient city of Jericho

The city of Jericho (Jericho, “city of palm trees”) is located in the West Bank and is under full Palestinian control (the so-called zone “A”). Jericho is the most ancient city in the world, it has been continuously inhabited since the 10th-9th millennium BC. In addition, it is one of the lowest cities on earth (about -300 m from sea level). The history of Jericho is closely connected with biblical events. Many have probably heard the story “The Capture of Jericho,” in which the walls of the city collapsed to the sound of the trumpets of the Jews. Now Jericho is a small but very pleasant town, fully prepared to welcome tourists.

I bring to your attention some photos of Jericho:


central square


Drawings on fences


Jericho - the city of palm trees



Palestinian Academy of Sciences

Logistics for Jericho + city map

Below are the attractions of Jericho on a map of Palestine:

Explanation of marks on the map:

  • Yellow - sights of Jericho - the most ancient city in the world.
  • Blue is an ancient source.
  • Green – Zacchaeus tree.
  • Orange – tourist information center (TIC).
  • Pink is the departure point for cabins to the Monastery of Temptation.
  • Blue ones are auxiliary markers on the road to the monastery.
  • Red is the presumed location of ancient Synagogues with preserved mosaics.
  • Purple - attractions in the vicinity of Jericho outside of zone "A".
  • Burgundy – Palestinian checkpoint.

If you look at the map, almost all the attractions of Jericho are located to the north and west, 2-3 km from the city center. Along the way there are characteristic brown signs.


Public transport in Palestine you can recognize them by their green license plates. Palestinian cars have them painted White color, for Israelis - yellow. A taxi will cost around 10 shekels ($2.5) to cover a distance of ≈3 km between objects. In the city we saw yellow minibuses with green signs, but we did not figure out their logistics.


Taxis and minibuses

Here you can find out any information about the sights of Jericho. You will also be given a city map.

  • Price: for free.
  • Working hours: we have not established.
  • Coordinates: 31.855863, 35.460024.
  • How to get there: The Tourist Information Center (TIC) is located in the city center at a large roundabout. This is the ending point for most minibuses.

Zacchaeus is a tax collector, a biblical character, an Orthodox saint. He noted that he climbed a ficus tree (fig, sycamore, fig, fig are mentioned) to see Jesus. That same tree is now located on a well-groomed territory belonging to the Russian Spiritual Mission.

  • Price: for free.
  • Working hours: We haven’t established for sure, but Sunday is a day off. The tree is clearly visible without entering the territory.
  • Coordinates: 31.858841, 35.457633.
  • How to get there: walk from the TsTI to the north about 600 m.




Kostya wanted to buy arafatka in Palestine. He didn't have to wait long

Ancient city Jericho(Tell Es-Sultan, Tel Jericho)

Tell Es-Sultan, or Tel Jericho, is an excavation of the most ancient city in the world - Jericho. Ancient settlements dating back to the 10th millennium BC have been found here. Near each location there are signs that provide information about the age of the surviving elements and a description. Kostya and I are lovers of castle towers, so we were delighted to discover a Neolithic stone tower in the excavations. Just think – she’s ten thousand years old! Across the road from Tell Es-Sultan is the ancient spring of the prophet Elisha (Ain Es-Sultan (Elisha) Spring), which previously supplied water to Jericho.

  • Price: adults – 10 shekels ($2.5), children – 5 shekels ($1.25), students – 7 shekels ($1.75).
  • Working hours: daily 8.00-17.00, in summer until 18.00.
  • Coordinates: 31.869361, 35.444206.
  • How to get there: 3 km north from the CTI or 2 km southwest from Hisham Palace.





Our favorite stone tower, which is 10 thousand years old


Cabins cable car to the monastery of temptation

The Monastery of Temptation is located on the slope of the mountain of the same name. It is famous for the fact that Jesus spent 40 days here without food or water. During Lent, he was tempted by the devil, after which the monastery was named. It is also called Quarantal, and Mount Forty Days.

  • Price: monastery free entry; ticket for the cable car – 60 shekels ($15) (if you don’t want to walk up the mountain).
  • Working hours: monastery – Mon.-Fri. 8.00-16.00, Sat.-Sun. 08.-14.00; cable car – Sat.-Thurs. 08.00-19.00, Fri. 08.00-22.00, holidays 08.00-00.00.
  • Coordinates: 31.87418, 35.43209, entrance to the cable car cabin: 31.869439, 35.44468.
  • How to get there: on foot (by car, taxi) uphill (turn points are indicated by blue marks on the map) or ascent in a cabin on a cable car. The second option is more interesting and picturesque.




On the way to the monastery we came across an observation deck:




The Dead Sea is visible in the distance

You can also get to the monastery in a cable car cabin:



Cable car to the Carantal monastery

Hisham Palace)

Presumably, the palace was built during the reign of the Umayyad (Damascus) Caliphate. The palace of Caliph Hisham is often called Shambhala by locals. Its construction took place in the first half of the 8th century, and belongs to early Islamic architecture. At the entrance you can watch a short film about the history of the palace and visit the museum. Here in the guest room of the cold bath 730-749. The ancient floor mosaic “Tree of Life” has been preserved.

  • Price: 10 shekels ($2.5).
  • Working hours: daily 08.00-17.00, in summer until 18.00.
  • Coordinates: 31.882, 35.45987.
  • How to get there: a little more than 2 km north of the CTI or the same to the southeast of Hisham Palace.


Mosaic “Tree of Life”


Ruins of Herod's third (winter) palace (Herods Palace)

In the vicinity of Jericho, King Herod built three winter palaces. The third of them, founded in 15-10 BC, has been preserved here.

  • Price: for free.
  • Working hours: around the clock.
  • Coordinates: 31.851872, 35.436237.
  • How to get there: from the TTC about 2.8 km to the west, from the ruins of Ancient Jericho about 2.5 km to the south, you can go through the ruins of Tell Es-Samarat.

The ruins of the winter palace are located on the border of Palestine


Here the sign was completely taken away


Herod's Palace in all its glory

Hippodrome ruins

Tell Es-Samarat was the location of King Herod's hippodrome. We only discovered a hill here. Externally, nothing remarkable has been preserved.

  • Price: for free.
  • Working hours: around the clock.
  • Coordinates: 31.86534, 35.44031.
  • How to get there: from the ruins of Ancient Jericho about 700 m to the south.



Other attractions of Jericho

Within the boundaries of Jericho there are also 2 ancient synagogues, in which mosaics have been preserved (red marks on the map). And also a sugar mill (in the area observation deck, marked in blue on the map of Jericho). If you walk through the Judean Desert a few kilometers along the bed of the Wadi Kelt from the ruins of Herod’s palace (this is already zone “B”), then along the way you can find an old aqueduct, the ruins of the Kypros fortress and the monastery of St. George. We approached the latter in a rented car from highway No. 1 leading from Jerusalem. Further on to Jericho there is a road that is not entirely suitable for driving.


Hotels and apartments in Jericho

There are several hotels in Jericho. View room prices by clicking on the buttons:

You can book a room or apartment in Jericho on airbnb. When choosing accommodation, be sure to rely on the map and reviews.

How to get from Jerusalem to Jericho

I do not pretend to know all the ways to get from Jerusalem to Jericho, so I will only tell you about the options we have tried.

By public transport

From Jerusalem to Jericho direct bus(minibus) does not exist. Therefore, you will have to get there with transfers.

Via Ramallah

We got there this way when we went to Jericho. From the Green Bus Station near the Damascus Gate in the Arab quarter of old Jerusalem, regular buses and minibuses run to Ramallah, the capital of Palestine. We traveled by bus Jerusalem - Ramallah No. 219 for 8 shekels ($2).


At the bus station in Ramallah, we asked how to get to Jericho, and we were sent to a nearby minibus with a proud VIP sign. The minibus left for Jericho only about 50 minutes later and cost us 12 shekels ($3). It runs approximately every hour during the daytime.


The route passes by the walking road to Mount Temptation, the excavations of old Jericho and the cable car to the monastery, which is very convenient. From Jericho back, the last minibus to Ramallah leaves around 15:00. Therefore, on the way back it is better to go through Abu Dis.

Via Abu Dis (Bethany)

We returned from Jericho to Jerusalem in this way (at about 18 o'clock the minibus was still there). From Jericho, from the roundabout (where the tourist information center is located), private buses run to the town of Abu Dis (this area is also called Bethany) for 12 shekels. From there, bus number 263 will take you to Damascus Gate in the Arab Quarter of Jerusalem for 8 shekels.

To Jericho from other regions of the West Bank

As far as we have been able to find out, there is no direct connection from Palestinian Bethlehem and Hebron to Jericho. However, minibuses regularly go here from the Allenby Bridge / King Hussein Bridge crossing (not to be confused with the Sheikh Hussein Bridge border checkpoint located to the north).

⚠ Important! We passed through the checkpoint only upon returning from the West Bank to Israel. Representatives of Israeli services entered the bus with machine guns and checked passports.

By rented car

Details for help:

Tinkoff map 4377 7237 4260 2448 Samorosenko Konstantin Igorevich (Elisha’s dad)

Yandex money 410012258423394 Samorosenko Konstantin Igorevich (Elisha’s dad)