Behold, the Ayyubid Tower stands before us. This tower is a silent witness to Jerusalem’s tumultuous past. The Ayyubid Tower whispers tales of sieges and conquests. It remembers a time when empires clashed for control of this holy city.
Let’s delve into the story of this remarkable structure. The Ayyubid Tower is part of the larger Citadel. The Citadel is also known as the Tower of David. This name has been a landmark of the city since ancient times. Its location was chosen wisely. It stands on the highest point of Jerusalem’s southwestern hill. This strategic position allows it to overlook and control the entire city.
The Citadel’s history stretches back over twenty centuries. Each period has left its mark. The foundations hold remains of Jerusalem’s fortifications. These remains date from the 8th to 6th centuries BCE through the early Arab period. The outline of the Citadel we see today largely comes from the Crusader period. It was significantly built in the mid-16th century. The Ottoman sultan Suleiman the Magnificent built the Citadel. It incorporates remains of earlier citadels. These remains date from Ayyubid and Mamluk times.
The Ayyubid Tower itself reminds us of a specific chapter in Jerusalem’s story. In 1187, Saladin captured Jerusalem. He initiated the Ayyubid Dynasty’s rule. The Ayyubids left their architectural mark on the city.
Notably, in 1219, Al-Malak Al-Mata’am ‘Isa destroyed Jerusalem’s city walls. He feared the city would be conquered by the Crusaders.
The Citadel is protected by a high wall and large towers. A wide, deep moat surrounds it. The entrance is from the east. It is accessed via an outer gate and a bridge over the moat. Then one passes through a fortified inner gatehouse.
Excavations in the Citadel’s courtyard have revealed layers of history. These layers include fortifications. They date from the late monarchic period to the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Here was the northwestern corner of the First Wall. The Jewish historian Josephus Flavius described this wall in detail. According to him, the First Wall extended towards the Temple Mount. It also went south, surrounding Mount Zion. Then it joined the southern wall of the City of David. Remains of this wall and three large towers are preserved. They stand to an impressive height in the Citadel courtyard.
King Herod improved the fortifications. He added three huge towers to the First Wall. Josephus Flavius wrote a precise description. He also gave measurements of these towers. Herod named the towers Phasael, Hippicus and Mariamne. They protected the large royal palace south of them. This palace apparently included the area of the present-day Citadel.
One of the towers built by Herod has survived. It is incorporated into the fortifications. It stands on the eastern side of the present Citadel. This is often called the Tower of David. The name Tower of David is the result of incorrect identification. Christian pilgrims made this mistake in the Byzantine period. Josephus refers to the southwestern hill of Jerusalem. He called it the “Citadel of King David”.
Today, the Citadel functions as the museum of the history of Jerusalem. Exhibits trace 5000 years of the city’s history. Remains of the First Wall and its towers are preserved in the courtyard. They serve as a guidebook to Jerusalem’s long history.
The Ayyubid Tower stands not as an isolated monument. It is part of a continuum of fortifications. It echoes the rise and fall of empires. It reflects the enduring spirit of Jerusalem. Take a moment to appreciate this tower. It connects us to the past. It invites us to reflect on the layers of history. These layers have shaped this remarkable city.