Page 20 - Holyland Magazine - 2020 Edition

identify stones from the Western Wall with goes that the dog ran ahead and disappeared. Foundation carried out restorations of the
specific areas of the quarry in Zedekiah’s Cave. Following the sound of the dog’s barking, cave. After this, The Jerusalem Foundation
The Roman Jewish historian Flavius Josephus Barclay and his son discovered that the dog built paths and installed lights throughout the
writes about the “Royal Caverns” of the Old City. had fallen into a hole in a ditch. Peering into cavern, facilitating tourist access.
Recent further excavation of the cave under then hole, they saw that it opened up to a The Freemasons, the fraternal organization
much larger cave or tunnel. They returned
the public area has uncovered a 12th century home, and the next day, dressed as locals, tracing their origins to local fraternities of
building erected by the knights templar. It is not and canceling torches and ropes under their stonemasons, consider King Solomon the
known yet what the purpose of the structure garments. The next day, dressed in clothes of first mason, and trace their origins to those
was. Once the knights had been defeated and the locals, the Barclays went back to the site workers who built Solomon’s Temple. In 1868,
driven from Palestine, the Ottoman sultan, where the dog had vanished, and slipped into the first meeting of the Freemasons in Ottoman
Suleiman the Magnificent, rebuilt the walls of the cave. Realizing what he had discovered, Palestine was held in the cave. Continuing
the Old City, using stone from the cave. Then James Barclay notified his friends at the down to today, there is an annual ceremony
in 1540, to prevent the cave from possible Palestine Exploration Fund, and exploration of of Freemasons held in the large underground
use by adversaries, he closed and sealed up the cave began. chamber of Zedekiah’s cave.
the quarry, probably for security reasons. The
cave quarry remained locked away for the next Minor quarrying occurred in 1907 when stone Today, the cave is a fascinating tourist spot as well
three hundred years. was obtained to be used in the Turkish clock as a major venue for cultural events and concerts.
1854 an American missionary and physician, tower over the Jaffa Gate. Later, the Jerusalem Individuals and groups can tour the cave. Winter
YMCA building was also constructed of stone
hours are Sunday through Thursday, 9:00am to
James Turner Barclay, was out walking in from the cave. Tourism began in the 1920s and 4:00pm. In Summer the cave is opened an hour
Jerusalem with his son and their dog. The story in the late 20th century, the East Jerusalem longer, closing at 5:00pm.

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