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Old City of Jerusalem facts for kids

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The Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls *
Dome of the Rock by Peter Mulligan.jpg
Map of Jerusalem - the old city - EN.png
Country No country named by UNESCO
Site proposed by Jordan
Type Cultural
Criteria ii, iii, vi
Reference 148
Region ** Arab States
Inscription history
Inscription 1981 (5th Session)
Endangered 1982–present
  • Name as inscribed on World Heritage List
    ** Region as classified by UNESCO

The Old City (Arabic: البلدة القديمة, al-Balda al-Qadimah, Armenian: Հին Քաղաք, Hin K'aghak, Hebrew: העיר העתיקה, Ha'Ir Ha'Atiqah) of Jerusalem is the oldest part of the city. It is an 0.9-square-kilometre (0.35 sq mi) area that is surrounded by walls. It contains some of the most important places for three major religions. These include the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Christians, the Temple Mount for Jews, and the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque for Muslims. The Old City formed the whole city of Jerusalem until 1860, when a Jewish neighborhood was built outside the Western Wall.

The Old City is historically divided into four quarters, although the current quarters were introduced only in the 19th century. Today, the Old City is divided into the Muslim Quarter, the Christian Quarter, the Jewish Quarter and the Armenian Quarter. After the war in 1948, the Old City was occupied by Jordan and the Jewish people living in the city were forced to move out. During the Six Day War in 1967, Israel occupied the Old City and the rest of East Jerusalem. Today, Israel still controls the whole area, which it says is part of its national capital.

In 1980, Jordan asked UNESCO to make the Old City a World Heritage Site. It was added to the World Heritage list in 1981. Because of the conflict over the territory, it was added to the list of sites in danger in 1982. UNESCO policy is that East Jerusalem, including the Old City, is part of the occupied Palestinian territory.

Images for kids

  • Jerusalem-Broad-Wall-770

    The Broad Wall, part of the wall surrounding the city's western hill, built by Hezekiah, king of Judah, during the late-8th century BCE

  • NinthAvStonesWesternWall

    Stones from the Western Wall of the Temple Mount thrown during the Roman Siege of Jerusalem in 70 CE

  • HaMigdal HaIsraeli

    The Israelite Tower

  • Fresco from the Second Temple Period, Wohl Archaeological Museum, The Jewish Quarter, Jeruslem

    Fresco showing signs of burning, dating to the time of the destruction of the Second Temple, Wohl Archaeological Museum

  • Map jerusalem oldcity

    Map of the Old City's quarters

  • Jerusalem Holy Sepulchre BW 24

    Church of the Holy Sepulchre

  • Old Jerusalem Flag of Armenia

    Armenian flag in the Armenian Quarter

  • Hurva Synagogue 07112018

    Hurva Synagogue

  • Jerusalem, 1917

    The now demolished Moroccan quarter in 1917

  • בית הכנסת החורבה בעיר העתיקה

    Jewish Quarter

  • OldCityJerusalem01 ST 06

    Street bazaar (souq), Christian Quarter Road (2006)

  • Facade of Migdal David

    Entrance to the citadel, popularly known as the Tower of David

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Ciudad vieja de Jerusalén para niños

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