Lion's Gate

The walls of Jerusalem that we see today were built between 1535 and 1538 by the order of Sultan Suleiman "The Magnificent" when Jerusalem was part of the Ottoman Empire.

According to legends, Sultan Suleiman,

also known as “The Magnificent,” dreamt of lions
that were about to eat him greedily because he failed on the the defense of the city. When he woke up, he immediately ordered that the walls be constructed around the old city and that lions should be placed on the gates.

One distinctive feature of the gate is the turret seen in the detail photo to the left, also called a “machicolation” (floor opening). This was used to pour tar or boiling oil onto attackers.




The gate also has other names. Muslims call it Bab Sittna Maryam (Gate of the Virgin Mary), because the traditional burial place of the Virgin Mary is nearby in the Valley of Jehoshaphat.


The gate is also known as St. Stephen's Gate, as Christian tradition holds that the saint was stoned to death near this site. That event may also have occurred outside the Damascus Gate. It is important to remember Stephen. He was perhaps the first Christian Martyr, stoned for his testimony.

Acts Chapter 7:54-60 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, Behold I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

In more recent history, during the Six Day War of 1967, the Israeli paratroopers breached the gate so that they could gain access the Old City.

Follow this link to see the historic photos taken by a young Jewish solder, Yassi Shemy, on the capture of Jerusalem through the Lions gate. At the time, he was not thinking about history, or of publishing his photos. In fact, he simply wanted to survive the war and get back home. He kept the six rolls of film he had shot in his dresser drawer. Just this summer, because of the intensive urging of his son, he published the photos with "The Times of Israel" news.