Trouble at the Triple Gate

The Triple Gate shown here, in an 1855 photo show how the openings were blocked up centuries ago, and the ground around them filled in with refuse, then sod. What a sad state for what had been called "The Beautiful Gates."

I found this diagram showing how the Southern Wall, and the Triple Gate we are talking about relate with one another.

Well, I see you can't see the detail I was wanting to show you, so I will now enlarge the Southeast bottom corner.

Here is another view of the same.

So let's take a look at the other side of the Triple Gate, inside the wall. On my Nov. 26 post, Solomon's Stables, I posted the following picture.

This area is typically considered "underground," but in reality it was the area underneath the huge terrace that Herod built to enlarge the temple courtyard. Solomon's Stables was recently turned into a prayer hall for Muslims. The new el-Marwani Mosque provided the needed hall for worship during Ramadan, or their Holy Month of fasting and prayers.

Now, back to the "outside" side of the wall at the Triple Gate. In the early 21st century, a new bulge was noticed in the Southern Wall, threatening the structural integrity of the masonry. Creation of the el-Marwani Mosque was cited as the cause of the instability of the wall.

In a compromise between Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the Muslim Waqf that manages the property, it was decided that Jordan would manage the repairs. The Jordanian repair, visible as a bright, white patch in the photo above, has been criticized as "unsightly" because it is out of keeping with the common practices of historical restoration in being of a lighter color and smoother surface than the original stone.

I think the repair is another interesting part of the history of this most historical wall, taking place in our day.