A new tourist attraction opened Sunday (August 28) in the Old City of Jerusalem – the Jerusalem Archaeological Park, adjacent to the prayer plaza of the Western Wall, will be illuminated with special lighting.
Jerusalem, Israel: Visitors and tourists will be able to enjoy a new and exciting experience at Temple Mount during evening hours, with free nighttime tours available with advance registration. The project was led by the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Society for the Development and Rehabilitation of the Jewish Quarter, with financing from the Israel Ministry of Tourism and the William Davidson Foundation.
Thousands of LED bulbs, which have been installed on the site, will light up at once, illuminating the Southern Wall, as well as many other elements including rare historical facts from Jerusalem’s glorious past. Among other things, visitors will be impressed by the main street that led to the Temple Mount during the time of the Second Temple, where archaeological excavations have uncovered an avenue of shops testifying to the commerce and the daily routine of the ancient pilgrims. In addition, huge boulders have been found which had fallen from the walls of the Temple as a result of the destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans – evidence of the dramatic historical events that Jerusalem experienced in the year 70 AD.
The project even sheds light on ancient Hebrew inscriptions which are being illuminated for the first time – “and you saw and your hearts were made glad”, and “to the house of the sound of the shofar….” The latter, may, according to interpretation, indicate the place where the Kohen rabbis blew the shofar, announcing the start and the end of the Sabbath.
The lighting plan was prepared by lighting artist, Amir Brenner, and was carried out by the leading specialists in conservation at The Israel Antiquities Authority, who installed the LED lamps in a way that would fit in with the ancient ruins while preserving them as well. The site has been equipped with innovative LED lighting utilizing a ‘green’ concept, with a special emphasis on lighting angles and changing light temperatures which are suitable for the special exhibits being illuminated. The illuminated wall can also be seen from the distant ridge of the High Commissioner’s Palace.