
The Western Wall Tunnels connect the western wall prayer area to the north-west side of the temple mount, passing along the side of the temple mount and under the present day houses in the Old City. I have to say this was one of my favorite experiences!!
This would be considered part of the "Secret Passage". Its name comes from a medieval legend of an underground walkway used by King David. The king could use it to travel unseen from his palace at the Citadel (west of here) to the Temple Mount. The legend was wrong.
We now know that the citadel was actually a Crusader castle and that these vaults originated with the Arabs in the late 12th century C.E. This vault system was built to raise the level of the city and to allow Moslem residents direct access to the Temple Mount. The space under the vaults was locked off in sections and turned into water cisterns.

The descent down towards the Western Wall begins under the arch of the eastern corridor of the Large Hall. From here the wall descends fro a distance of 655 feet until the southwestern corner. Then it begins its ascent to the northern corner a distance of 983 feet.
The largest stone is found here and weighs close to 570 tons. This is one of the stones of the master course of stones of the Western Wall, probably intended to stabilize the courses underneath.


When the Romans destroyed the Temple they furiously dismantled the stones of the other four walls but this large stone was obviously more than they could handle. The rectangular recesses in the stone were created for stone wedges that helped connect another wall to the Western Wall during the Byzantine period.
This impressive stone has been standing here for 2000 years. It has withstood the damage caused by time and by man. It is evidence of the feat of constructing the Temple and the hope of rebuilding Jerusalem for the Jews.

This is an extreme close-up of Warren's Gate. :) (I think I'm using my iphone now?!) Moving on...

This gate is one of the Temple Mount gates that ran along the Western Wall. During the time of the Temple this gate led to a long underground passage and then to a set of steps that led up to the Temple Mount.
Just north of Warren's Gate is an alcove of the tunnels. This part of the Western Wall that was closest to the heart of the Temple is known as "opposite the Holy of Holies". On the other side of the wall about 300 feet in towards the Temple Mount is the foundation stone. The Talmud explains it was from this stone that the world was created. This particular spot faces what is referred to as "the place which God will chose." Jews from throughout the generations turn toward this place for prayer and reflection.

You can see small pieces of papers (prayers) left in the crevices of the wall.
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: They shall prosper that love thee." Psalm 122:6
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