ANE 10W Lecture 1 (actually lecture 2)

The first lecture helped provide us with a sense to why Jerusalem is considered a "sacred place." It's actually sacred to three big religions: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. But what makes a place sacred? According to some class answers, something supernatural either happened there or someone important was born there. 

Next we moved onto how the geography helped make Jerusalem a sacred place. The routes provided communication that helped city. Jerusalem had Via Maris on the east and the King's Highway from the west. Although one would have to make an effort to visit Jerusalem, I guess this ties in with the idea that Jerusalem is the axis mundi because it is in the center of two great trade routes. In addition to routes, the physical features of Jerusalem make it unique in a sense that it doesn't have the natural conditions of a great city. It rests on a hill and has three valleys protecting all sides but the north. The valleys are the Kidron on the east, Hinnom on the south, and the Central which goes through... the center. 

Random Note #1: The western wall is NOT the western wall of the temple, it is the wall of the temple retaining wall (temple mound). 

Water was scarce, but people got water in Jerusalem through the Gihon spring. Water had been the biggest issue in settling in Jerusalem. Water is also sacred by sharing a river in Eden (the Gihon) with the Gihon spring in Jerusalem. The city now has been segregated into specific "quarters" even though some may argue that there are five quarters (wouldn't make it quarters...). The north west houses the Christians, the south west has the Armenians, the north east has the Muslim, and the south east houses the Jews. The fifth quarter is the temple mound (on the eastern side).

Random Note #2: Book of Revelation.

Overall it was a really interesting lecture. I thought I would sleep over a topic like this, but gladly I didn't.