Architects' Tombs

Architects' Tombs
קבר המהנדסים בשער יפו
Architects Tombs

TheArchitects' Tombs,also known as theEngineers' Tomb,consist of two graves adjacent to theJaffa Gateon the inner side of theWalls of Jerusalem.According to tradition, the graves belong to engineers of SultanSuleiman the Magnificent,who built the city's wall.

Description

The graves, in Turksih style, are situated in an elevated area measuring approximately 3 by 3 metres (9.8 by 9.8 ft) among the shops, a short distance fromJaffa Gateon the inner side of theWalls of Jerusalem.In this small area, fig and cypress trees (up until 2008) grew to great heights, with two graves at their base. The trees were removed because they posed a danger to the public and the graves. The preservation state of the left grave is worse than that of the right one, which is fully preserved. Each grave measures about one meter in length and half a meter in width. They are made of stone, with a stylized turban – a Turkish fabric cap – adorning the top. The turban on the left grave has not survived, but testimonies from pilgrims over the past centuries indicate its existence.

In January 2019, a storm knocked down one of thecypress treesin the grave area onto the intact grave, "beheading" it.

Based on their style, the graves are dated to theOttoman periodand belong to men. To this day, it is customary in traditional parts of Turkey to design men’s tombstones with hats and turbans while women's tombstones feature flower wreaths or potted plants.

Identification

In 1572, about thirty years after the construction of the city wall of Jerusalem, Flemish cartographerFranz Hogenbergvisited the city. In the map of Jerusalem he drew following his visit, he depicted a relatively empty area separating the Jaffa Gate from the city's houses, with a sheikh’s tomb in it. If this identification is correct, it can be inferred that the graves were once in a mausoleum structure that was destroyed over the years.

The archaeologist of theJerusalem WaqfDr. Yousef Al-Natsheh describes a document referring to these graves that identifies them as a Muslim family from the city ofSafedin the 16th century, hence their surname:Al-Safadi,and this area is their Waqf land.

Despite this, a tradition of unknown origin and time was documented byJ. E. Hanauerin the beginning of the 20th century, attributing the graves to two brothers, both engineers, who built the Jerusalem wall for SultanSuleiman the Magnificent.According to this tradition, the Sultan beheaded the two engineers for various reasons: some claim it was due to his fear that they would reveal the secrets of the wall to the enemy; others say it was because he feared they would build a similar wall for enemies; another opinion holds that it was due to his anger at them for leavingMount Zion,which overlooks the entire city, outside the wall – something that gives the enemy a significant advantage during a siege. Another Muslim tradition ties the graves to a warrior contemporary toSalah-ed-din,and his namesake, who was in charge of the gate when the Christians besieged the city, and whose severed head held hisscimitarand fought back the Christians for seven days and seven nights.It is clear that none of these claims have any historical basis, and it is doubtful that these graves are related in any way to the wall’s engineers, but the nickname "Engineers' Graves" stuck with them, and they are referred to by this name in many travel guides in all languages, indicating how strong this tradition is.