Jerusalem: The Making of a Holy City

Episode 1

Well-Spring of Holiness

60 mins

Jerusalem was established as a fortress no later then the Canaanites, at the site of a sacred spring where human sacrifices occurred. Far from major trade routes, it remained a minor town, until king David, uniting the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel and Juda, chose it as 'neutral' capital. King Solomon gave it unprecedented splendor with his Temple, but it was ruined as the whole country was open to military campaigns or occupation from mighty neighbors, like the Egyptian Pharaohs, Assyria which imposed the great exile and Neo-Babylon, Achaemenid Persia which allowed the Hebrews to return, Alexander the Great and his Hellenistic 'diadoch' successor monarchs, then became a minor province of the Roman empire which allowed an autonomy under ruling High Priests alongside client 'tetrarch' princes like the Herods, only to regain great, religious status with the Holy land as Christianity rose to state religion.