The Citadel of David
For the most part, the City of David (or the Ophel) was the Jebusite city that David had conquered. Since that part of Jerusalem remained in use almost up to current times, it is hard to find much that can be attributed to David. However, some believe that David built a citadel with his palace just to the north outside the walls of the Jebusite city. The above photograph is from Shiloh's excavation, Area G. If I'm not mistaken, the upper portion is thought to be where the Citadel of David was built.
The stepped stone structure dates to about 1000 BC (the time of David). The building at the bottom is the House of Aheil, named after an inscription found there. It is from a later period. This area was inside the city walls after the temple was built on Mount Zion (the upper part of the hill the Jebusite Jerusalem was built on).
The temple mount is further up to the northwest (the upper right).
- Other sites in the The Jerusalem Tour:
- Hezekiah's (Broad) Wall to the northwest
- The Temple Mount, which includes The Pinnacle of the Temple, Robinson's Arch, Herodian Stones, and The Western (Wailing) Wall
- The Pool of Bethesda to the far north.
- The Steps to Gethsemane to the west
- An Olive Oil Press in Jerusalem in a guard tower
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