On an Unknown Appellation of Jerusalem from the Ottoman Period

Abstract

The sanctity of Jerusalem and its admiration by the three monotheistic religions is well exhibited by the variety of names given to it throughout history. Thus, Jewish tradition counts no less than seventy names;² Muslim tradition too abounds in various names and appellations for the city third in its sanctity in Islam. Frequent changes of rulers bearing different cultures and religions, and abundant traditions attached to the city’s history amplified the number of names and appellations in different languages and sources. The purpose of the present paper is to decipher one such uncommon and unfamiliar appellation of Jerusalem from the Ottoman period, which was preserved unexpectedly in Western European maps of Jerusalem made during the Ottoman period.

We would like to thank Dr. A. Elad for his helpful suggestions.