The Cave of Zedekiah

All information about the Cave of Zedekiah The Cave of Zedekiah is an ancient quarry with an enormous area (about 9,000 square meters) located beneath the Muslim Quarter in Jerusalem. Quarrying at the site probably began during the First Temple period, and some believe that at least some of the stones of the Temple were taken from it. The cave's entrance is between Damascus Gate and the Flower Gate, and it is carved to a depth of about 9 meters beneath the houses of the Old City. The cave's name comes from a legend about the last king of the House of David dynasty, Zedekiah, who fled from Jerusalem through a tunnel that reached into the plains of Jericho during the Babylonian siege of the city (588 BCE). He was caught by his pursuers, who also killed his sons and blinded his eyes. This legend cannot be true because the cave does not reach to the Judean Desert, but "only" 225 meters. Still, anyone who walks through it can feel the sensation that it continues to infinity. Christians call the cave "Solomon's Quarries," because they connected the site with King Solomon, who built the First Temple. They concluded that if the stones were taken from here, then the king who ordered the quarrying was Solomon. Following its association with the building of the House and Jerusalem, the cave became a meeting place for the "Freemasons" association in Israel. It is recommended to book tickets in advance to view the sound-and-light show in the cave.