Mount of Olives

In Jewish tradition, the Mount of Olives is closely associated with the concept of resurrection. The Biblical prophet Zachariah foretold that when the Messiah arrives in Jerusalem, the first dead to be resurrected will be those who are buried on the Mount of Olives. This is why many Jews are buried on the mountain, with some of the graves dating back to the First Temple period.

The mountain is mentioned at several points in the Bible, most notably when King David fled to the Mount of Olives for refuge during the rebellion of his son Absalom.

In Christian tradition, the Mount of Olives is of central importance. It was from these slopes that Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem took place. Borne by a donkey, this entry to Jerusalem could be seen as a fulfillment of the prophecy of Zachariah, in which the prophet foretells the arrival of a king “gentle and riding a donkey.” (Zachariah 9:9-10)

Soon after this climactic event, Jesus prophesied on the Mount of Olives to his disciples about the destruction of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. This prophecy, known as the “Apocalyptic Discourse,” has been subject to many interpretations by scholars and laymen alike, seeming to portend to the end of the world rather than just the Temple.

Jesus is also said to have frequented the road from Jerusalem to Bethany that runs along the Mount of Olives, to visit his friend Lazarus.

At the foot of the mountain is the Garden of Gethsemane,  where Jesus and his disciples prayed after the Last Supper, the night before the crucifixion. The garden is also the site of the infamous betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot. A Christian pilgrimage destination for hundreds of years, Gethsemane is exquisitely preserved, shaded with olive trees that are centuries old.  (Gethsemane comes from the Aramaic Gat Shamanim, which means “oil press.”) It is believed that at least some of these olive trees existed in the time of Jesus.

Steps from the historic garden is the Church of all Nations, also known as the Basilica of the Agony, where the Rock of Agony is situated. The Mount of Olives is also the site of the golden-domed Church of Maria Magdalene and the grave of the Virgin Mary, an ancient site that Orthodox Christians believe to be where Jesus’ mother was buried. The Church of the Ascension is in fact a mosque dedicated to Jesus’ ascent to heaven from the Mount of Olives following the resurrection.