Jericho

Jericho
Fullo88 at Italian Wikipedia · Public domain · source
Name	Jericho
Native name	أريحا
Alternate name	Tell es-Sultan
Map type	West Bank
Coordinates	31, 52, 16, N...
Location	West Bank
Region	Jordan Valley
Type	Tell
Epochs	Pre-Pottery Neolithic – Middle Bronze Age
Cultures	Natufian, PPNA, PPNB, Canaanite
Excavations	Charles Warren, Kathleen Kenyon, Lorenzo Nigro
Condition	Ruins

Jericho. Located in the West Bank within the Jordan Valley, it is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, with evidence of settlement dating back over 11,000 years. The city is renowned for its profound archaeological record, its dramatic walls described in the Hebrew Bible, and its strategic importance throughout history, from Canaanite times through the Roman Empire to the modern era. Its environment, sustained by the Ein es-Sultan spring, has made it a vital oasis and a focal point for human civilization for millennia.

History

The history of human occupation at the site extends from the Natufian culture of the Epipaleolithic period into the PPNA period, where some of the earliest permanent stone structures and fortifications were erected. During the Bronze Age, it became a major Canaanite city-state, referenced in the Execration Texts from Middle Kingdom Egypt and the Amarna letters. It was famously captured, according to biblical narrative, by the Israelites under Joshua. The city was later rebuilt by Hiel of Bethel during the Kingdom of Israel and flourished under the Herodian dynasty, with construction by Herod the Great. It was destroyed during the First Jewish–Roman War but later rebuilt by the Roman Emperor Hadrian. Control passed through the Byzantine Empire, the Rashidun Caliphate, the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem, the Mamluk Sultanate, and the Ottoman Empire before coming under the British Mandate for Palestine. Following the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, it was annexed by Jordan and later captured by Israel during the Six-Day War; it became part of the Palestinian National Authority after the Oslo Accords.

Geography and climate

Situated approximately 250 meters below sea level near the northern end of the Dead Sea, Jericho lies in a deep rift valley created by the Jordan Rift Valley. The city's existence is made possible by the perennial Ein es-Sultan spring and other water sources, which create a lush agricultural oasis in an otherwise arid region. The climate is classified as a hot desert climate, with very high summer temperatures, mild winters, and minimal annual rainfall. This unique geography has historically supported the cultivation of valuable crops such as date palms, bananas, and citrus, earning it the nickname "City of Palms" in ancient texts.

Archaeology

The primary archaeological site, Tell es-Sultan, located northwest of the modern city, has been excavated by figures such as Charles Warren, Ernst Sellin, John Garstang, and most notably Kathleen Kenyon. Kenyon's work in the 1950s revolutionized understanding of the site's Neolithic origins, identifying the Pre-Pottery Neolithic tower and wall, among the oldest known fortifications. The site reveals a long sequence of occupation, including substantial Bronze Age city walls and gates. Other significant excavations include the Hasmonean and Herodian winter palaces at Tulul Abu al-Alayiq near the Wadi Qelt, and the Byzantine-era Shalom Al Yisrael Synagogue with its famed mosaic floor. These findings provide a continuous material record from the dawn of agriculture to the medieval period.

Biblical significance

Jericho holds a central place in the narratives of the Hebrew Bible. It is first mentioned in the Book of Joshua as the first city conquered by the Israelites upon entering Canaan, with its walls famously felled after the procession led by Joshua and the priests. The story involves the figure of Rahab, who aided the Israelite spies. In later texts, it is referenced in the Books of Kings concerning the prophets Elijah and Elisha, who purified its water source. In the New Testament, it is the setting for the healing of the blind beggar Bartimaeus by Jesus and is the hometown of the tax collector Zacchaeus. These events have made it a significant pilgrimage site for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Modern Jericho

Today, Jericho is a Palestinian city and the administrative capital of the Jericho Governorate. Its economy is primarily based on agriculture and tourism, with visitors drawn to its ancient sites, the Mount of Temptation and its Greek Orthodox monastery, and the nearby Hisham's Palace, an Umayyad Caliphate desert castle. The city has been at the center of modern political agreements, notably as one of the first areas handed over to the Palestinian National Authority in 1994. It remains a symbol of Palestinian heritage and continuity, while ongoing archaeological work continues to refine our understanding of its unparalleled ancient past. Category:Populated places in the West Bank Category:Archaeological sites in the State of Palestine Category:Neolithic settlements Category:Cities in the Hebrew Bible