The Tower of David, one of Jerusalem’s iconic landmarks, rises above the walls of the Old City near the Jaffa Gate.
Contrary to the name, David had nothing to do with this tower. The current tower was built in the mid-16th century, however, the strategic location has been the site of multiple towers ever since King Herod ruled. Also known as the Citadel of Jerusalem, tradition tells us that the tower was incorrectly named by Byzantine Christians, who christened it according to Song of Songs 4:4,
Your neck is like the tower of David,
Built for an armory,
On which hang a thousand bucklers,
All shields of mighty men.
The present-day citadel houses a museum giving the history of Jerusalem. To learn more about the Tower of David, click here.