Hulda Gates

Jewish traditions say that "Five gates were in the temple mount: the two Huldah Gates on the south, that served for coming in and for going out..." (Mishna ). These were one of the original gates (2000 yrs old) that led people the temple mount (Jerusalem Temple). Today, the gates you see on the walls of Jerusalem are built by Turks and are only 500 years old. More specifically, Hulda Gates consisted of a triple-arched gate on the eastern side and a double-arched gate on the western side. The eastern gates were used for entry to the Temple, while the western gates for exit. Today, one can still see traces of the original triple-arched gates of the Herod Temple and majority blocked and assimilated into the walls. The double-arched gate on the western side are even more obscure and a small portion of the arch can still be seen visible, although most of the portions are hidden by the medieval structure. Another important structure is the monumental flight of steps leading up to the Hulda gates. Although most of the steps were reconstructed, the remains near the western entrance of Hulda gates are from the original period, probably the same steps used by Jesus to enter into the Temple Mount. The name Hulda could be most probably derived from the biblical female prophet who resided in Jerusalem and was contemporary of Elijah (9 cent BC, 2 Kings 22:14 and 2 Chronicles 34: 22: 22). Some say she was buried near these gates.