- Gates Main
- Jaffa Gate
- Zion Gate
- Dung Gate
- East Gate (also known as Golden Gate)
- Lion’s Gate
- Herod’s Gate
- Damascus Gate
- New Gate
The History of New Gate.
New Gate was built in 1889 by the Ottomans at the request of the French Ambassador in Istanbul. The 1800s AD saw an influx of European powers seeking to buy land and establish themselves as stewards or protectors of the faith and Christian pilgrims. Different nations sponsored different religious groups that tended to be in competition.
In the later part of the 19th century, the French purchased a 4,000 square meter lot on the northwest corner of the Old City. They constructed a hostel and hospice that served French Catholic pilgrims. The building, known at the time as Notre Dame de France, began construction in 1885.
The request was for a gate to be inserted in the wall in order to allow Christians an easier and more direct route from Notre Dame de France to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II eventually approved the request with the gate being completed in 1889.
What are the Muslim, Hebrew, and Christian names for New Gate?
The gate’s Arabic name is Bab al-Jadid (باب الجديد) and the Hebrew name is Ha’Sha’ar Ha’Chedesh (הַשַעַר הֶחָדָש). Both translate to ‘New Gate,’ which is also the Christian name for the gate in English. During it’s construction, workers called the gate Bab es Sultan Abdul Hamid in honor of Sultan Hamid II.
The layout of New Gate.
New Gate is a stark change from the other gates due to it’s basic passthrough design. Although it was designed and built by the Ottomans, it was not done so in the typical L-shaped fashion. With the rise of more modern weaponry and military tactics, the L-shaped gatehouses were losing their effectiveness. We can see other gates, such as Herod’s Gate and Lion’s gate being redesigned during this period as well. Their L-shape layouts were replaced with passthroughs.
More New Gate history.
Between 1948 and 1967, New Gate was sealed up because the gate and adjacent walls ran along the border separating Jordan and the State of Israel. After the 6-Day War when Israel gained control of the Old City, the gate was opened up.
Today, the Notre Dame de France hostel and hospice have been rebranded as the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center and Saint Louis French Hospital. Both still function as a hotel and hospital though.
https://historicalsitesinisrael.com/en/the-new-gate-jerusalem
https://www.biblewalks.com/newgate
Matev, Ami. “One Square Kilometer: The Old City – A Guide to the Sites. 2015. Old City Press.