TRAVEL

TRAVEL

Tuesday, July 4, 2017




Then and now: Stunning images show how the religious city of Jerusalem has changed over time

  • Photographer Noam Chen captured the world-famous city in a series of modern landscape snapshots 
  • Each image shows how the sacred sites have been preserved in a city that's now increasingly modern 
  • Destination points such as Jaffa Street, Damascus Gate and the Tower of David feature in the collection



It is one of the world's most famous cities.
But, while it's primarily known for its religious heritage, Jerusalem has also managed to move with the times - developing into a modern metropolis that's both past and present.  
Proof of this can be seen in the latest piece of work by photographer Noam Chen, who's spent months travelling the region to capture its essence.
His project begun when he came across a rare collection of photographs that were unveiled by the U.S. Library of Congress, earlier this year. They uncovered stunning scenes of Jerusalem during the 19th and early 20th centuries, sparking inspiration for a modern-day comparison.
'When I saw these amazing early photographs, I set out to compare them with my own photos from the city I've been documenting so extensively,' he told MailOnline Travel. 'Some photos were taken from the very same angle, others from a similar point of view, and the result is a remarkable showcase of changes and similarities alike. Join me on a journey through time in Jerusalem, and witness what 100-plus years have done to the eternal city.' 
Jaffa Street, Damascus Gate and the Tower of David all feature in an online exhibition, which can be seen in full at: noamchen.com. Scroll down for a sneak peek.
The much-respected Christian Quarter pictured as it was in 1898
With the exception of the occasional new build, the skyline is exactly the same
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Stunning skyline: Dominated by the two domes of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, one of the holiest sites in Christianity, the Christian Quarter is believed to be where Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected. It's pictured left in 1898 and on the right in the present day
The Western Wall is pictured on the left in 1898. At that time some stones still contained writings in Hebrew, believed to be the work of visitors who wished to commemorate their names upon the wall
Today the tradition has evolved into placing notes in between the stones
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The Western Wall is pictured on the left in 1898. At that time some stones still contained writings in Hebrew, believed to be the work of visitors who wished to commemorate their names upon the wall. Today the tradition has evolved into placing notes in between the stones
Pictured in 1898, the Mount of Olives became a burial ground in the period of the First Jewish Temple, 3,000 years ago
Today the landscape is dominated by the golden Church of All Nations, built between the years 1919 and 1924
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Pictured in 1898 from the Kidron Valley, the Mount of Olives became a burial ground in the period of the First Jewish Temple, 3,000 years ago. Today the landscape is dominated by the golden Church of All Nations, built between 1919 and 1924
Rays of light shine on the Old City in 1942
Rays of sunlight pierce the clouds in the present day
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Some things never change: Rays of light shine on the Old City in 1942 (left) and again in the present day (right)
The British War Cemetery is pictured on the left in 1917
The war heroes' graves have now been lovingly replaced with new headstones
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The British War Cemetery is pictured on the left in 1917.��The war heroes' graves have now been lovingly replaced with new headstones (right)
Pilgrims gather to worship in the church in 1898
Dressed less modestly than their predecessors, modern-day worshipers remain keen to visit
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Then and now: The Church of the Holy Sepulchre (pictured left in 1898) is a church in the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, a few steps away from the world-famous Muristan
The Tower of David Museum was opened in 1989 and contains archaeological ruins dating back some 2,700 years
The walls and tower were repeatedly built and destroyed over the past 2,100 years, and protected the upper city
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The Tower of David Museum was opened in 1989 and contains archaeological ruins dating back some 2,700 years. The building is pictured on the left in the 1930s and on the right in the present day.��The walls and tower were repeatedly built and destroyed over the past 2,100 years, and protected the upper city
Lancers march through the David Citadel in 1900. The citadel dates back to the Mamluk era and was built on the site of an earlier fortification by King Herod
This image was taken from a vantage point over the Citadel today
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Lancers march through the David Citadel in 1900 (left). The citadel dates back to the Mamluk era and was built on the site of an earlier fortification by King Herod. The image on the right was taken from a vantage point over the Citadel today
Locals can be seen visiting the tower in 1898 - some having travelled by horse and cart
Today, thousands continue to flock to the towers - mainly for the view
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Wow-factor: The towers at the David Citadel offer a breathtaking 360 degree view of Jerusalem, including the Old City and the New City, the Four Quarters, the new neighborhoods, the Mount of Olives, Mount Scopus, the Judean Desert and the Dead Sea. The picture on the left was taken in 1898
The Garden Tomb is considered to be a possible site of the burial and resurrection of Jesus
The Garden Tomb was discovered in 1867
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Historic: Discovered in 1867, the Garden Tomb is considered to be a possible site of the burial and resurrection of Jesus. It's pictured on the left in 1898. Today it's almost perfectly preserved from its original condition
A collection of British troops guard the Tower of David site in 1938
Today, the site is flanked by modern architecture, including a block of flats
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The Tower of David: Pictured in 1938, British troops guard the site. Jerusalem was under British Mandate rule before the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948
Pictured in 1860, this ancient tomb carved in the rock is traditionally associated with Absalom, the son of King David of Israel
The tomb is located in the upper Kidron valley (Yehoshafat valley), on the foothills of Mount of Olives
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Pictured in 1860, this ancient tomb carved in the rock is traditionally associated with Absalom, the son of King David of Israel
Captured in 1940, the road was once much less vibrant
Today, Jaffa Road is heavily populated with shops and restaurants - and has a smart tram system
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Central: Jerusalem's main street - Jaffa Road (pictured left in 1940) - used to be the leading route between the Old City of the Jerusalem to the port city of Jaffa
The Jewish Cemetery on the Mount of Olives is pictured here in 1898. It became a burial ground 3,000 years ago. Today much of the top of the hill is occupied by At-Tur, a former village of East Jerusalem with a majority-Muslim population
oday much of the top of the hill is occupied by At-Tur, a former village of East Jerusalem with a majority-Muslim population
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The Jewish Cemetery on the Mount of Olives is pictured left in 1898. It became a burial ground 3,000 years ago. Today much of the top of the hill is occupied by At-Tur, a former village of East Jerusalem with a majority-Muslim population
Pictured in 1925 is a typical view with donkeys and  a handful of cars
Today: Art installations during Jerusalem’s annual Festival of Light
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Past and present: Jerusalem's Damascus Gate, pictured left in 1925, has long been central to the religious - and social - lives of local communities. It was built in 1537 by the Ottoman Empire. Pictured right is the building illuminated during the city's annual Festival of Light
A very rare colour picture of Damascus Gate taken in 1890, with a flock of sheep being driven across the entrance
A very rare colour picture of Damascus Gate taken in 1890, with a flock of sheep being driven across the entrance
In 1938, when the gate was closed and guarded by British soldiers during the Arab revolt against Jews and the British colonial rule
Today, bearing the scars of Israel's war of Independence (1948). Numerous bullet holes are still visible to this day, as the gate has never been restored.
Zion Gate: The main entrance gate to the Jewish Quarter in the Old City, it was once guarded by British soldiers during the Arab revolt against Jews and the British colonial rule (left, 1938). Right, as it is today
The Temple Mount and Western Wall, pictured in 1920, is the very heart of Jerusalem and is probably the most important religious site in the world, directly linked to the core of the Bible. The Western Wall is the only remnant of the Second Jewish Temple, destroyed in 70CE. It is now the holiest site in Judaism
It has been venerated as a holy site for thousands of years by Judaism, Christianity, and Islam - and still is. The Western Wall yard was built after the liberation in 1967 to make room for the masses of worshippers who could once again reach the site to pray
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Pivotal: The Temple Mount and Western Wall, pictured left in 1920, is the very heart of Jerusalem and is probably the most important religious site in the world, directly linked to the core of the Bible. The Western Wall is the only remnant of the Second Jewish Temple, destroyed in 70CE. It is now the holiest site in Judaism. The Western Wall yard was built after the liberation in 1967 to make room for the masses of worshippers who could once again reach the site to pray
One of the main entrances to the sacred Old City, this image from 1918 (left) shows the clock tower that was built in 1907
It was destroyed in 1922 by the British Mandate because they believed it didn't fit with the city's skyline (right)
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Jaffa Gate: One of the main entrances to the sacred Old City, this image from 1918 (left) shows the clock tower that was built in 1907. It was destroyed in 1922 by the British Mandate because they believed it didn't fit with the city's skyline (right)
A rare colour photograph of the site from the 1890s
Almost identical to 120 years ago, the only sign of modern life is a car
Lions' Gate: One of the main entrance gates to the Old City, it was so-called after the four carvings just above its entrance, which were placed by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16th century. Left – a rare colour photograph from 1890. Almost identical to 120 years ago, the only sign of modern life is a car

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