From stonewalling politicians to ancient wall stones
Sometimes it can feel like the Knesset is just a place filled with inanimate objects sworn to inaction. Chairs, tables, politicians. But a recent inanimate edition to Israel's parliament building will actually serve as a living testament to the storied past of Jerusalem.
In May 2009 the Knesset dedicated a new archaeological garden, a veritable museum of ancient artifacts that will now be kept in the nation's political home, dubbing it "Peace be within thy Palaces". Fifty pieces of Jerusalem's past adorn the garden, separated into six groups representing different time periods from the city's past.
Because the Knesset is in Jerusalem, simply digging a few feet down would have probably uncovered a wealth of finds. But for this display, the planners decided to ship in the artifacts, many of which are on display for the first time. The garden is not the first time politics and antiquities have mixed in Jerusalem. The president's residence is also outfitted with a smaller archeological garden.
Among the highlights at the Knesset are two Second Temple era stones, one of which archaeologists believe was part of the Temple wall (making it an extension of the revered Western Wall, in some ways); a mosaic found in the Kidron valley, which runs to the east of the Old City; an inscription from the late Roman period; and an olive press.
True to its name, the garden also features a generous helping of plant life, much of which is representative of the flora that populated the land in ancient times.
The garden is ostensibly intended to provide quiet respite for politicians (and maybe also help remind the country's fearless leaders not doom their constituency to the fates of the past). But it will also be open to John Q. Taxpayer and Jane Q. Tourist by prior arrangement, making it the easiest way to get into the Knesset without getting on a party ticket.
Photograph of mosaic courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority.
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