Holy Cities of Hinduism, Islam, Judaism

1. Holy Cities of Hinduism, Islam, Judaism Paige N. Strong, Kelsey L. Martinez and Dustin Benson AP World Mrs. Ruthford

2. Holiest City of Hinduism • The holiest city of Hinduism is Varanasi or Kasi. • It is located in India and has a population of 1,211,749 Varanasi

3. The River of Ganga • The holy city of Hinduism is Varanasi or Kashi is surrounded by the Ganga river . • 1,000,000 pilgrims come to this river and city every year. • To Hindus it is believed that bathing in this river will remiss there sins. • People also drink from the water of this river during Hindu ceremonies.

4. Varanasi is a city of many small little temples on almost every street corner that are used for prayers and rituals throughout the day. Temples of Varanasi • The one large temple in Varanasi is Kashi Vishwanath Temple (Golden Temple) this temple helps to make Varanasi such and place of great religion.

5. Mecca • Kaaba • Sacred House (mosque) • Fifth Pillar • Pilgrimage to Mecca

6. Medina • Second holiest city • Where Muhammad is buried, the final prophet of Islam • Masjid Nabawi

7. Jerusalem • Third holiest city • Muslims believe that Muhammad ascended through the heavens • The Dome of the Rock

8. Judaism – Basic Facts – Jerusalem • Jerusalem is the holiest city of Judaism (since the 10th century BCE) and some denominations of Christianity (since the 5th century CE) and, after Mecca and Medine, the third holiest city of Islam (since the 7th century CE). Geography: • Elevation 2000 – 2500 feet (650 – 840 meters) • located between the dead sea and the Mediterranean sea. Population: • Current: 724,000 Jerusalem http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Jerusalem_from_mt_olives.jpg Jerusalem Old City from Mount of Olives.

9. Judaism – History – Jerusalem • The city is believed to have been built and founded by Canaanite peoples, it may have also been occupied by the Jebusites. • During the Canaanite period, the city of Jerusalem had the name Urušalim, which has the meaning “the city of peace.” • Around 960 BCE, Solomon built the First Jewish Temple. • For about four centuries Jerusalem served as the capital for the southern kingdom of Judah. First Temple Oldest Printed Vision http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Hartmann-schedel-hierosolima-1493_2-BW-1147x965.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Jerusalem_Ugglan_1.jpg Construction of the First Temple The oldest printed vision of Jerusalem (Hartmann Schedel, Nürnberg 1493)

10. Judaism – Roles – Jerusalem • Jerusalem has an important role in three major religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, as well in many smaller religious groups. • Jerusalem has many places which include religious significance to the groups mentioned above. These Include: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Holy_sepulchre_exterior.jpg • Christians: The church of Holy Sepulcher. • Jews: The Temple Mount, and its Western Wall. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Western_wall_jerusalem_night.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Al_aqsa_moschee_2.jpg • Muslims: Dome of the Rock.

11. Though it is not required like in Islam, Hindu people that have enough money and are able to travel a pilgrimage to Varanasi for their religion. Islam and Judaism and easily be compared because they both such Jerusalem as a city. All three of the Religions holy cites have a major holy temple that has some kind of significant to it even if it just helps to signify their religion and beliefs. There are definite similarities between the holy cities of these religions they are also very different and in many senses hard to compare. Compare / Contrast of Holy cities