Between David and Jesus Christ, From the Byzantines to the President of Israel: The Incredible Story of the Western Hill
- Nir Topper
- Jun 7
- 5 min read
Mount Zion, located outside the walls of the modern-day Old City of Jerusalem, near Zion Gate, is a place where myths, beliefs, and historical events of profound importance to the three monotheistic religions intertwine—a place that has shaped the consciousness of many throughout the generations. The origin of the mountain's name remains unclear. The name "Zion" is first mentioned in the Bible as the name of the Jebusite fortress conquered by King David: "Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion, that is, the city of David" (2 Samuel 5:7). Over time, the name became synonymous with all of Jerusalem, and eventually came to represent the yearning for the entire Land of Israel (hence the term "Zionism").
The geographical location of what is known today as "Mount Zion" has shifted throughout history. During the biblical period, the name was exclusively assigned to the location of the City of David, the exact whereabouts of which is a matter of debate (the site currently branded as the "City of David" is by no means the definitive location of the original city of Jerusalem, i.e., the biblical City of David). With the construction of the Temple, the moniker "Mount Zion" migrated towards the Temple Mount. It was only during the Byzantine period that the name "wandered" westward to the hill we know today: Byzantine pilgrims identified the broad Western Hill with the biblical City of David—an erroneous identification that archaeological findings would later disprove.
There are quite a few fascinating sites of interest on Mount Zion, but the three most identified and well-known landmarks on the mount are: King David's Tomb, the Room of the Last Supper, and Dormition Abbey. According to Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions alike, King David is buried here. However, the prevailing consensus among archaeologists and historians rejects this identification. This conclusion is based both on archaeological findings at the site, which indicate this is not David's burial place, and on the biblical text itself: "Then David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David" (1 Kings 2:10). The location of the City of David on the Eastern Hill is completely distinct from the Western Hill, which is known today as Mount Zion.
Located above King David's Tomb complex is a site of paramount importance in Christianity: the Room of the Last Supper (the "Cenacle," from the Latin Coenaculum—dining room). Here, according to Christian belief, Jesus Christ shared the Passover meal with his disciples before his crucifixion. During this meal, the New Testament describes how Jesus Christ broke the bread, distributed it to his disciples, and said, "This is my body." He then offered them wine, saying, "This is my blood," and commanded them: "Do this in remembrance of me." This defining moment is considered the historical and theological origin of the Eucharist (Holy Communion), the central sacrament in Christian worship, which is observed in churches worldwide to this day. The fact that this supreme sacrament was established, according to tradition, in this very room, makes visiting the site an experience of profound religious and spiritual emotion for Christian believers arriving from across the globe.
Another major focal point on Mount Zion is Dormition Abbey, which stands out in the Jerusalem skyline with its conical roof and bell tower. The current name "Dormition" does not derive from the word "Zion," but rather from the Latin word Dormitio, meaning sleep or slumber. However, the site's name has been intertwined with "Zion" throughout its history: during the Byzantine period, the basilica "Hagia Sion" (Holy Zion) stood here; the Crusaders built a church called "Santa Maria in Monte Sion"; and even the current abbey officially bore the name "Hagia Maria Sion Abbey" between 1998 and 2006. According to Christian tradition, shared by both the Catholic and Orthodox churches, it was at this spot that Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, fell into a slumber before being assumed into heaven. The impressive structure, inaugurated in April 1910, was built on land acquired by the German Emperor Wilhelm II during his historic visit to the Holy Land in 1898. The abbey, maintained to this day by a German Benedictine monastic order, blends Eastern and Western elements in its architecture and serves as a living testament to the involvement of European powers in Jerusalem during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Following the 1948 War of Independence, when the Old City remained under Jordanian control, Mount Zion became the primary vantage point from which Israelis could look out over the holy sites within the Old City. During Jewish holidays and on Tisha B'Av, a tradition developed of ascending to the "Temple Mount Observatory" on the roof of King David's Tomb. Adjacent to this observation point, Israel's second president, Yitzhak Ben-Zvi, established a modest office ("The President's Room"). During the Three Pilgrimage Festivals, the President would welcome masses of pilgrims there, aiming to strengthen their connection to the Old City visible from the roof. His presence transformed the mount into a spiritual substitute for the Western Wall and a national symbol of longing. Even today, the President's Room remains a moving testament to the days when the mountain served as a spiritual bridge across the wall.
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Image 1 - A view from the Abu Tor neighborhood towards Mount Zion. The bell tower and conical roof of Dormition Abbey. Source: By Eman, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Image 2 - The bell tower and conical roof of Dormition Abbey. Photo: Nir Topper.
Image 3 - A capital located in the Room of the Last Supper (the Cenacle) on Mount Zion. The carving depicts pelicans feeding their young after digesting the food for them. This is a Christian symbol representing Jesus Christ sacrificing himself. It is a Crusader relic that survived the Mamluks (1 of 2 that survived). Photo: Nir Topper.
Image 4 - A stone decorated with a lion figure, located at the intersection of the arches in the ceiling of the Room of the Last Supper on Mount Zion. A motif in the shape of a lamb depicts Jesus Christ, likened to the Lamb of God, the innocent sacrifice atoning for the sins of humanity. This is the second Crusader relic that survived the Mamluks (1 of 2 that survived). Photo: Nir Topper.
Image 5 - The interior of Dormition Abbey, Mount Zion. Photo: Nir Topper.
Image 6 - The President's Room on the roof of King David's Tomb complex. In the background, the roof of Dormition Abbey. Source: שמן תורק, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Image 7 - "King David's Tomb," Mount Zion. Source: Berthold Werner, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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