Skip to content

Jerusalem’s Gates: Lions' Gate Traditional Geocache

Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:

There are a lot of muggles around, therefore MAXIMUM STEALTH IS REQUIRED. Bring your own pen to sign the logbook.

This cache is part of the Jerusalem’s Gates Series. Don't forget to find the clue at this location, so to solve for the location of the final cache.


The Lions' Gate (Hebrew: Sha'ar HaArayot, Arabic: Bab Sittna Maryam, also St. Stephen's Gate or Sheep Gate) is located in the Old City Walls of Jerusalem. Located in the east wall, the entrance marks the beginning of the traditional Christian observance of the last walk of Jesus from prison to execution, the Via Dolorosa. Near the gate’s crest are four figures of panthers, often mistaken for lions, two on the left and two on the right. They were placed there by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent to celebrate the Ottoman defeat of the Mamluks in 1517. Legend has it that Suleiman's predecessor Selim I was captured by lions that were going to eat him because of his plans to level the city. He was spared only after promising to protect the city by building a wall around it. This led to the lion becoming the heraldic symbol of Jerusalem. The magnificent walls of Jerusalem's Old City were built by the Ottoman Empire under the direct supervision of Sultan Suleiman in 1542. The walls stretch for approximately 4.5 kilometres (2.8 miles) and rise to a height of 5–15 metres (16–49 feet), with a thickness of 3 metres (10 feet). Altogether, the Old City walls contain 43 surveillance towers and 12 gates, eight of which are presently open. This series is in memory of somloci, who set up the original, but now archived, "Jerusalem's Gates" series (GC1XRRQ, GC1XRRN, GC1XRRM, GC1XRRK, GC1XRRJ, GC1XRRH, GC1XRRG, GC1XRRF, GC1XRRE). His untimely passing was a tragedy for the entire Geocaching community.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Abg va gur przrgrel, ohg engure arne gur ebnq. N srj zrgref qbjauvyy sebz n cbyr. Va n ubyr va gur jnyy, arne tebhaq yriry. Frr fcbvyre cubgb.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)