Page 38 - Holyland Magazine - 2009 Edition

Israelimages A look over the Ramle rooftops provides
a great view from the Mediterranean Sea
to the Judean Hills.

SAINKNTISGAHNTDS,

MARKETS

The White Tower, For those seeking new, off-the-beaten-track sites with a Middle Eastern
a square minaret flavor and Christian historical significance, Ramle is the place to go.
from the 7th century
that was rebuilt by A small town located only a few neighboring city of Lod, then known as
the Mamelukes Lydda, and turned the two into a thriving
(13th century), is miles southeast of Tel Aviv, not far from hub for pilgrims and travelers, armies and
one of the most Lod and Ben-Gurion International Airport, merchants. Lod was founded by Shemed,
prominent Ramle is a sleepy island of Muslim, Jewish a Benjaminite (I Chronicles 8:12), and
structures of and Christian coexistence. It is undisturbed following the destruction of Jerusalem by
medieval Ramle. by commuters and tourists since the major the Romans in 70 CE, the area flourished.
It is designated to highways connecting Tel Aviv and Its population had a large market, raised
become a World Jerusalem or Israel's North and South (the cattle and ran textile, dyeing and pottery
Heritage Site. new toll road, Route 6) bypass the city. industries. It was a seat of the Sanhedrin,
the Jewish high court, but also attracted a
Avi Roccah This was not always the case. In the past, Christian community at the time of Peter
Ramle was situated at the intersection of (Acts 9:32-35).
two major roads, one linking the historical
port city of Jaffa with Jerusalem and the During the Christian Byzantine era (4th to
other connecting the north-south route of 7th centuries), Lydda was identified as the
the Via Maris, the trade route linking Egypt legendary birthplace of St. George, patron
with Syria and on to Mesopotamia through saint of England, slayer of the infamous
the Holy Land. dragon, and the town’s name was changed
to Georgiopolis.
This location gave Ramle its strategic and
economic importance shared with the

38 “Nicodemus, first come to Jesus at night, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about 100 pounds” (John 19:39)