74 The Meaning of the Symbols

The Ayyibid and Mamluk empires ruled the Land of Israel and Jerusalem during the Middle Ages. Despite their complex relationship with the city, they filled it with magnificent symbols. The construction that they carried out, the positioning of the structures, not to mention their architecture, testify to their religious and political mindset. These tours led by Dr. Eldad Brin, a historical geographer and the author of the book The Repopulating of Israeli Jerusalem and the Housing of Its Inhabitants (The Yad Izhak Ben-Zvi Press, 2025), will highlight a number of examples from the period in question. An attempt will be made to ‘read’ the Old City by way of the messages that the Ayyubids and Mamluks left behind throughout the Old City.

The 90-minute tours will end at New Gate.