Sha'ar Haprahim
The Flower Gate
Other Names:
- Flower Gate;
- Herod's Gate;
- the Sheep's Gate
- Bab-a- Sahairad
Origin of Name:
- Known as the Flower Gate because of the floral designs engraved on its facade.
- The gate was originally known as Bab-a-Sahairad and referred to the Moslem burial ground opposite the gate.
- A-sahairad means 'those who do not sleep at night' and alludes to the future resurrection of those buried there. However the name was eventually corrupted into A-zahar which in Arabic means Flower Gate.
- This gate is also known as Herod's Gate because it leads to the place where King Herod's palace used to be.
- Also called the Sheep's Gate due to the weekly sheep market that used to be held in the square outside the gate.
Direction of Gate:
Faces north
Location/Direction:
The gate faces north and is located on the northern
side of the Old City wall, close to Sha'ar Shechem.
Distinctive Feature:
A large engraved stone flower above the recess
which is flanked by two smaller flowers.
Jaffa, Lions' and Zion gates had an L-shaped internal structure which was later removed from the Lions' Gate to provide access for motor vehicles.
