In 332 B. C. Jerusalem came under Greek rule and was increasingly Hellenised. The desecration of the Temple by Antiochus IV sparked off the Maccabean rising of 167 B. C. Under the Maccabees and the Hasmoneans the town expanded westward on to Mount Zion. In 63 B. C. it passed into Roman control, and in 37 B. C. Herod, an Idumaean, became king of the Jews. He rebuilt and embellished the Temple platform and equipped the city with palaces, a citadel, a theater, a hippodrome, an agora and other buildings on the Hellenistic and Roman model. After his death in 4 B. C. Jerusalem became the city of the high priests, under Roman procurators. From 41 to 44 it was ruled by Agrippa I, who extended the city northward, building the Third (North) Wall. In A. D. 70 Jerusalem was destroyed by Titus, to be rebuilt by Hadrian from 135 onwards under the name of Aelia Capitolina.
Sights
Climate
Summer begins in mid to late April. They can be hot and dry, but the low humidity definitely makes it more bearable. The evenings are actually quite cold, and this mild weather continues till November, when winter rolls around. In December, January, and February, you can expect some rain and cooler temperatures (rarely will you freeze). When it’s not raining, the days are actually sunny and pleasant.
Shopping
Jerusalem offers distinctive ideas for gifts—for yourself or others—from jewelry and art to traditional crafts, items of a religious nature, and souvenirs. The several shopping areas make it easy to plan expeditions. Prices are generally fixed in the city center and the Jewish Quarter of the Old City, though you can sometimes negotiate for significant discounts on expensive art and jewelry. Shopping in the Old City's colorful Arab bazaar, or souk (pronounced "shook" in Israel—rhymes with "book"), is fascinating but can be a trap for the unwary.
Jeruzaleme (, Yerushalayim ; al-Quds Sharif,, Yərusholáyəm) ir sena pilsēta Tuvajos Austrumos, kam ir īpaša nozīme jūdaismā, kristietībā un Islamā. Šobrīd tajā dzīvo apmēram 700 000 cilvēki, kas pārstāv ļoti dažādas tautības un ticības.
Pilsētas statuss ir neviennozīmīgs - 1949. gada pamiera līnija starp Izraēlu un Palestīnas Rietumkrastu iet cauri Jeruzalemei. Kopš Izraēlas uzvaras 1967. gada Sešu dienu karā tā kontrolē visu pilsētu un ir pasludinājusi to par savu sastāvdaļu. Izraēlas Jeruzalemes likums pasludina to par Izraēlas galvaspilsētu, kaut arī daudzas valstis to neatzīst un uztur vēstniecības Telavivā. Palestīnieši arī uzskata Jeruzalemi vai daļu no tās par galvaspilsētu nākotnes Palestīnai.
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