Jerusalem Then and Now: Via Dolorosa

These views show show the middle part of the Via Dolorosa, or Way of Sorrows, as it makes its way across the Old City of Jerusalem . They were taken from just west of Tariq el-Wad (El Wad Road), between Stations 5 and 6 of the Stations of the Cross.

THEN	NOW	NOW

This section of the Via Dolorosa has seen a number of changes since the photo on the left was taken in 1952. Although the arches above the street appear to be the same, the sides of the street have become lined with numerous Arab (or Palestinian) shops catering to the tourist trade. These shops were not there in 1952 when the Old City was controlled by the Jordanian government and access for tourists was through Jordan.

The middle photo was taken in June 1990 during the Intifada. Many of the shops were closed on this particular day because of a general strike called by Arab leaders. The photo on the right was taken late in the afternoon on a Saturday in December 1992. Not many tourists were visible.

For more information on the history of the Via Dolorosa, see the excellent article "The Geography of Faith, Tracing the Via Dolorosa," by Jerome Murphy-O'Connor in the December 1996 issue of the Bible Review published by the Biblical Archaeology Society.

View larger versions of the 1952, 1990 and 1992 photos:

The 1952 photo was taken by Dr. Marshall Welles. The 1990 and 1992 photos are by the author.
Photos may be reproduced only with the consent of the author.