Ancient Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 CE during the Roman invasion led by Titus. The city was fought over multiple times, including in 1099 during the First Crusade and during the battle with Saladin in 1192. The current walls surrounding the Old City were built between 1535 and 1542, partially on the site of earlier fortifications. One of the elements of the ancient fortifications is the eight gates leading to historic Jerusalem. Among them is the Jaffa Gate, from which the road to the ancient port on the Mediterranean Sea began.
The picturesque nature of the centuries-old structures always captivated tourists. Therefore, pilgrims visiting the 'holy city' became valuable recipients of postcards printed on-site. One of the archival postcards featuring a view of the Jaffa Gate enriched the collections of the District Museum in Leszno a few years ago. The gate was depicted from the western side. The mighty stone walls with battlements – remnants of the ancient fortifications – evoke respect and admiration. Street vendors are seen sitting in front of the gate, while the inhabitants of Jerusalem stand or stroll on the street. On the right side, against the backdrop of the Citadel of David, a group of men leads laden donkeys. At the edge of the photograph, there is a British soldier wearing a field cap. In the lower left corner, there is an English inscription with the description: "Jerusalem – Jaffa Gate". On the reverse side, at the top edge, there is the English designation: "POSTCARD" and the geographic name "Palestine". Below that is the term "Copyright" and the publisher's information: "L & L C.". At the bottom edge, on the left side, the title of the postcard is printed in German: "Jerusalem – Jaffa Gate". The postcard was purchased for the collection of the District Museum in Leszno in 2012 from from Marta Pogoreło of Leszno.
Dariusz Czwojdrak
