Cavern of the Patriarchs, Cave and prayer site in Hebron, Palestine

The Cave of the Patriarchs is a large rectangular enclosure of massive light-tan ashlar blocks, topped by crenellations, with a round domed tower at its left. Inside, cenotaphs mark the traditional tombs of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob and Leah, while a small part of the double cave below remains accessible.

Herod ordered the monumental structure built around 20 BCE over the older cave system, using stone blocks of exceptional size. Byzantine builders later added a basilica before Muslim rulers converted the complex into a mosque, and Crusader invaders temporarily made Christian modifications.

The name Ibrahimi Mosque honors the prophet Abraham, while Jewish worship calls the site Ma'arat HaMachpela. Both communities hold their own ceremonies on different days, with religious festivals setting specific access times that regulate who enters when, shaping daily life around the dual function as a house of prayer for two faiths.

Security checks at the entrance can bring waiting times, and visitors should wear clothing that covers shoulders and knees. Separate entrances and areas divide access for different groups, so a tour shows only parts of the entire structure.

Few visitors know that only a small part of the caves below the building is accessible, and most underground rooms have remained sealed for centuries. Archaeologists have never conducted a complete exploration, so the exact extent of the cave system beneath the ground remains unknown.