Robinson's Arch, Archaeological structure in Old City, Jerusalem, Israel
Robinson's Arch is a stone structure in Jerusalem's Old City that once connected people to the Temple Mount. The remains show carefully worked blocks of Jerusalem stone, still visible today.
American scholar Edward Robinson identified this structure in 1838 and recognized its connection to the Second Temple period. It originally served as a stepped bridge providing access to the Temple complex.
The arch carried pilgrims from the Lower Market's shops and the Tyropoeon street up to the Royal Stoa, a basilica used for commerce and legal matters. A gate at its top, about 5 metres wide, opened onto the Temple Mount esplanade. Today some groups use the surviving adjacent area for prayer.
The structure sits near the Western Wall and can be viewed through the Jerusalem Archaeological Park and the Davidson Center. Visitors should explore the site early in the day to allow time for the exhibitions.
The structure displays advanced stonecutting techniques from antiquity, with trapezoid-shaped blocks fitted together with precision. This craftsmanship allowed the construction to survive for millennia.
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