Farther east on Tiferet Yisrael Rd. smolders the Burnt House (tel. 28 72 11), the remains of the dwelling of a wealthy priest’s family from the Second Temple era. In 70 AD, the fourth year of the Jewish Revolt, the Romans destroyed the Second Temple and, one month later, broke into Jerusalem’s Upper City, burning its buildings and killing its inhabitants. The excavation of the Burnt House provided some of the first direct evidence of the destruction of the Upper City: its charred walls had collapsed, crushing jugs and furniture beneath them, and near a stairwell the grisly bones of a severed arm reached for a carbonized spear. Sound and light shows are set inside the Burnt House, recreating the events of its destruction. (Open Sun.-Thurs. 9am-5pm, Fri. 9am-lpm. Programs in English at varying times, depending on demand. Admission NIS3.5O, students N1S3. No smoking.) Off of the Jewish Quarter’s main square, the Wohl Museum around the side of the Yeshivat haKotel houses the recently opened Herodian Quarter (tel. 28 34 48), which features three mansions built for the Second Temple’s high priests (kohanim). The houses contain mosaics, several ritual baths (piikvaot), and stone and pottery dishes unearthed during excavations. (Open Sun.-Thurs. 9an>5pm, Fri. 9am-lpm. Admission NIS6.50, students NIS6. Combined ticket to Burnt House and Herodian Quarter NIS8, students N1S7.50.)

Following Plugat haKotel Rd. from Hurva Synagogue Sq. brings you past the Wide Wall, the remains of the Israelite wall that encircled the City of David, the Temple Mount, and the Upper City. The wall was built by King Hezekiah along with his tunnel (see City of David section) to defend the city and ensure water provision during attacks and sieges by Assyrian King Sennacherib in die 8th century BC.