Other Ancient Steps in Jerusalem

Ancient Steps in Gethsemane

While blogging last week about the Rabbis' Teaching Steps, it occurred to me that there are any number of ancient steps of interest in Jerusalem.  In my first visit to the Church of Mary Magdalene this year, I came upon one such set of steps in the garden area of the compound which is actually a part of the Garden of Gethsemane.

My research suggests that the steps may date to the second century BCE.  If this is true, not only might Jesus have walked here with His disciples but so might the Hasmoneans, the Herodians, and pilgrims of all parties.  

If the garden was not a walled compound as today, the steps may have begun the ascent to the Mount of Olives.  The eastern traveler would have walked this way to Bethphage and the Wadi Qelt and the alternate route to Jericho.