Chain Gate (Jerusalem)

It was known early Islamic period Bāb Daud, which means David's Gate.

It worth to notice that the closure of the northern gate happened a long time ago, with the historian Al-Omari (746 AH/1345 CE) mentioning this fact[dubious – discuss].

[1] Its construction was renewed in the Ayyubid period, in 600 AH/1200 CE, during the reign of King Issa[dubious – discuss].

[24] Once inside the compound, one can immediately see the Dome of Moses (south) and Fountain of Qasim Pasha (north, also named Sabīl Bāb al-Maḥkama, after the gate).

South of the gate, and part of the compound wall, one sees the at-Tankiziyya Madrasa.

[26] The current Street of the Chain leading to the gate is supported by a number of stone arches, now situated underground.

Its purpose was of offering access to the compound without the need to descend into the valley and climb back up on the Temple Mount.

For this reason, some leading archaeologists proposed in the 1990s that the Chain Gate and the bridge were built at the same time, that is: in the early Islamic period.