Konrad Grünenberg (1442-1494) was a prominent citizen and master-builder from the city of Konstanz, Germany. Knighted in 1485, he participated in 1486 in a pilgrimage to Palestine, a journey that he carefully documented through spectacular drawings and maps that show a wealth of topographic detail i.
His depiction of Jerusalem views the city from the Mount of Olives, the Dome of the Rock dominating the center in front, separated from the Al-Aqua mosque by an olive orchard. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is at the top to the right, and the fortification at the bottom right is St. Stephen’s Gate or Sheep Gate, today better known as Lion’s Gate that marks the beginning of the Via Dolorosa. Also visible is David’s Citadel, near Jaffa Gate, and Sion hill to the left. The Cardo Maximus, the colonnaded and vaulted, three-aisle main boulevard of Roman origin is visible behind the Dome of the Rock. Between two hills in the background, the tower named Turis Josep refers to the site revered as Joseph’s tomb in Nablus.
i٫ For more spectacular images go to http://bibliodyssey.blogspot.com/2009/10/konstanz-to-jerusalem.html
