He will discuss the importance of Jerusalem to Islam, Christianity and Judaism, and the implication of sacred places for contemporary politics.

The development of the built environment of the Old City of Jerusalem is inescapably linked to ideologies and religious understanding. Jerusalem presents a unique case study as its urban landscape is the outcome of many former societies and regimes, mostly due to its crucial importance to the three monotheistic religions.

In this lecture professor Luz will discuss the links between the construction of the city religious status in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and the development of the built environment, more precisely the sacred centers of the city.

Using texts and landscapes of all religions concerned he outlines the ways through which the city was consecrated to all Abrahamic religions and contested among them. The lecture surveys the major developments of the city's built environment in a chronological form and analyzes the urban development through multi and interdisciplinary prisms.

It highlights the construction of the sacred understanding in all three religions and alludes to contemporary political implications.