Cave of Machpelah - Muslim Quarters

We were turned away the first time we came to the security check point, because it was midday prayer time, but we returned in a half an hour and we could enter and the place was virtually empty.
This complex is called by Muslims, the "Ibrahimi Mosque" or 'Sanctuary of Abraham'.

















Keep in mind that the actual burial tombs are in a cave underneath this mosque, which is not accessible, however, this structure houses the monuments, or cenotaphs, they're called of four biblical couples: (1) Adam and Eve (2) Abraham and Sarah; (3) Isaac and Rebekah; (4) Jacob and Leah, though some Christians maintain a tradition that the skull of Adam, at least, is buried under Golgotha. According to Midrashic sources the Cave of Patriarchs also contains the head of Esau, and to Islamic sources, is also the tomb of Joseph. However Joseph's tomb is allegedly in Nablus, Israel on the West Bank.










Because all of the tombs really all look alike I decided to just post Abraham's monument. The cenotaphs all have a distinctive red and white horizontal striped pattern to their stonework, but are usually covered by decorative green cloth.