Graffiti of 15th-century Swiss hero found in Jerusalem

Adrian von Bubenberg, who went down in history as a hero of medieval Switzerland, made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1466. Israeli researchers have now discovered this graffiti with his name and family crest on the site of David’s tomb in Jerusalem.

The discovery was made by Michael Chernin and Shai Halevi of the Israel Antiquities Authority as part of their work documenting medieval inscriptions in Jerusalem, many of which were left behind by European pilgrims. This is one of more than 40 inscriptions in different languages ​​discovered using advanced technological methods. These technologies, using multispectral photography, different wavelengths, invisible to the human eye, reveal faded and erased inscriptions over the years.

“During the Mamluk period, between 1332-1551, the complex of buildings adjoining the traditional tomb of King David belonged to monks of the Franciscan Catholic order,” Michael and Shai say. “The building served as a monastery and hostel for Western pilgrims who left their mark on the walls. Technological techniques developed today make it possible to read faded inscriptions.