Twelve Stones of Jerusalem

Ideas Without Borders, a project of Beit Avi Chai cultural center, presents the video series Twelve Stones of Jerusalem. Each episode is written by archaeologist Yana Tchekhanovets of Ben-Gurion University and narrated in English by the award-winning author and journalist Matti Friedman.

The series tells the macro-history of Jerusalem across the ages through the micro-histories of twelve specific stones: the Foundation Stone, a stone of the Roman Tenth Legion, the earliest cup marks, a marble lion carved by Crusaders, the famous “Bird” mosaic from the Armenian church of the Old City, and more.

By closely examining each artifact, revealing its mysteries, and tracing the questions it raises, the series takes viewers on a captivating journey through time—from the Neolithic period to the first half of the 20th century.