History of the name "Valley of Jehoshaphat" in Crimea is associated with the Karaites - a small Turkic ethnic group that lived in Chufut-Kale, a cave fortress city near Bakhchisarai. Presumably, the Judaism professing Karaites had named this area the Valley of Jehoshaphat, and located their cemetery at the valley entrance. The gravestones have Jewish inscriptions on them, the oldest ones date back to 1249; the burials still take place here. The name "Valley of Jehoshaphat" is found in Old Testament and other religious writings; it's situated in Jerusalem area but doesn't have an exact location. There is the Valley of Jehoshaphat in Vinnitsa region, with the sacred spring (site of pilgrimage). All names "Valley of Jehoshaphat" are directly or indirectly connected with burial places.
Add new comment