Leonardo da Vinci in Jerusalem
Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting “The Last Supper” portrays the final meal that Jesus shared with his disciples. While it is commonly believed that the meal took place on Leil Ha-Seder, Passover Eve, some scholars argue that this is not certain.
According to Christian tradition, the supper took place in the Last Supper Room, also known as Coenaculum or Cenaculum in Latin, which means “dining room”. The room is located on Mount Zion, just above the tomb of King David, in a Crusader basilica from the 12th century. Although it is clear that the feast did not take place in this room itself because it is only about 800 years old, according to common tradition this was the actual location where it took place. Another tradition of the Syrian Orthodox Church suggests that the feast took place in a room located under the Church of St. Mark in the Old City of Jerusalem, which is identified as the home of Mary, the mother of Mark the Evangelist.
The Last Supper is a significant and defining event in Christian theology. During the feast, Jesus instructed his disciples to eat from the holy bread and drink from the holy cup, because the bread is his body and the wine is his blood. This symbolizes Jesus’ devotion to believers. The Last Supper is commemorated by the sacrament of the Mass, one of the most central rites of Christianity that is practiced by all churches and all sects, which millions of believers have followed since then. At the corner of the Last Supper room, close to the exit door, a small marble column stands with a title decorated with a relief of a pelican. The chicks of the pelican peck at her body to keep from starving, and therefore it was used as a common artistic motif during the Middle Ages to symbolize the sacrifice of Christ.
During the 15th century, Mamluk authorities expelled Franciscan monks who guarded the place and turned it into a mosque. A Mihrab, a prayer niche indicating the direction of Mecca, can be found in the southern wall of the room, as well as colorful stained glass windows bearing Arabic verses from the Quran.
Two popes have visited the Last Supper room: Paul VI in 1964 and John Paul II in 2000. On the side of the room, there is a silver olive tree given as a gift to commemorate John Paul’s visit.
On the rooftop of the building is a small room that Israeli President Yitzhak Ben Zvi used while Eastern Jerusalem was under Jordanian rule. From the roof, there is a beautiful view of the Mount of Olives and the old city wall.
(Anecdote authored by: עמיר)
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