Mount Zion (Hebrew: , Har Tzion) is a hill just outside the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem. The term "Zion" became synonymous with the entire city of Jerusalem and the Land of Israel. There is reason to believe that in Biblical times the name Mount Zion referred to the area of what today is called by Jews the Temple Mount. However, as early as the first century the hill today called Mount Zion had acquired the name for unknown reasons. Between 1948 and 1967, this narrow strip of land was a designated no-man's land between Israel and Jordan. House of Caiaphas / Saint-Peter-in-Gallicantu Church is built in the slopes of mount Zion. It was built in 1931. • According to tradition, this was the place of the palace of high priest Caiaphas, where Jesus was brought to jail after his arrest. Its name (Gallicantu, means the cock's crow) is given after the story of Peters triple denial of Christ and the cock crowing twice. This official residence would have been an extensive complex, built by Annas (who continued to maintain influence over the high priesthood, arranging for several family members to become such). The complex would have had a gate from the street, leading to a courtyard, which would have been surrounded by several connected buildings including residences for Annas and Caiaphas. It would not have been uncommon for informal meetings of the Sanhedrin to take place at this location, though this would not excuse the fact that such a trial was taking place after dark. • In the court yard of the church is a statue that describes the events (see Mark 14) of the denial of Jesus by Peter, the cock (seen on the top), the maid, and the Roman soldier. The inscription reads parts from Luke 22: 57: "But he denied him, saying: Woman, I know him not".
• On the basement of the church is an array of caves. These were cut into the rock under the houses of the ancient city. According to the tradition, these caves included a jail where Jesus was held after his arrest. A dungeon type chamber, hewn out of bedrock, New Section 1 Page 1