"Last supper" - Coenaculum
This place, on Mount Zion, is the traditional site of the the location of the Last Supper ("Coenaculum"). The present day hall is a 12th C Crusader structure, built on top of King David's tomb.
Mark 15 15: "where I shall eat the Passover with my disciples? And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared"
Home > Sites > Jerusalem > The room of the "Last supper" - Coenaculum
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Contents:
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Overview:
The site is the traditional location of the upper room of the "Last supper" ("Coenaculum"). The "Last supper" is one of these most important events in the life of Jesus, which happened in the upper room of a building in Jerusalem. Jesus and his disciples held a Passover dinner, on the night before Jesus was captured by the Romans, trialed and crucified.
The hall of the Last supper is a 12th C Crusader structure, built on the upper level above the traditional place of the tomb of King David. The archaeological evidence on the lower floor, which revealed an Early Roman level, supports the possibility that this area was indeed the location of the room of the Last Supper.
History :
Mount Zion was also the site where some of the events of the last days of Jesus have happened. The "Last supper" is one of these most important events which, according to tradition, happened in the upper floor of the building where the tomb of David is located. As per Mark 15 15: "where I shall eat the Passover with my disciples? And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared".
St. Peter and the other apostles also talk about David's tomb in Acts 2 29: "...the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day." This text may relate to the original site of the tombs of the house of David, or the new location on Mount Zion.
- Byzantine period
Several hundred years later, during the Byzantine period, the early Christians built several churches around Mount Zion. The second level in this site was a Byzantine building, as determined by an archaeological survey that was conducted beneath the tomb of David, on the lower floor.
- Persian and Arab conquest
After the Persian or Arab conquest in the 7th C, the structure was destroyed, and the area remained in ruins from the 7th C until the 12th C.
- Crusaders
The Crusaders rebuilt some of the structures on Mount Zion, as well as many sections of Jerusalem. The present day Coenaculum hall is one of these 12th C Crusaders structures. After the Crusaders retreated (1187) the structured was cared by Monks.
- Middle ages
The Ottomans did not include the area inside the 16th C wall, but regarded the site as a Holy place - the site of the King David's tomb. They banished the monks, and transformed it into a mosque, adding changes which included a prayer corner, colorful windows and a Muezzin tower on the roof. The mosque was called E-Nebi Daud, or: the prophet David. In the building around the site lived a Muslim family, who held the keys to the site.
- Modern times
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On the ground level are several Jewish synagogues, and the site is one of the most Holiest Jewish places. The upper level is a holy place for Christians.
The place is open to the public and is a popular place, receiving hundreds of thousands visitors year round. |
Location:
The site is located on Mount Zion, outside of the old city walls and 100M south-west to Zion gate. It is easily accessed from the parking lot near the Zion gate; Walk through the alley towards Dormition abbey, and on its corner turn to the left side.
An aerial map is seen below. You can point on the purple points to navigate to the selected point - in this page and other pages.
Photos:
The entrance to the complex of King David's traditional tomb and the place of the Last supper is seen below - on the left side, where the synagogues are located on the lower level, the Christian site is on the second level, and the Muslim on the roof. The wall on the right is part of the Dormition abbey.
Click on the photos to view in higher resolution...
Up on the second floor is the Last Supper hall. On the photo below is the south side, and its two windows are seen on the left side.
Inside, is the Last Supper hall, seen below. The structure is a 12th C Crusaders arched hall, which was built over an earlier Byzantine building.
In the 16th C, the Ottomans transformed the structure to a mosque, and replaced its windows with these beautiful vitrages, as seen below. The Arabic text includes verses from the Koran, including a praise to King David (whom Islam regards also as a prophet).
Another view of the Holy place. The pilgrims are very excited - they dance, chant and pray. Some totally loose control, and the guards occasionally try to cool down the enthusiastic crowd.
View of the Last Supper hall towards the south-west corner. The staircase in the left side leads to the first floor, while the door on the left is an exit to the balcony overlooking the court yard.
Biblical References:
(a) Mark 14:12-26
The Last supper was held, according to tradition, in the upper floor above the present location of the tomb of David:
"And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover? And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him. And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us. And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. And in the evening he cometh with the twelve. And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me. And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I? And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish. The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.
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And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God. And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives". |
 Last supper -a painting in Mary's tomb |
(b) Matthew 26: 17-30
A parallel text from Matthew:
"Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover? And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover. Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said. And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives".
Links:
Etymology (behind the name):
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