How Long Did It Take To Walk Around Jericho Once

How Long Did It Take to Walk Around Jericho Once? Unpacking the Ancient City's Circumference and Walking Times

The question, "How long did it take to walk around Jericho once?" seems deceptively simple. However, accurately answering it requires a deep dive into Jericho's history, archaeology, and the very nature of "walking around" an ancient city. This isn't a straightforward calculation of distance and pace; it's a journey through time, exploring the evolving dimensions of Jericho and the varying experiences of those who traversed its walls. This article delves into the complexities of this question, examining different periods of Jericho's history and the factors influencing walking times.

A Brief History of Jericho: Layers of Time and Walls

Jericho boasts an incredibly rich history, making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Its history spans millennia, with multiple settlements and fortifications built atop each other. This layering significantly impacts our understanding of its circumference and, consequently, how long it took to walk around it. We can't speak of a singular "Jericho" but rather numerous Jerichos, each with its own dimensions and walking time.

• Pre-Pottery Neolithic Jericho (PPNA): This early settlement, dating back to around 10,000 BCE, was likely a smaller, less structured community. Its "walls," if they can even be called that, were probably rudimentary earthworks, making a precise calculation of circumference almost impossible. A walk around this early Jericho would have been a short affair, perhaps taking only a few minutes to an hour, depending on the actual size.

• Pre-Pottery Neolithic Jericho (PPNB): The later Pre-Pottery Neolithic B period (around 8350 – 7000 BCE) saw the construction of the iconic, massive tower and wall, considered by many to be the oldest known example of monumental architecture. This era’s Jericho presented a larger circumference, likely taking significantly longer to circumnavigate. Estimating the time requires speculating about the exact perimeter, considering that parts of the structure likely followed the contours of the terrain. A plausible estimate, given the size of the excavated remains and interpretations of the overall structure, might place a full circuit in the range of 1-2 hours.

• Bronze Age Jericho: Jericho's story continues into the Bronze Age, with further expansions and modifications to its defensive systems. The city's size varied over the centuries, influenced by periods of growth and decline. Determining the walking time here depends entirely on which specific Bronze Age period we're considering. The variations in city size could easily extend the walking time to 2-4 hours, or even longer, depending on the era.

• Iron Age and Beyond: The Iron Age and subsequent periods saw Jericho's story continue, though its dimensions likely fluctuated. The exact dimensions of these later incarnations of the city are also subject to much scholarly debate and ongoing archaeological discovery, adding another layer of complexity to the question. Walking time would naturally vary based on the particular size and layout of the city at each stage of its development.

Factors Influencing Walking Time:

Beyond the fluctuating size of Jericho across millennia, several other factors impact the time it took to walk around the city:

• Pace of the Walker: A brisk walk is vastly different from a leisurely stroll. A soldier patrolling the walls would likely move at a much faster pace than a civilian taking a stroll. This difference in pace could easily add or subtract significant time from the overall journey.

• Terrain: The terrain around Jericho is not uniformly flat. Uneven ground, slopes, and potential obstacles would naturally slow a walker down, adding to the overall time.

• Obstacles and Gateways: The presence of gates, towers, and other architectural features within the city walls would necessitate adjustments in walking route, increasing the overall distance and time taken to complete a full circuit.

• Purpose of the Walk: A hurried journey would differ from a purposeful inspection of the fortifications. Someone inspecting the walls for breaches would naturally move more slowly, while a messenger might rush along the easiest route.

• Carrying Burden: Individuals carrying heavy loads, such as soldiers with equipment or merchants with goods, would invariably walk more slowly than those without burdens.

Methodology and Limitations:

Accurately determining the walking time around Jericho for any specific historical period presents significant challenges. Archaeological evidence provides only partial glimpses into the city's layout and dimensions at various points in its history. Much of the city's structure has been lost to time, erosion, and later construction.

Furthermore, we lack detailed records from ancient Jericho describing the exact dimensions of its walls, its gates, and the overall layout of its streets and buildings. Any attempt at precise measurement remains heavily reliant on interpretation and speculation based on the available archaeological data.

Conclusion: A Spectrum of Walking Times

Instead of providing a single definitive answer, it's more accurate to depict a spectrum of possible walking times around Jericho, spanning various periods and scenarios. A brisk walk around a smaller, early Jericho might have taken as little as 30 minutes to an hour. However, for later, larger versions of the city, a complete circuit might have easily taken several hours, depending on the pace, terrain, and the presence of obstacles.

Ultimately, the question of how long it took to walk around Jericho encapsulates the city's enduring story, highlighting its layered history and the limitations of our current understanding. It reminds us that while we can strive for quantitative answers, the qualitative aspects of ancient life often remain elusive, inviting further research and discussion. Each attempt to reconstruct the past emphasizes the complexity and richness of Jericho's historical legacy, ensuring that it remains a captivating subject of study for years to come.