Mount Scopus

Mount Scopus
הַר הַצּוֹפִים Har HaTsofim جبل المشارف Ǧabal al-Mašārif
The Hebrew University campus and tower on Mount Scopus from the south
Highest point
Elevation	826 m (2,710 ft)
Coordinates	31°47′33″N 35°14′39″E / 31.79250°N 35.24417°E / 31.79250; 35.24417Coordinates: 31°47′33″N 35°14′39″E / 31.79250°N 35.24417°E / 31.79250; 35.24417
Geography
Location	Jerusalem
Parent range	Judaean

Mount Scopus (Hebrew: הַר הַצּוֹפִים Har HaTsofim, "Mount of the Watchmen/Sentinels"; Arabic: جبل المشارف‎‎ Ǧabal al-Mašārif, lit. "Mount Lookout", or جبل المشهد Ǧabal al-Mašhad "Mount of the Scene/Burial Site", or جبل الصوانة Jabal as-Suwwanah, "Mount as-Suwwanah") is a mountain (elevation: 2710 feet or 826 meters above sea level) in northeast Jerusalem.

In the wake of the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, Mount Scopus became a UN-protected Israeli exclave within Jordanian-administered territory until the Six-Day War in 1967. Today, Mount Scopus lies within the municipal boundaries of the city of Jerusalem.

The ridge of mountains east of ancient as well as modern Jerusalem offers the best views of the city, which it dominates. Since the main part of the ridge bears the name Mount of Olives, the name "lookout" was reserved for this peak to the northeast of the ancient city. Its name in many languages (Hebrew, Arabic, Greek and Latin) means "lookout." Scopus is a Latinisation of the Greek word for "watcher", skopos, the same as in "telescope" (tele- meaning far and skopos - watcher). Adding to the multi-layered meaning of the name, it is also said that in times in which Jews were not allowed to enter Jerusalem by the city's Roman or Christian authorities, they used to come and look at their former capital from this vantage point.

Overlooking Jerusalem, Mount Scopus has been strategically important as a base from which to attack the city since antiquity. The 12th Roman Legion camped there in AD 66. In AD 70, at the conclusion of the same war that led to the destruction of the Jewish Temple, Mount Scopus was used as a base to carry out the final siege of the city by the same 12th Legion, plus the 15th and 5th Legions, while the 10th Legion was positioned on the continuation of the same ridge, known as the Mount of Olives. The Crusaders used it as a base in 1099.