3. Gehenna, Israel – A Valley of Fire and Damnation
Gehenna, also known as the Valley of Hinnom, is an ancient valley located just outside the old city of Jerusalem. Its name has been synonymous with hellfire for centuries, and it plays a crucial role in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions. People once performed horrifying rituals in the valley, sacrificing children by fire to the Canaanite god Moloch. Biblical texts condemned this gruesome practice, marking the valley as a place of eternal punishment.
By the time of the New Testament, Gehenna had transformed into a metaphor for hell itself, representing a place of unquenchable fire and suffering. The city later turned the valley into a garbage dump, continuously burning refuse, including animal carcasses and criminals’ bodies. This ever-present fire reinforced its grim reputation as one of the gates to hell in religious tradition. Today, Gehenna is a peaceful park, but its dark past continues to give it an eerie reputation.
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