This photo requires some explanation.  This is the Turkish State Seal that was placed on the pillar that stood at the entrance of Rachel's Tomb--now covered by the roof of the new structure.  The pillar was from the period of the Ottoman Turkish occupation which was roughly from 1570 to when the European powers pushed them out about 1840.   It was originally set at the roadside at the entrance to Bethlehem but was moved by Arabs sometime between 1948 and 1967.

The seal here has all the symbols of authority of the Turkish State.  What's interesting is that this pillar is very recent, only about 100 years old, as evidenced by the fact that the seal has a number of modern items on it.  The gentleman in the photo is pointing to a modern pistol and on the opposite side of the seal is a cannon.

Directly below the seal is the remains of a water pipe that once connected to a faucet.  This was provided by the Ottoman Turks for a two-fold purpose.  On the one hand it aided the comfort of weary travelers would have washed their feet and hands to refresh themselves when they arrived at Bethlehem. On the other hand, the Turkish State Seal was placed right above the faucet and would have made it abundantly clear to the wayfarer who was the regional authority in that area.