User:Temple Research

= Solomon's Temple - Unearthing the Mysterious Location =

Discover the Missing Link in the Search for Jerusalem's Temple Site
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= Locating Solomon's Temple =

= By Norma Robertson = "The Temple Mount in Jerusalem"

Introduction

The location of the Temple platform, where both Solomon and Herod's Temples once stood, has remained a mystery for almost two thousand years. There are five theories as to where the Temple was once located. The most popular is under the Dome of the Rock. The second theory shows it to be under the Dome of the Spirits just north of the Dome of the Rock. The third theory believes it was under the fountain, half way between the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aksa/Aqsa Mosque. The fourth has the Temple completely outside the Temple Mount in the midst of what used to be the City of David. The fifth is of course mine. Which shows the Temple to be in the most southern position on the Temple Mount, deep below and to the west of the Al  Aqsa Mosque.

The first four theories have one problem in common, lack of physical proof. They feel that if they were able to excavate on the Mount then they would find enough ruins of gates and walls etc. to prove the actual location. That, however, is not allowed by the Muslims.

I have found that there is a lot of physical proof, if you look to the south end of the Mount. I will be showing that physical proof in the form of pictures of the Ophel area, and old survey maps, drawn by the last explorers ever allowed to enter the underground chambers, cisterns, and water channels beneath the Mount.

When studying about the location of the Temple of God one of the most important things to do is to begin with the location of Solomon's Temple, built around 1000 BC. Herod tore down and rebuilt the Temple on the exact same location around 19 BC. His descendants then increased the temple fortress, or complex, that surrounded the Temple House, to be double the size according to Herod's plans. These walls doubling the size of the Temple complex, constructed of first century Herodian stone, were not completed until the mid 60's. The city and Temple were then destroyed a few years later in AD 70.

Josephus, a Jewish historian, lived during the time of the destruction of the Temple and city of Jerusalem, is a great source concerning the Temple. He wrote that Herod's Temple complex was a furlong in length and width. A furlong by a furlong is approximately 600 x 600 feet. This doubled the size of Solomon's Temple complex. Both Temple complexes shared the same east wall. Herod felt that the east gate was too beautiful to tear down, so refused to let his builders rebuild it. They merely extended the east wall to the north and to the south.

Table of Content

CHAPTER ONE .....................................................

INTRODUCTION

WATER SYSTEM

DIAGRAMS OF TEMPLE MOUNT

CHAPTER TWO ..................................................

NEHEMIAH WALL

FORT ANTONIA

THE MOAT

CITY WALLS

CHAPTER THREE ..............................................

THE TEMPLE GATES

TRIPLE GATE

SOLOMON’S PORTICO

DOUBLE GATE

CHAPTER FOUR .................................................

THE SOUTHEAST CORNER

ILLUSTRATION OF TEMPLE 70 AD

CHAPTER FIVE ...................................................

THE OPHEL EXCAVATIONS

CHAPTER SIX .....................................................

THE TEMPLE MOUNT PLATFORM

CHAPTER SEVEN ...............................................

THE SOUTHWEST CORNER

CHAPTER EIGHT ................................................

THE SOLOMONIC WALL

AKRA FOUND?