The Temple and the Temple Mount served as a focal point for Jewish religious ceremonies from around 1,000 BC until 70 AD, when the Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans.
During the Second Temple period, King Herod the Great (37 BCE - 4 BCE) embarked on a massive building campaign to enlarge and improve both the Temple and the Mount where it stood. According to historical accounts, Herod’s Temple Mount was a massive and magnificent complex of buildings, one of the most impressive in the ancient Mediterranean world.
The fragments in this exhibition were originally part of the Royal Stoa – a public structure located originally along the southern wall on the Temple Mount. The high craftsmanship and design motifs of the artifacts confirm the grandeur of the Royal Stoa, as well as the strong influence of the Greco-Roman style of architecture. These fragments have helped archaeologists reconstruct the historical site and understand more about the time period.
For more information, please contact
Mrs Helena Sokolov
, Coordinator of Special Projects - National Treasures