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Match Context and Document information |
URL: | https://www.bible.ca/archeology/bible-archeology-jerusalem-t emple-mount-threshing-floor-walls-stones.htm |
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Depth: | 6 links away from Home |
Size: | 10,180 bytes |
Modified: | 2024-05-17 03:01:17 |
Categories: | -None- |
Title: | The wailing wall was built by "Hadrian" not "Herod" |
Description: | -None- |
Keywords: | -None- |
Meta data: | -None- |
Body: | The temple mount walls are more likely "Hadrian" then "Herodian": While most people refer to the border cut around the stones (embossed frames) as "Herodian", many of Herod's projects did not cut the "pillow border" into the stones. When Herod did cut the border onto the stones, the work was much sloppier than we see on the temple mount walls. This style was not unique to Herod being used between 700 BC - 1100 AD by many different builders. A simple glance at the outer walls of the temple mount show that there have been multiple constructions over a thousand years. The wall has been destroyed several time, repaired and endured many earth quakes. The foundation level stones at the bottom of the wall were set it place by either Herod in 25 BC or Hadrian in 135 AD. In addition to the fact that the current size of the temple mount area is twice as large as what Josephus recorded in 70 AD is one piece of evidence that Hadrian, not Herod built the wailing wall. Only a small central section of the outer wall is considered to be built before Herod. When you compare the temple mount walls with other projects we know for certain he did build, we find some major differences. First, most of Herod's projects used stones much smaller than the temple wall and most did not have the pillow cut border around each stone. These projects include: Masada, Herodian, Cypros and Jericho, the stones are small, rough and have no cut frames. Herod's projects where he used the "embossed frame" include: David's Tower, Caesaria and Shomron. But workmanship is noticeably different since the cuts are rough and the stones are smaller than the temple mount walls. The stones that compose the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron are of similar size, quality as the temple mount walls, they are "pillow cut". However these is no evidence in any literary sources that Herod actually built the structure. The Temple of Jupiter in Baalbek, Lebanon, has a complex history with no one single builder. Augustus was said to start the project and Hadrian is said to have worked on the temple at Baalbek. It does have the "pillow cut" stones in one portion of the temple. Below is a photo of a man sitting on one set of stones, then the huge "Trilithon" stones, then directly above these on the corner, you can see the "embossed frame" cut stones that are similar in size and design to the wall at the temple mount. (Link to detailed view of the Temple of Jupiter in Baalbek ) Click on photo for high resolution Click to View Click to View Both the Cave of the Patriarchs and the Temple of Jupiter in Baalbek are close matches in their stonework. More work needs to be done to determine exactly who built the Cave of the Patriarchs, which is almost universally ascribed to Herod. We know that Hadrian did not build Cave of the Patriarchs, so if not him or Herod then who? We need proof that it was Hadrian who laid the "pillow cut" stones in the Temple of Jupiter in Baalbek. Building Builder Embossed "pillow cut" stones Size of stones compared to Temple mount walls Size of building notes Temple Mount Herod or Hadrian? Yes - Josephus: 60 dunams Temple Mount Herod or Hadrian? Yes - Today: 150 dunams Jupiter Temple Area in Baalbek, Lebanon Augustus, Titus & Hadrian Yes, some similar size 52 dunams Ostia Temple Area Hadrian no smaller clay bricks 15 dunams Hercules Temple Area in Tivoli, Italy coin Hadrian 7 dunams Temple of Zeus in Athens Hadrian no smaller Hadrian set up a gold and ivory inlaid statue of the Zeus inside the temple. Next to it he placed a huge statue of himself. Both these statues have since been lost. Pantheon, Rome Rebuilt from scratch by Hadrian after fire. Hadrian's Arch, Athens Hadrian No On one side, an inscription reads "This is Athens, the ancient city of Theseus." The other side reads: "This is the city of Hadrian and not of Theseus." Hadrian's Arch, Jerash, Jordan Hadrian's Arch closeup Hadrian No Hadrian's Arch, was built at the entrance to the town to celebrate his arrival. Hadrian's Villa, Tivoli Italy Hadrian no small clay bricks very large complex Hadrian's Wall England Hadrian no smaller stones 80 mile long wall bordering England and Scotland By Steve Rudd: Contact the author for comments, input or corrections. Click to View Go To Start: WWW.BIBLE.CA |