Section E New Testament
Chapter 36 - Southeast End of Eastern Temple Mount Wall
This is the southern end of the eastern city wall. It is clear where the Hasmoneans added on to Solomon's walls since there is a slight bend in the wall at this location. It is also very clear where Herod added onto the Hasmonean walls since the blocks do not overlap but instead have a straight joint where Herod’s ashlar blocks butt up against the Hasmonean blocks. This portion of the east wall also serves as the east side of the Temple Mount wall. The dotted white line across the surface of the Temple Mount indicates where Solomon’s platform (500 cubits by 500 cubits) would have ended in the south. The dotted black line across the surface is how far the Hasmoneans extended the Temple Mount to the south. This would have covered over a portion of the Seleucid Acra fortress. Herod then extended the Temple from the dotted black line (or, the straight joint) to the present southern wall which includes the Double and Triple Gate. This is the Beautiful Gate where Peter healed the crippled beggar in Acts 3.
There are several things to notice in this photo:
1. Galyn points at the Straight Joint that was formed when Herod added onto the southern side of the Temple Mount in 19 BC. The Hasmonean ashlar stones can be seen on the right with their margins and their course bosses. To the left of the straight joint Herodian ashlar stones can be seen. The Herodian ashlars also have a margin cut on them, but the bosses have been cut smooth.
2. The Hasmonean stones were clearly built as a corner, since the corner edge was worn off and chipped before it was enclosed into the wall in 19 BC. This is also clear from the fact that the stones were laid as headers and stretchers (i.e., the direction of the longer length of the stones alternate as they go up the corner). For example, the stone behind Galyn’s head is long on the outside, but the one above it runs long to the inside.
3. Notice that once the wall reaches about the ninth course the stones change and the seam is no longer visible. This is because this wall was dismantled by the Romans in 70 AD to about that level. Over the years the wall above the ninth course has been rebuilt by a variety of people with a variety of stones.
4. To the left at about the ninth row, the remains of an arch and gate from the days of Herod can be seen. This would be very similar in style to Robinson’s arch on the west side of the Temple Mount, directly opposite this one.
This is the south end of the eastern Temple Mount wall. A stairway led up to a gate that took worshippers to the surface of the Temple Mount. The projected ashlars to the left (south) of this photo indicate the position of a tower. The location of three windows in the tower can be seen in other photos.
This is a close up of the wall above and the location of an eastern arched gate at the top of a stairway. It can be thought of as the eastern wall’s version of Robinson's arch found on the west side.
This photo is the view looking north from the southeast corner outside the Temple Mount wall.
At the point of the arrow, the wall bends and begins to drift to the east (right) at the place where the Hasmoneans added onto the existing Temple Mount wall.
View of the southeast corner of the Temple Mount. This is where Satan tempted Jesus to jump. In 26 AD there would have been a high tower at the top of this corner.