Arrow Indicates Probable "Second Temple" Stones
Re-Used To Form Original Exterior East Wall
 |
| Exterior East Wall |
Northern section of the exterior east wall of ÷ÆáÆø ãÌÈåÄã äÇîÆìÆêÀ on äÇø öÄéÌåÉï. A cemetery abuts this east wall. (Photograph taken facing north-northwest.)
The lower levels of this northern section, and part of the northeast corner, are made of stones thought to be re-used from the Beit ha-Mi•qᵊdâshꞋ ha-Shein•iꞋ after its destruction in 70 C.E.
This site of the original Nᵊtzâr•imꞋ Beit ha-KᵊnësꞋët (see, for example, the article by Bargil Pixner, "Church of the Apostles Found on Mt. Zion," Biblical Archaeology Review, 90.05-06, XVI.3, p. 16ff) has been partially demolished and rebuilt several times. The earliest floor is thought to date from ca. 135 C.E. At least one archaeologist argues that these earliest sections date from ca. 73 C.E., shortly after the destruction of the Beit ha-Mi•qᵊdâshꞋ ha-Shein•iꞋ.
The úÌåÉøÈä niche, inside, reveals that the earliest sections are from either the pre-135 C.E. Nᵊtzâr•imꞋ – Jewish – Beit ha-KᵊnësꞋët under the first 15 Pᵊqid•imꞋ, or possibly a post-135 C.E. gentile Christian Church built, initially Jewish-style, on the same site by the first gentile (& Christian) bishop in 135 C.E. Archaeologists aren't yet sure which is the case.
© 1996-present by Paqid Yirmeyahu Ben-David,
Google+ registered author & publisher
