Second Temple

Second Temple. The Second Temple was the Jewish holy temple that stood on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem between c. 516 BCE and 70 CE. It succeeded the First Temple and served as the central place of Israelite and later Jewish worship, pilgrimage, and sacrifice. Its destruction by the Roman Empire in 70 CE marked a pivotal transformation in Jewish history and religious practice.

History and construction

Following the Babylonian captivity and the decree of Cyrus the Great, construction began under the leadership of the Jewish governor Zerubbabel and the high priest Joshua. This initial structure, completed around 516 BCE, was modest compared to its predecessor. The temple's fortunes rose significantly during the Hasmonean dynasty, which established an independent Judea following the Maccabean Revolt. The most extensive renovation was initiated by Herod the Great, a client king of Rome, around 20 BCE. Herod's ambitious project vastly expanded the Temple Mount platform and refurbished the sanctuary itself, creating one of the most magnificent complexes in the ancient world. This construction continued for decades, not being fully completed until just before the outbreak of the First Jewish–Roman War.

Architecture and layout

The complex was centered on the sanctuary building, which was divided into the Holy of Holies, the Heichal (main hall), and a porch. It was surrounded by a series of courtyards with increasing levels of restriction. The innermost was the Court of the Priests, containing the Altar of Sacrifice and the Brazen Sea. This was enclosed by the Court of Israel, then the Court of Women. The entire inner precincts were set within the vast Court of the Gentiles, a massive plaza bounded by magnificent porticoes, the most famous being the Royal Stoa and Solomon's Porch. The perimeter was supported by massive retaining walls, like the Western Wall, which survives today. The grandeur of the building, particularly its white marble and gold adornments, was famously described by the historian Flavius Josephus.

Religious significance and practices

As the sole location for prescribed sacrificial offerings, it was the focal point of Jewish religious law. All adult Jewish males were required to make pilgrimage during the Three Pilgrimage Festivals of Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot. The temple liturgy was administered by the Kohanim (priests) and Levites, with the High Priest performing unique rites on Yom Kippur. The temple also served as the seat of the Sanhedrin, the supreme judicial court. It housed the ritual objects described in the Torah and was the repository for the Half-shekel tax collected from the Jewish diaspora. The temple's central role made it a potent symbol of Jewish identity and national unity.

Destruction and aftermath

The temple was destroyed by the legions of the future Emperor Titus after a brutal siege during the First Jewish–Roman War in 70 CE. The event was chronicled in detail by Josephus and is commemorated by the Arch of Titus in Rome, which depicts the looted treasures, including the Menorah. The destruction precipitated a profound religious crisis, leading the rabbis at the Council of Jamnia to reformulate Judaism around synagogue worship and Torah study. The loss of the temple directly influenced the development of Early Christianity and Rabbinic Judaism. The subsequent Bar Kokhba revolt led to the final expulsion of Jews from Aelia Capitolina, the Roman city built on Jerusalem's ruins.

Archaeological evidence and research

While the sanctuary itself is inaccessible for excavation, extensive archaeological work around the Temple Mount has revealed much about its setting. Key finds include the massive ashlars of the Western Wall, the Robinson's Arch springer, and the Herodian street running along the wall's foundation. The The Temple Mount Sifting Project has recovered thousands of artifacts from the period. Inscriptions like the Theodotus inscription and the Trumpeting Place inscription provide direct epigraphic evidence. Research continues on related sites such as the City of David and the Pool of Siloam, which were integral to the temple's water supply and pilgrimage rituals.

Category:Jewish temples Category:Second Temple period Category:Destroyed temples Category:Herod the Great