The Dimensions & Structure

of King Herod's Temple

by Eulalio Eguia Jr.

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The Dimensions & Structure

of King Herod's Temple
by Eulalio Eguia Jr.
Synopsis: My belief that Solomons Temple was located at Ophel, or just south of the southwest corner of the
Temple Mounts wall, is supported by the following facts:
1.
A 3000 year old first temple water reservoir was discovered in the Jerusalem archaeological park,
underneath Robinson's arch on the southwest corner of the Temple Mount. It can hold more than 66,000 gallons or
250 cubic meters of water. I believe this underground water reservoir was the one used to wash away the blood
sacrifices from the Temple; and since it is higher in elevation than Ophel, it was able to flow water by mere force of
gravity to the Temple which I believe was in Ophel.
This is definite proof that the Temple was located further south of Robinsons arch where the elevation is
lower, and not north of Robinsons arch where the elevation is higher.
2.
The Trumpeting Place inscription is an inscribed stone from the 1st century CE discovered in 1968 by
Benjamin Mazar in his early excavations of the southern wall of the Temple Mount. It is thought to have fallen from
a tower at the southwest corner of the Temple Mount to the street below prior to its discovery. According to
Josephus this trumpeting tower "was erected above the roof of the Priest's Chambers.
Finding this inscribed stone on the southwest corner of the Temple Mount proves that the Priests
Chambers which were located inside the Court of Israel along with the Temple, were near this area where
the trumpeting stone was discovered.

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The Dimensions & Structure

of King Herod's Temple
by Eulalio Eguia Jr.
Hebrews 13:10 We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 The high priest
carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. 12 And so
Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 13 Let us, then, go to him outside
the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. 14 For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to
come.

Paul emphasized that Christ suffered and was crucified outside the city gate of Jerusalem. But the question is,
which gate did Christ exit, so that he can be crucified outside the city?
Nehemiah"s

Sheep Ga'te (3:1)

Flsh;~:3~

Olid

The walls and gates

of Jerusalem at the
time of Christ were
built by Nehemiah on
445 BC, and this
structure was ruined
by General Titus on
70 AD. It had 10
gates.

Jerusa~em Walls 445 BC - 70 AD

-,

Gate (3:6)

~:~lte
Wall of
Ophel

of
David

City

Nehemiah 3:1-3~

10

. .

lnspe~io11 Gale (3:31)

!East~ate (3:29)

Horse Gall! (3:28)

Kidron Valley

(Gihon spring)

.1. . .,~. . , , , ,

Dung Gate .(3:13)

~1fvue:tof

Mount of
Olives
Kidron Valley
City of
David

The 2 maps are not in scale

gates, and spans lesser length than Nehemiahs original walls. Now notice the following:

In 1537 AD Sultan
Suleiman I built new
walls and gates
alongside the remains
of Nehemiahs work.
It consists of only 8

1. The Temple Mount is located at the easternmost side of the city walls.
2. The Kidron Valley is a deep valley on the eastern side of The Old City of Jerusalem, separating the Temple
Mount from the Mount of Olives.
Now a special bridge was erected on top
of the Kidron Valley which led out from
the outer eastern gate of the Temple, and
connected with the Mount of Olives,
where the Red Heifer sacrifice takes place.
It was by this same bridge that the
scapegoat was taken out of the Temple
and into the desert on the Day of
Atonement.
This outer eastern gate of the Temple
which connects with the Mount of Olives
was called the Shushan gate.
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The Dimensions & Structure

of King Herod's Temple
by Eulalio Eguia Jr.
Middot 1.3 There were five gates to the Temple Mount: the two Huldah gates on the south, that served for coming in and for
going out; the Kiponus gate on the west, that served for coming in and for going out; the Tadi gate on the north which was not
used at all; and the Eastern gate on which was portrayed the Palace of Shushan. Through this the High Priest that
burned the [Red] Heifer, and the heifer, and all that aided him went forth to [the top of] the Mount of Olives.

By entering and exiting this outer eastern gate of the Temple, also called the Shushan gate, you enter and exit not
only the Temple, but the city of Jerusalem as well. This is because this gate was shared by the walls of the Temple
and the walls of the city. Also, among the 10 gates of the city, this gate was the only one that was associated with
animal sacrifices.
So this must have been the gate Paul was referring to when he said the following:
Hebrews 13:11 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are
burned outside the camp. 12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own
blood.

The prophet Ezekiel made a prophecy about the Prince who will enter the porch of the Shushan gate, and who will
also exit through the same porch:
Ezekiel 44:1 Then the man brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, the one facing east, and it was shut. 2 The
Lord said to me, This gate is to remain shut. It must not be opened; no one may enter through it. It is to remain shut because
the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered through it. 3 The prince himself is the only one who may sit inside the gateway
to eat in the presence of the Lord. He is to enter by way of the porch of the gateway and go out the same way.

While this prophecy involves Ezekiels temple

which hasnt been built yet, I believe this
prophecy was partially fulfilled by Christ when
he entered Jerusalem via the porch of the
Shushan gate, after coming down from the
Mount of Olives, and by way of the Red Heifer
bridge:
Luke 19: 28 After Jesus had said this, he went on
ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As he
approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill
called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his
disciples, saying to them, 30 Go to the village
ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a
colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie
it and bring it here. 37 When he came near the
place where the road goes down the Mount of
Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully
to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 38 Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the
Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest! 45 When Jesus entered the temple courts, he began to drive out those
who were selling.
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The Dimensions & Structure

of King Herod's Temple
by Eulalio Eguia Jr.
Notice that as soon as Christ entered Jerusalem, he was also seen entering the temple courts as well. This is
because as I mentioned earlier, the Shushan gate which Christ entered through its porch was the eastern gate not
only of the Temple, but also of Jerusalem.
The porch of the Shushan gate is more famously known as Solomons Porch, and is mentioned in the following
scripture:
Acts 5: 12 Many miracles and wonders were being performed among the people by the apostles. All the believers met
together in Solomon's Porch. 13 Nobody outside the group dared join them, even though the people spoke highly of them.
14 But more and more people were added to the groupa crowd of men and women who believed in the Lord.

(Some Bible commentators believe the pouring of the Holy Spirit which occurred on Pentecost day took place at
Solomons Porch, which also happens to be the favorite meeting place of the early Christians).
Was the Shushan gate shut when Christ entered Jerusalem via its porch? The purpose of the Shushan gate was to
perform the ceremony of the scape goat on the Day of Atonement (which happens only once a year), and to
perform the ceremony of the Red Heifer which only happens when a Red Heifer is born in Israel (and this has
happened only 9 times since Moses performed the first ever Red Heifer sacrifice). So when Christ entered
Jerusalem on a day other than the Day of Atonement, the Shushan gate was most likely shut and only the side
doors of its porch were opened.
Notice also that Ezekiels prophecy said the prince himself is the only one who may sit inside the gateway to eat in
the presence of the Lord. So when Christ entered Jerusalem via Solomons porch sitting on a donkey, Christ was
announcing to everyone, especially to the Temple priests, that He is Ezekiels prophesied Prince.
Zechariah 9: 9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and
victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Nehemiah's

Now which of
Nehemiahs 10 gates,
was the Shushan gate?

Walls 445 BC - 70 AD

Jerusalem

Sheel) Gate (3.1)

Fish Gat;!.J~ _

--1 '~
East Gate (J.29)

Horse G~le (J.28)

Kidron Valley

~hushan gate?,I,..,,,.,,
Old Gate

Pl

~:::.~::itJ..1
Wall of
Ophel

6'~ P-"I

City of

Mount of
Olives

David
(Gihon spring)

Dung Gate (3.13)

Many people believe the

Shushan gate was
Nehemiahs East gate
and/or the current
Golden gate.

Mount of
Olives

R
Fo,m,io G,t, p.1~

Kidron Valley

City of
Zion Gate

The 2 maps are not in scale

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David

And this is because they

believe the Temple was
located near the Dome
of the Rock.

The Dimensions & Structure

of King Herod's Temple
by Eulalio Eguia Jr.
The Golden gate is located in the northern third of the
Temple Mount's eastern wall. Closed by the Muslims
in 810, reopened in 1102 by the Crusaders, it was
walled up (sealed) by Saladin after regaining
Jerusalem in 1187.
Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent rebuilt it
together with the city walls, but sealed it up as well in
1541, and it stayed that way until today.

While Suleiman may have taken this decision purely for

defensive reasons, in Jewish tradition this is the gate
through which the Anointed One (Messiah) will enter
Jerusalem, and it is suggested that Suleiman the
Magnificent sealed off the Golden Gate to prevent the
Messiah's entrance. The Ottomans also built a
cemetery in front of the gate, in the belief that the
precursor to the Anointed One, Elijah, would not be
able to pass through the Golden Gate and thus the
Anointed One would not come.
In my previous blog
titled
Ophel - The
Location of King
Solomon's
Temple,
I identified where I
believe to be the
true location of
Araunahs
threshing floor,
where Solomon
built the temple.
This threshing floor
is opposite the altar
of the Red Heifer
which was also
built on a threshing
floor on top of the
Mount of Olives.
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The Dimensions & Structure

of King Herod's Temple
by Eulalio Eguia Jr.
In that previous blog, I showed a floor plan of what I believe to be Herods as well as Solomons Temple.
I made another Floor Plan of the Temple, this time showing also their dimensions in feet:

The House of Pharaoh's daughter was built on top of the underground water reservoir and was surrounded by a moat on its 3 sides 1
Kings 9:24. The house was later used as council-house, and a plaza and open terrace called the Xystus was built north of it.
Water from the reservoir flows to Millo, then to the Court of Israel, then to the Court of Women, and then finally to the Kidron Valley
because their elevations are succeslvely lower from each other. Thus the blood sacrifices from the Temple were cleansed away by the
reservoir towards the Kidron Valley.

Now notice the following:

Solomons Porch can be
entered by using one of the
Triple gates leading to it.
And once you are inside
Solomons Porch, on your left
side are a set of pillars leading
to the Inner Court of the
Temple.
Thus, by entering Solomons
Porch, you enter Jerusalem,
and by entering the Inner court
on the left, you now enter the
Temple.

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The Dimensions & Structure

of King Herod's Temple
by Eulalio Eguia Jr.
This is apparently
the steps Christ (and
the donkey he was
riding) made on
Palm Sunday, which
was also the
occasion when he
drove out the
merchants who were
selling in the Inner
court towards
Solomons Porch,
which is considered
outside the Temple

Triple Gates that lead to So:lo,mon's

Porch that leads to the Inner Court
grounds and where the merchants should be selling their merchandise.
The Triple Gate is 600 ft. from the south-west corner of the Temple Mounts southern wall.

The Double Huldah Gate on the Temple Mounts southern wall is largely concealed on the outside by a later
building; it is 41 feet wide and is divided in two by a large pillar. Thus, the Double Gates actual width was 82 feet.
The Triple Gate is an estimated 218 feet from the Double Gate. This gives the Court of Women a total width of (82
+ 218 = ) 300 feet. (The Court of Women was bounded to the north by the Double Gate and the separation
distance between the Double gate and the Triple Gate).

Since the Triple Gate is 600 ft. from the south-west corner of the Temple Mounts southern wall, and since the
Court of Women is 300 feet wide, this gives the Court of Israel (which was located west of the Court of Women) the
remaining (600 300 =) 300 feet for its width. fig.1, fig.2, fig.3, fig.4
Nehemiah's Jerusalem
based on Nehemiah 3:1-31

Walls 445 BC - 70 AD

Because I believe
that the Temple was
located at Ophel, I
placed the Shushan
gate and the Red
Heifer bridge
alongside Ophel.
Now the question is,
was there a gate
located at the eastern
wall of Ophel among
Jerusalem's gates
that was built by
Nehemiah?

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The Dimensions & Structure

of King Herod's Temple
by Eulalio Eguia Jr.
Well yes there was, and this gate was called the Horse gate! So the outer eastern gate of the Temple, called
Shushan, was one and the same as the eastern gate of Jerusalem that was called the Horse gate.
Nehemiah 3:26 Pedaiah son of Parosh built the next section, to a point on the east near the Water Gate and the tower
guarding the Temple. (This was near the part of the city called Ophel, where the Temple workers lived.) 27 The men of
Tekoa built the next section, their second one, from a point opposite the large tower guarding the Temple as far as the wall
near Ophel. 28 A group of priests built the next section, going north from the Horse Gate, each one building in front of his
own house. (GNT)

Nehemiah 3:28 tells us that the Horse Gate was located in front of the houses of the group of priests building this
section of the wall. These houses were mentioned in Nehemiah 3:26 to be located in Ophel. Thus, the Horse Gate
was the Jerusalem Gate located at Ophel.
Ezekiels prophecy which states that the Prince is to enter by way of the porch of the Temples eastern gateway
and go out the same way, implies that Christ must have left Jerusalem to be crucified in Calvary or Golgotha via
the same porch in which he entered triumphantly just 5 days ago. Also, by exiting Jerusalem via the porch of the
Shushan gate, Christ fulfilled the law of the Red Heifer sacrifice by being crucified at its altar, which is located at
the top of the Mount of Olives. Thus the evidence is compelling; Golgotha or Calvary is located at the Mount of
Olives.
To know more about the true location of Golgotha or Calvary, please read my previous blog having the
same title.
Before Christ was
crucified at the
Mount of Olives, he
was first taken to the
Sanhedrin to be
tried by the High
Priest Caiaphas.
This Sanhedrin was
located south of the
Court of Israel and
the Court of Women
in a section of the
Temple grounds
called the Royal
Porch.

The Royal Porch was an ancient basilica constructed by Herod the Great during his renovation of the Temple
Mount at the end of the 1st century BCE. Probably Herod's most magnificent secular construction, the three-aisled
structure was described by Josephus as deserving "to be mentioned better than any other under the sun". It served
as the seat of the Sanhedrin, Judaism's supreme judicial court. According to Josephus, it had pillars that stood in
four rows one over against the other, while the fourth row was interwoven into the wall.
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The Dimensions & Structure

of King Herod's Temple
by Eulalio Eguia Jr.
0000000000000000000000000000

30 feet wide,
50 feet high

0000000000000000000000000000
Assuming a 3 feet diameter for each pillar, the total width of the
Royal Porch, including the width of the 1st and 4th row of pillars
will be 111 feet.

These four rows of pillars included three intervals for walking in

the middle of this cloister; two of which walks were made
parallel to each other, and the breadth of each of them was 30
feet, the length was 1 furlong ( 660 feet), and the height 50
feet; but the breadth of the middle part of the cloister was one
and a half of the other (45 feet), and the height was double.
If we add the breadth of the two intervals for walking as well as
the middle interval, we get 30 + 30 + 45 = 105 feet. However,
this does not include the breadth or width of the 1st and 4th
row of pillars that borders these 3 intervals for walking.
Assuming a 3 feet diameter for each pillar, the total width of the
Royal Porch will be 105 + 3 + 3 = 111 feet.
Here is a close
up view of the
Temple's
eastern half:
The Single
Gate (B) is 123
feet from the
south-east
corner of the
wall.

Vaulted
arches
resling on massive Herodian
blocks
we.-e constructed
the trenches
in order to reduce
pressure
and to avoid collapse.

along

the perimeter

of

The Court of Women was constructed lower than the Court of Israel
in order for the water thal
cleanses
the blood sacrifices to flow naturally
towards
the sloped
trenches
and the Kidron
Valley .. Also, an aqueduct
from Wilson's
arch fed water to Fort Antonia and the upper Courts.
A - Red Heifer bridge to the Mount of Olives, B - Single gate in front of tower
used
catapults,
C - House of the Forest of Lebanon,
D - Solomon's Porch, E - Projecting
Nehemiah 3:27, F - Fort Antonia, G - Royal Porch and Sanhedrin

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to fire
Tower

I believe this
gate of the
Temple Mounts
southern wall
was right in
front of a Tower
which was
located between
the trench and
Solomons
Porch (D), and
was used to fire
catapults
coming from
that tower as
part of the
Temple Mounts
defense.

The Dimensions & Structure

of King Herod's Temple
by Eulalio Eguia Jr.
Solomons Porch
was also called the
Porch of Judgment:

.,
Solomon's Porch

1 Kings 7: 6 And he
[Solomon] made a
porch of pillars; the
length thereof was fifty
cubits [75 feet], and
the breadth thereof
thirty cubits [45 feet]:
and the porch was
before them: and the
other pillars and the
thick beam were
before them.

7 Then he made a porch for the throne where he might judge, even the porch of judgment: and it was covered with cedar
from one side of the floor to the other.

The Porch of Judgment (or Solomons Porch) is where I believe Herod tried Christ.
Luke 23:7 When [Pilate] learned that Jesus was under Herods jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem
at that time. 8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him.
From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort.

Speaking of Herod
Antipas, his nephew,
Herod Agrippa was
mentioned by
Josephus in the
following account:
About the same time
King Agrippa built
himself a very large
dining room in the
royal palace at
Jerusalem, near to the
portico (Xystus). Now
this palace had been
erected of old by the
children of Asamoneus
Herod'a view of the Altar is not obstructed by the Temple o.- any of its chambers. At the same
and was situated upon
time, he had a good view of the Xystus plaza as well, which was fess than 660 feet from his palace.
an elevation, and afforded a most delightful view to those that had a mind to take a view of the city, which prospect was
desired by the king; and there he could lie down, and eat, and from there observe what was done in the temple.
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The Dimensions & Structure

of King Herod's Temple
by Eulalio Eguia Jr.
By knowing the correct location of the Xystus plaza as well as the Temples altar, we can easily locate this royal
palace, which turned out to be where Lady Tunshuqs palace currently stands.

The House of the

Forest of Lebanon
was one of the
buildings Solomon
made which had
upper storerooms
separated by 3 rows
of 15 cedar pillars
each. This house
was right next to
Solomons Porch
which was the
popular gathering
place of the early
Christians.
This is actually where I believe the pouring of the Holy Spirit took place in Pentecost, in which 120 disciples
gathered in its upper chamber.
1 Kings 7: 1 Solomon also built a palace for himself, and it took him thirteen years. 2 The House of the Forest of Lebanon
was150 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. It had three rows of cedar pillars, 15 in each row, with cedar beams resting
on them. 3 The ceiling was of cedar, extending over storerooms, which were supported by the pillars. (GNT)

The House of the Forest of Lebanon and Solomons Porch were western extensions of Solomons Palace which I
believe was built on top of the underground chambers of the Temple Mount, currently known as Solomons Stables.
The dimensions of Solomons Stables (and therefore the Palace on top of it) were 99 feet from west to east and
225 feet from north to south. Solomons Palace may have never been rebuilt since the Babylonians destroyed it
together with the First Temple on 586 BC. fig.5

Josephus' dimensions
of Fort Antonia are 377
feet from East to
West, Western side
115 feet and Eastern
side 138 feet, with four
towers. And according
to him, It was situated
at the corner of two
cloisters of the court of
the temple; of that on
the west, and that on
the north;
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The Dimensions & Structure

of King Herod's Temple
by Eulalio Eguia Jr.
and on the corner where it joined to the two cloisters of the temple, it had passages down to them both. It is partly
surrounded by a deep ravine or trench 165 feet wide.
Note that Josephus did not say Fort Antonia was located at the northwest cloisters of the Temple; what he said was
that the Fort joined or connected to the corner or one end of the northwest cloisters, making Fort Antonia actually
attached at the northeast corner of the Temple. This is also why its western side (115 feet) is shorter than its
eastern side (138 feet).
The Fort Antonia was where I believe the Palace of the Roman governor was located and where Christ initially
stood before Pilate.
John 18: 28 Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early
morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the
Passover. 29 So Pilate came out to them and asked, What charges are you bringing against this man? 33 Pilate then went
back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, Are you the king of the Jews?

North of Fort
Antonia was an
inclined mosaic
stone pavement
that crosses the
165 feet ravine.
Just beyond this
pavement was
Gabbatha
(meaning
"elevated or a
platform") where
Pilate sat down on
the judges seat.
John 19: 12 Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, If you let this man go, you are no friend of
Caesar. And anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar. 13 When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat
down on the judges seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). 14 Here is your king,
Pilate said to the Jews. 15 But they shouted, Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him! Shall I crucify your king? Pilate
asked. We have no king but Caesar, the chief priests answered. 16 Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.

I believe this elevated platform where Pilate sat on the judges seat and where Christ was refused in favor of
Barabbas, was the Rock which eventually became the head stone of the Dome of the Rock.
Psalm 118: 22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
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The Dimensions & Structure

of King Herod's Temple
by Eulalio Eguia Jr.
Here is a close up
view of the
Temples
northwestern
portion:
Strabo in 15 AD
and Josephus in
100 AD describes
in detail the moat
that was filled
during the attack
by Pompey on the
temple in 63 BC.

arch crossing
30 feet
inside Templle
Mount from outsiide,
IB - Mosaic s,tone Pavement
leading to Gabbatha, C - Barcllays garte in front of tower. D - House of Pharaohs daughter turned into
council-houseJ IE - Porch with underground water reservoir l,eading to Robinsons arch., F - Robinsons
arch crossing 51 feet moat and 30 feet. insiide Temple Mount, G -MiHos Stone terraces
leading to
PorchJ H - stairs from out.er court leading to Robinsons arch that crosses
30 feet. iinside Temple Mount
I -Trumpeting tower (Noti1ce that whats preventing the 'Inner Court from having a 300 x 300 square
feel of floor area., just like the rest of the Courts. was the Fort Antonia}.
A -Wiilsons

Both describe a
large moat that
had been cut out
of rock on the
north side of the
temple. This moat
was 261 feet long
51 feet wide and
60 feet deep.

Interestingly, a 3000 year old first temple water reservoir (E) was discovered in the Jerusalem archaeological park,
underneath Robinson's arch (F) on the southwest corner of the Temple Mount and just north of Ophel, and below
the drainage channel recently uncovered in the same area. It was dug sometime between the time of Solomon and
the Babylonian captivity and can hold more than 66,000 gallons or 250 cubic meters of water.
Robinsons arch served as a bridge to cross the 51 feet wide moat between this reservoir and the southwest
corner of the Temple Mount, and goes as far as 30 feet inside the Temple Mount (this gives the bridge a total
length of 81 feet). This bridge is also situated 39 feet to the north of the southwestern corner of the Temple Mount's
wall, and has a width of 51 feet. fig.8 Since the underground water reservoir is higher in elevation than Ophel, it
was able to flow water by mere force of gravity to Millo and the Temple which I believe were in Ophel. This is
definite proof that the Temple was located south of Robinsons arch where the elevation is lower, and not north of
Robinsons arch where the elevation is higher.
The eyewitness account of a person named Aristeas who viewed the Temple in about 150 BC. Stated that:
The Temple faces the east and its back is toward the west. The whole of the floor slopes down to the appointed places, that
water may be conveyed to wash away the blood from the sacrifices. There are many openings for water at the base of the
altar so that all the blood of the sacrifices which is collected in great quantities is washed away in the twinkling of an eye.
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The Dimensions & Structure

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by Eulalio Eguia Jr.
I believe Solomon
built the house of
the Pharaoh's
daughter and its
porch on top of the
underground water
reservoir (which was
surrounded on its 3
sides by a moat),
and beside the
Court of Gentile's
western wall. This
implies that the
Pharaohs daughter
was a worshiper of the God of Israel who frequented the Gentile court.
1 Kings 9:24 But Pharaoh's daughter came up out of the city of David unto her house which Solomon had built for her: then
did he build Millo.

Who was the Pharaohs daughter whom Solomon married? I believe she may have been one of the daughters of
Pharaoh Akhenaten and his wife Nefertiti. Akhenaten is especially noted for abandoning traditional Egyptian
polytheism and introducing worship centered on the Aten, which is sometimes described as monotheistic.
The House of the Pharaohs daughter was later used as a council-house and a plaza and open terrace, called the
Xystus, was built just north of it. The Xystus was used as a place of assembly, and to hear public speeches made
from the western wall of the Temple Mount. fig.6
Josephus traces the path of the northern part of the First Wall of Jerusalem in The War of the Jews 4.2:

"Now that wall began on the north, at the tower called "Hippicus," and extended as far as the "Xystus," a place so called, and
then, joining to the council-house, ended at the west cloister of the temple."

Both the Xystus and the council-house were, therefore, situated along the First Wall of Jerusalem, the former lying
to the north and the latter to the south, and that the council-house was built just beside the west cloister of the
Temple.
While the First Wall connected the Hippicus tower with Xystus, Wilsons arch was a bridge with stairs that
connected Xystus to the Temple Mount, (i.e., 30 feet inside the Temple Mount and just north of the ravine).
Josephus mentions a bridge which connected the Temple Mount with the Upper City to the west during the Second
Temple period. This bridge once carried water via an aqueduct from Solomon's Pools. I believe this bridge was
Wilsons arch, which was connected to the First Wall of Jerusalem that runs up to the Upper City where the
Hippicus tower was located. fig.9
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And as was mentioned earlier, this First Wall joined and ended in the council-house which was also where the
reservoir underneath Robinsons arch is located. Thus, the source of water for this underground reservoir was
Solomons Pools. And this implies the pools and aqueducts were originally built by Solomon rather than the
Hasmonean kings as suggested by archaeologists.
The Xystus was an external colonnade going southwards, in which athletes exercised in the winter. Its length,
according to Vitrobius, and the restoration proposal of Paladio is about 360 feet.
Based on the principles of Roman design, the Xystus in Jerusalem stretched from east to west. Its northern wing
was adjacent to the wall and the row of pillars continued to the south. It is possible that the building was called
Xistus because of its shape, and was not used in Jerusalem for physical exercises but for meetings.
I believe the council-house was where Annas, the father-in-law of the High Priest Caiaphas was residing. And this
was where the soldiers first took Christ before taking him bound to Caiaphas in the Sanhedrin.
John 18: 12 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him 13
and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year... 24 Then Annas sent him
bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

If we trace the steps

Christ took before
being crucified in
the Mount of Olives,
we can see that
Christ went through
all the 4 corners of
the Temple.
First he went to the
council-house
which was located
west to face Annas,
then he was taken
to the Sanhedrin
which was located
south to face
Caiaphas,
afterwards he was
taken to Solomons
Porch which was
located east to be
judged by Herod,
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and finally he was taken to the Palace of the Roman Governor, or the Fort Antonia, which was located north to be
condemned to death by Pilate.
Barclays Gate which lies between the Xystus and the council-house is one of the Temple Mount's original gates. I
believe this gate of the Temple Mounts western wall was right in front of a Tower located between the ravine and
the Court of Gentiles. This gate was probably used to fire catapults outside and coming from the Tower. fig.11

The Trumpeting
Place inscription
is an inscribed
stone from the 1st
century CE
discovered in
1968 by Benjamin
Mazar in his
early excavations
of the southern
wall of the
Temple Mount.

rumpeting Place Inscription

It is believed to
be a directional
sign for the
priests who blew
a trumpet

announcing the beginning and end of the Shabbat in the Second Temple period. It is thought to have fallen from a
tower at the southwest corner of the Temple Mount to the street below prior to its discovery. Josephus explains the
procedure:
"And the last [tower] was erected above the roof of the Priest's Chambers, where it was the custom for one of the
priests to stand and to give notice, by the sound of a trumpet, in the afternoon of the approach, and on the following evening
of the close, of every seventh day, announcing to the people the respective hours for ceasing work and for resuming their
labors" (War 4.582-83).

Finding this inscribed stone on the southwest corner of the Temple Mount proves that the Priests Chambers which
were located inside the Court of Israel along with the Temple, were near this area where the trumpeting stone was
discovered. fig.10
The Millo was a Canaanite fortification that existed prior to the time King David took the city for Israel in about 1000
BC. It was located just beyond Mount Zion and outside of the City Of David. The Millo consisted of earth-filled walls
which served as the City' of Davids northern defense perimeter when pre-Israelite Jerusalem was known as Jebus,
named after the Jebusites who occupied it.
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The King James
Version footnotes Millo
as literally, "The
Landfill," while the New
International Version
translates it to
"supporting terraces."
This is because 300
feet of Millos length is
located at Ophel, while
its remaining 39 feet is
located at the
southwest corner of the
Temple Mount which is
higher in elevation
than Ophel.

Millos
higher
Mount.

stone terraces
connected
Ophel with the
elevated
southwest
corner
of the Temple

Thus, this 39 feet of

Millo must have looked
like a stepped stone
structure connecting
Ophel with the Temple
Mount.

Between the Court of Women and the Kidron Valley, there was constructed the Bridge of the Red Heifer that
extended up to the Mount of Olives .
Sloped trenches were dug in this area of Ophel at the time of Herod to strengthen the Temples southeast defense.
However, at the time of Nehemiah, this area between the Court of Women and the Kidron Valley were once
inhabited by temple priests and servants (Nehemiah 3:26-29). fig.7
Many archaeologists question as to why this part of the Ophel is so scarce on remains from the Second Temple
period and earlier. The answer is clear: this area of the Ophel ceased to be inhabited after the sloped trenches
were dug by Herod, and all the traces of previous habitation were removed.
The Mount of Olives, located east of Jerusalem, was also called by its infamous name Hill of Corruption.
2 Kings 23:13 The king also desecrated the high places that were east of Jerusalem on the south of the Hill of Corruption the ones Solomon king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the vile goddess of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the vile god of Moab,
and for Molek the detestable god of the people of Ammon. 14 Josiah smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah
poles and covered the sites with human bones.
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Hill of Oorrupfion
Man and Sin

=
Bridge

...,
F

= Christ
1

oriah
. ~

The Bridge of the Red Heifer is like a bridge that connects God (represented by the holy Temple) and sinful Man
(represented by the Hill of Corruption), which Christ crossed, initially as a triumphant King riding a donkey, and
finally (merely 5 days later) as a condemned Redeemer carrying his cross and becoming the Mediator between
God and Man.
1Timothy 2: 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who
gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.

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Vaulted arches r,e,sting en ma.ssive Heroclil.an blociks, w,e,1re co:nstructed ,a, long the, pe,riimeler ,of'
1

the, 'lre, ches : n order

to reduce pressure and to avoid c,olla,pse, .

The Court ,of Wom:en was constructed low,er than the Court of' sraell In order for the wate,r that.
eteanaes the blood :sacrifices to f ow natural y 'to,wards the s'l,oped Ire ches a d the Ktdron
Valle,y Aliso,, an aqueduct from 'Wiilson's arch fed water to IF,ort Antonia and the upper Courts.,
1

A ... R.ed Heifer br11dge to the, - ount. ,of' OHves.,, B, ~ S,,ingll,e ,g.ate 1in fr,ont of lower used to fire,
cata.pu'llts, C - House of the Forest of Lebanon, D ~ Solomon's, Porch,. E .. Pr,ojecting Tower
Ne emi.ah 321,. F- Fort Antonia,, G Royal P,orch and Sanhedr1in

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Vau'lted arches res. ng on ma.ss,ive Herod"an b!locks, wer,e Constr cted along the perimeter ,of
'the trenc: es in order to f"educe prressur,e and to av,o"d ,coHa.pse
1

The Court ,of 'Women was ccnstructed ilow,er than the Court ,of l.s.ra,ell n order for the wate,r th8't
,cleanses 'the bl,ood sacrifices to flo,w naturaHy 'to,w,a.rds 'the sloped 'trenches .and the, Kidron
Va I ey. Also,, an aqueduct from 'W1ilson's arch fed wale to Fort Antonia ,a d the upper Courts ...
A . . Red Heiifer brridge to the Mount of 01: ives.,. B S1"'ngle gate 1in fr,ont of tow,er used to fire
,catapullts,, C - House of the F,or,es:t of Lebanon, D - Solomon's, Porch, E. - !Projecting To,wer
Nehemiah 3:27, F - Fo:rtAntona,. G - Royal Porch a d Sanhedrr,in

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arch crossing 30 feet. inside Temple Mount from outside

B - llosaiic Stone Pavement
l,eading to Gabbatha, C - Bare ays gate in front of tower, D - House of Pharaohs daughter turned into
council-house., E - Porch with underground water reservoir leading to IRobinsons arch., F- Robinsons
arch crossing 51 feet. moat. and .30 feet. inside Temple Mountl G -M111os Stone terraces lleading to
Porch., H - stairs from outer court leading t.o Robinsons arch that crosses 30 feet. inside Temple Mount
I - Trumpeting tower (Nlotiice that whats preventing the 'Inner Court from haviing a 300 x .300 square
feet of floor area" just. like the rest of the Courtsl was the F'ort Antonia:),.
A - Wilsons

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F . rst WaH of

!Jerusalem. with
uaqueduct

(A)

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FlGURE. 11

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