There are five primary sources for the study of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, the Temple of Herod. They are:
The Bible
The Books of Maccabees
Josephus*
The Dead Sea Scrolls
The Mishna***War book 5, chapter 5; Antiquities book 15 chapter 11
**tractates Middot, Tamid, Yoma, Shekalim
These five sources along with archaeological discoveries provide us with sufficient information about the Temple of Herod during the time of Jesus.
Source:
Among the Dead Sea Scrolls discovered in 1947 was found the “Scroll of Isaiah” inside of a clay jar and well preserved, dating to the 2nd century BC. The entire Hebrew text of the prophet Isaiah was found in “perfect” condition. When compared...
In Christianity, Jesus is the One true God who came to earth clothed in human flesh. In Greek and Roman mythology Zeus (Jupiter) was a celestial deity, and one of many gods. Zeus was the chief of the gods of Olympus, and he was the son of Saturn and ...
Geographically, the Old Testament “world” extended from the Nile river in the south west, to eastern Greece in the north west, to the Caspian Sea on the north east to the mountains just east of the Persian Gulf on the south east. The entire area ...
The Platform for the Temple compound built by Herod the Great was a monumental feat, considering the steepness of the surrounding terrain. According to scholars the flat platform measured 1041 feet on the north side, 1556 feet on the east side, 929 f...
Trade played a vital role in connecting civilizations and fostering cultural exchange in the ancient world. From the bustling markets of Rome to the Silk Road that stretched across Asia, ancient trade routes facilitated the exchange of goods, ideas, ...
In 1846 an English traveler and artist named Austen Henry Layard was digging around the ruins of ancient Nimrud (known as Calah) in northern Iraq. He discovered something amazing, a black limestone obelisk now referred to as “The Black Obelisk of S...
According to history the Emperor of Rome at the time of Jesus’ birth was Augustus. In 27 B.C., the Senate of Rome voted to give him the title Augustus, which means “the respected one.” He ruled the empire until 14 A.D. In the Bible Luke refers ...
The ancient historian Tacitus mentioned Pontius Pilate by name (Ann. xv. 44) and that he was appointed in A.D. 25-26, “in the twelfth year of Tiberius.” Pontius Pilate was the sixth Roman procurator of Judea, and under him our Lord worked, suffer...
The Pantheon, or the temple of all the gods. It is the best preserved ancient building in Rome and is universally admired for its fine dome and beautiful columns. Source: The Pantheon...
The Persian Gulf marked the southeast corner of the world of the Old Testament, with the Caspian Sea marking the northeast corner. Many rivers flow into the Persian Gulf including the famous Tigris and Euphrates rivers. In Old Testament times the nor...
The seven hills of Rome were very noticeable in the landscape of the city of Rome. The hills were no higher than 60 yards, but they had steep slopes that rose above the flat marshland. Several small streams flowed between the seven hills. The names o...
The Pilate Inscription is an inscribed relief with a dedicatory inscription to Tiberius Caesar bearing the name Pontius Pilate. It was discovered among the ruins of ancient Caesarea Maritima. It is the only known occurrence of the name Pontius Pilate...
The main sources available estimate that the population of those living in Jerusalem during the time of Jesus was probably around 80,000 to 100,000 citizens. But during the Passover hundreds of thousands of Jews from the Diaspora would pour into Jeru...
Yes, archaeological discoveries have provided evidence that supports the existence of King David, a significant figure in biblical history. While there are no direct inscriptions or artifacts that mention King David by name, several discoveries have ...
The land of ancient Assyria was located in the far north of the Tigris river near modern Mosul. In their earliest history Assyria was a small territory on the left bank of the northern Tigris River. Over time their borders extended to the area be...
This bust was discovered by archaeologists at Meroe (Modern Sudan) and is currently in the British Museum. It depicts the face of the Roman Emperor Augustus who ordered the census just before the birth of Jesus. This brought the parents of Jesus (Jos...
In ancient Rome the “centurion” meant “captain of 100”, and the Roman centurion was captain over 100 foot soldiers in a legion. The centurion was loyal and courageous, beginning as a soldier in the army and working their way up the ranks. The...
The Colosseum was known in ancient Rome as the Flavian Amphitheatre, named after the 3 emperors who were all involved in its construction. Vespasian conceived the idea and began building in 72 AD and his son Titus dedicated it in 80 AD with a 100 day...
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