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:
The ancient city of Babylon, located in Mesopotamia, made significant contributions to the fields of mathematics and astronomy. With a keen interest in celestial observations and a sophisticated numerical system, the Babylonians developed groundbreak...
The ancient Greeks made remarkable achievements in art and architecture, leaving a lasting impact on Western civilization. Some of their major accomplishments include: Sculpture: Greek sculpture reached unparalleled heights, with an emphasis on ideal...
The people of ancient Greece developed unique characteristics because of the topography of their country. The coastline curved inward very peculiarly, causing the bays to become very prominent, and stretching far out into the Mediterranean Sea. This ...
In the Bible, an alabaster jar refers to a type of container made from alabaster stone. Alabaster is a soft, white or translucent mineral often used in ancient times for crafting vessels or containers for various purposes. One notable mention of an a...
The main historical sources for the life of Nero were Tacitus Tacitus Publius Cornelius (55-120 A.D. approx.), Suetonius Svetonius Tranquillus (70-140 A.D. approx.), Cassius Dio Dion Cassius Cocceianus (155-235 A.D. approx.), Jewish and Christian Tra...
The religious beliefs and practices of the ancient Egyptians were complex and deeply intertwined with their daily lives. Here are some key aspects: Polytheistic Belief: Ancient Egyptians believed in a pantheon of gods and goddesses who governed vario...
Ancient Greek mythology was rich with a pantheon of gods and goddesses, each associated with various domains, powers, and legends. Here are some of the major deities worshipped in ancient Greece: Zeus: The king of the gods and the ruler of Mount Olym...
Augustus was born with the name Gaius Octavian on September 23, 63 B.C. His parents were C. Octavius and Atia, a niece of Julius Caesar, by his sister Julia. Source: Augustus Caesar...
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...
History records that the Assyrians were ruthless to any enemy that tried to withstand them. One inscription from an Assyrian King Tiglath-Pileser records: “I built a wall before the great gates of the city; I flayed the chief men of the rebels, and...
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 the Temple of Artemis also referred to as Diana the statue of the Roman goddess was depicted as covered entirely with breasts. This is because Diana was the goddess of fertility, and the multi-breasts were denoting fertility, nourishing the living...
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...
In 70 AD the Romans laid siege to Jerusalem and utterly destroyed and buried one of the greatest cities of the ancient world. This was all predicted by Jesus in the New Testament approximately 40 years prior. Source: Relief from the Arch of Titus ...
The pyramids of Egypt stand as iconic symbols of ancient Egyptian civilization, representing remarkable architectural and engineering achievements. Constructed as tombs for pharaohs, these colossal structures continue to captivate the world with thei...
It is not known whether Tiberius had heard of Jesus, or knew about the crucifixion of Jesus. Word about Jesus and his miracles spread quickly throughout the Roman Empire, even to the Imperial Palace on Palatine Hill, but Tiberius had retired to his p...
During the time of Augustus the boundaries of the Roman empire were the Atlantic on the west, the Euphrates on the east, the deserts of Africa, the cataracts of the Nile and the Arabian deserts on the south, the British Channel, the Rhine, the Danube...
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...
Welcome to Free Bible: Unearthing the Past, Illuminating the Present! Step into a world where ancient history and biblical narratives intertwine, inviting you to explore the rich tapestry of human civilization.
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