Second Temple

• 1. Persian Restoration Era

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  In 539 BCE, the Persian king Cyrus the Great issued a royal proclamation that authorized and encouraged the repatriation of displaced populations in the region. This decree allowed Jewish exiles to return from Babylon to Jerusalem after seventy years of captivity. The body of pilgrims formed a band of 42,360 people who completed a long journey of some four months from the banks of the Euphrates to Jerusalem. They arrived with strong religious impulses to restore their ancient house of worship by rebuilding their destroyed Temple. On the invitation of Zerubbabel, the governor, the people poured their gifts into the sacred treasury with great enthusiasm. Zerubbabel contributed personally 1,000 golden darics besides other gifts to fund the construction efforts. In the second month of the second year, which was 535 BCE, amid great public excitement and rejoicing, the foundations of the Second Temple were laid. A wide interest was felt in this great movement, although it was regarded with mixed feelings by spectators. Seven years later, work on the temple was suspended due to political interference from Samaritans who sought to frustrate their purpose. When Darius became king in 522 BCE, the work resumed under the stimulus of prophets Haggai and Zechariah. It was ready for consecration in the spring of 516 BCE, more than twenty years after the return from captivity. The Temple was completed on the third day of the month Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of Darius.

• 2. Maccabean Rededication

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  In 167 BCE, Antiochus IV Epiphanes ordered an altar to Zeus erected in the Temple. He also compelled Jews to dissolve the laws of the country and sacrifice swine's flesh upon the altar against which they all opposed themselves. These anti-Jewish persecutions provoked the Maccabean Revolt led by Judas Maccabeus and his brothers from the priestly Hasmonean family. After several years of guerrilla warfare, the Maccabees succeeded in driving out the Seleucid forces from Jerusalem. In 164 BCE, they recaptured the Temple Mount and removed the pagan altar. They undertook the purification and rededication of the Second Temple during this critical moment. This event is the origin of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, which begins on the 25th of Kislev. The earliest accounts of the holiday appear in the Books of the Maccabees, which both associate it with the 25th of Kislev as either the date when sacrifices resumed following the cleansing or as the date of the cleansing itself. The Temple served multiple functions including being a site for public assemblies where the Sanhedrin convened in the Hall of Hewn Stones.

• 3. Herodian Architectural Expansion

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  In c. 20/19 BCE, Herod king of Judaea began an ambitious renovation of the Second Temple. The old temple built by Zerubbabel was replaced by a magnificent edifice that became one of the larger construction projects of the 1st century BCE. The expanded sanctuary was the largest of its time with the Temple Mount complex doubling in size to become the ancient world's largest religious sanctuary. According to Josephus, the construction of the Temple itself took about a year and a half while the porticoes and outer walls required a further eight years. During the works, ten thousand laborers and a thousand priests were specially trained for the construction so daily offerings continued uninterrupted. Some stone blocks weighed well over 100 tons with the largest measuring approximately 43 feet long and weighing around 567, 628 tons. A trench was dug around the mountain and huge stone blocks were laid to complete the platform. Herod thought to plate the Temple with gold but the Sages said to him leave it as is since with different colors and staggered arrangement of rows it had appearance of waves of the sea. While main structures were largely completed during Herod's reign, construction at the complex continued for decades possibly until the 60s CE.

• 4. Pilgrimage Festivals And Rituals

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  At the time of three pilgrimage festivals Jerusalem became gathering place for tens of thousands of pilgrims from across Judea Galilee Transjordan and Diaspora who stayed anywhere from few days to several weeks. Jews from distant parts of Roman Empire would arrive by boat at port of Jaffa where they joined caravan for three-day journey to Holy City. On the 14th of Nisan eve of Passover participants brought lamb or kid to Temple for sacrifice with slaughtering taking place in courtyards typically between ninth and eleventh hours roughly 3, 5 PM. Overall estimated that several thousand sheep were sacrificed during Passover while groups of 10 to 20 people shared each animal. Shavuot observed on fiftieth day following waving of omer marked beginning of wheat harvest serving as conclusion of Passover season earning alternative name Atseret. Central Temple ritual in Shavuot was offering two loaves of wheat bread along with prescribed animal sacrifices as outlined in Torah. Sukkot began on 15th of Tishrei lasting seven days regarded as preeminent Jewish festival during Second Temple period with procession carrying Four Species including palm branch myrtle willow and citron.

• 5. Roman Destruction And Aftermath

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  In 66 CE Jewish population of Judaea launched rebellion against Roman Empire four years later on Hebrew calendrical date of Tisha B'Av either the 4th of August 70 or the 30th of August 70 Roman legions under Titus retook and destroyed much of Jerusalem and Herod's Temple. Josephus claims burning of Temple was impulsive act of Roman soldier despite Titus orders to preserve it whereas later Christian sources suggest Titus himself authorized destruction view currently favored by modern scholars though debate persists. Historical accounts relate not only Jewish Temple was destroyed but also entire Lower city of Jerusalem where fire proceeded as far as palace of queen Helena. Even so according to Josephus Titus did not totally raze towers keeping them as memorial of city strength. Arch of Titus built in Rome to commemorate victory depicts Roman triumph with soldiers carrying spoils from Temple including temple menorah. Golden vessels from Temple publicly displayed in Temple of Peace monumental complex completed by Vespasian in 75 CE while Torah scroll and purple Temple curtains deposited and guarded in Vespasian residence. Although Jews continued inhabit destroyed city Emperor Hadrian established new Roman colonia called Aelia Capitolina at end of Bar Kokhba revolt in 135 CE when many Jewish communities were massacred.

• 6. Archaeological Evidence And Remains

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  Foundational research conducted by Sir Charles Warren between 1867 and 1870 remains principal source for site architectural layout. In 1871 hewn stone measuring approximately 4 feet long engraved with Greek uncials discovered near court on Temple Mount identified by Charles Simon Clermont-Ganneau as Temple Warning inscription. Stone outlined prohibition extended to those not of Jewish nation to proceed beyond separating larger Court of Gentiles and inner courts. Today stone preserved in Istanbul Museum of Antiquities while fragment found in 1935 similar Temple warning inscription also exists. Another ancient inscription partially preserved on stone discovered below southwest corner Herodian Mount contains words place of trumpeting interpreted as belonging to spot described by Josephus where priest gave notice by sound trumpet afternoon approach following evening close every seventh day. After 1967 archaeologists found wall extended all way around Temple Mount part city wall near Lions Gate thus remaining part Temple Mount not only Western Wall. On the 25th of September 2007 Yuval Baruch archaeologist Israeli Antiquity Authority announced discovery quarry compound may have provided King Herod stones build his Temple on Temple Mount coins pottery iron stake found proved date quarrying about 19 BCE.