Temple Mount: history. The Mystery of the Temple Mount. What is the name of the Muslim shrine on the temple mount? Moriah (mountain) Temple Mount altitude

What is the name of the Muslim shrine on the Temple Mount? Why does this place attract so many tourists today? What secrets does it hide? You will learn about all this by reading this article.

The Temple Mount, located in the southeastern part of the Old City in Jerusalem, is otherwise called Haram al-Sharif. This place is unique. It is sacred to Muslims, Christians and Jews. The shape of the Temple Mount resembles a rectangular hill. It is traditionally identified with Mount Moriah - the very place where Abraham wanted to sacrifice his son to God.

Temple of Solomon

Jerusalem is the very heart of Israel. This city was conquered 3000 years ago by King David, who intended to build the first station temple here, intended to offer prayers to the one god. However, this structure was destined to be built not by David, but by Solomon, his son, who built an impressive building on Mount Moriah. Today this mountain is known as the Temple Mount. The most sacred place inside the erected building was reserved for the Ark of the Covenant. In the courtyard there was an altar intended for the burning of victims. During the prosperity of this temple, the blood of sacrificial animals flowed like a river to the glory of God.

Destruction of the temple and its restoration

Until 586 BC Solomon's temple stood. It was at this time that the Babylonian invaders arrived here and destroyed it to the ground. And after Babylon was conquered by the Persians, in 538 BC, King Cyrus issued a decree according to which it was planned to restore the Jerusalem Temple. It was rebuilt by David's descendant, Zerubbabel.

At the turn of our era, during the reign of Herod the Great, the temple was enlarged after reconstruction. However, it stood for no more than a century, after which it was destroyed in 70 during the suppression of the Jewish uprising by the Romans.

Al Aqsa and Dome of the Rock

At the top of the Temple Mount today you can see 2 of the most significant structures. The first is the Al Aqsa Mosque (pictured below), famous for being the headquarters of the Knights Templar during the Crusades.

However, the main structure is located north of Al-Aqsa. It is a mosque topped with a golden dome, which has a strange name - the Dome of the Rock. The Temple of Solomon was previously located here (sometimes it is mistakenly believed that it was located on the site of Al-Aqsa).

Why did David decide that the most suitable place to build a temple was the Temple Mount? At the same time, he even specially bought the threshing floor from one Jebusite, whose name was Aravna (Orna). Why was it necessary to build the altar here? The answers to these questions are connected with one interesting feature of the Dome of the Rock - a mosque, largely thanks to which the Temple Mount is known throughout the world today. A photo of the Dome of the Rock is shown below.

This mosque was built around a small protrusion in the rock, rising approximately 1.2-2 m. Its length is about 18 meters and its width is 13.5. According to legend, the rocky ledge is associated with a biblical text. It is believed that Abraham prepared his sacrificial fire here in order to sacrifice his son to God. However, an angel who appeared took Abraham's hand away and told him that God agreed to accept a lamb as a sacrifice instead of the boy.

Already one such legend, at first glance, would be enough to choose this particular place for the construction of a temple in which sacrifices were to be carried out to God. The place where God's messenger appeared could well be considered sacred by the Jews. However, you can ask yourself another question: why did Abraham choose this particular ledge in the rock to perform the sacrifice?

Foundation Stone

The rock crowning the Temple Mount is called the Foundation Stone in Tahana (the supposed part of this stone is shown in the photo below). It is considered the place from which the Lord began to create the world. A natural question arises: how should we treat this phrase? Which Lord are we talking about? After all, before the religion of Yahweh arose, completely different deities were worshiped here...

According to one version that exists today, the name “Jerusalem” contains the meaning “founded by God.” David, meanwhile, did not build this city, but conquered it. That is, it existed even before the arrival of the Jews. What god founded it then? It was clearly not Yahweh.

Was there a structure on the mountain before Solomon's temple was built?

All of the above suggests that there was some kind of structure on Mount Moriah even before David conquered Jerusalem. This is the building of the gods of Canaan - the ancient gods.

Excavations of the Temple Mount are a sealed secret. Today this place has not yet been studied enough, or the results simply do not want to be advertised. Therefore we cannot say what is under the Temple Mount.

Historians say that Jerusalem was lower in David's time, and there were no structures on Mount Moriah. However, it seems that this statement is based only on the texts of the Old Testament, which only mention the threshing floor. We must not forget that, firstly, this text itself is a highly ideological source, and secondly, the Jews received the task of completely destroying all the sanctuaries of the gods of Canaan. And they could well have destroyed the ancient structure, later on the site of which a temple for Yahweh was built.

The tradition of building temples on the site of ancient sanctuaries

The tradition of erecting temples on the sites of ancient sanctuaries is very widespread throughout the world. Perhaps they are built much less often in a new place than in a previously revered one. Therefore, it is likely that the Muslim mosque we see today was built exactly where the Jewish temple was located on the Temple Mount.

There is one more consideration in favor of this assumption. In the Old World of the ancient world, no analogues of the construction of temples around a ledge in the rock - structures that seemed to enclose this ledge - have been discovered today. Such a place for construction completely falls outside of all the traditions of ancient cultures.

However, we find the idea of ​​​​building a structure around a rock (made, by the way, from megalithic blocks) on the opposite part of our planet - on the territory of Peru, a state in South America. In a similar way, for example, the Temple of the Sun located in the famous Machu Picchu was built.

Historians believe that Machu Picchu was built by the Incas. But in this complex there are many examples of outstanding skill in stone processing, so there is virtually no doubt that the construction was carried out by a civilization that was much more highly developed - the civilization of the ancient gods. At the base of the Sun Temple one can see one of the most striking examples of the use of the highest technologies in stone processing and construction. With the advanced technologies of our time, it is extremely difficult to do something similar today.

There is another similar Peruvian structure in Pisac. The famous masonry here surrounds the rock outcrop. It is already processed and is called “intihuatana”. This word is usually translated as "hitting post of the Sun." The fact is that, according to local legends, the Sun God tied his horse to it. It is clear that this translation was suitable for the conquistadors from Spain - the conquerors of the Inca Empire. However, for a highly developed civilization of gods, a translation similar in meaning would sound different, much more familiar - “parking place for a vehicle belonging to the Sun God.”

Evidence that there was a temple to the gods of Canaan on the Temple Mount

What happens? Two cultures in the New and Old Worlds, separated by a huge space, erect architectural structures built on the same principle. It is quite possible to assume that there was once a structure on the Temple Mount that was related to the gods of Canaan. And it is also logical to assume that here, in such an important place, there was a temple of the main god - Baal.

The mystery of the Temple Mount has not yet been solved. It is curious that even the texts of the Old Testament indirectly confirm the presence of an ancient structure on this site, built long before the Jews came here. Thus, in the Third Book of Kings, in a passage describing the construction of Solomon’s temple, it is said that during its construction, hewn stones were used for the structure. It is also noted that neither an adze, nor a hammer, nor any other iron tool was heard during its construction. Then where could the hewn stones come from? They were probably already here on the Temple Mount. The Jews only used the old building or the surviving blocks from its ruins to build a new temple.

Dome of the Rock Mosque today

You already know the name of the Muslim shrine on the Temple Mount. Let's describe it in more detail. This mosque today is rightfully considered the hallmark of the city of Jerusalem. The golden dome with a diameter of 20 meters is visible from almost any part of the Old City. The mosque is not operational. Today it is an architectural monument that protects the sacred rock.

The building was built in 687-691 BC. Subsequently, it suffered from earthquakes and destruction, and was often rebuilt. After each restoration, the mosque became even more beautiful and majestic. The building was under the rule of both Muslims and Christians (when the Crusaders captured Jerusalem), but since 1250 it has belonged undividedly to Muslims. Infidels are prohibited from entering here.

Ascension of the Prophet Muhammad

The history of the Temple Mount is rich in events and legends. It is believed, for example, that it was from here that the Prophet Muhammad ascended into the sky. One night the Archangel Gabriel (Jabrail) appeared to him. He invited Muhammad to mount a winged horse in order to be transported from Mecca to holy Jerusalem. Here the prophet was allowed to ascend to heaven and meet other prophets. He appeared before Allah himself, who entrusted Muhammad with the precepts of the Muslim faith. Today in the Dome there is a footprint of this great prophet, as well as 3 hairs from his beard.

Features of the architecture of the mosque

The mosque is located on the terrace. Gentle steps lead up to it on each side. Its 4 doors are oriented to the 4 cardinal directions. The walls are decorated with tiles and mosaics in the green, blue, white and gold colors characteristic of Islam. Many internal columns can be seen from anywhere in the building.

At the heart of the Dome of the Rock is a sacred rock formation. It rises 2 meters above the marble floor. This area is surrounded by a wooden balustrade, constructed in such a way that it gives the impression of a rock floating in the air.

During the ascension of the Prophet Muhammad, according to legend, this rock was supposed to follow him. It “took off” from the ground and is now “hanging” in the air. A small cave formed near it, almost square in shape. It was here that King David built the altar. It is unknown what other treasures are hidden in the dungeons of the Temple Mount...

What else is on the Temple Mount today?

Each wall of this mountain has a gate (there are only 10 of them). Some are walled up, some were breached when the Arabs conquered the city. The Muslim shrine on the Temple Mount is not the only interesting structure of this place. Today there are about a hundred buildings here that date back to different periods. The Mamluk and Ottoman periods account for most of them. Among these buildings you can see the greatest monuments of Muslim architecture, many picturesque fountains, arches and gazebos. Details such as capitals and columns were widely used in their buildings.

For a long time, Jews were prohibited from accessing the Temple Mount. But during the 6-day Israeli war, they were able to regain control over it, and access to historical sites was restored. In 1998, the third mosque was built on the Temple Mount.

Story

Between the 10th century BC. e. and 1st century AD e. On the Temple Mount stood the Jerusalem Temple, which served as the only permitted place of sacrifice to the One God, and was also the center of the religious life of the Jewish people and an object of pilgrimage for all Jews three times a year (on Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot).

The Temple Mount is the holiest place for Jews: religious Jews around the world face Israel during prayer, Jews in Israel face Jerusalem, and Jews in Jerusalem face the Temple Mount.

According to the promises of the Jewish prophets, after the coming of the Messiah, the last, Third Temple will be rebuilt on the Temple Mount, which will become the spiritual center for the Jewish people and all humanity. Also associated with the Temple Mount is the expectation of the so-called Last Judgment.

During the Temple period, there were differences in holiness between different parts of the Temple Mount. Entry into the Holy of Holies of the Temple was allowed only to the High Priest, and only on Yom Kippur to conduct services. Only kohanim could enter the Temple. Those who were ritually impure were prohibited from entering Temple Square, or, according to a stricter view, from entering the Temple Mount at all. It was also forbidden to climb the Temple Mount for purposes other than religious or in an indecent manner.

According to most halachic authorities, notably Maimonides, the sanctity of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount remains in effect after the destruction of the Temple. Today, all Jews are considered ritually unclean, and therefore no one can ascend the Temple Mount. However, there is a point of view according to which this prohibition only applies to climbing the territory where the Temple stood, while entry to the rest of the Temple Mount is permitted. The problem is that biblical sources do not allow us to accurately identify the permitted zone.

Temple Location

Others believe that the Altar of Burnt Offering was located on this stone in the Temple courtyard. In this case, the Temple was located to the west of this stone. This opinion is more likely since it corresponds to the spatial relationships of Temple Square and allows for a fairly large, level area. .

There are other options for localizing the Temple. Almost two decades ago, Israeli physicist Asher Kaufman suggested that both the First and Second Temples were located 110 meters north of the Rock Mosque. According to his calculations, the Holy of Holies and the Foundation Stone are located under the current "Dome of the Spirits", a small Muslim medieval building.

The opposite, “southern” (in relation to the Dome of the Rock) localization of the Temple has been developed over the past five years by the famous Israeli architect Tuvia Sagiv. He places it on the site of the modern Al-Qas fountain.

The meaning of the Temple Mount in Christianity

The Temple Mount is mentioned numerous times in the Pentateuch, which is the basis of the Old Testament, making the site sacred to both Jews and Christians. Additionally, the New Testament states that Jesus is a direct descendant of King David (Matt. 1:17), whose son, Solomon, founded the First Temple on this mountain.

However, among the many holy sites of Christianity in Jerusalem, the Temple Mount was not given much importance.

The meaning of the Temple Mount in Islam

Rocks Mosque

Jerusalem and the holy sites located on the Temple Mount are recognized by Muslims as third in importance after Mecca and Medina. Qubbat al-Sakhra is built in the very center of the Temple Mount, and inside it there is a stone protruding from the ground - this is the top of the mountain, the only part of it that rises above the flat plateau. According to the Koran, this stone is the rock from which the Prophet Muhammad ascended into the sky on a winged horse.

Political significance of the Temple Mount

During the periods of Mameluke, Ottoman and British rule of Palestine, Jews were not allowed on the Temple Mount. The British Mandate administration introduced a special body for guardianship of the holy places of Islam on the Temple Mount - WAQF, the so-called Islamic Council, which received actual authority over the entire territory of the Temple Mount.

At the end of the Israeli War of Independence in 1948, the Temple Mount, along with all of East Jerusalem, came under Jordanian control. Until 1967, Jews were not allowed not only to the Temple Mount, but also to the Western Wall, which was a gross violation of the ceasefire agreement.

During the Six Day War, during the battle for Jerusalem, Israeli paratroopers established control over the Temple Mount, planting the Israeli flag over it, and the commander of the operation, Mota Gur, announced over army radio communications: “The Temple Mount is in our hands!” However, soon, by order of Defense Minister Moshe Dayan, the flag was lowered, and the powers of the Waqf were again officially confirmed.

Since 1967, access to the Temple Mount has been open to everyone on designated days and hours.

In , after the signing of the Oslo Accords, control of the Waqf passed from Jordan to the Palestinian Authority. The workers of this organization are accused of systematically destroying archaeological values ​​- traces of the Jewish presence on the Temple Mount - under the guise of repair and construction work. At the same time, Muslim preachers freely engage in anti-Israeli propaganda, incite violence and generally refuse to acknowledge the very fact of the existence of

It is clear that King David, who knew about this, would prefer to talk with the Lord here. But the Temple Mount then belonged to a foreigner, the Jebusite Orna. The king had to collect ransom money from all the tribes of Israel in order to be able to build an altar on this land.

His son Shlomo, the wise and extremely loving ruler of the Jewish people, decided to please the Lord even more. This is how the First Temple appeared, which stood for 403 years and served not only as a place of prayer, although services were held there every day. It was the spiritual center, the heart of the people: laws were proclaimed here, the supreme court was held, all Jewish men came here for holidays three times a year.

The First Temple was destroyed by the Babylonian Nebuchadnezzar, and an extremely dark period in Jewish history began, known as the Babylonian Captivity. Upon returning from captivity, the Jews, under the leadership of Zerubabel ben Shaltiel, with the support of the high priest, first built a new Temple for themselves.

At that time, the area of ​​the Temple Mount was approximately 250 by 250 m. Herod the Great started rebuilding the Temple, changing the face of the mountain itself - he leveled it, expanding the area, demolishing the hills and strengthening the lowlands with arches and walls. The remains of these walls and the Eastern Gate, located below the Golden Gate, have “survived” to this day.

This beautiful structure will stand until Rome captures Judea. Even before its destruction by Titus Flavius ​​Vespasian, the Temple would be unwittingly desecrated by the Roman commander Pompey the Great, who entered the Tabernacle. Either he simply didn’t know what he was doing, or he openly despised other people’s beliefs. And then the Temple will be robbed by another Roman commander - the pathologically greedy Marcus Crassus.

Roman metamorphoses of the Temple Mount

Emperor Hadrian gave another name to the Holy City destroyed by Rome - Aelia Capitolina, after his own family name. And on the site of the Second Temple, the temple of the main Roman deity, Jupiter Capitolinus, grew. And in place of the Tabernacle, the “modest” Publius Aelius Hadrian erected his own statue on horseback. Obviously, so that the Jews do not forget who is now the master of their fate. The Jews could not tolerate such outrage. The Bar Kochba rebellion broke out, leading to an uncertain victory and even the creation of a “temporary” temple - people needed somewhere to pray. After the collapse of the uprising in the summer of 135, the Jews lost more than the fruits of their short-lived victory. Hadrian simply forbade them from entering the city.

This continued until 361, when an extremely peculiar man, Flavius ​​Claudius Julian, became the Roman emperor, who promised the Jews the restoration of the Temple. No, he did not want the good of the Jewish people at all: in this way he was implementing his own religious program. Julian was a staunch enemy of Christianity. He dreamed of restoring the ancient, pagan faith in Rome, and was a fan of the old deities - Jupiter, Mars, Venus. By building the Temple, he hoped to undermine the authority of Christ with his prophecy that all that would be left was a pile of stones. And he really started construction, found funds, brought materials. But in May 363, all work had to be temporarily interrupted: a large fire occurred. And Julian did not live to see their resumption - already in July he died in the battle with the Persians. Many believed that he was killed by one of his own Christian soldiers who were dissatisfied with his policies. The Persians did not reward any of their own for the murder of the Roman emperor!

Jovian, who replaced Julian at the imperial post, was a Christian - and he did not care in the slightest about the ideas of the former ruler.

Desolation and the arrival of Muslims

In Byzantine times, the Temple Mount had no significance even for Christians: a vast city dump arose under its walls.

In 638, Palestine was captured by the Arabs. Their leader Umar ibn al-Khattab considered the Temple Mount a sacred place: he even went there to pray, ordering the garbage heaps to be cleared away. The Arabs associated this place with the name of their own prophet - Muhammad. The so-called Foundation Stone, which remained on the site of the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle of the Second Temple, was for Muslims the “takeoff pad” of Muhammad to heaven. They even managed to find his footprint there!

Umar founded a small house of prayer on the Temple Mount: thus the future one was born. Caliph Abdul-Malik significantly expanded it; his son Al-Walid completed the construction in 705.

The same Abdul-Malik, a religious and very educated man, decided that it was not appropriate to leave the Foundation Stone “on the street.” And in 687 he began building the Qubbat al-Sakhra mosque over it, which in direct translation will be “A dome erected over a rock.” This construction was completed before the reconstruction of the Umar Mosque - in 691.

The short reign of the Crusaders in Jerusalem (1099-1187) “converted” both mosques into Christian churches.

From July 4, 1187, after Salah ad-Din's victory over the Crusaders, until the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in 1908-1922, only Muslims fell to their knees on the Temple Mount. Jews were not allowed here. However, the introduction of the British Mandate did not change anything. Britain feared that the appearance of Jews near mosques would provoke religious and national conflicts. She approved the creation of a special Muslim council to take care of the mountain.

Temple Mount Today

Even the War of Independence did not save the situation: power over part of the state of Israel - the Temple Mount in Jerusalem - belonged to Jordan. Moreover, Jews were prohibited from even visiting the Western Wall.

Only the events of the Six-Day War, or more precisely, the paratroopers from the Gura brigade, briefly returned the mountain to Israel. But the Ministry of Defense could not withstand the pressure of the Islamic world - and again handed over the keys to the gates of the Temple Mount to the Muslim Waqf. Transferred, so to speak, real estate for religious purposes. Now the waqf is managed by the Palestinian Authority.

True, everyone is now allowed on the mountain, but religious intolerance every now and then gives rise to conflicts. The Arabs even managed to accuse Israeli archaeologists conducting excavations on the Temple Mount (after all, the most valuable archaeological layers - the remains of ancient buildings) are hidden under it - that they were undermining with the aim of bringing down Al-Aqsa! Of course, it was not the secrets of the Temple Mount, but terror that interested scientists! This is what Yasser Arafat said in 1996 when the Hasmonean tunnel was excavated, sparking armed clashes and deaths on both sides.

The Arabs themselves, two years later, during the reconstruction of the so-called “Solomon’s Stables” near Al-Aqsa, almost brought down a piece of the Western Wall! And in general, Israelis suspect religious Islamic leaders of systematically trying to remove traces of the Jewish people from the Temple Mount.

In 2000-2003 non-Muslims were again prohibited from accessing the mountain: the Israeli government believed that this would only worsen the conflict. But it was aggravated by weather conditions and, again, Muslim underground work. In 2004, the Mughrabi Bridge at the Moorish Gate half collapsed, and the situation on the Temple Mount became critical.

Terrorist attack on a sacred site

The Israeli initiative to build a new bridge in 2007 was literally drowned out by the cries of Muslim fanatics: the Jews are attacking Al-Aqsa again!

The Mosque of Umar is truly the third most important shrine in the Muslim world. But for some reason it generates in the souls of its believers not at all kind and merciful feelings. It got to the point that the Israeli government was forced to restrict the passage of Muslims to the Temple Mount on Fridays. But the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem called on believers to ignore this decision!

On July 13, 2017, two Arab guys post a selfie on Facebook with smiles and the comment: “Tomorrow will be better.” On July 14, no one felt better. These same guys and another friend of theirs opened fire from machine guns and a pistol on the Temple Mount, at the Lion Gate. Two Israeli patrol policemen and a border guard were injured, all three were hospitalized. The terrorists who “wanted what was best” were destroyed on the spot. The policemen, 22-year-old Kamil Shanan and 30-year-old Hail Sataoui (both Druze), survived only until noon.

The Islamic world stubbornly resists even the idea that the Temple Mount is not its own personal shrine. But also the greatest Jewish, and even Christian. Christians revere it as repeatedly mentioned in the Pentateuch - and as the place of the introduction of the Virgin Mary into the Temple.

Waiting for the Third Temple

It was not without reason that David Ben-Gurion said that both Britain and the Arab world would live without the land of Israel - for the Jews this is a matter of life and death. Almost the same can be said about the Temple Mount. There is no need to destroy Muslim shrines on it. But why shouldn’t the Jewish Temple appear there, which - in two versions - existed there long before Islam as such? Why not actually recognize Israel's sovereignty over the Temple Mount?

According to the prophets, the Third Temple will rise on the mountain after the appearance of Moshiach, in the same place where the previous ones stood. Perhaps this is why Muslims do not want this - after all, presumably, both Temples stood where Haram Al-Sharif is now. But this is just one of the assumptions! Jewish researchers also put forward other versions of the location of the Temples.

The prophet Yehezkel spoke about the construction of the Third Temple in his vision.

Well, until the Messiah has yet appeared and the Third Temple has not been built, Jewish believers will not offer prayers here. This is a place of the highest holiness, and rites of ritual purity that allow one to stay on the territory of the Temple (even a non-existent one) are currently impossible to carry out.

Attractions near Temple Mount

It is safe to say that the mountain is surrounded by one big attraction - the Old City of Jerusalem. Each of its diverse neighborhoods has many interesting historical sites to explore and places for tourists to relax.

How to get there on your own

Non-Muslims enter the Temple Mount via the Moroccan (aka Maghreb) Bridge through the Garbage Gate.
Muslims - along Tsepi Street, through the gate of the same name. If you profess Islam or look like a Muslim, you may be asked to show your passport, give your name, read a surah of the Koran (to make sure that you are not a disguised Israeli who has come to blow up Al-Aqsa).

What is included in a regular sightseeing tour of Jerusalem (Israel)? Temple Mount, Western Wall, Road to Calvary... Let's focus on the first attraction. Tourists who have visited Jerusalem never cease to be amazed that some places in the Old City are shrines for three world religions - Christianity, Judaism and Islam. The Temple Mount is no exception. We can say that Christians revere the Old Testament, and Muslims consider Jesus Christ to be the prophet Jesus. But here it's a different story. The mountain, nicknamed the Temple, according to the Oral Torah, is the foundation of the entire universe. This is a certain cornerstone from which God began to create the earth and heaven. Is it worth visiting such a place? "Certainly!" - tourists assure. Even if you are not a supporter of any of the three religions. At the very least, you will have unforgettable impressions and colorful photographs.

Jewish shrine

In ancient times, the Temple Mount was called Moriah, which means “The Lord sees.” In addition to the fact that the creation of the world began with it, Jews believe that it was here that God created Adam. After the expulsion of people from paradise, Cain and Abel made a sacrifice to the Almighty on the first altar on the Temple Mount. And after the Flood, the righteous Noah also stopped here, and not at Ararat. He built a new altar on the Temple Mount. But this landmark is most famous for the fact that here Abraham, out of love for God, was ready to sacrifice his son Isaac. That is why the name Mount Moriah was given, since Yahweh, seeing the thoughts of the prophet, sent an angel who stopped the hand with the raised knife. Tour guides tell tourists about all this, and these stories make the blood run cold even in non-believers. After all, this is, after all, “touching the sacrum.”

First Temple

And at this place, King David saw an angel with a sword and realized that the pestilence that struck the population of Jerusalem was an expression of the wrath of the Lord. He made rich sacrifices to God, after which the epidemic stopped. And the son of David, the Wise Solomon, built the first Jerusalem temple on the top of a mountain at the end of the 10th century BC. Thirty thousand Israelis and five times as many captive Phoenicians worked on the construction. After the House of the Lord was consecrated, it was filled with a shekinah cloud - evidence of the presence of God. Since then, Moriah has received a different name - the Temple Mount. Jerusalem did not know a greater shrine, because there was, that is, a chest with stone tablets that God handed to Moses. But tourists will no longer see this structure, since in 587 BC. e. it was destroyed by the Babylonians.

Second Temple

It was erected after the liberation from the Babylonians in 536 BC. e. The temple became a symbol of the unity of the Jewish people, so no effort or money was spared on its decoration and expansion. King Herod is the one! - expanded the shrine, built powerful walls around it, which rose thirty meters above the city streets. The Temple Mount became an impregnable citadel at that time. And then Christian tourists realize that they are standing on the very spot where Jesus’ disciples said to their teacher: “Look at these great buildings, how they are decorated!” To which the Son of Man replied: “The days will come when not one stone will be left here upon another.” Christ turned out to be inaccurate: something still remained from the second temple. This is the Western Wall, the former western façade of the building.

Muslim shrine

In 691, Arab conquerors built two mosques on the Temple Mount. The first - Qubbat al-Sakhra - marks the place where the prophet Magomed landed in his miraculous instantaneous transfer from Mecca. On a winged horse and surrounded by angels, he descended onto the mountain, leaving his footprint and three beard hairs for posterity to venerate. Muslims also worship the “foundation of the world” - a small rock under a golden dome, from which the Lord began the creation of all things. The second mosque on the Temple Mount is Al-Aqsa. Despite its more modest size and lead dome, this sacred building is of great importance for Muslims (the third after Mecca and Medina). Since at this place Mohammed - as the Supreme Imam - performed the night prayer along with all the prophets, the Al-Aqsa mosque was a qibla for a long time. All Muslims turned their faces to this landmark during prayer. And only later the qibla moved to Mecca.

Christian shrine

In addition to what Jesus said when he predicted its destruction, the Temple Mount has a more significant meaning for those who believe that according to the teachings of the Church (which is based on the Book of Ezekiel), it is here that the Son of God will come in glory and with the army of heaven to accomplish the Last Judgment on the world. With the sound of the trumpet, all the dead will come out of their graves. And in such a place, say reviews from tourists, you involuntarily think about your unrighteous deeds.

Esoteric Shrine

Since all three religions consider the dark rock on the top of the mountain to be the place from which God created the earth, this belief is reflected in various ideas of scientism. Esotericists believe that the tellurgic axis passes through Moriah, on which the entire universe is based. During the short reign of the Christian Crusaders in Jerusalem, the Al-Aqsa Mosque was the main residence of the Knights Templar. It is because of this that the congregation of knights-monks received their second name - the templars. There are many (not confirmed by historians) ideas that the Templars used some kind of secret texts and apocrypha, performed Gnostic cults and the like. Therefore, in this place you can meet crowds of esotericists who are attracted by the mystery of the Temple Mount. In fact, in the basements of the mosque in the 12th century there were ordinary stables.

This attraction is located in the southeast of the Old Town. The golden dome of the Qubbat al-Sakhra mosque is visible from afar. The complex itself is a large rectangular walled area. In its center stands the Dome of the Rock, and at the edge is the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Although the Temple Mount, the photo of which is the “calling card” of Jerusalem, seems so high, climbing it even in summer is not particularly difficult. It is much more difficult, as tourists say, to get into the complex itself. The fact is that because of which fires break out every now and then at shrines (there are plenty of fanatics in any religion), the police, in order to restore order, block access to the square. It is best, as experienced travelers advise, to arrive early. Only at the checkpoint you will have to stand in line for an hour. It should be remembered that for women (for some reason in any of the mentioned religions they find fault with the fair sex) long skirts and covered shoulders are required. However, everyone is not allowed to bring any religious objects into the Temple Mount if you cross the wooden bridge through a special checkpoint for tourists.

History of the Temple Mount

The Temple Mount, which towers over Jerusalem southeast of the Old City, is crowned by a rectangular square surrounded by an impregnable stone wall. A golden dome shines over the square. This is a mosque that can be seen from all the Jerusalem mountains. As the center of a holy city that unites three religions, the Temple Mount is sacred to Jews, Muslims and Christians.

Wherever a Jew is reading a prayer, his face is turned in the direction in which the Temple Mount is located. This place owes its exceptional status to the construction of the Temple here. Wise Solomon built the First Temple, where the Ark of the Covenant - a symbol of the presence of God - was given a central place. The First Temple became the main and only religious house in the Land of Israel.

Destruction of the first temple

The destruction of the First Temple by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar confirmed the prophecies that the Jewish people would be punished and captured for their failure to keep the commandments. After the 70-year captivity, the tribes of Israel began rebuilding the Temple, rebuilding it.

The First Jewish War was the reason that after this reconstruction, which was started by King Herod, the temple did not last long. The white stone shrine, decorated with silver and gold, was plundered and burned by the Romans. Today we see the last thing that has survived from it - the Western Wall or Western Wall - a symbol of Judaism and a traditional place from which prayers are offered.

There are prophecies in Judaism, as well as in Christianity, about the coming of the Messiah (Mashiach) - the Ideal king, the messenger of God and the savior of all nations, in the minds of Jews and Christians, will announce the beginning of the construction of the Third Temple of Jerusalem - the spiritual center for the people of Israel and all humanity .

Muslims, explaining the sanctity of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, refer to the fact that Temple Square contains the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which they exalt no less than Mecca or Medina. The Dome of the Rock building is the central structure.

According to legend, it stands on the unshakable cornerstone of the universe - this is exactly the place where the shrine of the Jewish Temple stood.

Temple Square contains many architectural monuments - buildings built during the time when this land was under the rule of the Mamluks and the Ottoman Empire, as well as the remains of structures built by the Romans. The Islamic shrines in the Temple Mount area are administered and supervised by the Waqf, an organization dating back to the British Mandate. Since 1993, this institution has been subordinate to the Palestinian Authority.

Ban on visiting the Mountain

In the territory of East Jerusalem occupied by Jordan in the years 49-67 of the last century, there was a ban on holding prayers and visiting the Temple Mount. In addition, most of the buildings in the Jewish quarter, with its ancient synagogues and biblical and Talmudic tombs, suffered devastating damage.

In June 1967, the main Jewish shrine and messianic hope, the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, was liberated by airborne troops commanded by Israeli Army General Uzi Narkis.

In 1967, the Israeli authorities allowed everyone to visit the holy place, but the unsettled situation and the negative position of the Waqf in relation to Israeli services led to restrictions on visits. A special schedule was established, which is still in effect today. According to legend, anyone who comes here will not be affected by the Lord's punishment.

Secrets of the Temple Mount

Among the many mysteries and secrets related to the Temple Mount is the question of the true location of the Temple, about which there are many guesses and disagreements that relate to climbing the mountain and the ban on desecration of this holy place.

The location of those riches and sacred relics for which this majestic Temple was famous also raises the question. The temple was subjected to repeated looting, as a result of which the valuables were not discovered. Such Jewish relics of the First Temple as the Ark of the Covenant and the golden Menorah disappeared without a trace.

The solid forged menorah, as indicated in the Tanakh, was decorated with gold decor, and its weight was at least 30 kg. From the First Temple, the Babylonians took not only the Menorah of Moses, but also the golden lamps. The Babylonians also removed another Golden Menorah that adorned the Second Temple. It is known that many other menorahs of the Temple underwent reconstruction and restoration.

One such golden seven-branched candlestick was captured by Roman soldiers, which is attested in the chronicles. But legend claims that the Menorah, which was hidden by the Jewish priests, disappeared in the turmoil of events. Today, this ancient symbol of the Jewish religion adorns the coat of arms of Israel.

Only the high priest had access to the inner part of the Temple, the so-called Holy of Holies. It is believed that the Holy of Holies was the site of the Lord's appearance, and the Ark of the Covenant itself was the repository of the Tablets presented by God to the people of Israel.

The mysterious disappearance of the ark also dates back to the First Temple period. However, it was never mentioned that the ark was a trophy. But he was not found in the Second Temple either. According to some versions, the ark was hidden under a block of the cornerstone of the universe. The efforts of many famous modern archaeologists are aimed at searching for the Ark and the answer to these questions.

Traces left by events of the distant past testify to the presence on the Land of Israel of messengers of ancient highly developed civilizations, who, according to the definition of our ancestors, were “divine beings.” This is proven by legends and traditions, as well as by the architecture of monuments and some Jewish religious rituals.

According to research scientists, artifacts can be found in Israel that owe their features to the high technologies inherent in this ancient “divine” civilization.

Temple Mount today

Biblical historians are mainly concerned with the study of the Temple Mount temples themselves. But the wall surrounding the temples is also a storehouse of secrets. With its architecture, it stands out against the backdrop of imperfect buildings, and modern researchers find similarities with it in dozens of mysterious and perfect structures in different parts of the world.

This proves that the structure of the wall surrounding the Temple Mount was designed long before the historically recorded date, and its creation may have been due to an extraterrestrial "divine" civilization.

Excursions to the Temple Mount leave from almost all cities in Israel: Tel Aviv, Haifa, Hadera, Netanya and many others. When vacationing in or on the Dead Sea, be sure to choose one day and visit this holy place.

Which is located in Jerusalem, visible from all the Jerusalem mountains, since a golden dome shines in its very center.

The famous and sacred was first mentioned since the Last Supper.

The greatest one is one of the seven wonders of the world, and its construction began in the 10th century BC.