Temple Mount Today
1. Introduction
The Temple Mount (Hebrew: Har HaBayit; Arabic: Al-Haram Al-Sharif) is one of the most contested and sacred locations in the world. This analysis examines:
- Where Solomon’s Temple was located within the Temple Mount.
- What currently occupies the site today.
2. Where Was Solomon’s Temple Located?
2.1 Traditional View
2.1.1 The Dome of the Rock as the Holy of Holies Site
The traditional Jewish and academic consensus identifies:
- The First Temple (Solomon’s Temple) as standing where the Dome of the Rock currently sits.
- The rock beneath the Dome (Es-Sakhra) is identified as the Foundation Stone (Even haShetiyah), believed to be:
- The site of the Holy of Holies.
- The place where Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22).
(Haram al-Sharif Survey; Bahat, 2007).
2.2 Alternative Theories
2.2.1 North of the Dome (Asher Kaufman)
- Proposes the Temple was north of the Dome of the Rock, aligning the Holy of Holies with the Dome of the Spirits (Qubbat al-Arwah).
- Suggests architectural dimensions better fit biblical measurements (Kaufman, 1983).
2.2.2 South of the Dome
Some propose it was slightly south, near the Al-Aqsa Mosque, but this view is less widely accepted.
2.3 Archaeological Limitations
Excavation is prohibited due to:
- Islamic custodianship (Waqf authority) forbidding invasive archaeological work.
- Political sensitivities risking conflict between Jews and Muslims (Ben-Dov, 1982).
Thus, no definitive structural remains of Solomon’s Temple have been excavated, leaving its precise location debated but traditionally centred under the Dome of the Rock.
3. What Currently Stands on the Temple Mount?
3.1 Dome of the Rock
3.1.1 Construction
- Built in 691–692 CE by the Umayyad Caliph Abd al-Malik.
- One of Islam’s earliest and most beautiful monumental buildings.
3.1.2 Religious Significance
- For Muslims: Marks the site of Muhammad’s Night Journey (Isra and Mi’raj) (Qur’an 17:1).
- For Jews: Believed to be the site of the Holy of Holies.
3.2 Al-Aqsa Mosque
3.2.1 Construction
- Located at the southern end of the Temple Mount platform.
- First built c. 705 CE, rebuilt multiple times after earthquakes.
3.2.2 Religious Significance
- The third holiest site in Islam after Mecca and Medina.
- Name “Al-Aqsa” means “the farthest mosque,” referenced in Qur’an 17:1.
3.3 Other Structures on the Temple Mount
| Structure | Description |
|---|---|
| Islamic Madrassas and Prayer Platforms | Educational and prayer facilities around the mount. |
| Dome of the Chain | Small dome east of the Dome of the Rock, possibly an Umayyad treasury or prayer site. |
| Minarets | Four minarets built by Mamluks and Ottomans. |
| Substructures | Solomon’s Stables (Herodian vaults reused by Crusaders and later Muslims). |
4. Temple Mount Layout Today
| Area | Current Use |
|---|---|
| Northern Section | Open courtyard with prayer platforms. |
| Central Section | Dome of the Rock. |
| Southern Section | Al-Aqsa Mosque. |
| Perimeter Walls | Herodian retaining walls, including the Western Wall (Kotel), the holiest accessible Jewish prayer site. |
5. Religious and Political Implications
5.1 Jewish Perspective
- Site of the First (Solomon’s) and Second Temples.
- Holiest site in Judaism; prayer for rebuilding continues (Psalm 122; Daniel 6:10).
5.2 Muslim Perspective
- Third holiest Islamic site; administered by the Jordanian Waqf.
- Access restrictions limit non-Muslim prayer on the mount.
5.3 Christian Perspective
- Revered as the location of key biblical events, including Jesus’ teaching in the Temple courts (Luke 2:46; John 2:14–16).
6. Conclusion
6.1 Location of Solomon’s Temple
Most scholars place Solomon’s Temple:
- On the Temple Mount platform, with the Holy of Holies where the Dome of the Rock now stands.
6.2 Current Structures
Today, the Temple Mount is dominated by:
- Dome of the Rock (central).
- Al-Aqsa Mosque (southern).
- Various Islamic, Crusader, and Ottoman structures.
Due to its multi-faith sacred status and political volatility, the Temple Mount remains a focal point of religious devotion, identity, and conflict in the modern world.
7. References
- Bahat, D. (2007). The Illustrated Atlas of Jerusalem. Jerusalem: Carta.
- Ben-Dov, M. (1982). In the Shadow of the Temple: The Discovery of Ancient Jerusalem. New York: Harper & Row.
- Kaufman, A. (1983). “Where the Ancient Temple of Jerusalem Stood.” Biblical Archaeology Review, 9(2), 40–59.
- Levenson, J. D. (1984). Sinai and Zion: An Entry into the Jewish Bible. San Francisco: Harper & Row.
- Mazar, A. (1992). Archaeology of the Land of the Bible: 10,000–586 B.C.E. New York: Doubleday.