Jerusalem Temple Mount 03

The Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock (which is probably where the Temple once stood) provide the obvious focal point of any photo taken of Jerusalem’s Old City. In the time period of the New Testament, the Jewish Temple built by Herod the Great stood on the 35-acre (14 hectares) platform. Solomon first built the Temple Mount platform, making a flat building area for his temple on top of the rocky hill. Herod doubled the size of the Temple Mount just a few years before Jesus was born. Zechariah had a vision (and later, a son) in the Temple. Mary and Joseph came to the Temple grounds to dedicate Jesus when he was eight days old. Jesus turned over the tables of money changers and drove away animal sellers on the Temple Mount. He also often taught his followers on the grounds of the Temple Mount or on the slopes of the Mount of Olives. In this photo, this is the Temple Mount we see today.