Herod's Temple
From Augustus, Herod obtained the right to intervene on behalf of the Jews
wherever in the Roman empire they might be annoyed. But, above all, he tried to
prove that Greek temples were not his only concern by undertaking to rebuild and
beautify the Temple in Jerusalem.
Almost five hundred years had elapsed since the Second Temple had been built
by those who returned from the Babylonian Exile. After that the Temple had no
doubt been repaired and enlarged, but it remained essentially the old building,
inferior in beauty and grandeur to some of the pagan temples which were around.
Not only was it contrary to Herod's love of architecture to permit the Temple
of his own God to remain so modest, but he thought to show his piety to the
Jews by making their Temple grander than the rest.
The leading scribes at first opposed his plan being very suspicious of the
whole thing. They actually believed that once he pulled the old building down he
would never replace it. Herod had to promise that he would not touch the old
building until he had built the new one around it.
Its Construction
Once things commenced, under no circumstances were the services to be
interrupted. Herod hired workmen by the thousands. Among them were many priests to
build those portions not accessible to ordinary Jews.
The work was started by leveling larger portions of the Temple Mount, so that
the new building might be erected on a broader base. It was also made much
taller, so that the white stone gleamed in the bright Palestinian sun and could be
seen from miles away.
On the northern and southern sides of the building were the enclosed halls or
rooms where the priests prepared for the service, and where the Sanhedrin met.
The large open court on the east, facing the Temple proper, was divided into
several parts.
Closest to the Temple was the portion set aside for the altar and the
officiating priests. Next to it was the court for the Israelites who came to watch the
service. By the side of that was the gallery for the women, and behind it was
the court of the Gentiles.
The whole area was surrounded by a wall. This is the wall, part of which
remains to this day, known as "The Wailing Wall," to which Jews have gone on
pilgrimage during the recent centuries of exile.
See also Herod's Buildings
Herod’s Roman Eagle
The Temple took many years to build. Begun in 19 BC, it was not finished till
long after Herod's death. The Jews prided in Herod's accomplishment until Herod
placed a huge Roman eagle over the most important gate of the new Temple.
Before long there was a conspiracy to pull the eagle down. When rumor
circulated that Herod was dying, a group of young men gathered before the gate on which
the golden eagle was set and began to pull it down. The soldiers interfered
and arrested about forty of them. Herod was so enraged at this sign of
insubordination and insult to Rome, that he had the "rebels" burned alive.