There are five primary sources for the study of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, the Temple of Herod. They are:
The Bible
The Books of Maccabees
Josephus*
The Dead Sea Scrolls
The Mishna***War book 5, chapter 5; Antiquities book 15 chapter 11
**tractates Middot, Tamid, Yoma, Shekalim
These five sources along with archaeological discoveries provide us with sufficient information about the Temple of Herod during the time of Jesus.
Source:
This bust was discovered by archaeologists at Meroe (Modern Sudan) and is currently in the British Museum. It depicts the face of the Roman Emperor Augustus who ordered the census just before the birth of Jesus. This brought the parents of Jesus (Jos...
The main sources available estimate that the population of those living in Jerusalem during the time of Jesus was probably around 80,000 to 100,000 citizens. But during the Passover hundreds of thousands of Jews from the Diaspora would pour into Jeru...
The etymology of the name Jerusalem is not certain; it is apparently of Semitic origin. An Egyptian notice from the third quarter of the nineteenth century B.C. mentions Urusalimum. The Assyrians called it Ursalimmu. Modern scholars take these names ...
Ancient Mesopotamia, the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, made significant contributions to the development of civilization. Here are some of its notable achievements: Writing System: Mesopotamia is credited with the invention of one of ...
Ancient Rome is often associated with grand architecture, legendary emperors, and mighty legions. However, the daily life of women in ancient Rome remains an intriguing and less-explored aspect of this civilization. While gender roles and expectation...
The Gupta Empire, which thrived from the 4th to the 6th century CE, witnessed a golden age of cultural and artistic achievements in ancient India. Known for its patronage of the arts, literature, science, and philosophy, the Gupta Empire left an inde...
The Bible does not provide specific details about Abraham's dress or clothing. However, we can infer some general information about the attire of people during that time period and cultural context. Abraham lived during the early second millennium BC...
The ancient historian Tacitus mentioned Pontius Pilate by name (Ann. xv. 44) and that he was appointed in A.D. 25-26, “in the twelfth year of Tiberius.” Pontius Pilate was the sixth Roman procurator of Judea, and under him our Lord worked, suffer...
The seven hills of Rome were very noticeable in the landscape of the city of Rome. The hills were no higher than 60 yards, but they had steep slopes that rose above the flat marshland. Several small streams flowed between the seven hills. The names o...
In the Bible, a watchtower, also known as a lookout or watchman's tower, was a raised structure used for surveillance and observation. It served as a strategic vantage point from which watchmen could keep watch over the surrounding area, looking out ...
Pompey was a military genius and his soldiers recognized this and referred to him as “Magnus” which means the great, thus the name Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus. Source: Pompey the Great...
The Bible does not specifically mention the Adriatic Sea as a place of sudden storms. However, the Bible does contain accounts of storms and tempests occurring at sea in various locations, emphasizing the unpredictable and perilous nature of such eve...
Yes there are remains of a Temple of Augustus at the site of ancient Paneas or Caesarea Philippi. This illustration depicts a Temple of Augustus. The temple at Caesarea Philippi would have been built in a similar style. Augustus was fascinated with t...
The question of the origins of nations and peoples has fascinated humanity for centuries. From a biblical perspective, the origins of all nations can be traced back to the descendants of Noah’s three sons—Shem, Ham, and Japheth—following the gr...
The ancient city of Babylon, located in Mesopotamia, made significant contributions to the fields of mathematics and astronomy. With a keen interest in celestial observations and a sophisticated numerical system, the Babylonians developed groundbreak...
Around 1000 BC David became king over Israel and conquered the Jebusites and stormed their fortress on Mount Zion (1 Sam. 5:5-9). Jerusalem became his home and the capital of his kingdom. He brought the Ark of the Covenant to the city and danced befo...
The pyramids of Egypt stand as iconic symbols of ancient Egyptian civilization, representing remarkable architectural and engineering achievements. Constructed as tombs for pharaohs, these colossal structures continue to captivate the world with thei...
History records that the Assyrians were ruthless to any enemy that tried to withstand them. One inscription from an Assyrian King Tiglath-Pileser records: “I built a wall before the great gates of the city; I flayed the chief men of the rebels, and...
Welcome to Free Bible: Unearthing the Past, Illuminating the Present! Step into a world where ancient history and biblical narratives intertwine, inviting you to explore the rich tapestry of human civilization.
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