Does This Photo Depict Solomons's Temple Correctly?

I was just reading another paper on Asher, a caananite female deity worshipped amoung the hebrews, and apparently worshipped in the Temple of Solomon itself (along with a bronze serpent 'made by moses', to which incense was offered to).

In addition to that, the worship of Asher and Baal in the region seems to be very much like what is called the Mycenean Tree and Pillar Cult by famed archaeologist Arthur Evans (discoverer of Knossos, amoung other things), with Asher represented by a wooden stake and baal or the other god by an altar (often in a sacred sanctuary with a tree, upon a hill).

Anyway, the article, citing largely biblical evidence too (its from the 60-70's) makes note that this goddess and other gods were worshipped in Solomons Temple.

It also cites the biblical story of King Hiram of Tyre and his Master Mason (wink wink, nudge nudge) Hiram the builder helping build the temple for Solomon, and that these tyrians had a cult for Asher, and that they 'probably' consider 'yahweh' to either be just a big yehudi god or perhaps, under syncretism, to be a local manifestation of Baal. And that they built the solomonic temple along very similar lines to ther phonecian-caananite temples, with two pillars, anterooms, etc. In particular the author cites a temple "of Tell Tainat in Syria from the [9]th century BC" (tho apparently the site is in whats now turkey), and a "much older Canaanite temple, which might be considered as the proto-type of Solomon's, dating from the Late Bronze Age [found at] Hazor".

This site has some interseting depictions
phoenicia.org...
external image

Here is the Tell Tainat /Tayinat Temple




Also, for those interested, this is a column base from Tell Tayinat. A wooden colum would be used. Its for the palace at the site tho, not the temple. Interstingly tho, I suppose that this might be very similar to the Joachim and Boaz columns then eh?



As far as the ornateness of the Herodian Temple, I think that this is one built during roman times no? its not especially impressive, as far as grand temple complexes go (which is kind of an odd thing to say).

Its defintly not one of the wonders of the world, not the actual greek list anyway.

[edit on 12-12-2005 by Nygdan]

Wow, seems ol Sol-Sun-Sirius-wink- had more going for him than is in the KJV.
This would seem to me that perhaps the model I posted could have been close to reality?
He puts his Dad's sins to shame, just Bathsheba, no?
He was into things that would make crowley blush, and it was all ok? with G-d..what was I thinking?
Was his one claim to proper fame the splitting of the baby?
Thank you for all this research..means a lot to me...

I don't know how it couldn't exist! Remember, Solomon had to stand on its top floor to watch Bathsheba while she took her bath!

You know, in all honesty, if Greek buildings can stand after 2600 years...if pyramids can stand after twice that length...I'm pretty sure we can, in time, find some remnents of Solomon's Tenple.

Have you had this appraised, it might be very valuable.
Years ago while in Goodwill, I spied a divided up map in sections, it was a topography map and had 1863 on it. It was 3.00. I almost bought it. Imagine my surprise while watching Oprah to see this guy who did buy it in a goodwill store, he knew what it was and how valuable it was when he purchased it. It was valued at 1.5 million dollars. If I recall correctly it was a map of Lewis and Clarks expedition and there were only three in existance.
Anyway you should have this apparaised, you may be a lot richer than you think.

Originally posted by Nygdan
Anyway, the article, citing largely biblical evidence too (its from the 60-70's) makes note that this goddess and other gods were worshipped in Solomons Temple.

Well, you know that Solomon was 'girl-crazy,' right? He had 700 wives and 300 concubines.
Why he didn't have 300 wives and 700 concubines, I'll never understand...

Anyway, all those women and his testosterone led him way astray.

So probably that article is generally accurate.

And that they built the solomonic temple along very similar lines to ther phonecian-caananite temples, with two pillars, anterooms, etc. In particular the author cites a temple "of Tell Tainat in Syria from the [9]th century BC" (tho apparently the site is in whats now turkey), and a "much older Canaanite temple, which might be considered as the proto-type of Solomon's, dating from the Late Bronze Age [found at] Hazor".

I think that is logical--the Hebrew culture came from pheonician-canaanite origins--the language, too.

As far as the ornateness of the Herodian Temple, I think that this is one built during roman times no? its not especially impressive, as far as grand temple complexes go (which is kind of an odd thing to say).

Its defintly not one of the wonders of the world, not the actual greek list anyway.
[edit on 12-12-2005 by Nygdan]

Solomon's temple, according to the bible, was entirely overlaid in gold. Inside and out, I think. At least a good part of the outer facade, it seems. Heck of a place to be in a lightning storm.

Originally posted by goose


Anyway you should have this apparaised, you may be a lot richer than you think.

Funny thing is right after I posted the images, I started looking for it in my Munster's house and I think I have hidden it from myself..
I call my home 'the black hole' as I collect everything..Thank you for the reminder..
It will show up..I saw that guy on Oprah with the map...

Oops! I got my Jewish Kings mixed up in my last post...SORRY!!

Now, here's a little something I found:




BUT, according to this web site, the Temple was built in 953 BC.

Originally posted by djohnsto77
As far as I know, there's absolutely nothing left of Solomon's temple, not even a single brick etc.

Some people (not me

) even question whether it actually existed.

The Wailing Wall, as it has come to be known, is believed to have been the Western wall of Solomon's Temple.

This is your temple...

www.angelfire.com...

EDIT: link

[edit on 16/12/05 by The Surrealist]

1. The style of the reconstruction is supposed to look "monumental," without being too "Greek." Herod's temple appears on the obverse of several coins from the period. Very abstractly done, but with collumns and a pitched roof similar to a classically Greek temple. (One of the many reasons the Jews hated Herod.)

2. The Antonia wasn't Herod's palace, it was the Praetor's/Governor's. But yes, it seems to be north of the Temple in the pic.

3. The slope of the hillsides on the rt. of the picture imply the EAST slope of Moriah, as does the orientation of the Temple doors. But that makes the central courtyard too big, and too far away from the "Golden Gate," the main entrance to the temple from the East.

If you are interested, Biblical Archaeology Review did an amazing series of articles concerning the exact location of the Holy of Holies on the Temple mount. Most scholars are now convinced that Solomon's temple was a reality, and responsible for the giant Ashlars at the lowest stratum of the Western (wailing) wall.

The Al Aqsa Mosque society even allowed pictures to be taken INSIDE the dome of the rock, the first time since the 1950's. I cannot remember the author's name, but the argument is persuasive that the rectangular trough apparent in the floor of the Dome of the Rock was the seat of the Ark of the Covenant.

I cannot find a not copywrighted pic to post, but you can see it if you surf the web.

They'll tell you that non-muslims are not allowed inside. But if you come with an arabian escort/guide, and make friends with the various shifts of guards, they'll let you in if you seem respectful, and dont have a backpack or purse.

.

Originally posted by TheBorg
The Wailing Wall, as it has come to be known, is believed to have been the Western wall of Solomon's Temple.

No, that is the remains of Herod's temple.

Here's the article I was thinking of.

Ritmeyer, Leen. "The Ark of the Covenant: Where it Stood in Solomon's Temple," BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY REVIEW Jan 1, 1996 22(1):46.


Djohnsto77:

Herod did not rebuild the outer court differently than Solomon, because the dimensions of the courtyard are laid out in scripture. Solomon built the bottom layer. Herod (and macabbees) would have built on top.

This site: wailing wall cam, will give you a live view of the wall.

If you look, the stones showing at the base of the wall are quite large, the size of a sofa. Higher up they are much smaller, and of whiter limestone.

Even at a distance, you can tell where the small stones start.

The courtyard of the wailing wall is actually below street level in Jerusalem. They didn't dig foundations; just built a new level on preceding civilizations/cultures.

EDIT: Djohnsto77, I've been surfing the web, and practically every site I've visited says that the wall was built ENTIRELY by Herod. A few say the bottom stones are indeed from the original temple; but the vast majority say not. Now personally, I'm convinced that the sites are just echoing each other, but since I certainly cannot prove this, I'll go ahead with the idea that it's all from the second temple.



[edit on 16-12-2005 by dr_strangecraft]

Originally posted by siriuslyone
This was in a box lot I bought at an auction..
It is very strange, but you would have to be able to see it closely..This is the best photograph I could get.Is it described anywhere as looking like this? I have not been able to find any pertinent dimensions.
[edit on 9-12-2005 by siriuslyone]

What's printed on the Lower Left of the picture. Also, is there any date, author, artist name, or anything that this picture can be traced back to? Looking for the origins of the photo will most likely answer all your questions.

Originally posted by The Surrealist
This is your temple...

www.angelfire.com...

EDIT: link

[edit on 16/12/05 by The Surrealist]

Originally posted by The Surrealist

Originally posted by The Surrealist
This is your temple...

www.angelfire.com...

EDIT: link

[edit on 16/12/05 by The Surrealist]

Was there any information as to who built this or anything about where it is/can be seen?
Thanks.

Originally posted by queenannie38
Solomon's temple, according to the bible, was entirely overlaid in gold.

I've read in one source that Hiram the builder was a possible a member of this group called the Dionysiac Artificiers, active in Tyre apparently, and that they were, well, artificiers, ie worked with fine and precious metals. Possible the temple was inlaid with lots of fine metals and richely ornamented.

The Wailing Wall, as it has come to be known, is believed to have been the Western wall of Solomon's Temple. [/quote[]
I thought that the wailing wall was a retaining wall built by Herod as part of his new temple complex?

www.angelfire.com...

That, althought its labeled as Solomons Temple, is, I beleive, Herod's temple, on the same site, also destroyed. Intersing that its labeled as Solomons temple and so is the photo/plate that Siriusly1 has.

Here is the url a few steps 'up'
www.angelfire.com...

Infact here is the page that cites the image
www.angelfire.com...


So it might be worth contacting them to find out more about the model.

and responsible for the giant Ashlars at the lowest stratum of the Western (wailing) wall

? Ashlars? Intersting, becucase that paper above talks about the worship of the goddess Asher, and that she was worshipped with Poles, planks, and living and dead trees.

This is an interesting link concerning dates and pillage.


www.mystae.com...

Originally posted by Nygdan

? Ashlars? Intersting, becucase that paper above talks about the worship of the goddess Asher, and that she was worshipped with Poles, planks, and living and dead trees.

Ashlar, from Wikipedia
Ashlar is dressed stone work of any type of stone. Ashlar blocks are large rectangular blocks of masonry sculpted to have square edges and even faces. The blocks are generally 13 or 15 inches square, when smaller than 11 inches they are usually called "small ashlar".

Yahoo dictionary gives this etymology for the word "ashlar:"

ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English assheler, from Old French aisselier, board, from aissele, from Medieval Latin axicellus, from Latin assis


"Asher" is from the Semitic tri-consonantal root, '-sh-r, which means straight upright or correct. One of the twelve tribes bears the name of Asher. Asherah was a goddess, often represented by an upright stone or pole. The OT rails against people trying to worship her as the female consort of YHWH.

So, the term for a stone is of Latin, and ultimately, Indo-European origin.

The Semitic word for straightness or uprightness is of Semitic origin.

So the two would not be etymologically related.

I found it!!!
there is some writing on the side I cannot make out..Would it help to post the writing and see if any of you photo-image folks can discern it?
It is not on the picture of the black and white one?