Jerusalem - Temple Mount

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This is a view of the Temple Mount from the Mt. of Olives in Jerusalem. This is the Temple Mount that Jesus would have experienced when He was on earth. But that was not always the case. 

Solomon built the original Temple on Mt. Moriah on a much smaller platform. That is indicated by the marking "Solomon's Platform" on the photo.

Later, the Hasmoneans would expand the Temple Mount a little to the south. 

But it was Herod the Great that would make the Temple a glorious structure. He expanded the platform to the south and north, making it about 35 acres. He did it by building a massive retaining wall, some of which exists today. 

The Western Wall, also known as the "Wailing Wall," is part of that retaining wall. Standing at the Western Wall Plaza one can see the massive stones Herod used to build up the Temple platform.