Body: | The temple mount walls are more likely "Hadrian" then "Herodian":
While most people refer to the border cut around the stones
(embossed frames) as "Herodian", many of Herod's projects did not cut the
"pillow border" into the stones. When Herod did cut the border onto the
stones, the work was much sloppier than we see on the temple mount walls.
This style was not unique to Herod being used between 700 BC - 1100 AD by
many different builders.
A simple glance at the outer walls of the temple mount show that
there have been multiple constructions over a thousand years. The wall has
been destroyed several time, repaired and endured many earth quakes. The
foundation level stones at the bottom of the wall were set it place by
either Herod in 25 BC or Hadrian in 135 AD. In addition to the fact that
the current size of the temple mount area is twice as large as what
Josephus recorded in 70 AD is one piece of evidence that Hadrian, not Herod
built the wailing wall. Only a small central section of the outer wall is
considered to be built before Herod.
When you compare the temple mount walls with other projects we know
for certain he did build, we find some major differences. First, most of
Herod's projects used stones much smaller than the temple wall and most did
not have the pillow cut border around each stone. These projects include:
Masada, Herodian, Cypros and Jericho, the stones are small, rough and have
no cut frames.
Herod's projects where he used the "embossed frame" include: David's
Tower, Caesaria and Shomron. But workmanship is noticeably different since
the cuts are rough and the stones are smaller than the temple mount walls.
The stones that compose the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron are of
similar size, quality as the temple mount walls, they are "pillow cut".
However these is no evidence in any literary sources that Herod actually
built the structure.
The Temple of Jupiter in Baalbek, Lebanon, has a complex history
with no one single builder. Augustus was said to start the project and
Hadrian is said to have worked on the temple at Baalbek. It does have the
"pillow cut" stones in one portion of the temple. Below is a photo of a man
sitting on one set of stones, then the huge "Trilithon" stones, then
directly above these on the corner, you can see the "embossed frame" cut
stones that are similar in size and design to the wall at the temple mount.
(Link to detailed view of the Temple of Jupiter in Baalbek )
Click on photo for high resolution
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Both the Cave of the Patriarchs and the Temple of Jupiter in Baalbek
are close matches in their stonework. More work needs to be done to
determine exactly who built the Cave of the Patriarchs, which is almost
universally ascribed to Herod. We know that Hadrian did not build Cave of
the Patriarchs, so if not him or Herod then who? We need proof that it was
Hadrian who laid the "pillow cut" stones in the Temple of Jupiter in
Baalbek.
Building
Builder
Embossed "pillow cut" stones
Size of stones compared to Temple mount walls
Size of building
notes
Temple Mount
Herod or Hadrian?
Yes
-
Josephus: 60 dunams
Temple Mount
Herod or Hadrian?
Yes
-
Today: 150 dunams
Jupiter Temple Area in Baalbek, Lebanon
Augustus, Titus & Hadrian
Yes, some
similar size
52 dunams
Ostia Temple Area
Hadrian
no
smaller clay bricks
15 dunams
Hercules Temple Area in Tivoli, Italy
coin
Hadrian
7 dunams
Temple of Zeus in Athens
Hadrian
no
smaller
Hadrian set up a gold and ivory inlaid statue of the Zeus inside the temple. Next to it he placed a huge statue of himself. Both these statues have since been lost.
Pantheon, Rome
Rebuilt from scratch by Hadrian after fire.
Hadrian's Arch, Athens
Hadrian
No
On one side, an inscription reads "This is Athens, the ancient city of Theseus." The other side reads: "This is the city of Hadrian and not of Theseus."
Hadrian's Arch, Jerash, Jordan
Hadrian's Arch closeup
Hadrian
No
Hadrian's Arch, was built at the entrance to the town to celebrate his arrival.
Hadrian's Villa, Tivoli Italy
Hadrian
no
small clay bricks
very large complex
Hadrian's Wall England
Hadrian
no
smaller stones
80 mile long wall bordering England and Scotland
By Steve Rudd: Contact the author for comments, input or corrections.
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