Biblical Archaeology Review

The quotations from Josephus’s works come from the Loeb Classical Library edition (abbreviated “L.,” comprising The Jewish War, tr. H. St. J. Thackeray, and Jewish Antiquities, tr. Ralph Marcus and Allen Wikgren) or from The Works of Josephus, tr. William Whiston (abbreviated “W.”).

For a detailed description of Herod’s Temple, according to Josephus and Mishnah Middot (a rabbinic source), see Joseph Patrich, “Reconstructing the Magnificent Temple Herod Built,” Bible Review, October 1988. (Drawings in this article by Leen Ritmeyer.)

The original architect on this excavation was Munya Dunayevsky, who had collaborated closely with Professor Mazar on many earlier excavations for over 30 years until his untimely death in 1969. Dunayevsky made a major contribution to the initial stratigraphical analysis of the site, and his drawing of the southwest corner of the Temple Mount shows the preliminary understanding of the superstructure of the western wall.

According to the first-century Jewish historian Josephus, Herod began to build the Temple in the 18th year of this reign (19 B.C.); the Temple itself took only 18 months to build and the cloisters were completed within eight years. However, a reference in the Gospel of John 2:20 (“It has taken 46 years to build this Temple”) suggests that the project continued for a much longer time.

See Paul W. Lapp, “Bedouin Find Papyri Three Centuries Older Than the Dead Sea Scrolls,” BAR 04:01, and Frank M. Cross, “The Historical Importance of the Samaria Papyri,” BAR 04:01.

The Talmud (tahl-MOOD) is a collection of Jewish laws and teachings comprising the Mishnah and the Gemarah (a commentary on the Mishnah). There are two Talmuds. The Palestinian (or Jerusalem) Talmud was completed in the mid-fifth century; the Babylonian Talmud, completed in the mid-sixth century, became authoritative.

The Mishnah is the collection of Jewish oral laws compiled by Rabbi Judah the Prince in about 200 A.D.

The Hasmonean period refers to the Maccabean dynasty.

A tell is an artificial mound formed by accumulated remains.

The juglet will go on display at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, beginning in November 1989, as part of a major exhibit. “Perfumery and Perfumes of Ancient Times.”