place · L0021
Jerusalem ירושלים
Capital of Judea and site of the First and Second Temples; the center of Jewish worship and governance until 70 CE, and the reference point of Jewish geography, law, and longing ever after.
I. Who
- Hebrew
- ירושלים
III. Where
- Modern location
- Jerusalem, Israel
IV. What
- Events
- Destruction of the Second Temple, The Great Revolt
V. How do we know
| Claim | Evidence | Confidence | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jerusalem and the Second Temple were destroyed by Roman forces under Titus in 70 CE. | external archaeology rabbinic | ★★★★★ |
|
| A monumental Hebrew inscription reading "to the place of trumpeting..." was found in 1968 in the destruction debris at the southwestern corner of the Temple Mount (Benjamin Mazar's excavations) — the parapet stone of the spot where, Josephus says, a priest sounded a trumpet to announce Shabbat. It is displayed in the Israel Museum. | archaeology external | ★★★★★ | |
| Greek inscriptions from the Temple's soreg balustrade warned foreigners against entering the inner courts on pain of death — a complete copy found in 1871 (Istanbul Archaeology Museums) and a fragment found in 1935 — matching Josephus's description of the warning slabs in Greek and Latin. | archaeology external | ★★★★★ | |
| The city's destruction layer of 70 CE is exposed across the Old City: burnt houses under ash in the Jewish Quarter (the Burnt House among them) and Temple Mount ashlars still lying where they were toppled onto the Herodian street below Robinson's Arch. | archaeology | ★★★★★ |
Referenced by: David, Yehoyada, Zechariah ben Yehoyada, Yeshayahu, Tzefaniah, Yirmiyahu, Ezra, Chaggai, Zechariah (the prophet), Malachi, Nechemiah, Zerubavel, Shlomo, Natan HaNavi, Gad HaChozeh, Chuldah HaNeviah, Chizkiyahu, Yoshiyahu, Choni HaMe'agel, Ben Zoma, Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai, Rabban Gamliel HaZaken, Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel I, Ramban, The Arizal, Rechavam, Aviyah, Asa, Yehoshafat, Yehoram of Yehudah, Achazyahu, Atalyah, Yoash, Amatzyah, Uziyahu, Yotam, Achaz, Menashe, Amon, Yehoachaz of Yehudah, Yehoyakim, Yehoyachin, Tzidkiyahu, Shimon HaMakabi, Yochanan Hyrcanus, Aristobulus I, Alexander Yannai, Shlomtzion, Hyrcanus II, Aristobulus II, Antigonus II Mattityahu, Herod, Archelaus, Agrippa I, Malchut Beit David, Beit Chashmonai, Beit Hordos, Building of the First Temple, Destruction of the First Temple, Building of the Second Temple, Decrees of Antiochus and the Maccabean Revolt, Herod Rebuilds the Temple, Destruction of the Second Temple, The Great Revolt, The Tzfat semicha revival controversy