The History and Significance of the Temple Mount, Jerusalem

Among the hustle and bustle, that has been the last one week, where conflicting notions of civilisations have once again been spurred up, over Israel and Palestine, a plot of land, a small yet not insignificant strip of land, is up in the news again. 

But beyond this endless cycle of spy and espionage, fire and fury, lies the story of Temple Mount, the area of convergence for the three Abrahamic religions of the world. 

Temple Mount, also known as al-Haram al-Sharif, an area of 35-acre, is the cradle of immortal stories and godly legends, but sadly for us, the place has lost its charm behind our pointless conflicts. 

The importance of the place can be evident from the fact that when the last Prophet laid the foundational stone for the second holiest mosque, Madina, initially it was facing the Temple Mount, rather than Mecca. 

Now, that your interest regarding Temple Mount has been triggered, let us dive down deeper into the fascinating and shrouded history of this truly magnificent place. 


The Foundation of Temple Mount

The story of Temple Mount goes as far as 957 BCE, which is almost 3,000 years of history, making it one of the oldest areas to be developed in humankind. 

The story of its creation is so significant that it finds its mention in the holy scriptures of Judaism and Christianity, when King Solomon, or Sulayman according to Islamic scriptures, built the First Temple in Temple Mount. The temple is believed to have been constructed in 957 BCE, and as a fulfilment of a prophecy, it was destroyed in 587 BCE by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II. 

Even before King Solomon built the First Temple, at Temple Mount, his father King David chose Temple Mount, then known as Mount Moriah, as the place where the future temple, for housing the Ark of the Covenant, would be built. Although there are no hard archaeological proofs to back this claim, it forms the foundation of the religious beliefs of many around the world. 

After the demolition of the First Temple, the Second Temple was built in 516 BCE, built by Herod the Great. Again as scriptures prophesied, the Second Temple was also destroyed, by the Roman occupational forces in 70 CE. In 1871, archaeological evidence was also found, giving credibility to the mythical stories of the region.   

The Significance of the Area

All three Abrahamic religions attach great significance to Temple Mount, for many common and unique reasons. It is indeed mind-boggling to believe that an area, not even a quarter as big as the Red Fort, is at the foundation of the belief system of many. 

Jews believe that as a fulfilment of the prophecy, after the destruction of the Second Temple, a final Third Temple will be built by the Messiah, who will save the world from the upcoming apocalypse. There is also a big section of a wall, which is known as the Western Wall, which is believed to be the last remnant component of the Second Temple built by Herod. 

Many also believe that the revered Ark of the Covenant, a gilded wooden chest containing the 10 Commandments, is also buried somewhere inside the Temple Mount. The Ark is cherished as the ultimate hidden treasure by many around the world. 
For Christians, it is the place where Biblical characters, and foremost Jesus Christ himself, roamed and preached. Temple Mount in the background of the many cherished stories from the Bible. 

The place also holds great significance for Muslims around the world, for this is the place from where the last Prophet of Islam ascended to heaven after he travelled to this spot from Mecca. The place is venerated as the location of the third most holy mosque for Muslims, the Al-Aqsa mosque. 

These are just a few of the uncountable legends and myths revolving around the fascinating Temple Mount. But it is not only mythology in which Temple Mount finds a mention, the place, inevitably, is also a place of great historical significance. 

All through the medieval period until the modern time, in peace or at war, Temple Mount has played some role or the other. It has been, in all its glory, and the truest sense, a cradle of civilisation and the nurturer of world-altering philosophies. 

It has borne to witness, the rise and fall of empires and kingdoms, the wisdom and vices of many rulers and the fury and futility of war. All through its existence it has been divided and conquered in an exclusionary crusade, yet it stands out as an example of inclusiveness of the highest order. 

Only if we could all, together, understand the shared value it represents, of even holiness converging, would we able to, one day, evolve Temple Mount, beyond the shackles of hatred, as the true form of the Holiest of the Holy.  

Written by - Piyush Pandey
Edited by - Adrija Saha