Second Temple

Jewish law forbade idol worship in Israel, leading to tensions with Roman Emperor Caligula, who took it as defiance. Discover how Petronius, a Roman consul, risked everything to protect the sanctity of the Jewish faith.

With hopeful hearts, the Jewish people put their dreams into action: digging foundations and laying a cornerstone. On May 19th, during joyous song, praise, and dance, work began to rebuild the Temple.

It seemed like a golden age for Jews in the Seleucid Empire, as their loyalty and tenacity were recognized. But could anything go wrong?

A brutal civil war raged within Jerusalem and the Temple. The Second Temple fell due to baseless hatred. It seemed everyone believed they were fulfilling a great mitzvah by fighting each other. In hindsight, it is clear it was sheer madness.

Hyrcanus was truly soft-hearted. Aristobulus knew he wouldn't harm his family, so he spoke gently to him, leading him to Jerusalem and the Temple, where Aristobulus convinced him to relinquish the throne and the priesthood.

When King Yannai found himself without a Torah scholar to lead a blessing after dinner, his wife, Shlomtzion, had a surprising solution. This incident marked the beginning of a shift in his reign.

Discover the grandeur of the ancient synagogue in Alexandria, so vast that special signalers waved cloths to cue the congregation for 'amen.' Join us on a historical journey.

Herod, the outsider, tormented and suppressed the Jewish people in a manner unprecedented, disregarding the role of a king meant to protect rather than oppress.

A stunning gold ring, set with a gem from the Second Temple period, has been discovered in the City of David.

In a remarkable discovery during road expansion in the Benjamin region, an ancient stone tool production site from the Second Temple period has been revealed. This find suggests the area was a hub for quarrying, manufacturing, and distributing stone tools to Jerusalem.

Archaeologists have unearthed a structure in Yavne, marked by limestone cups suggesting Jewish presence. Nearby, they encountered a large cemetery from the same era.

During an archaeological dirt-sifting activity, an 11-year-old discovered a rare pure silver coin engraved with "Holy Jerusalem." Researchers estimate it originated from Second Temple treasures.

The stunning seal, originally used as a ring, is crafted from purple-hued amethyst. It showcases a bird alongside a branch, possibly depicting the elusive balsam plant used in Temple incense.

A massive quarry dating back to the Second Temple era, featuring exceptionally large building stones, has been uncovered in Jerusalem's Har Hotzvim. This discovery sheds light on the ancient processes of stone extraction used in Jerusalem's extensive construction projects.

Rare coins from the Jewish revolt against the Romans, during the fall of the Second Temple, have been discovered in Benjamin. The coins are inscribed with "Freedom of Zion" and "For the Freedom of Jerusalem."

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation and the Israeli Antiquities Authority unveil a magnificent 2,000-year-old public building.

During archaeological works led by the Civil Administration in Gush Etzion, an intact inkstand dating back to the late Second Temple period was uncovered. Similar findings have only been discovered at about a dozen sites across the country.

A rare object used for standardized volume measurement, recently discovered in excavations at the City of David, suggests we may have found the central market location of Second Temple era Jerusalem.

The main street of Second Temple-era Jerusalem is unearthed in City of David. The celebration saw prominent attendees, including U.S. Ambassador David Friedman and special envoy Jason Greenblatt.

Discover how King Cyrus the Great permitted the Jewish exiles to return and rebuild their temple, as told in the compelling new book 'Biblical Archaeology, Part IV'.