New TestamentGospels and Acts of the Apostles |
What good things did King Herod do for Jerusalem? |
Herod was brutal when it came to people. When it came to property development, though, he was a visionary. Under Herod’s rule, Jerusalem underwent major renovations. One of Herod’s great achievements was renovating the temple.
When the Jewish exiles returned to Jerusalem from Babylon a few hundred years prior to Herod’s rule, they rebuilt Solomon’s temple. This second temple did not match Solomon’s temple in beauty or grandeur. Herod changed that. He expanded the platform on which the temple sat. On the extended platform he built courts, terraces, and arched doorways. Elaborate carvings and statues were placed throughout. The various rooms served as offices for state business.
The Western Wall, or the Wailing Wall, is the only supporting wall of the temple that remains today. The wall is a place of prayer for Jews and Christians.
