First Temple (Jerusalem)

The First Temple, sometimes called "Solomon's Temple," was likely built at some point in the 10th century BCE. The conventional dating for Solomon's reign is roughly 970-930 BCE and the Temple was completed at some point in the middle of the 10th century BCE, around 959. The Hebrew Bible contains descriptions of the temple, including an account of its destruction by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II in 587 BCE. Today, archaeologists are unable to conduct work on the site (Temple Mount), as the al-Aqsa Mosque currently sits there. Given that, details must be reconstructed through other historical sources. The Hebrew Bible describes the Temple as having three sections: an outer porch, a sanctuary, and an innermost shrine (the holy of holies). Additionally, Bronze age "long-room" temples from nearby Phoenician sites have similar layouts and features, which gives insight to what the First Temple may have looked like.