Jerusalem’s Temple Mount is one of the holiest sites in the world. By Jewish belief, Abraham offered his son, Isaac, for sacrifice in the Temple Mount.  Later, it became the site of Solomon’s Temple.

Since the 7^th century CE, the Muslims venerate the Temple Mount as well, commemorating Mohammad’s Night Journey. They also constructed the monuments of the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

In the 19^th century, certain archaeological surveys were conducted on the Temple Mount, but later, the Muslims forbade further research. Being so, the knowledge of the Temple Mount before the 7^th century is very limited. Nevertheless, certain visible architectural elements and bedrock formations provide a clue to the mountain’s pre-Muslim history, especially in the first century.

Touring the Temple Mount

Due to the ongoing tension between the Palestinian Muslims and the Jewish state of Israel, entry to the Temple Mount is entirely restricted. It is open only a few hours a day, and the queue to enter can be long due to the required security procedure. Moreover, since 2000, the local Muslim religious trust (the Waqf) has not allowed non-Muslims to enter the Mosque and the Dome of the Rock. But it is possible to walk in the open public parts of the Temple Mount and review the few remains possibly connected to the Herodian Temple that once stood here.

A tour of the Temple Mount can be combined with a guided day tour of Jerusalem.