Room 36 ~ The Southern Stairway, the main
stairway of the
Bais HaMikdash
Exhibit 36a- Southern Wall. By the middle of the
19th century, the level of the earth had risen quite high in
the area of the Southern Wall, completely burying the remains of the
Southern Walkway and the Southern Steps.
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Exhibit 36b- Steps Revealed. When the Old City was recaptured
during the Six Days War, excavators immediately began removing the earth
from this area. To their surprise, some of the steps of the Bais HaMikdash
were found.
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Exhibit 36c- Steps. Some of the steps leading to the Bais
HaMikdash were made from large limestone blocks. Others were carved
from the natural bedrock that was in the area. As the archaeologists
removed the earth, they found that many of the limestone steps were
missing. Naturally, the steps carved from the bedrock were still in place.
The excavators replaced the missing steps. Today, we can stand on the very
steps our ancestors stood upon when they made their way to and from the
Holy Temple. It is a very emotional experience.
The steps alternate in depth, small step, large step, small step, etc.
This makes it very difficult to rush up or down the stairway. One must
walk at a slow pace in order not to stumble. The slow pace forces one to
display the "kovod," dignity, this holy area deserves.
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Exhibit 36d- Steps. Only the steps leading down from the Chuldah
Exit (Double Gate) remain. No steps leading up to the Chuldah
Entrance (Triple Gate) remain. Some scholars were curious about the exact
height of a Temple step. The Mishna says that each step in the
Temple was half an "amoh" high. An exact measurement of
the steps would solve the riddle as to the length of an "amoh."
The steps are about 9 1/2 inches high. The steps are not all exactly the
same height because of they were worn down over the millennia. However, it
must be pointed out that the Mishna is referring to the height of
the steps within the walls of Har HaBayis. These steps lead
up to Har HaBayis and are therefore outside the actual
Temple Mount.
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