Evening star., 1951-12-23
Time
Jerusalem Had
Building Boom
By D. G. Boreuther

One of the biggest building booms
IN the long and turbulent history of
Jerusalem was just being completed
when Jesus was born.
Magnificent new edifices, imposing
palaces. massive stone walls and def
ant fortresses were being erected
throughout the city, which had been
famous as early as 1400 BIC. as Uru-
Vision of Peace"
In bitter irony. this building boom
was sponsored and carried out by men
who never heard. and most of whom
would never hear. Of the Prince of
Feace. 1t was project that set the
stage Tor the persecution, the trial
ana the crucifixion of the Man who
came to save those men from their
worldly preoccupations.
Herod the Great promoted the
BOOM! He was the father of Herod
Antipas, whom Jesus called 1.-The fox''
Uuke xiii:3O. Josephus called him
a man OF great barbarity to all men
equally" but great builder. He
turned Jerusalem into a wealthy city.
inclosed by lofty walls, surmounted
by formidable baStions and spectacu-
lar towers.
Built Enormous PoIoce
Inspired by the Emperor Augustus,
who said he found Rome brick and
would leave it marble" Herod decided
ne would do as much for Jerusalem.
He built himself an enormous
palace on Mount Zion. He defended
this abode with powerful fortifica-
tions and three great towers. He
named one tower Marianne, for his
wife. Another was Hippicus and the
third. Phasaelus.
The Tower Of David, by the present
Jafta Gate, stands on the foundations
OF one OF these towers of Herod.
On the side Of the old Tower of
Baris. or Birah, Herod built a fort
reSs, and being smart politician. he
named 1t Antonia, in honor of Mark
Antony. Then he proceeded to fortify
the entire city Of the vision of
Peace" to protect it from rowing bri-
gands and Arab raiders.
He built an amphitheater in typical
Roman style and introduced Roman
gladiatorial combatS into the HOLY
City. His games were always staged
IN honor of the Emperor of Rome.
Virtually carpet bagger de luxe,
Herod the Great had been proclaimed
by the Roman Senate as King of the
Jews. But he was hated by the people
he ruled. AS sop to win the good
will OF the Jews. who abhorred his
cruelty, he decided to rebuild the
Temple Of Zorobabel-the great Tenn
pie Of Jerusalem.
Third SoIomon's Temple
This he vowed would be as splendid
as the Temple of Solomon. And he
built it on the very site of Solomons
Temple. This Is the site more re-
Gently known as the Haram esh-
Sheriff, or noble sanctuary. listed by
guide books as 'the most interesting
place in Jerusalem" This was where
David had erected an altar e Sam,
xxxiv:25). And this also was where
stood the second temple, erected
around 520-516 Be. after the Baby
lonian captivity.
Herod doubled the area Of the
CeInpIe lncloSure ana great part OF
the present Haram wall dates from
his day. He officially opened the
great edif1ce in 10 BE-, but even
when Jesus entered the temple "and
overthrew the tables Of the money!
changers and the seats of them that
sold doves mark. xi:15), the work.
men were still laboring on the vast
project and their work continued
until AID. 64.
Although Herod the Great had died
before Christ was born, his construc-
tlon went on. Historians agree that
he made such radical architectural
changes that Jerusalem became a
new city and the temple, as in Solo,
mons day, became one of the wonders
of the world
An earthquake had opened the way
for Herod's public works projects. It
shook the old city in 81 BIC. But
in spite Of the Roman rulers efforts
and accomplishments, none of his
work remains today. Following the
Jewish War for Freedom under Bar
Kachba in 1872. Jerusalem was COM
pletely demolished. A new city, the
comparatively short-lived Aelia Capt.
tolina. was built over the ruins
OF the Vision Of Peace" to await
more wars and more devastation.
ASSOCIATED Press.)