THE HERODIAN QUARTER

This Archaeological site is perhaps one of the largest and most impressive sites uncovered in the Upper City during excavations between 1969 and 1983. The site, exposes six houses from the Herodian period, which spans the years from 37 BCE until the city's destruction by the Romans in 70 CE. This period corresponds to the Roman Period. Remains of this period are characterized by the uniformity of their architecture, masonry and artistry. Other notable "Herodian" sites are Masada, Herodian, and the Western Wall.

The houses here, allow us a glimpse into life in the Upper city of Jerusalem during Temple times. As we would expect, mikvaot, or ritual baths are in abundance throughout. One house, the Mansion, contained no less than seven mikvaot! In Temple Times, each and every person before entering the Temple Mount was required to immerse in a mikveh. Additionally, during Temple times, many sacrifices, offered daily, were permitted to be eaten within the city and not limited to the Mount. In general, life in the shadow of the Beit HaMikdash, the Holy Temple, was a life focused on attaining, and preserving tahara, or purity. Josephus further tells us that the Upper City was housed largely by Cohanim, or Priests, whose service was in the Temple. They certainly would be required to maintain a level of tahara, or at least be able to attain it with the ease of their own in-house mikveh.

THE OLD CITY

Ancient Jerusalem
The Western Wall
The Herodian Quarter
The Cardo
The Citadel
Ophel Excavations
Broad Wall
Burnt House
Western Wall Tunnels

Synagogues
The Ramban Synagogue
The Hurva Synagogue
The 4 Sephardic Synagogues
The Tiferet Yisrael Synagogue