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Abstract

In the vicinity of the ‘western Hulda Gate’ in the southern wall of the Temple Mount, four areas were excavated. Area A revealed a large miqweh (ritual bath). Area B contained three rock-cut, vaulted rooms supporting the monumental staircase to the Triple Gate. In Area C, south of the vaulted rooms, fills were excavated and a rock-cut surface was exposed. In Area D, the rock-cut ‘Secco Room’ was cleaned. Several architectural fragments, including column drums, a column base, entablature fragments, staircase elements and a fragment of a threshold, were uncovered, many of which originated in Herod’s Royal Stoa. Some of these fragments have bearing on the reconstruction of the Royal Stoa; thus, a brief, new evaluation of this building is offered.

Keywords

Second Temple period, King Herod, Umayyad buildings, miqweh, piazza, water channel, latrine, pottery, stone objects, figurine, inscription, numismatics, art, Josephus, Mishna, Iron Age II

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