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Fortress Antonia, where Jesus was condemned by Pontius Pilate, was at a higher elevation than the temple, according to Josephus. In modern times, the Dome is the high point of the Temple Mount. If Antonia was located at what is now the Dome, that would place the temple at Al Kas fountain, which is midway between the Dome and al-Aqsa. This area was landscaped and flattened by Hadrian. If the temple was at this site, it is now under 17 meters of earth.<ref name="dolphin"/>

Fortress Antonia, where Jesus was condemned by Pontius Pilate, was at a higher elevation than the temple, according to Josephus. In modern times, the Dome is the high point of the Temple Mount. If Antonia was located at what is now the Dome, that would place the temple at Al Kas fountain, which is midway between the Dome and al-Aqsa. This area was landscaped and flattened by Hadrian. If the temple was at this site, it is now under 17 meters of earth.<ref name="dolphin"/>

An alternative theory is based on the tradition that the temple was due west of the Golden Gate. This gate was built by Justinian in the sixth century and sealed off by Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in 1541. (The gate is sealed because there is a tradition that the messiah will enter using this gate.<ref>As Jesus has already passed through, sealing the gate fulfills Ezekiel 44:2: "And the LORD said to me, “This gate shall remain shut; it shall not be opened, and no one shall enter by it, for the LORD, the God of Israel, has entered by it. Therefore it shall remain shut" (ESV).</ref>) If the location of this gate corresponds to the Herodian gate, that would put the temple at the Dome of the Spirits, which is just north of the Dome of the Rock. This structure is also called the Dome of the Tablets, so there is a tradition connecting it to the temple. It dates from the tenth century, so it could have been inspired by the location of Justinian's gate.<ref name="dolphin"/>

An alternative theory is based on the tradition that the temple was due west of the Golden Gate. This gate was built by Justinian in the sixth century and sealed off by Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in 1541. (It is sealed because there is a tradition that the messiah will enter using this gate.<ref>As Jesus has already passed through, sealing the gate fulfills Ezekiel 44:2: "And the LORD said to me, “This gate shall remain shut; it shall not be opened, and no one shall enter by it, for the LORD, the God of Israel, has entered by it. Therefore it shall remain shut" (ESV).</ref>) If the location of this gate corresponds to the Herodian gate, that would put the temple at the Dome of the Spirits, which is just north of the Dome of the Rock. This structure is also called the Dome of the Tablets, so there is a tradition connecting it to the temple. It dates from the tenth century, so it could have been inspired by the location of Justinian's gate.<ref name="dolphin"/>

 

==Jesus==

==Jesus==

Several well-known episodes in the life of Jesus occurred at the Herodian temple. Mary brought Jesus to the temple forty days after he was was born.<ref>Luke 2:22–2:40.</ref> He returned as a 12-year-old to debate the Pharisees.<ref>Luke 2.41-52.</ref> During his ministry, Jesus visited the temple and was outrage by the sight marketers defiling it. He angrily overturned the tables of the money changers.<ref>Mark 11.15-19; Matt. 21.12-17; Luke 19.45-48; John 2.13-25.</ref> In the temptation narrative, the devil brought Jesus to the "pinnacle of the Temple" and challenged him to prove that he son of the God by throwing himself off.<ref>Matt. 4.1-11; Luke 4.1-13.</ref>

Several well-known episodes in the life of Jesus occurred at the Herodian temple. Mary brought Jesus to the temple forty days after he was was born.<ref>Luke 2:22–2:40.</ref> He returned as a 12-year-old to debate the Pharisees.<ref>Luke 2.41-52.</ref> During his ministry, Jesus visited the temple and was outrage by the sight marketers defiling it. He angrily overturned the tables of the money changers.<ref>Mark 11.15-19; Matt. 21.12-17; Luke 19.45-48; John 2.13-25.</ref> In the temptation narrative, the devil brought Jesus to the "pinnacle of the Temple" and challenged him to prove that he son of the God by throwing himself off.<ref>Matt. 4.1-11; Luke 4.1-13.</ref>