A History of Judaism - Martin Goodman

Colonnade

Colonnade

Court of Gentiles

Court of Israel

Court of

Priests

Holy of Holies

Sanctuary

Altar

Court

of

Women

Court of Gentiles

Balustrade

Colonnade



  m

   ft

Colonnade

N

Plan of the Second Temple just before its destruction in 70 CE, based on a
combination of the descriptions by Josephus and in the Mishnah. From the Court
of Israel, from which women were excluded, male Jews could observe from close
up the sacrifices carried out by the priests. The massive extension of the Court of
the Gentiles to the south and east completed by Herod in 12 BCE enabled the
Temple to accommodate large crowds of pilgrims.