Who Really Built the Western Wall?

Excavations directed by archaeologist Eli Shukron and Professor Ronny Reich of the University of Haifa revealed more of the wall’s bedrock foundation. According to Professor Reich, “It became apparent during the course of the work that there are rock-hewn remains of different installations on the natural bedrock, including cisterns, ritual baths, and cellars. These belonged to the dwellings of a residential neighborhood that existed there before King Herod decided to enlarge the Temple Mount compound. The Jewish historian Josephus, a contemporary of that period, writes that Herod embarked on the project of enlarging the compound in the 18th year of his reign [22 BC] and described it as ‘the largest project the world has ever heard of.’”

When the expansion began, the area was confiscated and the buildings there were demolished. As they began to set the corners of the Temple Mount, they found a mikveh situated directly in line with the proposed wall. The builders filled in the mikveh with earth, placed three large flat stones on the soil, and built the first course of the wall on top of it.

Photo by Isranet While sifting the soil from inside the mikveh, three first-century clay oil lamps were discovered as well as 17 bronze coins. Dr. Donald Ariel, curator of IAA’s numismatic collection, determined that the four latest coins were struck by the Roman procurator of Judea, Valerius Gratus, in the year 17/18 AD.

This means that Robinson’s Arch (just south of the Western Wall), and possibly a longer part of the Western Wall, were constructed after this year—that is to say, at least 20 years after Herod’s death (which was commonly thought to have occurred in the year 4 BC). This dramatic find confirms Josephus’ descriptions, which state that it was only during the reign of King Agrippa II (Herod’s great-grandson) that the work was finished. So, though Herod was the architect and initiator of the project, he must share the glory for its completion with others.