The desecration of the Jerusalem temple by the Romans

Temple of Jerusalem, either of two temples that were the centre of worship and national identity in ancient Israel.

Jerusalem: Western Wall, Temple MountThe Western Wall, in the Old City of Jerusalem, all that remains of the retaining wall surrounding the Temple Mount.

Early Movements of the Ark

In the early years of the Israelite kingdom, the Ark of the Covenant was periodically moved among several sanctuaries, especially those at Shechem and Shiloh. After King David captured Jerusalem, he brought the Ark to the city, linking Israel’s major religious object with the monarchy and making Jerusalem a central symbol of unity for the Israelite tribes. David chose Mount Moriah, or the Temple Mount, as the site for a future temple, believing it to be the place where Abraham had built the altar to sacrifice his son Isaac.

Construction of the First Temple

The First Temple was constructed during the reign of David’s son, Solomon, and completed in 957 BCE. Other sanctuaries continued their religious functions until King Josiah (reigned c. 640–609 BCE) abolished them, establishing the Temple of Jerusalem as the sole place of sacrifice in the Kingdom of Judah.