Western Wall

The Western Wall is an ancient retaining wall in Jerusalem.

It supports the built-up hill known as the Temple Mount. This site is deeply significant to several different faiths and cultures. In a Jewish religious context, the term refers to the section used for prayer. This specific area is often called the Kotel or Kosel. In the West, it has been called the Wailing Wall. In the Islamic world, it is known as the Buraq Wall.

The wall serves as a physical boundary for the al-Haram al-Sharif, or the Al-Aqsa compound. It is a place where history, architecture, and religious belief all meet.

The wall functions as a massive structural support system. It was built to hold up an artificially expanded hilltop. This expansion created a wide, rectangular platform for the Jewish Temple. The wall consists of 45 total stone courses. Seventeen of these courses are located below street level. The visible portion of the wall stands about 19 meters high.

The construction uses many different types of stone from various eras. The bottom layers use enormous limestone blocks called Herodian ashlars. These stones are often framed by fine-chiseled borders. These borders measure between 2 and 5 centimeters wide. The middle layers use medium-sized stones from the Umayyad period. The uppermost layers consist of small stones from the Mamluk or Ottoman periods.

There are several distinct sections of the western retaining wall. The most famous part is the prayer section facing a large plaza. This section is located near the southwestern corner of the Temple Mount. Most of the rest of the long wall is hidden. It is concealed behind buildings in the Muslim Quarter. However, there is one small exception called the Little Western Wall. This segment is located near the Iron Gate.

The Little Western Wall is special because it was never fully covered by buildings. It displays much of the original Herodian stonework. Some believe this section is even closer to the Holy of Holies. This was the most sacred site in the Jewish faith. It is also near the underground Warren's Gate.

The history of the wall involves many different rulers and eras. Around 19 BCE, Herod the Great began a massive expansion project. He aimed to double the size of the Temple Mount platform.

While Herod began the work, he may not have finished it. Archaeologists found Roman coins under the foundation stones in 2011. These coins suggest the wall was still being built after Herod died. Historian Josephus Flavius wrote that King Agrippa II finished the work. In 70 CE, the Romans destroyed the Temple during a war. For many centuries, Jews were barred from the city. During the British Mandate, a 1930 commission confirmed Jewish rights to pray there.

After the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Jordan controlled the area. For 19 years, Jews were expelled from the Old City and could not pray at the wall. This changed on June 10, 1967, after the Six-Day War.

The scale of the stones used in the construction is quite massive. The Herodian blocks are made of heavy meleke limestone. Many of these blocks weigh between 2 and 6 tonnes. One extraordinary stone near Wilson's Arch is particularly large. It measures 42 feet long and 13 feet high. This single stone weighs between 500 and 600 tonnes.

These massive weights required incredible engineering skill to move and place. The builders used these stones to create a stable foundation for the massive platform above. This engineering allowed the Temple Mount to become a much larger complex than the original natural hill.

Different traditions offer unique perspectives on the site's importance. For Jews, the wall is a place of mourning and prayer. The name "Wailing Wall" comes from people weeping for the lost Temple.

In Islamic tradition, the wall is connected to the Prophet Muhammad. It is believed he tied his winged steed, the Burāq, to the wall. This occurred during his Night Journey to heaven. This connection makes the wall a significant part of the Al-Aqsa compound. These different views show how one physical structure can hold many different meanings for different people.

The Western Wall connects to many broader historical and political themes. It is a central point in the history of Jerusalem's changing populations. The site has seen shifts between Roman, Byzantine, Umayyad, Mamluk, and Ottoman rule.

It also relates to the history of the Zionist movement in the early 20th century. This period saw increased friction between Jewish and Muslim communities. The site remains a major subject for archaeologists studying ancient building techniques. It continues to be a place where people study how ancient structures survive through thousands of years of change.