Secrets of Jerusalem's Temple Mount

I REALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK AS IT OPENED MY EYES TO THE PAST OF THE HOLY OF HOLIES AND THE ARK OF THE COVENANT.

Initially I was a little disappointed in this booklet because I thought that the "secrets" that it portended to reveal would pertain to how Muslims explain how they have an inalienable, perpetual political and religious "claim" to the Temple Mount (as that was the issue I was researching). Instead, this book is Ritmeyer's archeological analysis of the construction and remodelings of the Temple Mount. From that perspective, this short, small paperback booklet is a very informative analysis as to the various peoples who worked in developing the Temple Mount over several centuries (Jews, Romans, Muslims, Seleucids, Turks). There are numerous photographs that are very helpful in noting the various construction differences, and location maps showing how the Temple Mount and the Muslim Platform were laid out, and nice 3D drawings depicting how the Jewish Temples might have looked -- based upon the stone foundations. Also of interest is some detailing as to how the buildings were constructed; how different stones were used during different periods. Some nice history is presented by explaining the excavations occuring during the 1880s. Ritmeyer's analysis is great, but his claiming that he can show where the "Ark" itself rested does require more "faith" than what he provides as "proof." Only 116 paperback pages of text, but each one is very informative, from an archeologist's perspective.

Whoever wants to have a better understanding of the Templemount in Jerusalem has a great book here. Prof. Ritmeyer worked with the late Prof. Benjamin at the Ophel- (Temple-Mount) Excavtion. His study gave a total new understanding of the old stones which astonish every visitor standing at the Wailing Wall or standing below the Al Aksa Mosque. Prof. Ritmeyer let the Temple in the time of Jesus get to a new life and that is wonderful. You see the glory of the ancient times and the stones get start speaking!

Ritmeyers prepare a good study and start from the outside rather than the inside and show using maps and charts how the temple mount used to look compared with the appearance of the temple mount today. Facinating read ending up with locating the Holy of Holies.

The Ritmeyers have combined a flawless methodology with clear, cogent presentation in this careful, systematic analysis of physical evidence and historical testimony concerning the Temple Mount, the Solomonic and Herodian Temples, and even the proposed location of the Holy of Holies. Although they are honest and straightforward in presenting their own conclusions, the reader is left to his/her own evaluation of the sparse but compelling testimony of key physical landmarks and architectural structures on and around the Temple Mount. A must read for that rare breed of "new archeologists" who are willing to abandon rehashed scholarly tradition in preference for revisiting the oldest, best, and most reliable forensic evidence.