Archaeologist at Bir Zeit University denies existence of ancient Jewish Temple, calling it “myth”
Article about the Israeli discovery of coins and pottery found close to the lowest level of the Western Wall. Some archaeologists claim that this shows that the construction and extension of the Temple courtyard were undertaken after the death of Herod, king of Judea.
"Jamal Amr, archaeologist and lecturer at Bir Zeit University… emphasized the occupation's feverish attempts to find antiquities, architectural testimony, or any sort of proof to support their hectic efforts to rebuild the alleged Temple, but all of their findings are from the Arab and Islamic periods especially the Umayyad and Abbasid period, up to the Ottoman period.
He added: 'Today a clear and embarrassing fact was discovered, shattering the Israeli narrative, and that was the discovery of a coin… minted in the year 16 CE - i.e., 20 years after the death of Herod the Great, whom they claim built the Second Temple. This artifact was discovered under the Al-Buraq Wall (the Western Wall), which they consider the western wall of the alleged Temple – proving that the wall was built after Herod, i.e., during the time of the Roman Prefect Valerius Gratus. This has caused discomfort and frustration among archaeologists of the occupation entity (i.e., Israel), and has shattered their claims concerning the myth of the Temple.'"
"Jamal Amr, archaeologist and lecturer at Bir Zeit University… emphasized the occupation's feverish attempts to find antiquities, architectural testimony, or any sort of proof to support their hectic efforts to rebuild the alleged Temple, but all of their findings are from the Arab and Islamic periods especially the Umayyad and Abbasid period, up to the Ottoman period.
He added: 'Today a clear and embarrassing fact was discovered, shattering the Israeli narrative, and that was the discovery of a coin… minted in the year 16 CE - i.e., 20 years after the death of Herod the Great, whom they claim built the Second Temple. This artifact was discovered under the Al-Buraq Wall (the Western Wall), which they consider the western wall of the alleged Temple – proving that the wall was built after Herod, i.e., during the time of the Roman Prefect Valerius Gratus. This has caused discomfort and frustration among archaeologists of the occupation entity (i.e., Israel), and has shattered their claims concerning the myth of the Temple.'"