Comments on: New excavations planned below the Western Wall Plaza

By: Leen Ritmeyer

Leen Ritmeyer — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 13:21:22 +0000

Nice drawing, but it doesn’t show the critical left side of the lintel.

By: eliya

eliya — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 17:30:03 +0000

here is a drawing of the lintel
http://www.archive.org/stream/cityofgreatkingo00barc#page/489/mode/1up

By: Leen Ritmeyer

Leen Ritmeyer — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 16:42:48 +0000

The incorrect black outline on the photograph on p. 28 of the BAR issue was unfortunately added by the editors and not by ourselves. For the correct drawings of the lintel of Barclay’s Gate, see our book The Quest, Revealing the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, pp. 26, 28:
http://www.ritmeyer.com/online-store/books/the-quest-revealing-the-temple-mount-in-jerusalem/

By: Leen Ritmeyer

Leen Ritmeyer — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 22:52:21 +0000

Eliya, I commented on the PEF photograph of the Barclay's Gate lintel. Whoever made that remark must be unaware of my correct drawings in my book The Quest, Revealing the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, pp. 26,28: http://www.ritmeyer.com/online-store/books/the-quest-revealing-the-temple-mount-in-jerusalem/ Access to Barclay's Gate is from inside the Temple Mount, which is controlled by the Waqf, the Muslim Authority. They don't allow any excavations. However, Charles Warren has been inside the gate in the 1870's and all his measurements have been recorded. I have an original set of these 50 plans, so I know exactly what is inside. Warren also excavated a deep shaft in front of the gate all the way down to bedrock. That is why I have drawn a stairway leading up to the gate, as the supporting arch has been found underground.

By: eliya

eliya — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 21:25:34 +0000

I was gonna ask you from where you conclude on the size of the barclay gate, because that would solve for once and for all the amos in the mishna, but no one has digged down there [although its beyond my scope of understanding why ], but now i see your whole sketch is being debated,
http://www.flickr.com/photos/palestineexplorationfund/5226240851/in/photostream/

I would like to hear more about the gate.

Enjoying your work tremendously

Thank you

By: Leen Ritmeyer

Leen Ritmeyer — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 21:52:26 +0000

Great idea! Any suggestions where the money would come from?

By: Ove

Ove — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 13:06:15 +0000

Does the Western Wall visiting area have to be at the present level ?

Why not rebuild Robinson’s Arch and clean up Herodian street running along the Western Wall all the way up to Wilson’s Arch ?

http://www.ust.ucla.edu/ustweb/Projects/Israel/USpress2_327_big.jpg

By: Leen Ritmeyer

Leen Ritmeyer — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 20:05:09 +0000

Daniel,

Thanks you for your kind comments. You are right about James Barclay and we have corrected the mistake in The Quest, p. 15.

By: Daniel M. Wright

Daniel M. Wright — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 19:53:12 +0000

Shalom Leen and Catherine,

Regarding BARCLAY’S GATE … I recently obtained your fine book, SECRETS OF JERUSALEM’S TEMPLE MOUNT and was surprised to find, on (the bottom of) page 28 and also on page 30 (in the photo caption) that the discovery of Barclays Gate was attributed to one “J. T. Barclay” which you identify as a “British architect.” This is an error. I thought you might want to correct it in future editions of your book.

Dr. James Turner Barclay was actually an American citizen; a Christian missionary initially, who did do some survey and minor restoration planning work, in and around the Haram esh Sharif, for the Ottoman authorities and Waqf at the time. Dr. Barclay first came to Jerusalem in 1851, originally as a Campbellite missionary. During his survey work for the Pasha, he discovered (as you know) what was later named for him, “Barclay’s Gate” from its inner side, within the western wall of the Temple Mount. The gate was blocked with stones at the end of the 10th century and the gate room on the internal side was devoted to Muhammad’s mythical horse, al Buraq. Today the room remains closed and entrance to it is prohibited [of course] by the Waqf.

By the way, I am a frequent reader of your excellent blog. Leen, I love your work and consider your observations to be, hands down, the most accurate across the spectrum of modern investigators. I own a first printing copy of THE QUEST. I even have your B/W framed illustration of the Temple Mount, from the southwest, which I purchase in Jerusalem way back in 1981 on my first visit! I am working on a manuscript about the central region of Israel and will be citing your works in that book. Thanks for your exhaustive scholarship and exemplary illustrations. I for one, am grateful for all that you contribute. Thanks!

http://scottsvillemuseum.com/church/homeJB01cdJB01.html
http://www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/texts/jtbrown/coc/COC1326.HTM

By: Yuliya

Yuliya — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:42:46 +0000

Thank you for sharing, this is very exciting.