Which earlier Jewish temple stood on the site of the Dome of the Rock?

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The Dome of the Rock is situated on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, a site that previously housed the Temple of Jerusalem, which served as the center of worship and national identity in ancient Israel.123

Historically, two successive temples stood on this site:

  • The First Temple: Constructed during the reign of King Solomon and completed in 957 BCE, it served as an abode for the Ark of the Covenant. It was destroyed by the Babylonians in 587/586 BCE.1
  • The Second Temple: Following the return of exiled Jews from Babylonia, a second temple was completed in 515 BCE. It was later significantly expanded and rebuilt by Herod the Great beginning in 20 BCE. This structure was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE.123

The site remains a place of profound religious significance for both Judaism and Islam.3