Map 1- Cisterns and substructures

Aerial Photo Reveals True Location
From this photo it is possible to see the old outlines of Herod's extended temple area.

Arial photo of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem 

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Enter Double Gate Passageway Page

Triple Gate Passageway Understood to be Solomon's Portico (Porch)

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The Priest's court had to be washed every day with running (living)  water. Here is the proof that running
water was channeled onto the Mount for the southern location. 

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Map 2- Topography and water channels

Ophel Excavations Prove Placement

Josephus, a Jewish historian that lived during the destruction of the Temple, wrote....."for the temple was a fortress that guarded the city, as was the tower of Antonia a guard to the temple; and in that tower were the guards of those three (14).....that hill on which the tower of Antonia stood was the highest of these three. 

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Solomon's Stable Constructed With 
Recycled Herodian Stones

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According to Josephus the fort was built on the highest hill of three hills. 
The Dome of the Rock is the highest of the three. 

1. How big was the temple compound and Fort Antonia altogether?
2. How was the fort attached to the Temple compound?
3. Was there a low wall surrounding the Rock creating a platform?
4. What were the dimensions?
5. What valley's were on the East and West of the fort?
6. Where was the moat and on which side of the moat was the fort built on?

Enter Fort Antonia Page

-Plus Nehemiah Wall Map
 

This final diagram was created according to the on site ruins of the ophel, the underground ruins depicted in the survey maps of Sir Charles Wilson and Sir Charles Warren, Josephus Flavius writings, and the Mishna.

Solomon's walls are in green, with Herod's extended courts in blue. 

Click Here for a larger image 

Inside the gates: To get an idea of the size of the temple fortress it would be a good idea just to examine a gate that led into the temple area.  The "gate" wasn't just a door with an archway that when you pass through it you are in the courtyard. It was a huge long building!

If you were a Gentile you could only enter the outer court from the side exits out of the porch/gate on the left or right.

If you were a person of the Law, Jewish, then you went all the way through the gate/building to enter the courts of the men or the women..

If you were there to make a sacrifice, then you were directed to enter the inner court  gates  leading to the Altar platform. In that building/gate,  there were 3 rooms on either side for preparing the sacrifices.  Walls connected the three inner gate/buildings around the Altar platform, with the wall continuing all the way around the temple platform, completely cutting off any view of the sacrificing from the other courts.