The Quest from Carta

The Quest: Revealing the Temple Mount in Jerusalem

By Leen Ritmeyer | Published by Carta Jerusalem

An unparalleled exploration of one of the most sacred and contested sites on earth, The Quest by acclaimed archaeological architect Leen Ritmeyer is the definitive guide to the history, architecture, and mystery of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

This comprehensive and visually stunning volume distills three millennia of history and thirty years of intensive research into a richly illustrated, authoritative resource suitable for both scholars and general readers. Beginning with Herod the Great’s monumental expansion, the book walks readers through the evolution of the Temple Mount, examining its construction phases, religious significance, and enduring mysteries.

With Ritmeyer's unique firsthand experience—having served as chief architect on the Temple Mount excavations—this book offers rare insight into the architectural and historical complexities of the site. His reconstructions, paired with detailed archaeological analysis and references to ancient sources like Josephus and the Mishnah, lead to thought-provoking theories about the original location of the First and Second Temples, including what may be the original emplacement of the Ark of the Covenant.

Key Features:

• Definitive scholarly work on the Temple Mount from the Roman through Byzantine periods and beyond
• Hundreds of full-color illustrations, including architectural reconstructions, site plans, maps, diagrams, and historical photographs
• Explores the Herodian, Hasmonean, and pre-Herodian phases of the Temple Mount
• Detailed sections on the underground cisterns, Temple locations, and reconstructions of all three Temples
• Engages with ancient texts and modern archaeological discoveries to offer new theories on longstanding questions
• Written by Leen Ritmeyer, one of the foremost authorities on Jerusalem archaeology

Product Details:

• Language: English
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 448
• Size: 7½ × 9¾ in. (19 × 24.5 cm)
• Weight: 1.55 kg (3.4 lbs)
• Publisher: Carta Jerusalem

Whether you're a student of biblical archaeology, a scholar of Jewish history, or a curious reader captivated by the Temple Mount’s legacy, The Quest offers an in-depth and visually rich journey into the heart of Jerusalem’s sacred past.

Contents:

1. The Herodian Temple Mount Walls
2. The Pre-Herodian Square Temple Mount
3. The Hasmonean Temple Munt
4. The Underground Cisterns of the Temple Mount
5. Understanding Herod's Extension of the Temple Mount
6. The Location of the Temple
7. Reconstructing the First Temple
8. Reconstructing the Second Temple
9. Reconstructing the Herodian Temple Mount
10. Reconstructing Herod's Temple

About the Author:  Born in Holland, Lee Ritmeyer, an archaeological architect, has participated in all of Jerusalem's major excavations.  He served as chief architect of the Temple Mount Excavations directed by the late Prof. Benjamin Mazar, and later participated in Prof. Nahman Avigad's Jewish Quarter Excavations in the Old City of Jerusalem.  There he supervised the restoration of Herodian villas, among them the sumptuous "Palatial Mansion", the likely palace of Annas the High Priest, and the Byzantine Cardo, in addition to other ancient sites in Jerusalem and elsewhere in Israel.  He has also participated in numerous excavations throughout Israel.  Ritmeyer holds a Master's degree in Conservation Studies from the Institute of Advanced Architectural Studies at the University of York and a Ph.D. from the University of Manchester.