‘Look at this, it says an archaeologist called Joseph Patrich of the Hebrew University has come up with a different theory about the site of the Temple. His work is based on one of the large underground cistern on the Temple Mount and references in the Mishna.’
‘Oh, and where does he put the Temple?’
‘On the Esplanade, but this says more to the south-east with a diagonal alignment compared to traditional positioning.’
‘Well, well, so Patrich has also based his theory on the Palestine Exploration Fund and Wilson’s work in 1866!’
‘Just like our friend de Lussac.’
Effectively Patrick’s work was based on huge cistern, 4.5 meters wide and 54 meters long, which lay underground near to the southeast corner of the Esplanade. He had compared the location and configuration of the cistern with the description in the Mishna, the book of Rabbinic Oral Tradition that was compiled in the 3rd century AD. The cistern appeared to be the only one that tied in with the ancient rabbinic texts concerning daily purification and sacrificial duties carried out by the priests in the Temple forecourt.
‘Patrick links this with the supposed position of the large bath or laver, I imagine he means the Bronze Sea, used by the priests for ritual washing, and the noriah for drawing water from the cistern.’
‘At least de Lussac appears to be right about the illogical mechanics and hydraulics of the system.’
‘Here it says that Patrich claims by locating the laver, the water wheel, the ramp and the altar, with the description from the Mishna, he can position the Temple’s alignment.’
‘Good for him!’
‘According to this information the Dome of the Rock would be in the Temple courtyard, look there’s a drawing.’
O’Connelly pulled himself out of his chair to take a look, he was becoming tired of the theories and arguments about the Temple and Israel, he had reached saturation point. His only satisfaction was his book was now approaching its conclusion, at least it would have an end, not like the Temple saga.
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Aliyah
The Legacy of Solomon Page 81
