Temple Warning Inscription

Greek inscription warning Gentiles not to enter the inner Temple courts.

Date

c. 20 BCE – 70 CE

Culture

Herodian

Material

Limestone

Dimensions

86 cm x 60 cm

Found at

Temple Mount area, Jerusalem

Held by

Istanbul Archaeology Museum

Discovered by

Charles Clermont-Ganneau (1871)

inscriptiontempleherodianpaul

Description

A limestone block from Herod's Temple in Jerusalem, inscribed in Greek: "No foreigner is to enter within the balustrade and enclosure around the temple area. Whoever is caught will have himself to blame for his death which will follow."

Biblical significance

Illuminates Acts 21:27-31, where Paul is nearly killed after being falsely accused of bringing a Gentile past this barrier; also Ephesians 2:14 ("the dividing wall of hostility").

From the same era

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