← Back to the archive★ Support my pages
DD-673Locationsalso HistoryFiled Last updated

The Wailing Wall

Short answer: The Western Wall (Hebrew HaKotel HaMa'aravi, 'the Kotel') is a limestone wall in Jerusalem's Old City. It's the more common name.

'Wailing Wall' comes from European descriptions of Jews mourning the Temple's destruction there, and in Arabic it's called al-Buraq Wall. The wall isn't part of the Temple building. It's a stretch of the western retaining wall that Herod the Great built, starting around 19 BCE, when he enlarged the platform of the Temple Mount. The Romans destroyed the Second Temple in 70 CE, but the retaining wall survived. The full wall is about 488 m long, with roughly 19 m exposed above the prayer plaza. The lowest visible courses are Herodian, and the upper layers were added in later periods. Because of restrictions on prayer on the Temple Mount itself, the Wall is the holiest place where Jews are permitted to pray. The site sits beside the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif compound, which is also sacred to Muslims, and it's religiously and politically sensitive.

VideoWrite-up3 sources

In collections:Places With a Story

More like this★ Support my pagesCite this file

What should you know about The Wailing Wall?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. The Western Wall is part of the retaining wall Herod built around the Temple Mount.

    DD-673-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit B (A retaining wall, not the Temple)

  2. Herod's Temple Mount expansion began around 19 BCE.

    DD-673-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit B (A retaining wall, not the Temple)

Video transcript: The Wailing Wall: Not the Temple, Its Retaining Wall

DID YOU KNOW? The Wailing Wall or Western Wall is a historical and religious landmark in Jerusalem, representing the last surviving section of the Second Jewish Temple, which was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE. Originally part of the massive retaining walls that surrounded the Temple Mount, it has stood for nearly two millennia as a silent witness to Jerusalem's turbulent history, including periods of conquest, exile, and rebuilding. For centuries, Jews have gathered at the wall to mourn the Temple's destruction. NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 25.2s Reel ·

Video coming soonThe Wailing Wall · Instagram Reel
The Wailing Wall: Not the Temple, Its Retaining Wall Instagram Reel · · 25.2s

The write-up

Not the Temple, its retaining wall. Jerusalem's Western Wall dates to Herod's expansion, about 19 BCE.

  1. Exhibit A

    Names

    Western Wall (HaKotel HaMa'aravi, or simply 'the Kotel') is the usual name in Hebrew and English. 'Wailing Wall' comes from European travelers' accounts of mourning prayers, and the Arabic name is al-Buraq Wall.

  2. Exhibit B

    A retaining wall, not the Temple

    The Wall is part of the western retaining wall of the enlarged Temple Mount platform that Herod the Great began around 19 BCE. The Temple itself stood on the platform above.

  3. Exhibit C

    Destroyed and survived

    Roman forces destroyed the Second Temple in 70 CE, during the First Jewish-Roman War. The massive retaining walls of the platform largely survived.

  4. Exhibit D

    Layers of history

    The full wall is about 488 m long, and about 19 m is exposed above the plaza. The lower above-ground courses are Herodian ashlars, with smaller stones added in later periods.

  5. Exhibit E

    A place of prayer

    Because prayer on the Temple Mount itself is restricted, the Wall is the holiest place where Jews are permitted to pray. Visitors traditionally tuck written prayers into its cracks. The adjoining compound is also sacred to Muslims.

Questions people ask about The Wailing Wall

What is the more common name for the Wailing Wall?

The Western Wall, or 'the Kotel'.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Names) · Wikipedia: Western Wall; Encyclopaedia Britannica: Western Wall

What was the Wall originally part of?

It's part of Herod's retaining wall around the Temple Mount.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (A retaining wall, not the Temple) · Wikipedia: Western Wall; Encyclopaedia Britannica: Western Wall

Who began building the wall around 19 BCE?

Herod the Great.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (A retaining wall, not the Temple) · Wikipedia: Western Wall; Encyclopaedia Britannica: Western Wall

In what year did the Romans destroy the Second Temple?

70 CE.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Destroyed and survived) · Wikipedia: Western Wall; Encyclopaedia Britannica: Western Wall

About how long is the full western wall?

About 488 m.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Layers of history) · Wikipedia: Western Wall; The Western Wall Heritage Foundation

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. What is the more common name for the Wailing Wall?

    1. The Western Wall
    2. The Eastern Gate
    3. The Golden Wall
    4. The Herod Gate
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. The Western Wall The Western Wall, or 'the Kotel'. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Names) · Wikipedia: Western Wall; Encyclopaedia Britannica: Western Wall

  2. What was the Wall originally part of?

    1. The Temple Mount's retaining wall
    2. The Temple's inner sanctuary
    3. A Roman fort
    4. A city aqueduct
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. The Temple Mount's retaining wall It's part of Herod's retaining wall around the Temple Mount. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (A retaining wall, not the Temple) · Wikipedia: Western Wall; Encyclopaedia Britannica: Western Wall

  3. Who began building the wall around 19 BCE?

    1. Herod the Great
    2. King Solomon
    3. Emperor Titus
    4. Suleiman the Magnificent
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Herod the Great Herod the Great. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (A retaining wall, not the Temple) · Wikipedia: Western Wall; Encyclopaedia Britannica: Western Wall

  4. In what year did the Romans destroy the Second Temple?

    1. 70 CE
    2. 586 BCE
    3. 135 CE
    4. 19 BCE
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. 70 CE 70 CE. Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Destroyed and survived) · Wikipedia: Western Wall; Encyclopaedia Britannica: Western Wall

  5. About how long is the full western wall?

    1. About 48 m
    2. About 488 m
    3. About 4.8 km
    4. About 48 km
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. About 488 m About 488 m. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Layers of history) · Wikipedia: Western Wall; The Western Wall Heritage Foundation

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "The Wailing Wall." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-673, last updated Nov 19, 2025. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/the-wailing-wall/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/the-wailing-wall/ · Last updated

Markdown version

Cite a single fact by its ID, for example DD-673-F01 → https://detailenjoyer.com/case/the-wailing-wall/#DD-673-F01

Collection · Places With a Story Case file 20 of 83

Next in Collection · DD-675Siwa Salt Oasis →