Priestly inscription from time of Jesus discovered

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/132655

Temple Mount closed (temporarily)

Attempts by some Jews to ascend the Temple Mount on Tisha b'Av were stopped by Israeli police.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1248277936884&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

This generally happens several times a year when Third Temple movements try to enter the Temple Mount.

Dome of the Rock

Here's a nice site and photographs on the Dome of the Rock, which most scholars believe is the site of Solomon's Temple

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/israel/jerusalem-dome-of-the-rock.htm

Gigapan of the Salt Lake Mormon Temple

William Hamblin has posted a 400 megapixel photo of the east wall of the Salt Lake Temple on "Gigapan," including close-ups a of a dozen symbolic architectural features.

http://share.gigapan.org/viewGigapan.php?id=28886

360 VR Panoramas of LDS Temple Square

Photographed by William Hamblin. See online here.

Put your mouse over the image, and left click and drag to move around in the panorama. Zoom in and out using the shift and option or control keys. There is a little less distortion if you zoom in a bit.

Tweeting God at the Western Wall (Kotel)

You can now send an email, which will be printed and placed in the cracks of the Western Wall of the Temple for you.

See here and here.

Tweet your Prays @ The Kotel

Seems somehow inappropriate and yet inevitable. OK, I'll admit I tried it.

(But it leads to the inevitable question: Can you "follow" God on Twitter?)

Tisha B'av (Ninth of Av)

Tisha B'Av (the ninth day of the month of Av) is a Jewish holy day of fasting and mourning for the destruction of the Temple. This year it falls from sunset on July 29 through sunset on July 30.

The Temple Mount Faithful, a militant group agitating for Israeli takeover of the Dome of the Rock and the reconstruction of Temple, is planning a demonstration and their annual attempt to march onto the Temple Mount. Such demonstrations have always been stopped by Israeli police in the past.

Evangelical Interpretations of Prophecies of Future Temple

Randall Price, an eschatologically oriented Evangelical, summarizes his interpretation of prophecies of a future temple.

http://www.prophezine.com/PZArticles/TIMEFORATEMPLEByRandallPrice/tabid/919/Default.aspx

New National Park East of Temple Mount

Israel proposes to build a new national park to the east of the Temple Mount. This area is near a Muslim cemetery, and the decision will undoubtedly increase tensions related to the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1246443861841&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Connections between Temple and Dome

Summary of evidence that Muslim traditions at the Haram al-Sharif and Dome of the Rock are linked to earlier Jewish temple traditions.

Unfortunately I was unable to identify the original source of Dr. Sharon's article. If anyone knows the reference, please let me know.

See also

Hamblin and Seely, Solomon's Temple: Myth and History

Conference on Temples in the Ancient Near East

Alas it is in Germany. But it looks very interesting!

Temples and Ascent

A recent presentation given by Daniel Peterson is summarized by Bryce Hammond on his great blog.

New Novel on the Temple

A new archaeological thriller has recently been published with the Temple Mount playing a prominent role.

Daniel Levin, The Last Ember.

I haven't had a chance to read it yet.

LDS Photo Blog

It has some nice photos of LDS temples, among other things.

http://ldsphotoblog.com/2009/07/mt-timpanogos-utah-lds-temple-2/

Temple Quarry?

One of the quarries used to excavate stone for Herod's temple may have been found in the Jerusalem area.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601088&sid=a7UxM9gYQoEE

The Temple in Orlando?

Yup. Via the Holy Land Experience. Kind of a biblical Disneyland.

No public presentation of the Ark

It looks like the Ethiopian Ark will not be revealed.