The Temple Mount Excavations in Jerusalem 1968-1978, Directed by Benjamin Mazar. Final Reports Volume V. Herodian Architectural Decoration and King Herod's Portico. Series Editor: Eilat Mazar
This is the fifth volume devoted to the final reports of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem excavations at the foot of the Temple Mount, to the south and southwest, which were directed by Prof. Benjamin Mazar (1968-1978) and are published in the Qedem Monograph series of the Institute of Archaeology. These excavations were of the largest scale conducted in Israel and are of tremendous importance, owing to both their scope and location. The present volume publishes a rich corpus of 500 architectural decorative fragments from the Second Temple period found in the excavations. The stylistic, technological and historical study of these fragments clarifies issues concerning the architecture, decoration and date of some of the structures built in the southern part of the enclosure, mainly the Royal Portico, one of most elaborate buildings in Judea of this period, and the Double Gate vestibule.