Second Temple

The Jewish temple in Jerusalem rebuilt after the Babylonian exile and destroyed by Roman forces in 70 CE. It stood at the center of Jewish worship and communal life during the Second Temple period.

Korban: A Jewish offering presented to God, often through sacrifice at the Jerusalem Temple. Offerings formed the central ritual practice conducted by priests at the Temple.
Babylonian Exile: The deportation of Judeans to Babylonia after the kingdom of Judah fell in the sixth century BCE. The return from exile made rebuilding Jerusalem’s Temple possible.
Hasmonean dynasty: A Jewish ruling dynasty that governed Judea from the second century BCE into the first century BCE. Hasmonean rulers combined political power with high-priestly authority at the Temple.
First Jewish–Roman War: The revolt of Judea against Roman rule from 66 to 73 CE. The war culminated in Rome’s capture and destruction of the Temple in 70 CE.
Kohen: A member of the Jewish priestly class traditionally descended from Aaron. Kohanim performed sacrifices and other duties in the Temple.
Cyrus the Great: The Persian king who conquered Babylon in 539 BCE and permitted displaced peoples to restore sanctuaries. His rule enabled Judean exiles to return and begin restoring the Temple.
Herodians: A political faction in Judea associated with the dynasty founded by Herod the Great. Herod’s dynasty directed the Temple’s monumental reconstruction.
Siege of Jerusalem (70 CE): The Roman siege that ended with Jerusalem’s capture and the destruction of its Temple in 70 CE. The siege was the immediate setting for the Temple’s destruction.
High Priest of Israel: The chief priest in ancient Israelite and Jewish worship, with distinctive duties in the Temple. The high priest led the most restricted rites, including those of Yom Kippur.
Zerubbabel: A Persian-period governor of Judah associated with the return from exile and rebuilding the Temple. He led the restoration traditionally identified as the Second Temple’s initial construction.

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