Western Wall

The holiest site where Jews are permitted to pray/Ancient Structures

The Western Wall (Kotel) in the Old City of Jerusalem is a limestone retaining wall originally built by Herod the Great around 19 BC as part of the expansion of the Second Temple. The exposed section of the wall is about 57 meters long and 19 meters high, consisting of 45 stone courses, of which 28 are above ground. The largest stones, known as the Western Stone and others in the lower courses, weigh up to 570 tonnes. After the Romans destroyed the Temple in 70 AD, the wall became the closest accessible point to the Temple's former location, making it the holiest place where Jews are permitted to pray.