THE TRUMPETING STONE

Written by archaeologist Yana Tchekhanovets of Ben-Gurion University and narrated in English by award-winning author and journalist Matti Friedman, “Twelve Stones of Jerusalem” tells the story of the city’s past through twelve remarkable artifacts—from the Neolithic to the 20th century.

What remains of the Second Temple, the most important Jewish sanctuary of antiquity? This episode begins with one of Jerusalem’s rarest archaeological treasures: the Trumpeting Stone, a carved corner block that once marked the spot where Levites sounded ritual blasts from the heights of the Temple Mount. From this extraordinary artifact, we explore Herod’s massive rebuilding of the Temple complex – its colossal retaining walls, masterfully carved stones, monumental gates, stairways, bridges, and ritual baths used by pilgrims before ascending the sacred mount. Drawing on archaeological finds, ancient inscriptions in Hebrew and Greek, coins from the Bar Kokhba revolt, and the vivid descriptions of Josephus, the episode reconstructs the grandeur of the Second Temple and the world that surrounded it. We also trace Herod’s political ambitions, his architectural projects across Judea, and the enduring sanctity of the Temple Mount in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.