11. Some Speculate They Dug for Treasure
The Temple of Solomon was destroyed in 587 BCE when the Babylonians sacked Jerusalem under the command of King Nebuchadnezzar. It was rebuilt by King Herod, a Roman leader who had control of the area once known as Israel, which was inhabited by the Jews who had returned from their exile in Babylon. Herod’s temple was ruined in 70 AD when the Roman military destroyed Jerusalem following a series of revolts by the Jewish people. From that time onwards, the Jews have not had a central temple to carry out the rituals specified in the Hebrew Bible (what Christians refer to as the Old Testament).
There are numerous stories that before the destruction of Herod’s temple, the Jews hid some of their treasures in there. These might include things such as gold from the original temple, scrolls that document their history and religious beliefs, and other vital artifacts and relics. Some even claim that the Ark of the Covenant was buried in there. Speculation about the treasures that may have been hidden in the Temple Mount, coupled with speculation about the nature of the tunnels that the Templars dug, has led to theories that they were actually looking for these treasures. However, these ideas cannot be substantiated.