One of the main activities of tourists throughout the ages has always been looking at and admiring ancient buildings. On the other hand, locals all over the Middle East generally find their old buildings embarrassing - signs of an old-fashioned past they’d prefer to forget. They like to look at and admire new, modern buildings, which they regard as signs of progress. Jesus’ disciples, therefore, during their last visit to Jerusalem with Jesus, admired Herod’s recently renovated second temple:

Jesus left and was going away from the temple when his disciples came to him to call his attention to its buildings. "Yes," he said, "you may well look at all these. I tell you this: not a single stone here will be left in its place; every one of them will be thrown down." (Matthew 24:1-2)

As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said, "Look, teacher! What wonderful stones and buildings!" Jesus answered, "You see these great buildings? Not a single stone here will be left in its place; every one of them will be thrown down." (Mark 13::1-2)

Some of the disciples were talking about the temple, how beautiful it looked with its fine stones and the gifts offered to God. Jesus said: "All that you see - the time will come when not a single stone here will be left in its place, every one will be thrown down." (Luke 21:5-6)

As He predicted, the second temple was razed to the ground. It was completely destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD and has never been rebuilt. All that remains is the foundation of the west wall. Jews go there to lament the second temple’s destruction so it is now known as the wailing wall. The blocks of stone are huge, following the Phoenician model.

Information supplied by: "http://phoenicia.org