Unit 03
Historical Background
Chapter 03
Second Temple Period (515 B.C. – A.D. 70)
03.03.00.A. THE REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE by Gustave Dore’, 1866. The second temple was constructed with limited resources and was, in fact, a very simple structure in comparison to the famous predecessor, Solomon’s temple. However, while Solomon’s temple was built with slave labor and high taxes, the second temple was built with offerings and sacrifices of the people. Hence, the rabbis said it was more beautiful than the first.