Temple

A temple (from the Latin word templum is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest. It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out on the ground by the augur. Templa also became associated with the dwelling places of a god or gods. This tradition dates back to prehistoric times. For the ancient Egyptians, the word pr could refer not only to a house, but also to a sacred structure since it was believed that the gods resided in houses. The word "temple" (which dates to about the 6th century BC ), despite the specific set of meanings associated with the religion of the ancient Rome, has now become quite widely used to describe a house of worship for any number of religions and is even used for time periods prior to the Romans.

Temple of Jerusalem

 * Main Article: Temple of Jerusalem

The Temple of Jerusalem refers to the Jewish temples located on the Temple Mount in the old city of Jerusalem. Two separate temples where built at this location - the first by King Solomon and then by Herod the Great many centuries later. The temple was a place dedicated to God and a building erected for worship. It functioned as the center of ancient Jewish worship and is believed to have existed on the site where a Third temple would later be built.