Lecture 2

We began this lecture discussing what the concept of a temple is.  It was said that a temple is a space with a structure that can be used to worship came a long time ago from Mesopotamian temples.  First off we established that a  Ziggurat is a place used to worship, and a Pyramid is a burial area.  A way to keep people from arguing how the building should be built would be to make it seem as if God was the one to give the plans.  It was believed that  Mesopotamian buildings were “put down” by god and that they were his design.  Also, a tabernacle is a moving structure and a temple used to establish and stay.

We then spoke of how to consecrate a sacred space, and how Jerusalem was consecrated.  Jerusalem is a city that happens to attract stories of ancient significance, a feature that makes this place sacred.  This stories, however, can be from history, or be borrowed.  Once such legend connected to Jerusalem is creation.  Also, the story of Akedah where Isaac/Ishmael was nearly killed by his father Abraham, but God decided to ask for another offering.  This myth, more central to the Jews than the story of original sin, has been connected to Jerusalem.  Another myth making Jerusalem more sacred is that Adam is said to be buried under the Dome of the Rock.

We then spoke of Melchizedek, who was both a priest and a king.  This, however, was not permitted back then because the two classes were kept distinct because they were both appointed.  We also talked about the Tetragrammaton, and how the actual name of God could be said to be "Yhwh."  In the original Hebrew bible, this name was used.  In more modern editions, the word LORD is placed in its stead.

We later talked about the Dome of the Rock, and its significance to the praying of people of different faiths.  The Dome of the Rock, which was built by Byzantine Christians as a shrine in an octagonal shape, is surrounded by the Temple Mount, which was made by Herod the Great.  In connection to this, the Holy Sepulcher is a place were people of different faiths can pray.  A muslim family is endowed with the key to enter because they are said to be the least biased when allowing different faiths different time periods to be worshipped.

Lastly we touched upon Mt. Zion and Mt. Zaphon, which seem to be one in the same when comparing Plasm 48 and The epic of Ba'al.  What could be the significance of this?  Is it an attempt to make one location more holy than the other?