There are a number of temples that were found in Syria that are said to be comparable to the descriptions of Solomon's temple. There are two temples at Tell Munbaqa, two at Emar and one known as the Ebla Temple. However, these places in design do not fit exactly what should be expected in the dimentions of the Solomon Temple. Yet, a stunning parellel to Solomon's Temple has been discovered in northern Syria. The temple at Ain Dara has more in common with the Jerusalem Temple described in the Book of Kings than any other known building. Yet the newly excavated temple has received almost no attention in this country, at least partially because the impressive excavation report, published over two decades ago, was written in German by a Syrian scholar and archaeologist. Also the Ain Dara temple is closer in time to Solomon's Temple by about a century, and much closer in size. Therefore, it was very reasonable for our team to start in Syria at Ain Dara.

The Ain Dara lies near the Syro-Turkish border, about 40 miles northwest of Aleppo (Biblical Zodah). The temple was excavated between 1980 and 1985. According to the excavator, Ali Abu Assaf, it existed for 550 years -- from about 1300 B.C.E to 740 B.C.E. He has identified three structural phases during this period. The building was constructed in Phase 1, which lasted from 1300 B.C.E to 1000 B.C.E. Oriented towards the southeast, the temple is rectangular in plan, about 65 feet wide by 98 feet long. It has beautifully preserved structural features, including limestone foundations and blocks of basalt. The facade and interior walls are enlivened by hundreds of finely carved reliefs depicting lions, cherubim and other mythical creatures, mountain gods, palmettes, and ornate geometric designs. In Phase 2 (1000-900 B.C.E), the period during which the Solomonic Temple was built, the Ain Dara temple was already constructed and remained basically the same.

Three 3-footlong footprints are carved into the limestone slabs lining the floor of the temple portico. The delicate carving is designed to look as if the prints were impressed into the stone by an extra-human figure striding into the temple. From Gen 31:45-51; we identified these as being urns (or foots) and Ezek. 43:14-16 we understood that this is the place where Jacob and Laban made an agreement and called the place Galeed or Jegar-sahadutha (Also mentioned in Num 21:32 as Jaazer). Also in Syria we did investigation on other sites in the country and identified biblical Damascus as the site Palmyre, biblical Hamath as Hama and biblical Zodah as Aleppo.