Temple-time Jerusalem recreated in virtual reality app
You can now wander the streets of Herodian Jerusalem thanks to an app developed by Lithodomos VR
Young and old alike now have the chance to wander the streets of ancient Jerusalem, after archaeologists recreated the city at the time of King Herod in a virtual reality headset.
Half a million pounds of investor funding helped created the Android app, called Lithodomos VR, based on the archaeology of Temple Mount in 20BC, before it was destroyed some 90 years later.
The app (at £1.59) and headset let the user experience market streets, the Western Wall, the temple precinct, and the Jewish and Roman period districts, with buildings virtually reconstructed based on the latest archaeological evidence.
Users get to choose their vantage points, with options including the modern-day street level. Through the eyes of the headset, this is on top of a 15m column, high above street-level as it was 2,000 years ago.
Herod, known as the King of Judea, rebuilt much of Jerusalem to become a Roman city, adding a fortress, hippodrome, theatre, amphitheatre and palace, but is perhaps best known for rebuilding the Western Wall, part of Jerusalem’s historic Temple complex, only for it to be destroyed in 70AD.
As well as the temple itself, the complex comprised a platform and wall, an inner enclosure, priest’s court (azarah), court of women (ezrat nashim), outer court, rachavah (paved square), stoa basilieia, and a court within the outer court. A bridge connected the southeast corner of the complex – housing plaza and shops – with the elite residential quarter in the upper city.
“Due to the importance of the site, three scenes have been created in order to give the viewer a rare insight into early first century AD Jerusalem,” said the company.
“The observer is able to witness a reconstructed Western Wall with Herodian courses, a street level view surrounded by archaeologically accurate reconstructed houses, and the bridge connecting two sections of the city.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
