The Western Wall (commonly called the Wailing Wall) is located in the Old City of Jerusalem. Some believe it is a remnant of Herod the Great's rebuilt wall that surrounded the Temple's courtyard. Although the exposed section of the wall (the side that faces a large plaza dedicated to prayer) is 187 feet wide, the total above ground width of the wall is 1,600 feet. Much of the wall is hidden behind structures built along its length. The height of the exposed wall is approximately 62 feet. The wall is considered one of the most sacred sites in Judaism. Jerusalem's first temple, built by King Solomon, was destroyed in 586 B.C. Although the foundations of a second temple (in the same location as the first) were laid about 535 B.C., by the time of King Herod the building had suffered significant decay and assaults from armies. Herod began rebuilding Jerusalem's temple (known as the second or Herod's temple) in 20 B.C. Work on the temple continued all during Jesus' life on earth and was not fully completed until 65 A.D. Some Jews go to the Western Wall every Friday afternoon to mourn the destruction of Jerusalem's Temple and bewail their desolate condition (see Psalm 79), lending to the wall's other name, the Wailing Wall. Sources: Parson's Bible Atlas; Wikipedia; Easton's Bible Dictionary | 
