It is curious to me that such enormously large areas can be built underneath such heavy loads and withstand thousands of years without collapse (or partial failures). How thick were the supporting columns. How far apart were they spaced?
I counted at least 4 columns, nearly side by side, and the beams were easily 3-5 feet across, 10 feet tall, and extended from the South to the North, in front of what became the Dome of the Rock. It would have supported the Original Temple Compound from the Rock (Mount Moriah) to what became the Western Wall that exists today. Yes, I was absolutely flabberghasted by the enormous size of the beams.
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