Western Arcade

View from the Umariyya School (Antonia Fortress) looking south southwest at the western arcade of buildings and offices along the western wall of the Haram area.

Schools, courts, and offices are located along this arcade.

The Antonia Fortress was built by Herod the Great (37–4 B.C.) to look over the temple area and to guard its approach from the north.  After the death of Herod, the Roman’s maintained a garrison here to monitor activities in the temple area below.

When Paul was accosted by an angry mob he was taken into custody by the Roman garrison located in the Antonia Fortress (Acts 22:27–23:22)