An amazing huge 1:100 model of King Herod's temple built by a Virginia farmer

[Gordon Ray Kissinger]

From: Tony Ruiz

 

Wow. I imagine this is about as close to perfect as most could possibly get. This guy was driven; I wonder if his relationship with God is as good as his model. History is pretty dry without real, and life is completely dry without God. This email was forwarded by Joe Taylor in Las Cruces.

Located in Norfolk , Virginia , this retired farmer has this Biblical Temple model in his backyard…amazing!   He should have been an architect to be able to do something so detailed like this! His work has already attracted many archeologists.  Scroll down to the bottom ..... check out the details.  You'll be amazed and wonder why he is a retired farmer and not a retired architect.

 The Temple
           
A retired farmer has spent more than 30 years building an enormous scale model of a Biblical temple.

Alec Garrard, 78, has dedicated a massive 33,000 hours to constructing the ancient Herod's  Temple , which measures a whopping 20 foot by 12 foot. The pensioner has hand-baked and painted every clay brick and tile and even sculpted 4,000 tiny human figures to populate the courtyards. 

Historical experts believe the model is the best representation in the world of what the Jewish temple actually looked like and it has attracted thousands of visitors from all over the globe.
But Mr. Garrard, who started the elaborate project in his 40s, says his masterpiece will not be finished in his lifetime. 

"I've always loved making models and as I was getting older I started to think about making one big project which would see me through to the end of my life," he said. 

"I have an interest in buildings and religion so I thought maybe I could combine the two and I came up with the idea of doing the  Temple . 

"I'd seen one or two examples of it in Biblical exhibitions, but I thought they were rubbish and I knew I could do better.

"I have been working on it for decades but it will never be finished as I'm always finding something new to add." 

Mr. Garrard, from  Norfolk  , spent more than three years researching the    Temple , which was destroyed by the Romans 2000 years ago and deemed to be one of the most remarkable buildings of ancient times. 

He then started to construct the amazing 1:100 scale model, which is now housed in a huge building in his back garden.

"Everything is made by hand. I cut plywood frames for the walls and buildings and all the clay bricks and tiles were baked in the oven then stuck together," he said.

Mr. Garrard sculpted and painted 4,000 figures, measuring just half an inch and all wearing their correct costumes. 

 Visitors come from all over the world to see the model and Mr. Garrard provides binoculars so they can see all the details.  

 

"I personally know all the top archaeologists from  Jerusalem   and I've had experts from the British   Museum  visit," he says.

In my exhibit, when Jesus chases the money-changers out of the temple...
I've had a lot of offers from people to buy it, but it's not for sale.

 

 

A couple of columns appear warped but what the heck could we expect…perfection?









The  Temple  was probably located on the site of what is the Dome of the Rock today.

 And, finally, here's where the exhibit is housed - In Mr.. Garrard's  back yard: