The gate of the north, “which served no purpose.” According to R. Eliezer ben Yaakov (Middot 1:9), it was nonetheless through it that the kohen who became impure during the night went out. It is also the only gate in the whole Temple whose head is not a lintel: instead of a shkufa laid across it, two stones leaning against each other rest at the top and leave a triangle open. The Mishna counts it among the five gates of the Har HaBayit (Middot 1:3), and notes this exception in Middot 2:3.
Dimensions
- in the north, out of service
- two leaning stones instead of a lintel
- 10 × 20 amot; its slope and its span at the top are the tour's choice
Sources
- Middot 1:3“Tadi in the north served no purpose.”
- Middot 2:3“except the gate of Tadi, where there were two stones leaning against each other.”
- Middot 1:9“רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֶּן יַעֲקֹב אוֹמֵר, בַּמְּסִבָּה הַהוֹלֶכֶת תַּחַת הַחֵיל יוֹצֵא וְהוֹלֵךְ לוֹ בְּטָדִי”
Project decisionAdopted: two leaning stones meeting in a point, as the mishna says (Middot 2:3) — not an arch. Tour's choice: their slope and span.