Guide
The Women’s Balcony
70–300
The Herodian Temple complex was divided into several areas with ever-greater restrictions on access. The outermost area was open to both Jews and non-Jews. Beyond that was an enclosed area called the Women’s Court. This area was not restricted to women but rather demarcated the point beyond which women were forbidden to enter. Rabbinic sources state that because of improprieties resulting from the mingling of men and women during the festivities that accompanied the water libation ceremony, balconies were eventually built, where the women would sit and observe the celebration (see “The Water Libation Ceremony”).
Related Primary Sources
Primary Source
The Mishnah on the Women’s Balcony
At the conclusion of the first festival day of Sukkot, they [the people] descended to the Women’s Court, and they would make there a great preparation. There were golden candelabras there with four…
Primary Source
The Tosefta on the Women’s Balcony
At first, when [people] would observe the rejoicing of the water-drawing ceremony, the men would see it from inside and the women from outside. When the court saw that they were coming to [behave with…