Leen Ritmeyer (Hebrew:לין ריטמאייר; born 1945)[1] is a Dutch-bornarchaeologicalarchitect who currently lives and works in Wales, after having spent 22 years (1967–89) in Jerusalem.
Ritmeyer holds an M.A. in Conservation Studies from theInstitute of Advanced Architectural Studies,University of York, England, and a Ph.D. from theUniversity of Manchester, England.
Beginning in 1973, Ritmeyer served for 4 years as official architect of the archaeological dig at theWestern Wall andSouthern Wall of theTemple Mount directed byBenjamin Mazar,[2] and 10 years in theJewish Quarter Excavations of the Old City of Jerusalem, directed byNahman Avigad.
InGershom Gorenberg's words, "[w]hen archeologists speak today of solid scientific research on the Temple's location, they’re most likely to refer to Leen Ritmeyer", referring to his work on theTemple Mount in Jerusalem.[3] He presented solid arguments based on archaeological evidence collected over at least a century of research for the location ofSolomon's Temple, the emplacement of theArk of the Covenant on theFoundation Stone,[4] and the location of the platform as extended in theFirst Temple period, probably during the time ofHezekiah described as a square of 500cubits inMishnahMiddot 2.1.[clarification needed] He has demonstrated that one of the steps leading to theDome of the Rock is actually the top of a remaining stone course of the pre-HerodianWestern Wall of the Temple Mount platform.[3]
Ritmeyer is known for his architectural models of the buildings of ancient Jerusalem. Hismodels of the historical Jewish Temples have been exhibited at museums including theYeshiva University Museum in New York[5] and theSiegfried H. Horn Museum atAndrews University, Michigan.[6]
Ritmeyer has published several books, some together with his wife, Kathleen, including:
