The Western Wall was one of four retaining walls that supported the Temple Mount until the Second Temple was destroyed in 70 CE. The Western Wall was the closest to the Holy of Holies and quickly became a popular place of prayer to mourn the Temple's destruction.

The First Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 587–586 bce, and the Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 ce. The authenticity of the Western Wall has been confirmed by tradition, history, and archaeological research; the wall dates from about the 2nd century bce, though its upper sections were added at a later date.