The Aedicule contains what is believed to be a fragment of the stone that sealed the tomb after Jesus’ burial. This structure preserves the location of Christ’s tomb. Though the cave here was carved away by a Muslim ruler 1000 years ago, a clear history remains that this has been the revered location of the tomb. Al-Hakim’s efforts to destroy the tomb (and Christianity) in 1009 were not the first.
Earlier the Roman emperor Hadrian erected a large platform of earth over the whole area for the construction of a temple to Venus. Jerome adds to Eusebius’ statement that a statue of Jupiter was on the site for 180 years (AD 140-320) When Constantine converted the empire to Christianity, he had the pagan temples dismantled, the earth removed and a church built over the spot.