A 2,700-year-old water pool in Jerusalem mentioned in the Bible will be excavated and opened to tourists for the first time in the modern era.
On December 28, the Israeli government announced that it would allow visitors to tour the Pool of Siloam, an archaeological site of “significant importance” described in the Bible, according to Algemeiner.
The Pool of Siloam illustrated based on excavation findings. (Photo: Reuters).
The Pool of Siloam is one of the most important sites in Jerusalem from the First Temple period (1200-586 BC), serving as a reservoir from the Gihon Spring. The pool was expanded about 2,000 years ago at the end of the Second Temple period (586 BC-70 AD).
Archaeologists believe the pool was used as a Jewish ritual bath (mikveh). Millions of pilgrims would immerse themselves in the pool before ascending to the Temple in Jerusalem.
The excavation will occur in phases, as announced by the Israel Antiquities Authority, the Israel National Parks Authority, and the City of David Foundation.
Initially, visitors will be allowed to observe the archaeological work. In the following months, tourists will be able to access the pool via a route starting from the south of the City of David and ending at the Western Wall.
Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion referred to the pool as “a site of historical, national, and international significance.”
“After many years of anticipation, we will soon unveil this important site and enable millions of visitors to Jerusalem to admire it,” he said.
The Pool of Siloam is believed to have covered an area of approximately 5,000 square meters at its peak, attracting the interest of archaeologists since the late 19th century. In the 1880s, an ancient inscription by the Jewish people was discovered in a water tunnel leading from the Gihon Spring to the pool.
The construction of the Pool of Siloam is first described in the Old Testament during the reign of King Hezekiah (around the 8th century BC). In the New Testament, the Pool of Siloam is where Jesus healed a blind man.
