The Ancient Pool of Siloam , a 2,700 - year - sometime rock pool used in Jerusalem during the eighth century BCE , is coiffure to be fully excavated and opened up to the public for the first meter in innovative times .
locate in the southern part of the City of David , the Pool of Siloam was built by King Hezekiah in the 8th century BCE in ordination to provide urine to Jerusalem .
As mentioned in the Bible ’s Book of Kings II , 20:20 : " Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah , and all his might , and how he made the Pool , and the conduit , and take water into the city , are they not drop a line in the Book of Chronicles of the king of Judah ? "
Photograph of the Northern perimeter of the Pool of Siloam. Image credit: Koby Harati, City of David Archives
However , it also assume on a mysterious spiritual role too . It ’s believed the pool was used during this time as a ritual bath , known as “ mikveh ” , by Pilgrim who submerged themselves in the piss before heading through theCity of Davidto theTemple . debate the rock pond was potential over 0.4 hectares ( 1 acre ) in size at its peak , thousands of people could have potentially congregate here .
The puddle is also mentioned in some of the tales relate with Jesus . In the New Testament ’s John 9 , there is a account aboutJesusperforming the miracle of giving sight to a human who was blind from nascence . It reads : “ He state him , ‘ Go , wash in the Pool of Siloam ’ . So the man move and washed , and came back seeing . ”
While few could guarantee for the water ’s providential properties nowadays , the situation is clearly of huge historical and ethnic value .
A bit of archeological missions first stumbled upon evidence of the pool in the late 19th century . In 1880 , the illustrious Siloam Inscription was unveil in a urine burrow near the Pool . Written in ancient Hebrew script , it explain how the Gihon Spring ’s H2O was divert to the Pool during the reign of King Hezekiah . In the undermentioned decennium , a mathematical group of British - American archeologist uncovered some of the gradation of the Pool .
" The Pool of Siloam in the City of David National Park in Jerusalem is a site of historic , national , and international significance . After many long time of expectancy , we will shortly merit being able-bodied to uncover this crucial site and make it accessible to the millions of visitors visiting Jerusalem each year , ” Moshe Lion , Mayor of Jerusalem , said in astatement .
