Water and Jerusalem

One of the reasons for the original establishment of the City of Jerusalem was the presence of water-springs at the site. Recent work has provided new information on the elaborate systems developed historically for collecting and gathering water from the spring. Avi took us to see two elaborate tunnel systems, each constructed in different eras. The upper one, built about 6,500 years ago, so we were told, is now dry. The lower one, built 4-5,000 years ago has water running in it from the spring to the Pool of Siloam. While we walked through the dry upper tunnel (top photo), a group of school children paddled and splashed through the lower tunnel (middle photo).

Maps of the City of David (about 3,000 years ago) show the walled City of David (mostly below the present walled City of Jerusalem). Four towers along the wall,guarded the site of the spring. Clearly it was pretty important. We went down through the tunnels where people of the City descended to get their water in order to reach this spring.

In the bottom photo we are visiting with Abraham Siam at the Pool of Siloam Antiquities located just beside the Pool of Siloam.