Archaeologists will soon unearth the Siloam font, an ancient Jewish historical monument. Reported by the Times of Israel.
According to the biblical text, the font of Siloam (or pool) was built in Jerusalem during the reign of Hezekiah (715 – 686 BC), 13th king of Judah. For this purpose, water was coming from the Gihon spring, which passed through the Siloam tunnel specially carved into the rock. It was built to provide drinking water to residents during sieges.
The pools were rebuilt during the Second Temple period (516 BC – 70 AD) and likely served as a mikveh, a ritual bath for the thousands of pilgrims who gathered at the Pool of Siloam before ascent from the City of David to the Temple. It is this pool that appears in the plot of the healing of the blind man in the Gospel of John: “After saying this, he spit on the ground, made mud from his spittle, and anointed the eyes of the blind with mud, and said to him: go, wash in the pool of Siloam, that is: sent. He went and washed and came seeing” (John 9:6).
Many traditions have developed over the years around the Siloam Pool, and since the end of the 19th century it has become the center of archaeological expeditions from all over the world. In the 1890s, a group of British-American archaeologists discovered part of the pool steps, and in the 1960s British archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon made a full-fledged excavation in the area.
Archaeologists excavating the sewers in 2004 uncovered stone steps from the Second Temple period. This confirmed that the pool was 69 meters wide and had steps on at least three sides of the pool.
The Israel Antiquities Authority has announced that the Siloam Pool will be completely excavated as part of a new project. Visitors will be able to observe the archaeological site in the initial phase, and in the coming months, Siloam Pool will be made available as part of a tourist route that will start from the southern point of the City of David and end in the West. Wall.
Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lev said: “The Siloam Pool in the City of David National Park in Jerusalem is a site of historical, national and international significance. After years of waiting, we will soon begin to open this important site and make it available to the millions of visitors and tourists who visit Jerusalem every year.”
At the same time, the excavation plans sparked protests among pro-Arab activists. They believe the project expands Israel’s presence in the Palestinian-inhabited territory of Jerusalem.
Earlier archaeologists dig Heads of Greek god statues in Turkey.