Ancient Water Bridge Found in Yerushalayim

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yerushalayim-poolsPart of the ancient aqueduct that brought water to the Bais Hamikdosh has been exposed near the Sultan’s Pool across from Har Tzion. The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) says it found a “spectacular arched bridge” that marked part of Yerushalayim’s ancient water system while conducting archaeological rescue excavations prior to work on the city’s modern water system.

Two of the bridge’s original nine arches have now been excavated to their full height of about three meters.

In actuality, the newly-discovered bridge was built in 1320 C.E. by the sultan Nasser al-Din Muhammed Ibn Qalawun, as evidenced by its dedicatory inscription. However, it was apparently constructed to replace an earlier bridge dating to the time of the Second Temple period that was part of the original aqueduct.

Yechiel Zelinger, excavation director on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, said, “The bridge, which could still be seen at the end of the 19th century and appears in old photographs, was covered over during the 20th century. We were thrilled when it suddenly reappeared in all its grandeur during the course of the archaeological excavations.”

“The route of the Low Level aqueduct from the time of the Second Bais Hamikdosh, beginning at Solomon’s Pools near Bais Lechem and ending at the Har Habayis, is well known to scholars,” Zelinger said. “Substantial parts of it have been documented along the edge of Yemin Moshe neighborhood and on the slope adjacent to the Kosel. In order to maintain the elevation of the path along which the water flowed, a bridge was erected above the ravine.”

The Israel Antiquities Authority, in cooperation with the Nature and Parks Authority, is working to expose the entire length of the arched bridge. It plans to conserve and integrate it in the framework of the overall development of the Sultan’s Pool, as part of underscoring the importance of the water supply to Yerushalayim in ancient times.

Read more at Arutz Shevah.

{Arutz Shevah/Yair Alpert-Matzav.com Israel}


2 COMMENTS

  1. look & see as Israel keeps on discovering things from the time of the Beis Hamikdosh. From coins to wells to bricks etc… & see the hand of HASHEM as he shows more & more signs of the coming of Mashiach.
    just look as Israel’s relationship with the other countries of the world are slowly but surely stopping & separating from each other. including the U.S.A. (i.e. this is needed before Mashiach comes. as it says in Zecharia the Prophet. that every single country in the entire world will be against Israel before Mashiach comes)

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