Ancient Jerusalem water bridge rediscovered at Sultan's Pool
In a city so rife with history as Jerusalem, even modern infrastructure updates are apt to uncover ancient treasures. Such was the case when The Jerusalem Gihon Water and Sewage Enterprises Ltd., which supplies modern Jerusalem with water and is named for the capital's ancient water source, began updating the sewage lines at Sultan's Pool. While digging, the company uncovered an ancient bridge, dating from the Mamluk Period, which was used to carry water to the Temple Mount.
According to Israel Antiquities Authority Excavation Director Yehiel Zelinger, who has been overseeing the excavation, "We all knew there was an ancient water system in Jerusalem, and we have already uncovered most of it, near Mishkenot Shaananim and around the walls of the Old City. What's new here," Zelinger continues, "is that we have now found the connection [which was actually visible in 19th century photographs, pictured above, but covered in the 20th century], how this water traveled from the area near Mishkenot Sha'ananim over the valley that contains Sultan's Pool and towards the Old City. This bridge crossed the valley, and brought the water to the Old City. It's a very special find."
Indeed, although the current bridge dates to the 14th century and the reign of Sultan Nasser al-Din Muhammad Ibn Qalawun, it is believed that it is actually the replacement of an even more ancient bridge, one dating from the times of the Second Temple.
"This Sultan Nasser al-Din Muhammad Ibn Qalawun was a strong ruler, one of the strongest Mamluk rulers, with a secure reign, so he had the power to update the city's water system and rebuild this bridge," Zelinger tells GoJerusalem.com.
The rebuilding of an ancient water-carrying bridge by a 14th century ruler and the finding of this replacement bridge, relatively intact, in the 21st century, is testament to the strength of the Jerusalem's water infrastructure. According to Zelinger, "Aqueducts are not unique to Jerusalem. We have found aqueducts in France and Italy as well. What's unique here is the duration of the ancient systems. The water system built in the times of the Hasmoneans [140 years BCE] was used until [pre-World War I] Ottoman times."
2000+ tips and recommendations
Alright, we'll be the first to admit it. Jerusalem's often chilly and often damp winters don't exactly exude...
In a region known for being one of the first in which early humans settled after leaving Africa, and in a city populated...
Looking for a place to begin your morning in luxury and style? Look no further than the American Colony Hotel, which offers...
Jerusalem, the city where kings ruled and sultans sat is no stranger to luxury. Today, even the visiting yeoman can find...
Jewish tradition holds that in the times of the First and Second Temples, all the Jewish people would gather in Jerusalem...
Technically, it's possible to visit Jerusalem without going to the Old City, but it would be hard to say you'd...
Looking for a place to begin your morning in luxury and style? Look no further than the American Colony Hotel, which offers...
The faithful may rhapsodize about the spiritual highs to be reached in the Old City; culture cognoscenti groove on the...
Once upon a time, options for eating out in Jerusalem were limited to local common phenomena such as falafel and schwarma,...
No results to show
|
Text text text
|
||
