Ancient Pool of Siloam to be Fully Exacavated and Open to the Public

By Hamodia Staff

YERUSHALAYIM – The historic ancient Pool of Siloam (Shiloach), in the City of David National Park in Yerushalayim is to undergo a full excavation and then be opened to the public, officials announced on Tuesday.

The Pool of Siloam has been a focal point for archeologists and scholars from around the world for over 150 years, but this will mark the first time it will be accessible to the general public, according to a joint statement by The Israel Antiquities Authority, the Israel National Parks Authority and the City of David Foundation.

The Pool was first constructed some 2,700 years ago, as part of Yerushalayim’s water system, during the reign of Chizkiyahu Hamelech, as described in Melachim 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 brought water into the city…”

The Pool of Siloam served as the reservoir for the waters of the Gihon Spring, which were diverted through an underground water tunnel, and it was thus already considered one of the most important areas in Yerushalayim in Bayis Rishon. Due to its location and importance, the site was renovated and expanded about 2,000 years ago at the end of Bayis Sheni.

It is believed that the Pool was used during this time as a mikveh by millions of olei regalim, converged there before ascending through the Ir Dovid to the Beis Hamikdash.

In 1880, the Siloam Inscription was uncovered in the water tunnel, just a few dozen yards from the Pool. The Inscription, currently located at the Istanbul Archaeology Museum, is written in ancient Hebrew script and records how the Gihon Spring’s water was diverted to the Pool during the reign of Chizkiyahu Hamelech.

In 2004, during infrastructure works carried out by the Hagihon water company, some of the Pool’s steps were exposed. Subsequently, the IAA commenced a systematic excavation under the direction of Professors Roni Reich and Eli Shukron.