| There is much
to see and film at the City of David, particularly for topics
related to archaeology and biblical history. Spread out
over 60 dunams, the area contains varied excavations dating
back to the first temple period and earlier. The location
was first uncovered in 1867 by the British explorer Captain
Charles Warren. His discovery, now called Warren’s
shaft, was an underground water tunnel, indicating to scholars
that due to its natural water supply this area was inhabited
during biblical times. Since the original discovery, the
City of David continues to be a center of biblical archaeology
, continuously exploring and uncovering new finds. Some
of the more cinematic areas of the City of David are Area
G, the water tunnels, and the Shiloach pool.
The water tunnels were built by King Hezekiah in order to
redirect the flow of water from the Gihon Spring to the
Pool of Siloam, during an impending siege. Today you can
wade through the spring in Hezekiah's 2,700 year old water
tunnel, which at 533 meters (581 yards) long, is a wonder
of early engineering. The enchanting tunnels are like something
straight out of an Indiana Jones movie.
Area G is an area filled with excavations, mostly uncovered
between 1978 and 1985. The area includes remnants of a large
number of buildings, mainly from the first temple period.
One of the most prominent buildings is a stepped stone structure
that probably served as a support for David’s fortress.
The remains of these structures gives you an idea of what
the architecture of ancient Jerusalem looked like.
The Shiloach Pool is mentioned in several instances in the
Bible, and for Christians, the pool is significant because
of a story in the Gospel of John. The pool is considered
the location where Jesus healed a man who was blind from
birth (John 9). The clear water pool covers a small area
and is surrounded by a large wall on one side and a tunnel
on another.
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