Gihon Spring

The Gihon Spring is the only year-round source in Jerusalem and is mentioned in the Bible. The intermittent source originates underground in a cave at the foot of Mount Ophel, between the City of David and the Kidron Valley.

The waters of the Gihon Spring leads to the pond of Siloam, which is located at the southern end of the city of David, and should the water supply of Jerusalem sure of the located at the eastern foot of Mount Gihon Spring. Today, the ancient tunnel system and the pond is part of a unique archaeological park.

According to the Bible, King David already had taken the city of the Jebusites Jerusalem by siege of Gideon source around 1000 BC. The Bible also reports that the Assyrians took in the second half of the 8th century Syria and Palestine, to eventually conquer Egypt. It also Jerusalem was threatened and 701 actually besieged by Sennacherib ( after he had conquered on the way to Jerusalem Lachish at great expense ). Looking ahead, Hezekiah had the city walls of Jerusalem extended ( 2 Chr 33,14 EU) to the greatly enlarged by refugees from the northern kingdom of Israel city and created the 500 m long channel. This so-called Hezekiah Tunnel, which deduced the lying before the city Gihon Spring in the situated within the walls of Siloam pond within the city, and made sure the event of a siege, the fresh water supply of Jerusalem. The construction of this tunnel was a high performance in engineering for the time.

Others

• Gihon is also the name in Gen 2.13 EU from one of the four rivers of Paradise. Whether this is identical to the watercourse which springs from the Gihon Spring, or whether only one of traditional name was used prominently here again is unclear.

• The Gihon Spring is now called by the Christians as " Mary's Well " and the Muslims " source of mother of the steps ". All three religions the spring water is considered curative.