Pool of Siloam
The pool of Siloam, and Siloam (Hebrew: transmitter, cable channel) called, is a pond in Jerusalem, into which the water of the city on the eastern foot of Mount Zion Gihon Spring was conducted and ensured the water supply of Jerusalem. Today, the ancient tunnel system and the pond to an archaeological park belong.
Gihon Spring
The Gihon Spring (also: Gichonquelle ) is the only year-round source in Jerusalem. It is an intermittent source in a cave at the foot of the eastern slope of the City of David in the Kidron Valley at about 630 m above sea level. Underground NN springs. The neighboring ridge reaches 690 m above sea level. NN. It is also called Ophel. The Ophel is one of the seven hills that were in the time of Jesus outside the walls of Jerusalem. These seven hills are: Gareb, also known as the Mount of Olives, the Goath (mountain of offense ), Akra (Mountain of the evil Council ), Bezetha ( Golgotha ), Moriah, and Ophel Mount Zion.
The Bible tells us that the water supply is a weak point in the defense of the city was ( 2 Chr 33,14 EU), so that in battle in 701 BC by King Hezekiah, the 13th king of Judah, out of fear of the Assyrians in a great hurry both the city walls reinforced ( 2 Chr 33,14 EU) and a 500 m long channel docked, the so-called Hezekiah tunnel. This led the city ahead of the Gihon Spring into the located within the walls of Siloam pond to ensure the water supply of Jerusalem in the event of a siege. The construction of this tunnel was an engineering feat for the time. The waters of the Gihon Spring flows through a tunnel to the Siloam pool, which is located at the southern end of the city of David.
Pool of Siloam
After the construction of Hezekiah tunnel of Siloam took the place of the Gihon Spring, which was forgotten until it was rediscovered in the 16th century after an earthquake. The pond was then likely to Jerusalem main water source. Nearby were the biblical kings, possibly even King Solomon, create an orchard, as reported in Neh 3,15 EU.
In 1911, the output of the Hezekiah tunnel was exposed and provided with a semicircular arch, through which visitors can walk today with renovations. The water flowed into a 15 meters long and more than five meters wide pool to which you descend by a staircase. Until that time, the science assumed that this basin was the remains of the late biblical Siloam pond.
In June 2004, the two Israeli archaeologists Ronny Reich, a leading expert in Jerusalem, and his colleague Eli Shukron dug in the area of the Gihon Spring. This Shukron observed urban construction workers newly laid a sewer near the previously known Byzantine Siloam pond. Finally, he discovered two ancient stages in the rubble. Ronny Reich suspected that this had to act from the time of the Second Temple period to the steps to Siloam pond. Then began the excavations.
It is unclear whether the pool of Siloam in its origin was an open pond or an underground cistern, the roof of which is later broken before the birth of Christ. Therefore, it is unknown, which had the appearance of the pond at the time of Jesus.
Religious significance
For Jews, the waters of the Gihon Spring has a special significance because of their Solomon is anointed king over all Israel be (1 Kings 1.38 to 39 EU).
"There came down Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet, and aBenaja the son of Jehoiada, and the Cretans and Pleter and caused Solomon on King David 's mule, and brought him to Gihon. And Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tent and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpets, and all the people shouted: Long live King Solomon "
During Sukkot in the Second Temple period, a water scoop procession took place, who knew Jesus. Jn 7:37-38 EU reports:
"On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood and cried: who is thirsty come to me, and him drink who believes in me. As the Scripture says, streams flow from within him of living water. "
For Christians, Jesus of Nazareth did manifest these words to be the Messiah.
John also reported a miracle of Jesus healing a man born blind, which communicates directly with the Siloam pool (Jn 9,7 EU):
" And as Jesus passed by, and saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God made manifest in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. When he had said this, he spat on the ground, made clay, and emphasized the porridge on the eyes of the blind. And he said unto him, Go to Siloam and wash yourself! So he went and washed and came back seeing. "
Empress Aelia Eudocia The Byzantine built in the 5th century in memory of this miracle, a church that was destroyed in 614 by the Persian King Chosroes II.
The Gihon Spring is called by the Christians " Mary's Well " and Muslims " source of mother of the steps ". All three religions the spring water is considered curative.
Reception
The name of Siloam is found in many Christian social institutions again, such as in the hospital Siloam as part of the " Klinikum Region Hannover " or the hospital of Siloam in Pforzheim.