Archaeologists have discovered a significant road in Jerusalem dating back to immediately prior to Jesus’ time.
The ‘Pilgrimage Road’, which served as the City of David’s main street, connected the Pool of Siloam to the summit of the Temple Mount, stretching some 600 metres with a width of 8 metres. It is believed that the pool was used by pilgrims who had arrived from outlying villages in order to cleanse themselves before walking up to the temple.
Annaelle Choukroun from the City of David said: “It was built during Roman times by King Herod in around 20BC and led the Jews from the Siloam Pool, which was the biggest ritual bath at the time, to the temple. People would cleanse at the pool and then walk up this huge road, and all the way to the temple.” So it is highly likely that Jesus would have used it.
Over the years the road would have become covered with rubble and houses have been built on top of it. It was only discovered in 2004 when a pipe burst and needed to be replaced. During the work, steps were discovered which would have taken people into the pool. Excavation work which followed, and has resulted in the road now being open, has also revealed an ancient marketplace, Roman drainage channel, and artifacts from the Second Temple period (516 BC – 70 AD)
Read the full story in Premier Christian News, here.