Stepped street (Jerusalem)

The stepped street, as it is known from academic works,^[1] or the Jerusalem pilgrim road as it has been dubbed by the Ir David Foundation,^[2] is the early Roman period street connecting the Temple Mount from its southwestern corner, to Jerusalem's southern gates of the time via the Pool of Siloam.^[1] The stepped street was built at the earliest during the 30s CE, with the latest coin found under the pavement dating to 30–31 CE, during the governorship of Pontius Pilate^[1] of New Testament fame. The street is part of the City of David archaeological park in the Wadi Hilweh area of Silwan.

The street ascending toward the Temple Mount

Description

See also: Jerusalem Water Channel

Idealized representation of the route from the Pool of Siloam to the Temple Mount

The street ascended from Jerusalem's southern gates,^[1] along the ancient City of David, today part of the Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan, into what is now the Old City and passed by the Western Wall^[3] after passing underneath the Herodian bridge now known as Robinson's Arch.^[1] The ancient path was improved and paved in large, well-cut stone in the pattern of two steps followed by a long landing, followed by two more steps and another landing. The street was eight meters wide and its length from the Pool to the Temple Mount is 600 meters.^[4]

The large drainage channel which ran below the street^[1] has also been excavated and made partially accessible to visitors.

Archaeological exploration history

Sections of the ancient street were first discovered by Charles Warren in 1884,^[1] followed by Frederick J. Bliss and Archibald C. Dickey of the Palestine Exploration Fund between 1894 and 1897. The find was reburied when their excavation concluded. Other sections were uncovered, then reburied, by later archaeologists, Jones in 1937 and Kathleen Kenyon in 1961–1967.^[5][6] More details about the street were published by Benjamin Mazar in 1969–1971, followed by Ronny Reich (alone or in collaboration with Yakov Billig, then Eli Shukron) between 1999 and 2011 (including findings from the drainage channel running beneath the street), and Eilat Mazar in 2000.^[1]

The street was re-excavated during excavations on a water channel from the Second Temple period.^[3]

Reception

The Israel Antiquities Authority work on the street used horizontal excavation, a problematic approach as it lacks context for events before and after the layer being investigated, in this case dating from the 1st century.^[7]

Interpretation

According to archaeologist Ronny Reich, who for several years led the dig uncovering the ancient street together with archaeologist Eli Shukron, pilgrims used the Pool of Siloam as a mikveh for ritual purification before walking up the street to the Temple.^[4] However, Yoel Elitzur opposes this interpretation and argues that the Pool of Siloam was a typical Roman public swimming pool.^[8]

In ancient times,^[when?] in the celebration called Simchat Beit HaShoeivah, water was carried up from the Pool of Siloam to the Temple.^{[9][dubious – discuss]} There are attempts to connect the Roman-period street to this festival.

See also

• Excavations at the Temple Mount
• Givati Parking Lot dig