Stepped street (Jerusalem)


The stepped street, as it's known from academic works, or the Jerusalem pilgrim road as it has been dubbed by the City of David administration, is the Late Roman period street connecting the Temple Mount from its southwestern corner, to Jerusalem's southern gates of the time via the Pool of Siloam. It was used by ritual processions ascending from the pool to the Temple, Judaism's holiest site. The stepped street was built during the governorship of Pontius Pilate of New Testament fame.

History

In ancient times, in the celebration called Simchat Beit HaShoeivah, water was carried up from the Pool of Siloam to the Temple.

Description

The street went from Jerusalem's southern gates, 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 after passing underneath the Herodian bridge now known as Robinson's Arch.
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.
A large drainage channel ran below street.

Interpretation

According to archaeologist Ronny Reich, who for several years lead 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. However, Professor Elitzur opposes this interpretation and argues that the Pool of Siloam was a typical Roman public swimming pool.

Excavation history

Sections of the ancient street were first discovered by Charles Warren in 1884, followed by Bliss and 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. More details about the street were published by Benjamin Mazar in 1969-1971, followed by Ronny Reich between 1999-2011, and Eilat Mazar in 2000.
According to Israeli archaeologists, the street was rediscovered during excavations on a water channel from the Second Temple period.