Jesus-Era Pilgrims' Road Opens in Jerusalem
The ancient Pilgrims' Road used by worshippers in Jesus's time has opened to the public for the first time in 2,000 years in Jerusalem. Visitors can now walk the historically and religiously significant path that connected the Pool of Siloam to the Temple Mount.
- Recent analysis of over 100 coins found beneath the paving stones suggests the road was commissioned by the Roman governor Pontius Pilate around 30-31 AD, not King Herod as previously assumed. - The road's rediscovery was accidental, occurring in 2004 when a burst sewage pipe revealed a section of the ancient steps. - Stretching approximately 600 meters (about 2,000 feet), the street was a major commercial hub, with archaeologists uncovering evidence of shops, a market, stone weights, and a rare table for measuring liquids. - The excavation was a complex engineering project conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority and the City of David Foundation, requiring tunneling beneath the modern, populated neighborhood of Silwan. - A drainage channel running beneath the street served as a hiding place for Jewish rebels during the Roman siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD; cooking pots, coins, and even a Roman sword were found inside. - The paving stones were found in excellent condition, suggesting the road was only in use for a relatively short period before being buried by the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. - Archaeologists discovered a unique raised podium along the road, which may have been used as a place for public speaking and preaching to the crowds of pilgrims. - The excavation has been a source of controversy, as it takes place in East Jerusalem under the predominantly Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan, with residents expressing concern over potential damage to their homes.
