Simon says: "Let's explore the 2,000-year-old Jewish ritual bath discovered under Western Wall Plaza in Jerusalem"
2,000-year-old Jewish ritual bath discovered under Western Wall Plaza in Jerusalem
A remarkable discovery has just been announced by the Israel Antiquities Authority - a Jewish ritual bath (mikveh) dating to the final days of the Second Temple period, uncovered just metres from the Western Wall (Kotel) in Jerusalem..
Carved directly into Jerusalem’s bedrock, the mikveh was found sealed beneath a destruction layer dated to 70 CE, containing ash from the Roman destruction of the Temple, alongside pottery & stone vessels characteristic of Jewish life in the city at that time. Its location is particularly significant being close to the Temple Mount & to the main access routes used by pilgrims nearly 2,000 years ago, including Robinson’s Arch & the 'Great Bridge'.
According to Jewish law, ritual immersion was required before entering the Temple. This mikveh would have served both local residents & the thousands of pilgrims who ascended to Jerusalem during the festivals.
A mikveh is a specially designed pool containing a minimum amount of "living water", such as rain, spring, or ocean water also used for purification rituals (niddah) by women, by converts to Judaism & for immersing new cooking utensils.It is a powerful reminder that Jerusalem functioned not only as a political centre, but fundamentally as a Temple city, where religious practice shaped daily life.
At Imagine Israel Tours, this is exactly the kind of discovery we love to bring to our visitors: archaeology that brings the Jewish history of Jerusalem into sharp focus, while also enriching the understanding of the city so central to Christian tradition. From the Temple period through to the modern era, Jerusalem’s layers tell a continuous story of faith, pilgrimage, resilience & renewal.
This find is yet another piece of tangible, physical evidence beneath our feet of the connection of the Jewish people to our Holiest City of Jerusalem. Biblical archaeology forms a core part of how we guide visitors through the story of the city.
Email: imagineisrael8@gmail.com
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