The Gihon Spring was the main source of water for Ophel, the original site of Jerusalem. The Ophel ( Hebrew: עופל meaning fortified hill or risen area is the biblical name given to a certain part of a settlement or city that is elevated from its surroundings Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, he-Latn Yerushaláyim; Arabic: ar القُدس, ar-Latn al-Quds) is the Three main water systems allowed water to be brought from the spring to the city under cover:
- The Middle Bronze Age channel - a fairly straight channel dating from the Middle Bronze Age, cut 20 feet into the ground, and then covered with slabs (which themselves were then hidden by foliage). The term Bronze Age refers to a period in human cultural development when the most advanced Metalworking (at least in systematic and widespread use included techniques for This led from the spring to the Pool of Siloam and was an aqueduct. Pool of Siloam (Breikhat Hashiloah is a rock-cut pool on the southern slope of the City of David (believed to be the original site of Jerusalem) now outside the walls An aqueduct is an artificial channel that is constructed to convey water from one location to another
- Warren's Shaft - a steep tunnel, dating from slightly later than the Middle Bronze Age channel, leading from the Well Gate at the top of Ophel above Gihon, down to the spring. Warren's Shaft is an archaeological feature in Jerusalem found by Charles Warren in the late 19th century This passage was for people to travel down in person and collect water from the spring themselves.
- Hezekiah's tunnel - a winding tunnel carved into the rock, leading from the spring to the Pool of Siloam. Hezekiah's Tunnel, or the Siloam Tunnel is a tunnel that was dug underneath the Ophel in Jerusalem about 701 BC during the reign of Hezekiah Dating from the time of Hezekiah, and seemingly built in response to the threat of siege by Sennacherib, it was an aqueduct that effectively replaced the Middle Bronze Age channel. Hezekiah (or Ezekias) ( Hebrew: Ḥizqiyyāhu Khizkiyahu or Yəḥizqiyyāhu Y'khizkiyahu " the {{LORD}} has strengthened" compare Sennacherib ( Akkadian Sîn-ahhe-eriba "(moon god Sîn has replaced (lost brothers for me" was the son of Sargon II, whom he
In 1997, while a visitor centre was being constructed, the spring was discovered to have been heavily fortified since the Middle Bronze Age, when archaeologists unexpectedly uncovered two monumental towers[1] - one protecting the base of Warren's Shaft, and the other protecting the spring itself. A visitor center, centre (see Spelling differences) or visitor information centre may be A visitor center at a specific attraction Due to the area around the site still being inhabited, and hence not excavated, it is unknown whether any further fortifications exist (though a further tower to the south of that protecting Warren's Shaft is thought likely).
External links
- GIHON (2) in the Jewish Encyclopedia - a version of the publication written before the site of the spring was rediscovered. The Jewish Encyclopedia was an Encyclopedia originally published between 1901 and 1906 by Funk and Wagnalls.
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic