Lee and I went with the students to do the Kotel Tunnel, and it was fascinating to see parts of the Western Wall, which surrounded the Temple Mount in the time of Jesus. The part that is seen, where people put their prayers and messages is much smaller than what has been excavated underneath. Here is an explanation:
After the Six-Day War, the Ministry of Religious Affairs began the rigorous process of uncovering the entire length of the Western Wall.
The Western Wall Tunnels were finally excavated almost twenty years later. In spite of the numerous obstacles this project initially proposed, archaeologists were able to uncover 2,000 years of Jerusalem’s rich history.
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These discoveries included ancient cisterns, aqueducts from the Hasmonean period, and remains of the Herodian road which ran parallel to the Temple Mount.
The Western Wall of the Temple Mount is one of the most magnificent and significant remnants in Jerusalem from the days of the Second Temple, destroyed approximately 2,000 years ago.
The Western Wall stretches along almost half a kilometer, but today, the part visible to all at the Western Wall Plaza is a mere 70 meters of it. The tour of the Western Wall Tunnels (Kotel Tunnel) allows visitors to reach the segments of the Wall hidden from view, and to touch the original and special stones that tell the story of the Jewish nation. Visitors to the Western Wall Tunnels walk through ancient and fascinating subterranean spaces with exquisite archeological findings, such as large stone arches, water pits, an ancient water aqueduct that ends at the Strouthion Pool, and more.
The Ritual-Bath Complex and the Hasmonean Hall
Over the last several years, archaeological excavations have been conducted underneath the usual tour route in the Western Wall Tunnels. These have uncovered magnificent ritual baths from the Second Temple period. One of them even has water today! The site includes the Hasmonean Hall where the members of the Sanhedrin apparently gathered outside the Temple Mount, and the Hall of Eras where remnants were found dating back to the First Temple and up to modern times.
The Great Bridge Excavations
The Great Bridge served those walking between the Upper City (where the Jewish Quarter is today) and the Temple Mount during the Second Temple period. It also carried water coming from Solomon’s Pools adjacent to Bethlehem to the Temple Mount. Recently, the bridge’s arches were excavated, uncovering a rich array of remnants, unique etchings, and much more.
Section A Excavations
Fascinating remnants that tell the story of Jerusalem throughout the ages have been uncovered under one of the most important synagogues in Jerusalem, Ohel Yitzchak, from the 19th century. The remnants found here span periods from the Second Temple to the days of the British Mandate. They convey the stratification of the city as history unfolded.
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