Bible breakthrough: How Jesus 'miracle' site was uncovered during Jerusalem excavation

The Pool of Siloam was a rock-cut pool on the southern slope located just outside the walls of the Old City to the southwest. Located just 600 metres from Temple Mount, the pool was fed by the waters of the Gihon Spring and was used by pilgrims more than 2,000 years ago.The pool remained in use during the time of Jesus Christ and, according to the Gospel of John, the Messiah led “a man blind from birth” to the pool in order to complete his healing.

However, it was not until 2004 that the pool was uncovered,  during excavation work for a sewer by Ir David Foundation workers.

The findings were explained by  Ze’ev Orenstein, Director of International Affairs for the City of David Foundation, during TBN documentary “The Watchman with Erick Stakelbeck”.

He said in 2017: “In order for us to appreciate where we are right now, we have to start off with these mysterious metallic green doors that lead to nowhere.

“If you go back about a decade ago, 2004 – there was a road – those doors opened out with the driveway and there was a road right above our heads.

“In 2004, there was a sewage pipe beneath the road and it exploded, causing a big mess.

“So the Jerusalem municipality has to come and send in construction crews this sewage pipe over here.”

He explained how archaeologists confirmed it was the 2,000-year-old lost pool.

Mr Orenstein added: “Jerusalem is not just any municipality, so when you send in construction crews to repair sewage pipes, you also have to send in an archaeologist because this is Jerusalem and you never know what is going to turn up.

“So they’re fixing the sewage pipe and an archaeologist by the name of Eli Shukron who’s here.

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“Those are the steps leading up to the southern ascent of the Temple Mount and ‘there must be a connection’.

“These steps must be the steps leading down to the ancient pool of Siloam. 

“The Bible tells us there are three times during the year, Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles, the three pilgrimage festivals where all of Israel would have to go up to the temple.

“Before you can go up to the temple, you have to purify yourself, immerse yourself in a ritual bath.”

Yesterday, it was revealed how a lost 740-year-old painting of Jesus Christ sold for £21million at auction.

In 1280, “Christ Mocked” was painted by Cimabue to depict the passion of Jesus during his crucifixion and is believed to be one of 12 pieces of work known today, despite none being signed by the artist.

It was discovered by Philomene Wolf, the auctioneer, who spotted the work when making an inventory list in the clearance of an elderly woman’s house.

She told France-Info radio: “The new owners wanted a big clear-out of everything.

“There were a lot of ordinary items but there was this little picture hanging over the kitchen surface in the modern house.” 

She consulted Eric Turquin, a Paris specialist in Old Masters who made his name identifying a Caravaggio in Toulouse in 2014. 

After four months of research and testing, he pronounced “with absolute certainty” that the work was part of a diptych by Cimabue, of which two other elements are known to exist.

source: express.co.uk