Pool of Siloam (Jerusalem, Israel)

Overview

The Pool of Siloam served as a significant site for ritual purification during Jewish religious festivals such as Passover, the Feast of Tabernacles, and Pentecost. The Jewish historian Josephus, who lived shortly after the time of Christ, documented that up to a million Jews would journey to Jerusalem for these sacred occasions. It was essential for these pilgrims to undergo purification before entering the Temple Mount.

The water in the Pool of Siloam was considered living water, originating from the Gihon Spring. It flowed through Hezekiah's Tunnel, filled the pool, and then continued beneath it.

The Pilgrim's Road, a broad thoroughfare lined with shops on either side, extended from the Pool of Siloam to the southern entrances of the temple. As travelers ascended this road, they would sing the Songs of Ascent, which are found in Psalms 120-134.

The Pool of Siloam is a site closely associated with the narrative in John 9, where Jesus healed a man blind from birth. In the account, Jesus spat on the ground, created mud with His saliva, and applied it to the man's eyes. He then instructed the man to "Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam." The man complied, washed in the Pool of Siloam, and returned with sight for the first time in his life. Located just above the pool is the Synagogue of Theodotus, where the Pharisees questioned the blind man following his healing by Jesus.

Extensive excavations of the Pool of Siloam were conducted in phases between 2023 and 2025, making more of the site accessible to the public. Prior to these efforts, only a small portion was visible to visitors. Now, guests can explore the expansive pool from the Second Temple period, measuring approximately 230 by 164 feet. The pool includes three sets of broad steps on each side, designed to accommodate thousands of pilgrims who would immerse themselves before ascending to the Temple.