Solomon’s Pools aqueduct

Could these stones whisper the secrets of ancient engineering? Here at Solomon’s Pools aqueduct, time seems to flow as steadily as the water it once carried. Solomon’s Pools aqueduct stands as a testament to ingenuity and a vital lifeline for Jerusalem. These pools, despite their name, likely predate King Solomon. Scholars believe their construction began during the Hasmonean period, between the mid-second and mid-first centuries BC, with later additions and renovations. Three massive reservoirs, the upper, middle, and lower pools, step down the Artas valley. They collected not only rainwater but also spring water from sources like ‘Ain Saleh and ‘Ain Attan, and the flow from two major aqueducts. One of these, the Wadi el-Biyar aqueduct, used a clever qanat-like system to tap into an underground aquifer. This supplemented the spring water and rainwater it carried. Think of the engineering skills involved: a 4.7 km aqueduct, built with a gradient of 1.9%, collecting water from various sources. The second supply aqueduct, the Arrub, stretched an impressive 40 km, winding around the Judean hills. Its gentle gradient of 0.09% meant that over the length of a football field, the channel dropped a mere 14 cm! From Solomon’s Pools, water flowed north to Jerusalem through two main aqueducts. The “Lower Aqueduct”, dating back to the Hasmonean period, served the Temple Mount. It ran 21.5 km, dropping only 30 meters in total! Imagine the precision required to achieve such a feat. Another aqueduct, the “Upper Aqueduct,” likely served Herod’s Palace in Jerusalem. A third aqueduct carried water eastward to the Herodium fortress, ensuring a water supply for this grand complex. Solomon’s Pools aqueduct is more than just stones and channels; it’s a story of innovation, persistence, and the vital role of water in shaping civilizations. The next time you see water flowing freely, remember the incredible engineering feats of the past, right here at Solomon’s Pools aqueduct.