Mamilla Pool & Low-Level Aqueduct to Jerusalem
Birket Mamilla (Birket el-Mamilla) · Upper Pool of Gihon Aqueduct
Second Temple (Herodian) to Byzantine·Herodian Jewish / Roman / Byzantine·🇮🇱 Jerusalem District, Mamilla Cemetery / Jaffa Gate quarter, Israel
About
About Mamilla Pool & Low-Level Aqueduct to Jerusalem
2209) 650 m NW of Jaffa Gate in centre of Mamilla Cemetery, one of Jerusalem's ancient pools (Upper pool of Gihon) probably Herodian (Herod the Great) with Byzantine rework: rectangular 97 x 65 x 6 m (30,000 m³) ashlar-lined, connected by underground vaulted channel (elevation 775 m trace) to Hezekiah's Pool (Hammam el-Batraq / Patriarch's Pool / Pool of the Tower / Amygdalon of Josephus BJ 5:7,2) in Christian Quarter near Hippicus/Herod palace. Fed by Upper Aqueduct from Solomon's Pools (elev.
760-780 m) via Mamilla Street conduit (4th c. or later) – debate: Late Second Temple vs Late Roman. Pools in Jerusalem (Billig) aqueduct typology; Old City UNESCO 148. Pilgrimage consumption model (Reich-Shukron) challenges High-Level date.
Why it mattersJerusalem's upper-city water chain linking Solomon's Pools to Herod's palace pools.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Upper aqueduct terminus High-Level vs Low-Level
Theories
- 01Herodian pilgrimage hydraulics
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Herodian c.20-10 BCE (pool); aqueduct possibly Late Second Temple to 4th c. CE (disputed)
- Period
- Second Temple (Herodian) to Byzantine
- Culture
- Herodian Jewish / Roman / Byzantine
- Builders
- Herod the Great workforce / Roman hydraulic engineers
- Purpose
- Upper City / Herod Palace cistern supply via Jerusalem low-level network
- Abandoned
- 1918 (Ottoman pump cutoff)
- Rediscovered
- 19th c. Wilson Survey; 1990s Maeir-Reich excavations
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
20 BCE
Herod builds Mamilla + Serpent's Pool (Sultan's Pool)
4 c. CE
Upper aqueduct / Mamilla Street conduit late date (Reich)
On the ground
Structures & features
31.7786° N · 35.2209° E · 760 m · 2 mapped features
Mamilla Pool Main Basin
hydraulic97 x 65 m Herodian reservoir 650 m NW Jaffa Gate
31.7788° N · 35.2210° EHezekiah Pool Channel Mouth (Patriarch Pool)
hydraulicUnderground channel mouth to Hezekiah/Patriarch Pool in Christian Quarter
31.7770° N · 35.2290° E