Massive newly-unearthed complex may shed light on how Jewish pilgrims prepared to enter the Temple
The discovery was made during five seasons of excavations, directed by Prof. Uzi Leibner and Prof. Orit Peleg-Barkat of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Institute of Archaeology.
A recently discovered complex, containing several mikvaot, has been unearthed at the foot of Jerusalem's Temple Mount, potentially offering insight into the rituals of Jewish pilgrims preparing to enter the Temple. The excavation, conducted over five seasons by Prof. Uzi Leibner and Prof. Orit Peleg-Barkat from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Institute of Archaeology, began in 1968 and was initially led by Benjamin Mazar.
The complex, spanning approximately 280 square meters, consists of a large central pool and multiple mikvaot, located near the "Triple Gate," a primary entryway to the Temple Mount during the Second Temple period. The site's layout, including the central pool, ashlar structures, and extensive drainage system, suggests it was designed to accommodate pilgrims and facilitate their purification rituals.
The surviving mikveh, measuring 4.2 meters in height, once functioned as a water reservoir during the Byzantine era. The discovery of earlier mikvaot and evidence of destruction from the Roman period underscores the site's historical significance in understanding ancient pilgrimage practices at the Temple Mount.
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