Pool of Siloam Monastery

Address: Pool of Siloam / City of David area, SE of the Old City, Jerusalem

Website: https://www.cityofdavid.org.il

Hours: Site access coordinated with City of David opening hours (typically daily, varying seasonally)

Admission: Entry to City of David visitors’ route usually required (tickets vary; check City of David/Ir David Foundation)

The Pool of Siloam is an ancient rock-cut pool in the City of David area of Jerusalem that was part of the city’s historic water system and ritual life. The pool seen today includes remains from the Second Temple period and later periods and is associated with biblical accounts.

The site includes a series of stone steps and basin remains that were uncovered during modern archaeological excavations; preservation work has exposed walkways and access so visitors can see the pool levels and original stonework. The pool’s significance combines practical water engineering with religious and communal functions in antiquity.

Historically the pool was fed by underground channels, most notably Hezekiah’s Tunnel, which diverted spring water into the city’s reservoirs and pools; the pool was used in later Second Temple-era activities and has been mentioned in historical and religious texts. Excavations in the 19th and 20th centuries progressively revealed the pool’s layout and historic phases.

The Pool of Siloam lies on the southeastern slope of ancient Jerusalem’s core, within the City of David archaeological area and just below the Old City’s southern wall; it is accessible from the modern City of David visitor routes.

• Archaeological excavations: Excavations in the late 19th and early 21st centuries revealed stepped stone access and Second Temple period features; some exposed steps and pools are accessible to visitors.
• Water system and pilgrimage: The Pool of Siloam lies at the end of Hezekiah’s Tunnel and was part of Jerusalem’s water system in antiquity, making it both an archaeological site and a place of pilgrimage.

The Pool of Siloam lies just outside Jerusalem’s Old City walls to the south-east, adjacent to the City of David archaeological park. From the Jaffa Gate, it’s roughly a 20-30 minute walk downhill; taxis and local buses to the City of David/Ir David visitor center are convenient alternatives. The nearest major reference point in the Old City is the Dung Gate; from there the site is within a 10-15 minute walk.

• Enter via the City of David visitor center for context and the best-preserved access routes to the pool.
• Visit in the cooler hours-down in the valley the stone reflects heat in summer.
• Look for the steps and channels cut into the bedrock; they tell the story of pilgrim traffic over centuries.