Siloam tunnel Archaeological Site

Address: Siloam Tunnel (Hezekiah’s Tunnel) - City of David / Silwan area, Jerusalem

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

The Siloam Tunnel, also known as Hezekiah’s Tunnel, is an ancient rock-cut conduit in Jerusalem that channels water from the Gihon Spring to the Pool of Siloam. The feature is notable for its length and the inscribed stone found inside documenting the tunnel’s construction.

The tunnel is roughly 533 metres long and runs through solid rock, ending at a pool that collected the water for city use. The cut shows evidence of two teams digging from opposite ends and meeting in the middle, and the carved Siloam Inscription records that achievement.

Biblical accounts attribute the work to King Hezekiah in the late 8th century BCE and archaeological study has placed the tunnel in the Iron Age context, though scholarly discussion about exact dates continues. Excavations and conservation in the 19th and 20th centuries documented the tunnel and recovered the inscription.

The tunnel begins at the Gihon Spring in the eastern slope of the City of David and runs to the Pool of Siloam in the Tyropoeon Valley, south of the Temple Mount area in Jerusalem. It is within the modern archaeological park that interprets the ancient city’s water system.

• Length and inscription: The tunnel is approximately 533 metres long and contains the Siloam Inscription carved into the rock describing its construction.
• Visitor access: Access to the tunnel for visitors is possible within the City of David archaeology area, though walking conditions vary with water levels and seasonal flows.

What to See#

• Pool of Siloam: The ancient pool at the tunnel’s downstream end that collected water delivered from the Gihon Spring and served as a public water reservoir in antiquity.
• Gihon Spring: The Gihon Spring area at the tunnel’s upstream origin where the water source was protected by successive fortifications and city works.

The Siloam Tunnel (Hezekiah’s Tunnel) is in the City of David/Pool of Siloam area just south of Jerusalem’s Old City. From the Old City, exit at Dung Gate and walk roughly 10-15 minutes south into the City of David archaeological park to reach the tunnel entrance; a short taxi ride from central Jerusalem also takes about 5-10 minutes. The site is typically reached on foot from the Old City or by local taxi; check opening/access conditions before visiting.

• Enter the Siloam (Hezekiah's) Tunnel via the City of David archaeological park - buy timed tickets online to avoid long queues and to guarantee access during limited daily slots.
• Go early in the day when visitor numbers are lower and the tunnel's water level tends to be more manageable; check water-depth advisories posted by the park before you go.
• Don't skip the museum and guided tour options in the City of David - many people see only the Pool of Siloam while missing the archaeological context and on-site explanations about the tunnel's construction and history.