Featured Image Credit: Israel's Antiquities Authorities
Topics: World News
Emma Guinness
Biblical sites are of huge historic and religious importance, and now a new location will be opening to the public for the first time in 2,000 years.
The Pool of Siloam, located in the southern part of the City of David archaeological site in Jerusalem, Israel, is allegedly the place where Jesus told a blind man that he could see and a miracle was performed in the pool.
According to the Bible, the man was born blind and Jesus applied mud to his eyes before telling him to wash it off in the Pool of Siloam.
He proceeded to do so, and he was then able to see for the first time in his life.
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As a result of the story, the site is of huge importance to not only Christians but Jewish people too, and it is expected to either open in its entirety or partially over the coming years.
The site is currently in the process of being excavated by archaeologists, and the new tourist attraction will allow visitors to see the progress as it is being made.
As reported by the MailOnline, some people have already been able to visit the pool where the miracle allegedly took place, but further work will have to be done before the area can be seen as it is depicted in the Bible.
Jerusalem's mayor Moshe Lion said of the opening: "The Pool of Siloam in the City of David National Park in Jerusalem is a site of historic, national and international significance.
"After many years of anticipation, we will soon merit being able to uncover this important site and make it accessible to the millions of visitors visiting Jerusalem each year."
News of the site being opened was announced at the end of 2022 by the Israel Antiquities Authority, the Israel National Parks Authority and the City of David Foundation.
American Pastor John Hagee told to Fox News Digital: "The Pool of Siloam's excavation is highly significant to Christians around the world.
"It was at this site that Jesus healed the blind man (John:9), and it is at this site that, 2,000 years ago, Jewish pilgrims cleansed themselves prior to entering the Second Temple."
But while the site is best known because of its Biblical importance, it actually predates Jesus himself, and it formed a part of Jerusalem's water system around 2,700 years ago.
Back then, the pool was a reservoir for the Gihon Spring and its water was diverted using underground tunnels.