"City of David" archaeological park on a narrow ridge south of the Temple Mount - the birthplace of Jerusalem with its sorokavekovoy history.

Excavation began on the ridge in the middle of the XIX century British. The findings of scientists became the material authenticity of events outlined in Riding Testament.

Jerusalem is mentioned in Egyptian texts XIX-XVIII centuries BC. e. A thousand years later they owned the Jebusites in 1004 BC. e. King David conquered it. Here, in the capital of the ancient kingdom of Israel, it was the tabernacle of the Holy Ark, where David's son Solomon built the first wise Temple. To the VIII century BC. e. Jerusalem was surrounded by impregnable walls. However, in 586 BC. e. Babylonians destroyed the thriving city, and the Jews led away into captivity. This was followed by the return of the people from the Babylonian captivity, the construction of the Second Temple, the Roman rule, the events described in the New Testament, the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in the year 70.

An open-air museum-reserve is located, which is still being excavated. Login decorated with a harp - King David was not only a great warrior, but also a talented musician and poet, he wrote the piercing soul penitential Psalm 50 ("Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy ..."). The ruins of the Great Wall, prominent in the highest point of the ridge, is identified with the palace of David. Below you can see a typical dwelling citizen of those times with a courtyard and rooms for the animals. Here shard found scratched on it with the name that was given, and housing - "house Ahielya." Nearby - the house burned during the Babylonian invasion, is found arrowheads and the remains of furniture. In wealthy homes there are stones with holes - one of the oldest toilets. From the observation deck are perfectly visible Temple Mount, the Kidron Valley, the Mount of Olives.

For Professionals was a mystery why the King David decided to establish their capital in such a strange place - Jerusalem Jebusites located as if in a valley surrounded by high hills. Fortified the city usually built on the elevated place. But the king was not wrong: on the eastern slope of the neighboring hill Ophel had a source of water feeding the city, the surrounding valleys were obstacles for the enemy, lying around the fertile land.

In the Old Testament there is an indication of the fact that David's soldiers entered the besieged city through the water system. Archaeologists have indeed found in the rock deep vertical well, in which trained the soldiers were able to get up in full armor. Later, King Hezekiah broke through the rock tunnel length of 533 meters, supplying water to the city. This structure has allowed Jerusalem to withstand a siege of the Assyrians in 701 BC. e. The tunnel is open for visitors, but the tour - on the fan: cramped, dark, sometimes you need to go to their knees in water.

The tunnel leads to the pool of Siloam, known in the New Testament. Good to sit beside her and think about the miracle that Jesus did, restoring sight to the blind, "and said to him: Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, which means messenger. He went and washed, and came seeing "(John 9: 7).