There is much to see and film at the City of David, particularly for topics related to archaeology and biblical history.
Spread out over 60 dunams, the area contains varied excavations dating back to the first temple period and earlier. The location was first uncovered in 1867 by the British explorer Captain Charles Warren. His discovery, now called Warren’s shaft, was an underground water tunnel, indicating to scholars that due to its natural water supply this area was inhabited during biblical times. Since the original discovery, the City of David continues to be a center of biblical archaeology, continuously exploring and uncovering new finds. Some of the more cinematic areas of the City of David are Area G, the water tunnels, and the Shiloach pool.
The water tunnels were built by King Hezekiah in order to redirect the flow of water from the Gihon Spring to the Pool of Siloam, during an impending siege. Today you can wade through the spring in Hezekiah’s 2,700-year-old water tunnel, which at 533 meters (581 yards) long, is a wonder of early engineering. The enchanting tunnels are like something straight out of an Indiana Jones movie.
Area G is an area filled with excavations, mostly uncovered between 1978 and 1985. The area includes remnants of a large number of buildings, mainly from the first temple period. One of the most prominent buildings is a stepped stone structure that probably served as a support for David’s fortress. The remains of these structures give you an idea of what the architecture of ancient Jerusalem looked like.
The Shiloach Pool is mentioned in several instances in the Bible, and for Christians, the pool is significant because of a story in the Gospel of John. The pool is considered the location where Jesus healed a man who was blind from birth (John 9). The clear water pool covers a small area and is surrounded by a large wall on one side and a tunnel on another.