Huldah Gates on the Southern Temple Wall

Some of this is a repeat from earlier posts, but I want to connect the idea that this enormous flight of steps leads from the Pool of Siloam up to the Southern Wall of the temple mound. One might call it Pilgrim road. The pool may have been used as a place to cleans before entering the temple area. They were excavated after 1967 by archaeologist Benjamin Mazar. These steps lead to the Double Gate and the Triple Gate, which are visible on the wall, but are bricked in. The stars leading to the double gate are very well preserved, but those leading to the triple gate were mostly destroyed.



Triple Gate

You can see that the steps have been restored by their crisp, new edges. The risers are fairly low, but varied. Each step is deep, but ranges from 12 to 35 inches. This would have the effect of causing pilgrims to walk in a careful, thoughtful manner.

I've never been able to see the Double Gate, but after more research, I realize why. The Double Gate is only partially visible. Here we see only the top corner of the right part of what was the Double Gate. You can see that the wall facing east is made of large stone, the wall that juts out to make a corner is made of smaller stones, put up at a later date.

It is hard to get a photo that shows both gates and how they relate to each other, but this has the top of the Triple Gate in the right hand corner, and the Double Gate off to the left, barely showing because it has been mostly built over.

I have found this sketch useful is seeing the relationship of how the two gates would have been. I am surprised to learn that both the Double Gate and the Triple Gate were more of an entrance into a tunnel, and several of these tunnels still exist and are used for the Al Aqsa Mosque (earlier post). Because of their sensitive location, archeologists have not been allowed in them for some time.