Magnificent Mikveh Exposed

December 15, 2009

In his book The War of the Jews, Josephus Flavius writes there was a government administrative center that was situated at the foot of the Temple. Among the buildings in the area were the council house and the ”Xistus,” the ashlar bureau. According to the Talmud (rabbinic commentary), it was in this bureau that the Sanhedrin (Jewish court) convened. It may be that this structure belonged to one of these two buildings.

According to archaeologist Alexander Onn, director of the excavation, “It is interesting to see that in the middle of the first century CE [AD], they began making changes in this magnificent structure. At that time, it was no longer used as a government administrative building, and a large mikveh was installed inside its western hall where there were eleven steps that descend to the immersion pool. It seems that the city of Jerusalem grew in this period, and it became necessary to provide for the increased ritual bathing needs of the pilgrims who came to the Temple in large numbers, especially during the three pilgrimage festivals of Pesach [Passover], Shavout [Pentecost],and Succot [Feast of Tabernacles]. Immersing oneself in the mikveh and maintaining ritual purity were an inseparable part of the Jewish way of life in this period, and the mikvehot were absolutely essential, especially in the region of the Temple.”

From an IAA Press Release

Photo Credit: Photo by IAA and Isranet