OUR QUICK TOUR OF THE OLD CITY

At one time long ago, points of significance were on either side of the 'street', which resembled a narrow alley, perhaps twelve feet in width. The buildings of religious leaders in Jesus' day were on one side and the buildings of the public officials were across the street. Most of what has been excavated was on the 'religious' side.A fairly recent discovery (1964) was the pool of Bethesda, mentioned in the gospel of John, chapter five. We stopped there briefly.

The site of the pool was located near a church (built later) which has been well known for it's acoustics. We peeked into the ancient building.  It's supposed to be spectacular for choirs.
          

Bonnie couldn't resist taking a moment to stroll through a little garden.

Almost next door we saw this area which is understood to have been an area for whipping. On the night when Jesus was betrayed, He was taken back and forth from the high priest to the civil government offices, merely a few steps. Likely He was beaten at this spot








One of the portions of the 'underneath city'
uncovered next to a cistern, beneath a convent.

It had been opened up, and the floors above reinforced with the pillars and archways in the picture. The work revealed a public square, as is mentioned in the accounts of Jesus' trial.

The Pavement

Next, we left the busy street to visit the Wailing Wall, where countless prayers have been uttered.




It is a remnant of the wall which once surrounded the temple of the Jews.

Guy adds his prayers

But wait....................there's more!