Uncovering the Roots of the 'Prayer Road' Traversed Daily by Jesus and His Disciples

In the time of Jesus Christ, a quarry was found by archaeologists that was used to carve stones for the streets of ancient Jerusalem.

The stones were used in the construction of the historic Pilgrim's Road, a 2,000-year-old pathway made of stepped stones that is believed to have been walked by Jesus and his followers.

According to the Bible, Jesus healed a man who was blind while walking on the pathway that led to the historical Jewish Temple, a place where Jesus would often pray.

An ancient quarry, believed to have been used by Jesus and his disciples 2,000 years ago, has been discovered by archaeologists along a road. The excavation site was found by researchers and is connected to the path where Jesus and his followers once walked.

According to historians, Pilgrimage Street was constructed around 2,000 years ago and is thought to be the road that leads to the Pool of Siloam, where Jesus performed a miracle and healed a blind man. The photograph shows an Ultra-Orthodox Jew walking along a section of this ancient street.

The street known as Pilgrimage Street, which can be seen in the picture, was constructed about 2,000 years in the past. It is widely believed that this particular street was the pathway that led to the Pool of Siloam, where Jesus performed a miracle and restored the sight of a blind man.

Located on the southeastern side of Jerusalem, the site covers an area of approximately 37,600 square feet, making it a notable and extensive quarry that has been uncovered in the city.

At the location, the Israel Antiquities Authority discovered multiple building blocks that were identical to those discovered at a nearby excavation site known as Pilgrimage Road or Pilgrim's Road, which is located two miles away.

According to the study, the pathway linking the City of David and the Jewish Temple had pavement pieces that shared identical measurements and thickness as the ones found at the construction site.

According to their report, the stone slabs at both locations displayed the same markings resulting from the process of cutting trenches and extracting them from the ground.

According to the IAA's co-leaders Michael Chernin and Lara Shilov, it can be reasonably inferred, with appropriate care, that a portion of the stones taken from this site were designated for use as paving blocks on the streets of Jerusalem during that time.

Interestingly, it has been discovered that the paving stones on this street have the exact same dimensions and thickness, and also possess the same geological characteristics as the stone slabs that were mined from the quarry currently being revealed in Har Hotzvim.

The majority of the rocks discovered in the quarry were approximately eight feet in length and four feet in width.

The recently found quarry, located just 2.5 miles away from the City of David, was a prime spot for Herod and his successors' large-scale construction endeavors.

After being completely unearthed, the site will be conserved for public viewing.

According to Chernin, during ancient times, there were numerous methods of manipulating stones and specialized carts were created for their transportation. The Old City's proximity was mentioned in an interview with The Times of Israel, where it was reported that a large quarry from the Second Temple era was uncovered in an industrial area in Jerusalem. The Israel Antiquities Authority confirmed this discovery on Thursday.

During that period, rocks were commonly formed using saws powered by water, constructed with a pulley and wheel mechanism. These saws were then transported to various places on wooden carts that were rolled by either horses or camels.

According to the researchers, the majority of the stones were approximately eight feet in length and four feet in width. These stones were most likely utilized for building monumental projects during the late Second Temple period, which began during the reign of King Herod from 37 to 4 BC.

The city continued to develop with the construction of streets, public buildings, palaces, and fortifications. However, this progress came to an abrupt halt when the Roman General Titus conquered the city in 70 AD. As a result of this conquest, the city was destroyed and the researchers believe that the quarry was left abandoned.

The researchers linked the excavation site to the Jewish community by discovering a frequently used stone tool of the era, along with two purification vessels made of stone, which were used for ritual cleansing.

After discovering a stone tool that was commonly utilized by the community during that period and two stone purification vessels, which were large jars used for ceremonial cleansing, the team established a connection between the quarry and the Jewish community.

It is speculated that the quarry was used as the location for extensive building projects, such as the construction of public edifices, palaces, and fortifications.

According to beliefs, Jesus traversed the Pilgrimage Road, which led to the holy Pool of Siloam. This reservoir, known for its freshwater, was where the Messiah healed a man who was blind, making him the people's Lord and Savior.

According to a study conducted by the IAA, it was previously believed by historians that Herod was responsible for commissioning the construction of the street. However, after analyzing over 100 coins found during the excavation of Pilgrimage Road, it was determined that the street was actually initiated and completed during the reign of Pontius Pilate, who governed for ten years from 26 AD.

In 33 AD, Pilate sentenced Jesus to death through crucifixion.

Two purification vessels made of stone, commonly used for religious cleansing ceremonies, provided additional evidence that the construction of the site was carried out by the Jewish community.

The archaeologists have stated that they stumbled upon a complete vessel unexpectedly, as it had been placed in a corner for a span of 2,000 years.

According to Shilov, it is likely that the vessel was either made in the quarry or transported to the site specifically for the workers' use.