Eighteen hundred -year-old bathing pool discovered in Jeruslalem

**Waqar Daniel** Sat 19 Mar 2011, 5:20 pm

An 1,800-year-old bathing pool that was probably part of a bathhouse used by the Tenth Legion - the Roman soldiers who destroyed the Temple - has been found as a result of excavations by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) in Jerusalem, reports Jeremy Reynalds, Senior Correspondent for ASSIST News Service.

According to a news release from the Israel Ministry of Tourism, the discovery sheds light on the scope of Aelia Capitolina, the city that was founded on the Second Temple period ruins of Jerusalem and defined the character of ancient Jerusalem as we know it today.

“This discovery continues to prove that Israel is unlike any other place on earth; every stone in Israel tells a story,” said Haim Gutin, Israel Commissioner of Tourism, North and South America, speaking in a news release.

He added, “We encourage you to visit for yourself, because once you visit Israel- you'll never be the same.”

According to IAA Jerusalem District archaeologist Dr. Yuval Baruch speaking in a news release, “What we have here is a discovery that is important for the study of Jerusalem. Despite the very extensive archaeological excavations that were carried out in the Jewish Quarter, so far not even one building has been discovered there that belonged to the Roman legion.”

The news release said the absence of such a find led to the conclusion that Aelia Capitolina, the Roman city which was established after the destruction of Jerusalem, was small and limited in area. The new discovery, together with others of recent years, shows that the city was considerably larger than what was previously estimated.

The uncovered remains of the ancient Roman bathhouse will be integrated into the new ritual bath that is slated to be built in the Jewish Quarter.

About the Israel Ministry of Tourism

With its main headquarters for North America in New York, the Israel Ministry of Tourism leads the State of Israel's efforts at maintaining a strong tourism industry. The Ministry of Tourism promotes tourism to Israel via its Israel Government Tourist Offices in Europe, Asia and the Americas.

Eighteen hundred -year-old bathing pool discovered in Jeruslalem