Sultan Basin

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Sultan Basin

The Sultan Basin ( Arabic بركة السلطان, DMG Birkat as-Sulṭān , Hebrew בריכת הסולטן birkat ha-Sultan , German 'Sultan pond' ) is an ancient water basin southwest of the old city of Jerusalem . It is a rectangle, 67 meters wide and 170 meters long (in a north-south direction). The Merrill Hassenfeld Amphitheater has been located here since 1981 and is used for open-air concerts.

Surname

Flavius ​​Josephus mentioned the Sultan's basin under the name of the snake pond ( ancient Greek κολυμβήθρα τῶν όφεῶν ). The name Basin of the Sultan goes back to the Mameluk Sultan Barqūq (1382–99). Later, however, this name was more likely to refer to Suleyman the Magnificent . Both Barqūq and Suleyman had the pond renovated. The medieval legend suspected the pond of Bathsheba because of the David tower in the Sultan's basin, which is higher up nearby . In the 13th century, the Sultan Basin of Ernoul was also called Lacus Germani (Lai Germain, Lake des Germanus). This name referred to a benefactor who built several water systems for people and animals during the time of the Crusades .

Overview of the Hinnom Valley with the Mamilla Basin and Sultan's Pond

geography

Sabil Süleymans the Magnificent on the dam of the Sultan Basin

The Sultan Basin is located approximately 300 meters southwest of the Zion Gate in the Hinnom Valley . In the south it is bordered by a dam over which the Hebron Street runs. On the dam is the Sabil Birkat as-Sultan, built by Süleyman the Magnificent, 1536 (restored in 1978). Hebron Street turns north and is called Khativat Yerushalayim Street from the southeast corner of the Sultan Basin. This runs along the east side of the basin.

Yemin Moshe with Montefiore windmill

On the west side of the basin is the Yemin Moshe residential area founded by Moses Montefiore . Sh.-A.-Nakhon-Strasse, which merges into Dror-Eliel-Strasse, runs directly on the western edge of the basin. This limits the basin to the northwest. To the north of the Sultan Basin is James-Felt-Gasse, which contains two rows of workshops and artisan shops. From the northwestern Mamilla Basin , the ground level drops steadily to the Sultan Basin, so that the Sultan Basin served as an overflow for the Mamilla Basin in the rainy season. At the moment (2020) the Sultan Basin is always dry, except after heavy rains in winter.

history

In Roman- Herodian times an aqueduct ran from the ponds of Solomon along the western slope of the Hinnom valley. It crossed the Hinnom Valley on an arched bridge, circled the southwest hill of the old town and reached Temple Square . Parts of this aqueduct have been preserved, including on the west side of the basin and in the south wall of the dam. In the year 680 Arculf mentioned a stone bridge supported by arches, which leads below the Zion high above the valley straight to the south. The actual water basins are archaeologically documented for a later time.

First there was probably a smaller water basin, which was expanded by the above-mentioned Germanus in the 13th century. Marino Sanudo the Elder drew this system in 1310. From 1398 to 1399 it was restored by Sultan Barquq. Suleyman the Magnificent renewed it in 1536. He fortified the dam and built the well ( Sabil Birkat as-Sultan ) that has been preserved until today (2020 ). Giovanni Zuallardo described the Sultan Basin in 1585 as a storage basin walled on four sides on the way to Bethlehem . In the following centuries the water dried up more and more and only in the lower part did smaller amounts of rain water collect during heavy rainfall. As a result, the pool was used as a threshing floor in summer and as a weekly cattle market.

From 1967 the lower part was used as a concert area. In the upper northern part, walking paths lead through a park-like landscape. The original steps leading down into the basin have been partially made up as seating.

literature

  • Lewis Bayles Paton: Jerusalem in Bible Times, III. The Springs and Pools of Ancient Jerusalem , Hartford Theological Seminary, 1908, University of Chicago online, Chapter III and online, full book
  • Max Küchler: Jerusalem: A Handbook and Study Guide to the Holy City. , Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 2007, ISBN 978-3-525-50170-2

Web links

Commons : Sultan Basin  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f Max Küchler: Jerusalem: A manual and study travel guide to the Holy City. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 2007, ISBN 978-3-525-50170-2 , pp. 1016-1019
  2. ↑ a b c Sultan's Pool, Jerusalem at biblewalks.com. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  3. ↑ Sultan Basin at OSM. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  4. ↑ a b c d Pools of Jerusalem, 5. Serpents or Sultan's Pool at romanaqueducts.info. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  5. ↑ Excavation reveals ancient aqueduct in Jerusalem at mfa.gov.il. Retrieved April 18, 2020.

Coordinates: 31 ° 46 ′ 20 "  N , 35 ° 13 ′ 34.3"  E