Week 3 Lecture 1 (1/18/11)
The primary water source in Jerusalem is the Gihon Spring. Before the current era, water from the Gihon spring used to be enough to sustain a population of 2500, but now Jerusalem has to find other means of obtaining water. In earlier times, access to the water was possible either from the Warren Shaft or Siloam pool. The main question that revolves around these water works is: was it naturally there or was it man-made? Scientists and historians still do not know. However, there is evidence that Hezekiah's Tunnel is an expansion of the water works. Water in Jerusalem was not only a vital resource, but was holy and sacred. Coronation ceremonies concluded with the anointing of the king in the water of the Gihon Spring.
A topic of particular interest to myself is the Ark of the Covenant. It is a portable shrine that Hebrews carried around with them for guidance and luck. It can be compared to the pole of the Achilpas, a group in Australia who carried the pole wherever they went and followed the direction the pole swayed. The Ark of the Covenant can be said to be an axis mundi, connecting the people directly to God. It was a gold-covered box with two cherubim kneeling in prayer at the top. These cherubim usually protect or guard something important, and in this case, it was God. It can be questioned whether or not the Hebrews went as far as to worship the Ark as an idol, for it held a special place in the back of Soloman's Temple. I am very interested in the Ark of the Covenant and am considering writing about this for my research paper. :]
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