A surprise awaited workers at the old Shaare Zedek complex in Jerusalem: cisterns from the Ottoman Empire period were recently discovered during works on the Midtown Jerusalem project, located in the old Shaare Zedek building complex in the capital and led by teams from the Jerusalem Municipality Conservation Department.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
Underground cisterns, once a familiar feature of Jerusalem's architecture, were used to collect runoff from roofs and courtyards. According to original 19th century building plans, large cisterns were built inside the complex of the historical Shaare Zedek Hospital building; however, the condition of the cisterns was unknown. As part of the conservation process in the complex and its adaptation to contemporary construction needs, the Conservation Department decided to examine the building's ancient architectural elements. Their mission was to find out whether the historical building's magnificent cisterns were still intact.
In the process of excavating the site, Midtown Jerusalem (Canada Israel) brought special teams to perform a ground-penetrating radar examinations to map the area's subterranean strata. A careful excavation was performed to expose the location of the cisterns' openings, which had been sealed with a thin concrete layer covered by earth and vegetation. After pinpointing the openings, the teams slid down into the cisterns using ropes to perform measurements and examine the cisterns' condition.
They were met with a stunning scene: two large spaces, each about 12 meters long, 6-7 meters wide, and at least 6 meters deep. The cisterns had remained intact. The original plastered interiors had been entirely preserved, including cross-vault ceilings (an ancient architectural element common in Roman and Gothic architecture; a cross vault is a ceiling element shaped as arches that extend from the corners of the enclosed space to the opposite corners, intersecting at the pointed top).
The measuring teams said that the rainwater still in the cisterns and the tree roots suspended inside them increased the structure's mystery and magic, making it seem like a cave. On the other hand, the impressive ceiling and the antique building style lent the entire space a special atmosphere, recalling an ancient cathedral.
According to the teams, "Entering the cisterns transports you into the past, walking through a large, wide space and hearing the echo of your own steps. The ancient building style of the ceiling and the walls heightens the space's grandeur and stimulates the imagination, evoking a sense of other times and places. It is an ancient, alien, and magical world beating in the heart of Jerusalem's modern life."
They added: "These ancient cisterns once fulfilled the basic needs of Jerusalem's different communities. Today, the lives once lived seep into our everyday world thanks to the unique and innovative Midtown Jerusalem project now being constructed in the city, which includes residential units, hotel accommodations, a community area, and a modern commercial center and integrates historical structures and architectural elements."
As mentioned above, the cisterns were discovered by the Canada Israel company's Midtown Jerusalem project team. The company is currently building its flagship project on the site of the old Shaare Zedek building – a historical building that represents a unique milestone in Jerusalem's architectural history.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
As the project progresses, the cisterns will undergo a major conservation process and are expected to become an important and impressive part of any building to be constructed on the site, lending the entire complex an ancient, magical atmosphere.
Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon said of the find: "The discovery of water cisterns from the days of the Ottoman Empire is another chapter in the revelation of secrets from Jerusalem's historical past. The integration of old and new – historical and modern – is what turns Jerusalem into an architectural jewel, a city full of breathtaking finds."
This article might include sponsored and commercial content/marketing information. Israel Hayom is not responsible for its nature or its credibility. The publication of such content or information shall not be considered a recommendation and/or an offer by Israel Hayom to purchase and/or use the services or products mentioned in this article.
