Sultan's Pool


The Sultan's Pool is an ancient water basin by the west side of Mount Zion, Jerusalem.

History

The origins of the Sultan's Pool likely date to the time of Herod and some think it is the Snake pool mentioned by Josephus. In Hasmonean times, water was fed into it via the lower aqueduct. The Ottoman sultans enlarged it into a reservoir measuring 67 m × 169 m × 12 m. It was part of the water supply network for Jerusalem from antiquity to late Ottoman Empire times. During the Crusaders times, it was known as Lacus Germani.
The Sultan's Pool is dry in summer and is used for concerts and festivals.