Escape Clause

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Josephus tells of the Jews who fled to the “mines” (underground passages) when the Romans conquered Jerusalem and burned the Temple in 70 C.E. The victorious Romans then “instituted a search for those in the mines, and, tearing up the ground slew all whom they met.”¹ Some of the Jews were dying of hunger, while others had already perished. The “stench from the bodies” was “horrible,” Josephus tells us.²

At least part of these “mines” have recently been excavated by archaeologists Ronny Reich and Eli Shukron in the City of David. The “mines” consist of a drainage tunnel beneath a magnificent roadway that extended from the western wall of the Temple Mount south to the Pool of Siloam.^a The northern part of the roadway, adjacent to the western wall of the Temple Mount, was excavated by Reich long ago.^b But only recently was the southern part uncovered.

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The part near the Pool of Siloam descends gradually from north to south and consists of alternating steps—one long one (with a tread of about 4.75 ft) and the other shorter (about 1.5 ft).

Beneath these steps, the excavators discovered a drainage channel nearly 10 feet high. To capture the rebels in the channel, the Romans apparently hacked holes in the street as seen in the photos at left.

Among those Jews who fled to an underground passage was captured rebel leader Simon, son of Gioras. For the Romans he was a prize captive. Instead of being killed, he was taken to Rome to be displayed at the emperor’s Triumph.

Josephus describes his capture from below ground. In the 18th century, historian, theologian and mathematician William Whiston published his still-popular English translation of Josephus, which was illustrated with engravings. One of these engravings depicts Simon emerging from underground as he is apprehended by Roman soldiers. The hole from which he emerges in this engraving, as called to BAR’s attention by young Israeli scholar Yonatan Adler, looks much like the holes dug by the Romans in the ancient thoroughfare recently excavated near the Pool of Siloam. In the accompanying photo, Yonatan has jumped into one of these holes to demonstrate his point.

Thus is ancient history brought to life.

Josephus tells of the Jews who fled to the “mines” (underground passages) when the Romans conquered Jerusalem and burned the Temple in 70 C.E. The victorious Romans then “instituted a search for those in the mines, and, tearing up the ground slew all whom they met.”1 Some of the Jews were dying of hunger, while others had already perished. The “stench from the bodies” was “horrible,” Josephus tells us.2 At least part of these “mines” have recently been excavated by archaeologists Ronny Reich and Eli Shukron in the City of David. The “mines” consist of a drainage tunnel beneath […]