Jerusalem is one of the oldest cities in the world. His venerable age is four millennia. Archaeological finds indicate that the city was founded on one of the hills that a thousand years later began to be called the mountain of David. Here was erected the ancient fortress walls. The hill opposite the mountains of David, was called the Temple mount. But even more earliest traces of human activity - clay utensils and burial caves, carved in the rock - archaeologists have discovered near the source Tikhon, located at the foot of hills and almost unique in the whole region.

Ot legends tell of Jerusalem since the first half of the II Millennium B.C. the Bible calls the very first residents of Jerusalem to the Jebusites and the famous English archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon, who discovered the basis of the ancient city wall near the source Tikhon, showed that in the initial period of its existence the city-fortress was in the hands of the Hittites - people, created powerful state in Central Asia. Thus, it was established that the Jebusites, and the Hittites, the same people, and one of the biblical stories that earlier was considered legendary, has found material evidence.

For a long time the Hittites represented the main threat to the interests of the largest world power to Egypt. On the Eastern borders of the great African nation stood a large military garrison, hence the Egyptians went on military campaigns against the Hittites.

At the beginning of the II Millennium B.C. in the case of the two great powers started to interfere third force - the rising power of the Assyrian Kingdom. Each of the warring among themselves States sought to establish its domination in the East. And yet, despite the claims of the "powers that be", the young shepherd David, who was elected king of all Israel and Judah, decided whatever was to capture Jerusalem and to make it the capital of his people. In the description of capture of the city, is explained in the Second book of kings, on this account remained only vague obscure phrase: "And David said on that day, whosoever will beat Jebusites, and access to the pipeline (literally "and touch the pipe") and to the lame and the blind, hateful soul of David..."

Jerusalem was built on the hill of David

That meant the author of these lines is a mystery. However, let's try to understand it. It was known that the crystal clear spring groundwater Tikhon served as the only source of water supply in the city for many generations. Tikhon was outside the walls, and to him were special "Water gate". During the siege of Jerusalem and its inhabitants are deprived of access to water. Therefore, assumed the researchers, there was hiding source outside and laying in the rock of the pipeline, which would water came into the city. However, already in the early era was proposed the method of accumulation of rain water in hollowed in the rock drains, but the biblical phrase about the "pipeline" gave no rest.

"Pipe" David sought unsuccessfully until then, until the English researcher Warren at the end of XIX century. not accidentally discovered an abandoned well on the mount of David. Clearing the mine pit and go down on her, he reached the dried underground channel. Warren became clear that once arrived water source Tikhon, and the "pipe" allowed the residents of the city to take it without going over the wall. She, most likely, became the manhole for the soldiers of king David.

Now the biblical text of the conquest of the city of the Jebusites became obvious. Warriors of David entered the city through the "tunnel" and therefore was able to seamlessly to master it. As for "the blind and the lame, then, according to Israeli archaeologist of Igal Adina, it is about a magical ceremony with which the Jebusites (Hittite) tried to scare David and his men, before they tried to take the city.

The Hittites had a tradition to put the lame and the blind on the walls of the city and to intimidate the enemy soldiers so that they too will become crippled and blind, if you will attack the city. In the Ancient East in General was often blinded enemies. The Assyrian king Sargon II, as it is written in the Book of the prophet Jeremiah, "he slew the sons of Zedekiah... then they gouged out his eyes." In one of the Assyrian palaces was found relief depicting such scenes.

After the opening of the mine Warren managed to clear the system of underground channels and even find a tunnel in the rock. Once he began at the walls inside the city and moving beyond it. Near the exit of the tunnel in the rock was found the inscription left by the workers of the Jewish king ASCII who punched underground channel to the city's water supply. The inscription informs about completion of construction of the tunnel deep in the rock, on which water Tikhon began to arrive in the city. At the same builders proudly declare that its length is 1200 am (or 533 m).

Sensational discovery meant that the king of Yesenia, who ruled for three hundred years later king David, 727 on 698 BC, laid his pipe, knowing nothing about of David. This news amazed the entire Christian world, for in the Book of kings indeed, there is a mentioning about how Yesenia built the tunnel and the reservoir before the siege of the city by the Assyrians.

So another biblical legend materialized, and more... the Thing is that with the siege of Jerusalem by the Assyrians were linked very mysterious events. Fierce ruler of Assyria Sennacherib invaded Judea and captured many of the city. One of his military commanders, RANSAC, stood up with a numerous army around the walls of Jerusalem and tried to convince the defenders of the city to surrender, saying ASCII, "What is the hope to which you trust? Now you think to rely on Egypt, on this cane nalamlieng, which if a man lean on it will go into his hand, and pierce it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him... Who among all the gods of the land so saved the land out of my hand? So will the Lord will deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?"

From these words Yes from the sight of heavily armed soldiers of the enemy and his huge battering machines, suggesting an even greater thrill, shook the heart of the king, and he seemed, was ready to give up. But then in the course of history intervened the well-respected man - the prophet Isaiah. Rising to the top of the fortress wall, the prophet said loudly: "he shall Not enter the king of Assyria - into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, and will not cast a Bank against it the shaft. Just the same way that he came, will be returned. Thus says the Lord: “I will defend this city...”

The same night, that the prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled. Some power was suddenly struck by the army of Assyria, And rose up in the morning, and that's all dead body. And they departed, and went and returned home Sennacherib, the king of Assyria..." - it is written in the Book of kings.

Already the ancient historian Josephus, commenting on the sudden death of Assyrian troops near the walls of Jerusalem, believed that the Lord brought upon them the camp plague. Modern historians believe that, probably, it is a disease called "of Shibu", which is known from a number of Akkadian documents. This infection was accompanied by a rapid rise in body temperature and is often spread in the military camp of that time.

However, the most surprising thing in this story is that in the 1930s, English archaeologist J.. Starkey near Jerusalem have discovered a mass grave Assyrian soldiers of the reign of king Sennacherib. In a deep hole was about 1500 human skeletons...

In Jerusalem, more than anywhere else on earth, there is a link of times. Here you can see numerous material evidences of the antiquity. Source Tikhon is one of them. On "water supply of ASCII" drive tour - the height of the tunnel corridor is about two meters. Tourists make a half-mile transition with great pleasure. After the burning rays of the sun, they come in cool water source Tikhon and, holding candles, move along the dark passages of the tunnel towards the light.