Jerusalem first century drainage tunnel

This is a most unusual way to illustrate the massive size of Herod’s Temple. In order to double  the size of the Temple Mount constructed by Solomon, Herod had to fill in the “Central,” or “Tyropoeon” Valley that lay between the Kidron and Hinnom valleys. He also had to manage water drainage during the heavy winter rains. Otherwise, his construction efforts would be damaged by the seasonal flash floods. A long drainage tunnel has been uncovered beneath the modern-day streets of Jerusalem, starting at the southwestern corner of the Temple Mount and extending nearly to the new excavations of the Pool of Siloam. The first part of this video begins on a wide street that parallels the drainage ditch, also from the time period of the New Testament. The tunnel extends for at least one third of a mile (half a km). When his disciples commented on the great buildings of the Temple Mount complex, Jesus told them that all would be destroyed within 40 years. Not surprisingly, this came as a shock to the disciples. A comment Jesus had made about “destroying this temple” (John 2:19) was used out of context against him at his trial (Mark 14:57-58).