Silwan

Basic Information

Type

Town

Governorate

Jerusalem

Region

Jerusalem

Historical Significance

Silwan contains the City of David, believed to be the original settlement core of Jerusalem from the Bronze/Iron Ages. The Siloam Inscription (8th century BCE), discovered here in 1880, is one of the most important ancient Hebrew inscriptions and key evidence for biblical history. The Pool of Siloam is mentioned in the New Testament as the site where Jesus healed a blind man (John 9:7). The Gihon Spring provided the essential water source that enabled settlement in this location. The Stepped Street (Pilgrimage Road) from the Pool of Siloam to the Temple Mount, recently excavated, was likely used by pilgrims during the Second Temple period. For Muslims, the area contains the tomb of the Prophet Suleiman (Solomon). Despite these multi-layered historical significances, Israeli settler organizations have sought to promote exclusively Jewish narratives while erasing Palestinian history and presence.