Charles Wilson's Maps
This was drawn by Charles Wilson an early explorer sent
from England in 1886 to survey Jerusalem. Like Charles Warren he
provides a great deal of information about the ruins under the temple mount.
You will notice that on this map, "Double Passageway"
is drawn in light gray under the mosque ending near number #33 cistern.
Here are excerpts from the report.
-
The entrance to the subterranean passages leading to the Double Gateway
is at the foot of a flight of steps immediately in
front of the Masjed-al-Aksa, and is called by the Moslems Bab-al-Aksa-al-Kadim
(the Gate of the old Aksa).
-
"the masonry of the sides of the two passages from the steps to opposite
the third pier from the engaged column seems to be "in situ," but from
thence to the entrance it is of a mixed character; the
batter is obtained here by setting the courses back 4 inches as shown in
sketch.
-
The ascent from the double gateway to the Haram level must have originally
been much more rapid, as in examining the water supply it was found that
the conduit connecting the "Well of the Leaf" (#9 cistern) with
the other cisterns and so with the aqueduct from the Pools of Solomon,
bad been cut through when the ground was lowered to form the present passage;
the
two opposite ends of the conduit are seen in the east and west walls,
-
Cistern No. IX (9), under Al-Aksa, known as the "Well
of the Leaf," descended; 42 feet deep, 3 feet 6 inches water at
northern end; at southern, deeper; on the north side there is a curious
branch or arm, and near the center a pillar has been left to assist in
sustaining the roof. Whilst proceeding towards the south, a sudden fall
into deep water extinguished the light, not however before the southern
boundary was seen ; the measurements were lost, but the plan was made from
memory immediately after ascending; the conduit seen
in the "double passage" was noticed entering the shaft; the roof
is of rock.
Click
here to see Wilson's full map of the Temple Mount
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