JERUSALEM, June 30 (Xinhua) -- Israel inaugurated the Pilgrim Road, which led to the ancient Jewish Temple in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) reported on Sunday.
The southern part of the street, 350 meters long, was exposed after six years of excavations led by the IAA. Within a few months the road is expected to open to the public.
The total length of the road that connected the Pool of Siloam in the south of the ancient Jerusalem to the foot of the Temple Mount is 600 meters and is about 8 meters wide.
During the excavations, it became apparent that the road was built after the reign of King Herod, under the auspices of the Roman prefects of Jerusalem, probably in the time of prefect Pontius Pilate, who sentenced Jesus Christ to crucifixion.
The magnificent road was paved with large stone slabs, as is customary in monumental construction throughout the Roman Empire.
During the excavations of the road, which served as the main street of ancient Jerusalem, findings were discovered that refute the prevailing view that the residents of the area were poor.
At the event, luxury objects found at the site were displayed for the first time, including decorated stone tables. One rectangular with carved decorations on the edges, the other round, made of bitumen stone, with colored studded stones.
Silver coins were also presented at the event, the most prominent of which was minted in the city of Tire (in today's Lebanon) in 33 CE, which was used for donations to the Temple.
Alongside these, jewelry was discovered, such as a ring studded with precious stone that was exposed inside a ritual bath, and pottery vessels and vials that were used to store perfume or oils.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Israeli government ministers and parliament members, U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman and White House Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt.
Ambassador Friedman said "it is a privilege for us as Americans to march along with our Israeli colleagues, on the pilgrims' path where our common ancestors marched."
