A Grand Water System Is Excavated in Israel
- Share via
Archeologists in Israel have unearthed an ancient water system that was modified by the conquering Persians to turn the desert into a paradise.
The network of reservoirs, drainpipes and underground tunnels served one of the grandest palaces in the biblical kingdom of Judea.
Archeologists first discovered the palace in 1954, a structure built on a 6-acre site where the communal Ramat Rachel farm now stands.
The Persians, who took control of the region around 539 BC from the Babylonians, renovated the water system and turned it into a thing of beauty, adding small waterfalls to try to turn a desert into a paradise.
More to Read
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
