Walking up a very narrow 2,000-year-old Second Temple era tunnel that served as a rainwater drainage system for the ancient city, we had to bend down in places to avoid banging our heads on the ceiling.

I could only begin to imagine the panic, fear and horror, but also the hope, that the Jews must have felt when using this as an attempted escape route from the Roman invasion.

Above it, the Herodian-era Pilgrimage Road that led pilgrims north to the Temple awaits its unveiling to the public.

Photo by Yair Izbotski