JERICHO - WATER, POOLS, FISHPONDS

Sparkling Water, photograph by Diana Nigon

Herod paid careful attention to water. All his buildings had intricate water facilities:

• Roman-style aqueducts to bring water for vast storage cisterns
• collection basins
• fish ponds
• fountains, etc.

This was, of course, sensible and efficient.

But Herod simply liked to dazzle visitors. He never quite conquered his social insecurity, the feeling that he was not quite good enough. Impressive architecture and luxurious gardens (in an arid climate) helped to calm these social jitters. 

Herod also liked his creature comforts. He delighted in luxurious surroundings. The gardens at his palaces, and even at his fortresses, usually had pools, gazebos, small baths, shady colonnades and vistas looking out onto agreeable scenery.

 Plan of the gardens and pools at the Third Palace, Jericho

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