Gihon Spring, Natural spring in Kidron Valley, Jerusalem, Palestine

Gihon is a natural spring in the Kidron Valley southeast of the Old City, emerging from a cave measuring roughly 6 by 2 meters. The water feeds into several ancient channel systems that once supplied the city with water.

The spring was Jerusalem's main water source during the Bronze Age, forcing residents to build systems to use it effectively. This led to the construction of different channels and tunnels that evolved over centuries.

The name Gihon derives from the Hebrew giha, "gushing forth", for the spring's pulsed flow; it is also one of the four rivers of Eden. The Arabic name is Ein Umm al-Daraj. Legend holds that Mary washed Jesus' swaddling clothes here, hence Fountain of the Virgin. During Sukkot, water was drawn here for the Temple libation.

Access requires descending steep steps into the valley, so sturdy shoes are important and caution is needed. The best time to visit is in cooler months when the paths are less slippery and exploring is more comfortable.

The natural vertical shaft that gives Warren's Shaft its name played no role in the ancient water system; the real passage was a separate tunnel leading from the Well Gate on the Ophel ridge down to the spring. Charles Warren found parts of the system in the 19th century, and it has carried his name since.