ETAM
Jordan/Israel.
A town of Biblical Judea,
20 km S-SW of Jerusalem, in ancient times as now the
site of a rain- and spring-fed source of water for that
city. It is mentioned by Josephus (
AJ 8.246) and is
thought to be the cool and watered place, with gardens,
to which Solomon so enjoyed retiring (
AJ 8.186, and
cf. Eccles. 2:6; extant pools are called by his name). A
major aqueduct from Etam to Jerusalem was constructed, or renovated, by Pontius Pilate, Prefect of Judea
(A.D. 26-36).
BIBLIOGRAPHY
W. Smith, ed.,
A Dictionary of Greek
and Roman Geography 1 (1873; repr. 1966) 854-55.
W. L. MAC DONALD