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Artas Valley
The valley is located approximately 5 kms south of Bethlehem, southeast of Al Khadir village. The valley begins at the eastern limits of Solomon's pools and descends eastwards for about 2 kms until the village of Artas. The environment of the site is well preserved. The valley connects the pools with Artas village, which is partly built down in the valley and on the slopes.
In the first century AD Herod trapped the aqueduct of Solomon's pools and led the water through the valley and village of Artas to his fortress (Herodion or Tell Freidis). The water of this aqueduct still irrigates fruit trees and vegetables planted in the valley. This agriculture makes the valley a very important source of income for the people of Artas and forms a beautiful environment for the site. The name Artas derives from the Latin word Hortus or garden. During the Crusader period it was known as Artasium.
Next to the forest trees on the slope of the northern mountain, a quarry spoils the homogeneous appearance. Shrubs, many wild weeds, and herbs are growing amongst the rocks, big stones are scattered on the slope of the southern hill. The foot of the hill beside the pools is covered with pine trees.
On the western side is the entrance to the pools which leads through a part of Artas town reaching the edge of the pool. A belt of trees planted by the British Mandate Authority surrounds the pools.