Reservoirs

Reservoirs

A picture of the huge twin reservoirs that are located in the center of Shivta—just west of the central Church.  In the foreground is the southern cistern and behind it the northern one. Just right of the center of the image note the stairs that lead down into the near reservoir.

They could hold a total of 409,500 gallons and were fed by channels throughout the city that led from the roofs of buildings to them.  Inscribed pottery sherds indicate that families rotated in the duties of keeping them clean.