conquest of Jerusalem by Saladin in 1187, it was transformed into a Shafi`i fiqh (Islamic law school). Gradually the buildings fell into ruin, becoming a midden (waste dump). Modern times In 1856, the area including the Church of St. Anne and the pool site was presented by the Ottoman Sultan Abdülmecid I to Napoleon III of France. The French renovated and rededicated the church (under the administration of the White Fathers), at the southeast corner of the pools, leaving the other ruins untouched. There is a tale that the site was originally offered to Queen Victoria as part of the negotiations which led ultimately to the Cyprus Convention of 1878. See also Isaiah 7 References Further reading W. Harold Mare, Archaeology of the Jerusalem Area, Wipf and Stock, 2002 (after 1987 first edition), pp. 166–168, 238-240 External links Jewish Encyclopedia: Bethesda Catholic Encyclopedia: Bethsaida: II. THE POOL Reservoirs in Jerusalem Classical sites in Jerusalem Establishments in the Kingdom of Judah New Testament places Water and religion Old City (Jerusalem)