Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Architecture Of Palestine From The Earliest Times To The Crusades.
they aro easily induced to slumber under the influence of of the god baksheesh . The first reservoir to the Avest is 393 feet long : its average breadth is 225 feet , and its average depth 30 feet . The second , distant about 158 feet from the first , is 432 feet long , its width 225 feet , and average depth 42 feofc .
At a distance from this of 186 feet is tho last , 477 feet long , 213 feet in average width , ancl in average depth 58 feet . All three , unitedly , occupy a square superfices of 179 , 541 feet , ancl 12 , 089 , 450 cubic feet of tho rock from which they are formed . AVhat conqueror or ruler of Palestine coulcl execute so stupendous a work ? It must be allowed thafc the glory of having effected"ifc is
due alone to Solomon ' s genius . But it is not only in the . construction of these water-recepfcaclcs thafc hydraulic knowledge and science are apparent . More especially ¦ sn-e they displayed in' the vast ; ramifications of the conduits Avhich convey the Avater from great distances and various quarters ; in the formation of various water towers ; in the contrivance for filtration ; in tho manner -with Avhich the Avater is introduced without the least
waste ; and , finally , m the mode of its conveyance through the conduits to Jerusalem . I am sorry to be prevented by the pressure of time from entering into all these details ; but I must nofc pass over the principal without more special mention . Tho others may be learned from a paper Avhich it is my intention to print before long .
Let us return to the Sealed Fountain , enter it by the ¦ opening , and descend a sufficiently incommodious passage for about 14 feet . At the extremity Ave come to a rectangular chamber 18 feet long , 10 feet Avide , and 20 feet high , Avhose lateral walls are formed of large Solomonic stones . At the base they are rusticated , and on the surface smooth . The vault is a round arch
upper , ¦ constructed of large stones , laid in horizontal courses ; nor does the key-stone shoiv . No cement is used in the -construction . In the middle of the Avestern Avail is another aperture , which leads to a small cavern Avhere a stream issues out of the rock . At fche western corners
are two other openings in Avhich springs are seen dripping from the rock . These three fountains deliver themselves into the rectangular chamber , in the middle of which is a reservoir to receive them . In this basin they are filtered previously to passing into the large conduit , which commences afc the eastern Avail . The conduit is cut iii the rock for a great distance ; but the upper
part , as it approaches the old castle , is covered Avith large flat slabs . It is 3 feet wide and 4 § feet high . The Avators of this conduit fall a distance of 20 feet at the north-west corner of the upper reservoir , Avhere they are caught in a basin . From thence one part of the water is turned into the first pool , AVhile another portion is ¦ conveyed by tho aqueduct , Avhich runs parallel Avith the
reservoirs to the point at Avhich tho Avaters of the reservoirs enter the water tower , whence they proceed , ¦ by the conduit , to Jerusalem . When tho reservoirs are so full thafc they can recoiA'e no more Avater , to avoid Avaste the Avater is received in the basin near tho castle , Avhere there is a third aperture leading into a subterranean chamber . Hero it unites
AA'ith the other Avater , forms a neiv stream , and all flows together through a subterranean conduit dug in the rock , to supply the water-tower from whence " the conduit for Jerusalem runs . Erom the same point proceeds another conduit , which passes southward , at a distance ¦ of 600 feet from the third reservoir . This , in case of great abundance of Avater , could be directed into fche for irri
valley gation . The Avhole system of aqueducts has ceased to be of use because tho streams are not abundant ; indeed , alone they would bo quite inadequate to feed such vast receptacles . During tho eight years of my stay , it was onl y once , —in I 860 , —that I saAV tho three reservoirs full . At other times , it is the second only that has Avater , and not always thafc . The whole length of the conduit running to Jerusalem is covered
Architecture Of Palestine From The Earliest Times To The Crusades.
with large stones . In some parts , ifc is constructed of masonry ; in others , formed in the rock ; and , in a few small portions , it consists of terra-cotta tubes , of Avhich I believe it to have been entirely formed originally . I must beg to be excused , on the ground of want of time , if I enter into no further details in connexion Avith this
intercsting topic . Mosipe of Abraham , at Hebron . In Hebron , as every one is aware , is the Cave of Hachpelah , purchased by Abraham , ancl appropriated by him as a sepulchre for himself and his descendants . This cave is surrounded b j' a Avail of the highest antiquity :
but the precise date of its origin has not been stated by any Avriter . I have no hesitation in folloAving the Arab chronicles of the sixth and seventh centuries , as well as the traditions ofthe country , and declaring it to be ofthe Solomonic , and not of the Herodian , age . At the time of Josephus ( " Wars of the Jews , " book , 4 , ix . II ) , the monuments of the patriarchs , in beautiful marble and
of elegant construction , Avere still seen . Now , had they been erected by Herod , the historian would not have omitted to describe them , when he speaks of other important works executed by the same sovereign , since he wrote not very long after the period , and Avas ever ready to magnify the monumental Avorks of the Hebrew . We may reasonably infer that he does not describe it as
Solomon ' s , because the fact Avas perfectly Avell known in his time ; as Eusebius and Jerome , for the same reason , are silent aboufc ifc when they name Abraham ' s sepulchre . Some have fancifully attributed it to St . Helen , but it would appear that they have overlooked the assertion of Pelgrim , of Bordeaux , who visited Hebron in 333 , and describes this surrounding Avail as constructed of stones
of enormous size . Antoninus , tho martyr , in the sixth century , makes like mention of ifc , but does nofc say thafc ifc was the work ofthe Byzantine empress , The north and south sides of the Avail arc 198 feet long : their Avidth , from east to west , is 48 feet . The walls are ornamented with buttresses of tho uniform width of 4
feet , except at tho corners , where ifc is double . All project 8 inches from the plain surface of the Avork . They are not ornamented with capitals , but support a cornice in high relief , composed of two fillets and a cymareversa and were evidently added subsequently to the formation of the Avail , for the express purpose of separating the old and the new . The latter , of Arab construction , is ifc easy
to see Avas built only to conceal the inclosure from view . The whole Avail is formed of regular courses of enormous stones , perfectly squared and rusticated , five lines projecting in relief , ancl Avhich diminish in size in proportion to their elevation ; each row receding five lines from the I ' immediately beloAv . There are masses , ancl not a few , which measure 10 feet in length ancl 5 feet in heiht .
g This external form is maintained in the interior , Avithout the buttresses . Tho thickness of the walls 7 i feet at the base , ancl 6-J- feet above . As far as I had tho opportunity of examining , two stones appear , in general , to form , the thickness ; Avhilo in some cases a single one occupies the Avhole thickness . No cement is used in uniting the stones . The little Avhich is apparent on the exterior
has been placed there by the Arabs , as they themselves say , to prevent the rain from penetrating to the interior . Should any one offer objections to my opinion , I shall bo greatly obliged , and shall avail myself of them on my return to Hebron to renew my researches and studies .
Epoch of Herod . Herod straggled all his life long to secure tho title of the Great ; yet he Avas nothing more than the magnificent slave of the Romans , Avho alkrwed him fetters of gold . But from the country and posterity he will deserves the epithet " great , " in consideration of the sumptuous monuments erected by him . Little does ifc matter to us , in our examinations , that they were proofs of his servility or his ambition . Let us proceed to
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Architecture Of Palestine From The Earliest Times To The Crusades.
they aro easily induced to slumber under the influence of of the god baksheesh . The first reservoir to the Avest is 393 feet long : its average breadth is 225 feet , and its average depth 30 feet . The second , distant about 158 feet from the first , is 432 feet long , its width 225 feet , and average depth 42 feofc .
At a distance from this of 186 feet is tho last , 477 feet long , 213 feet in average width , ancl in average depth 58 feet . All three , unitedly , occupy a square superfices of 179 , 541 feet , ancl 12 , 089 , 450 cubic feet of tho rock from which they are formed . AVhat conqueror or ruler of Palestine coulcl execute so stupendous a work ? It must be allowed thafc the glory of having effected"ifc is
due alone to Solomon ' s genius . But it is not only in the . construction of these water-recepfcaclcs thafc hydraulic knowledge and science are apparent . More especially ¦ sn-e they displayed in' the vast ; ramifications of the conduits Avhich convey the Avater from great distances and various quarters ; in the formation of various water towers ; in the contrivance for filtration ; in tho manner -with Avhich the Avater is introduced without the least
waste ; and , finally , m the mode of its conveyance through the conduits to Jerusalem . I am sorry to be prevented by the pressure of time from entering into all these details ; but I must nofc pass over the principal without more special mention . Tho others may be learned from a paper Avhich it is my intention to print before long .
Let us return to the Sealed Fountain , enter it by the ¦ opening , and descend a sufficiently incommodious passage for about 14 feet . At the extremity Ave come to a rectangular chamber 18 feet long , 10 feet Avide , and 20 feet high , Avhose lateral walls are formed of large Solomonic stones . At the base they are rusticated , and on the surface smooth . The vault is a round arch
upper , ¦ constructed of large stones , laid in horizontal courses ; nor does the key-stone shoiv . No cement is used in the -construction . In the middle of the Avestern Avail is another aperture , which leads to a small cavern Avhere a stream issues out of the rock . At fche western corners
are two other openings in Avhich springs are seen dripping from the rock . These three fountains deliver themselves into the rectangular chamber , in the middle of which is a reservoir to receive them . In this basin they are filtered previously to passing into the large conduit , which commences afc the eastern Avail . The conduit is cut iii the rock for a great distance ; but the upper
part , as it approaches the old castle , is covered Avith large flat slabs . It is 3 feet wide and 4 § feet high . The Avators of this conduit fall a distance of 20 feet at the north-west corner of the upper reservoir , Avhere they are caught in a basin . From thence one part of the water is turned into the first pool , AVhile another portion is ¦ conveyed by tho aqueduct , Avhich runs parallel Avith the
reservoirs to the point at Avhich tho Avaters of the reservoirs enter the water tower , whence they proceed , ¦ by the conduit , to Jerusalem . When tho reservoirs are so full thafc they can recoiA'e no more Avater , to avoid Avaste the Avater is received in the basin near tho castle , Avhere there is a third aperture leading into a subterranean chamber . Hero it unites
AA'ith the other Avater , forms a neiv stream , and all flows together through a subterranean conduit dug in the rock , to supply the water-tower from whence " the conduit for Jerusalem runs . Erom the same point proceeds another conduit , which passes southward , at a distance ¦ of 600 feet from the third reservoir . This , in case of great abundance of Avater , could be directed into fche for irri
valley gation . The Avhole system of aqueducts has ceased to be of use because tho streams are not abundant ; indeed , alone they would bo quite inadequate to feed such vast receptacles . During tho eight years of my stay , it was onl y once , —in I 860 , —that I saAV tho three reservoirs full . At other times , it is the second only that has Avater , and not always thafc . The whole length of the conduit running to Jerusalem is covered
Architecture Of Palestine From The Earliest Times To The Crusades.
with large stones . In some parts , ifc is constructed of masonry ; in others , formed in the rock ; and , in a few small portions , it consists of terra-cotta tubes , of Avhich I believe it to have been entirely formed originally . I must beg to be excused , on the ground of want of time , if I enter into no further details in connexion Avith this
intercsting topic . Mosipe of Abraham , at Hebron . In Hebron , as every one is aware , is the Cave of Hachpelah , purchased by Abraham , ancl appropriated by him as a sepulchre for himself and his descendants . This cave is surrounded b j' a Avail of the highest antiquity :
but the precise date of its origin has not been stated by any Avriter . I have no hesitation in folloAving the Arab chronicles of the sixth and seventh centuries , as well as the traditions ofthe country , and declaring it to be ofthe Solomonic , and not of the Herodian , age . At the time of Josephus ( " Wars of the Jews , " book , 4 , ix . II ) , the monuments of the patriarchs , in beautiful marble and
of elegant construction , Avere still seen . Now , had they been erected by Herod , the historian would not have omitted to describe them , when he speaks of other important works executed by the same sovereign , since he wrote not very long after the period , and Avas ever ready to magnify the monumental Avorks of the Hebrew . We may reasonably infer that he does not describe it as
Solomon ' s , because the fact Avas perfectly Avell known in his time ; as Eusebius and Jerome , for the same reason , are silent aboufc ifc when they name Abraham ' s sepulchre . Some have fancifully attributed it to St . Helen , but it would appear that they have overlooked the assertion of Pelgrim , of Bordeaux , who visited Hebron in 333 , and describes this surrounding Avail as constructed of stones
of enormous size . Antoninus , tho martyr , in the sixth century , makes like mention of ifc , but does nofc say thafc ifc was the work ofthe Byzantine empress , The north and south sides of the Avail arc 198 feet long : their Avidth , from east to west , is 48 feet . The walls are ornamented with buttresses of tho uniform width of 4
feet , except at tho corners , where ifc is double . All project 8 inches from the plain surface of the Avork . They are not ornamented with capitals , but support a cornice in high relief , composed of two fillets and a cymareversa and were evidently added subsequently to the formation of the Avail , for the express purpose of separating the old and the new . The latter , of Arab construction , is ifc easy
to see Avas built only to conceal the inclosure from view . The whole Avail is formed of regular courses of enormous stones , perfectly squared and rusticated , five lines projecting in relief , ancl Avhich diminish in size in proportion to their elevation ; each row receding five lines from the I ' immediately beloAv . There are masses , ancl not a few , which measure 10 feet in length ancl 5 feet in heiht .
g This external form is maintained in the interior , Avithout the buttresses . Tho thickness of the walls 7 i feet at the base , ancl 6-J- feet above . As far as I had tho opportunity of examining , two stones appear , in general , to form , the thickness ; Avhilo in some cases a single one occupies the Avhole thickness . No cement is used in uniting the stones . The little Avhich is apparent on the exterior
has been placed there by the Arabs , as they themselves say , to prevent the rain from penetrating to the interior . Should any one offer objections to my opinion , I shall bo greatly obliged , and shall avail myself of them on my return to Hebron to renew my researches and studies .
Epoch of Herod . Herod straggled all his life long to secure tho title of the Great ; yet he Avas nothing more than the magnificent slave of the Romans , Avho alkrwed him fetters of gold . But from the country and posterity he will deserves the epithet " great , " in consideration of the sumptuous monuments erected by him . Little does ifc matter to us , in our examinations , that they were proofs of his servility or his ambition . Let us proceed to