Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-07-09
Ruins of Jerusalem.

Such was the temple as
originally designed by Solomon, and, after
being twice destroyed, as rebuilt and final
ly completed by Herod the Great. Its
site was grand, and the buildings were
adapted with singular skill to the pecuiari-
ties of the site Its courts occupied vast
artificial platform, the sustaining walls to
which were, on tle east, south and west,
of enormous hight. The courts rose also
in series of ornamented terraces to the
little platform of rock on the summit of
Moriah and there, high above all, lowered
the temple itself, brilliant and beautiful
as vision OF paradise. So it was eight
cen centuries ago-what is its state now I?
If you permit me, shall now watt you
away with me again to the Holy City. l
shall place you on the brow of Olivet.
Look from the hallowed spot westward,
and all Jerusalem is before you like a
great embossed map. At your feet you
see deep ravine; it comes dowa from
among the white uplands on the right, aad
it runs away until lost amid white, rocky
hills on the left-that is the Kdron.
Immediately beyond it, and opposite the
spot on which you stand, is a little hill, or
rather ridge, with bare, steep, shelving
sides, and few oive-trees dotting the
terraces on its southern declivities-it is
Moriah. On its summit is large rectan-
gular platform, supported by lofty,
colossal wal-that is the temple area, and
that wall which sustans it is the same
which Solomon founded. In the center
of the platform is raised area, Jagged
with white marble. Upon it stands a
large octagonal building. surmounted by
a dome Of exquisite symmetry. That
building is the mosque, now called cine
Dome of the Rock" one of the hottest
shrines of Mahommedanism and it covers
the very site of the ancient altar Of burnt
offering. Away beyond the mosque you
can zee the buildings of Mount Zlon-once
the Salem of Melchizedec; then the for
tress of the acoustics later the palace of
David and Herod now in places converted
into corn. fields, where you may see, as [
saw, the pillow at work, proving the literal
fuIflment of that dread prophetic curse :
L" ZION shall be plowed like field"
| invite you to accompany me to the in
terror of the city. We 60 first to the
mosque, which, as 1 stated, stands upon
the site of the great altar. We are struck
with its symmetry and dazzling beauty.
Its walls are encrusted with different COL
ored marbles, and glazed tiles Of richest
hues and they are encircled with those
gracefully interaced Arabic inscriptions
which form one of the chief features OF
eastern buildings. On entering, the rich
ness of the stained glass windows attracts
attention. But the sanctum of the mosque,
and the most remarkable object within its
walls, is bare crown of rock rising about
FIVE feet above the floor, and measuring
some sixty feet in diameter 1t is the nat
ural summit of Mount Moriah-the place
on which Abraham offered his sacrifice
upon which Ornan had his threshing. floor,
and upon which Solomon built the great
alter. The Moslems hold it sacred and
upon the spot, an old dervish, of wondrous
sanctity. narrated to me curious legend.
g The Prophet" said he, "may his memory
be blessed started from this place on his
night journey to heaven. His famous horse
Burak stood by his side. In mounting,
the prophet put his foot on the eastern
side Of the rock, which, feeling the touch
Of the holy man, bowed reverently, and
has ever since retained that inclination
toward the east, which you can still OBJ.
serve" Sure enough it is inclined to the
east, but whether from the touch of the
prophet l leave biologists to determine.
One point, however, l determined for my
self. At the southeastern angle of the
rock, is hole cut through into a cave be-
meath. l entered that cave by Staircase
and l saw in the floor the opening to
another below. l was about to 60 down
when the guardian absolutely refused to
permit me, on the ground that it was the
entrance to the lower regions, place to
which he did not wish to consign me just
yet. Recent excavations have shown that
sewer, tunneled in the rock, passes
through the lower cave, and is connected
with enormous cisterns; and that it runs
underneath the temple area, away down to
the bottom Of the Kidron. Here, then,
recent excavations have not only enabled
us to identity the exact site Of the great
altar, and therefore Of the temple but it
has brought to light that wonderful system
Of sewerage which swept away the blood
and refuse Of the sacrifices. Research has