The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-09-24
The Holy Rock.

which occupies the centre of the area OF
what is popularity known rs the MOSQUE
OF Omar, is after the Kaaba at Mecoa.
tho most venerated spot connected with
the Mohammedan religion, the difficulty
OF obtaining drawing of it is proper
tlonately great. The interior of the
mosque has, believe, never been paint
ed before. Mr.. Carl Haag could obtain
entrance to it only by special firman of
the Sultan, granted him at the request
OF her Majesty the Queen, and, though
constantly attended by guards, ran i'm
mncnt risk Of losing his life. Never be-
fore had any artist dared to plant his
easel on the sacred spot. The painting
was begun and completed in the mosque.
Tho measurements given below were
kindly furnished by Mr.. Hang, and were
taken by himself with great care.
According to immemoriaI tradition,
the Holy Rock is the threshing floor, on
Mount Moriah, OF Araunah, or Omar the
Jeousite chief, which David bought of
him for place of sacrifice, and where
Solomon afterward erected the temple.
There is much in support of the trr-
dltlon. The rock is the highest part of
the temple platform. Throughout Syria
rock platcaus Of high elevation are at the
present day selected for threshing floors;
and the higher md more exposed the site
the more valuable it is for the purpose,
rs the wind needful for driving off tho
chaff can play upon it from a greater
number Of quarters. The lofty situation
OF the Snkhrah, or Holy Rock, would
have made it most valuable threshing
floor. Immediately beneath it is nat
ural cave, Il fact which also lends SUP
port to the correctness of the tradition.
since underneath the majority of the
thrcshing floors Of Palestine are similar
caves, which abound in the limestone
hills of the country, and afford to the
laborers IN invaluable rotreut during the
burning midday hours. In conigura-
tion, the rock, as it juts up above tho
marble pavement of the mosque, is very
irregular. From north to south it meas
ures So feet, and from east to west So
feet The highest point is Gi feet above
the floor. On the top Of the rock, which
can only be seen by climbing upon tho
ruling surrounding it, it is rough,
basin-shaped following, and also hole
about three feet in diameter. This COM
municates perpeudicular]y with the cave
beneath. Descending into the cave from
the southeast corner of tho mosque, by
flight of fifteen steps, we find cham
ber 23I from north to south and 23, feet
from cast TO west. At the end and on
the two sides of the cave low stone wallis
have been built of height varying irregu-
larly with the slope of the rock which
forms tho roof Two lamps suspended
beneath tho hole already mentioned, light
the cave On the tcsscllatcd pavement
of the floor, and directly beneath the
hole III the roof, is rndiating star in
various colorod marbles. On tapping
this the central part, consisting of a slab
of white marble. not quite perpendicular
beneath the centre Of the orifice above,
is found to be hollow. The slab conceals
tho Bir-el-Arruah, or "Well of the
Spirits, ~ passage said to lead out event
ually into tho valley of the Kedron.
A hypothesis not unreasonable IL that
the hole Oh the top of tho Holy Rock
was made to conduct the blood Of the
sacrificed victims slain upon it in Jewish
times down into tho cavern. thence into
the Bir-el-Arruah, and eventually into
tho Kedron near Sloan. If the Sax
hrah is really the spot whore the jewish
sacrifices were offered, the Holy Place of
the temple must have stood Immediate
ly to the west Of it, facing that side of
the stone which is to the right and in
shadow in Mr.. Haag's painting. Tho
promise that was made by Jehovah to
Solomon, "Mine ear shall be attent unto
tho prayer that is made in this place."
gives the rock its present sanctity for the
Mahammedans. They guard it from the
approach of any but Moslem, least sup
plication for evil on themselves or their
religion should be made in such place.
The profound interest of the rock, if the
tradition concerning it is correct. hardly
needs to be dwelt on.
MIR. Haag's view is taken from the
northwest pior of the four supporting
the noble dome. which rises to height
of 100 feet, roughly estimated, and has
q diameter of G6 feet. On the left in the
picture can be seen the double corridor
(the inner corridor %. feet wide, the
outer 13! feeU which surrounds the
building, and is lighted by stained glass
windows. TO tho right and somewhat
in tho background, is scon the small, tall
baldachin which stands over the south
west corner of the rock. For Moham-
mcdans this is the point of great interest.
At this point alone are they allowed to
touch tho holy stone. Thrusting their
hands through small circular opening