River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-10-08
ANCIENT RUINS.

Inv NCii " CuuSC utepil uItlci tiS III
fuence of that charm which association
lends to places hallowed by the minis
trations of the Founder of Christianity
is to be found in desert rock-strewn
promontory on the northwest shore of
the Lake of Iberias; for among these
piles of hewn blocks of black basalt
still remain the ruins OF q great syna-
gogue, within whose walls, the foun-
dations of which may still be distinctly
traced, were collected the multitudes
who tlocked to hear the teaching of
Christ. While modern tourists resort
in crowds to Jerusalem to visit the
mythical sites which are supposed,
upon the vague basis of ecclesiastical
tradition, to be identified with episodes
in the life Of the great Teacher, scarce
~ one ever finds his way to this remote
locality lying just out Of the beaten
track along which Cook leads his herds
of sight-seers; and vet it is probable
that the greater part of that period in
the life OF Christ, the record of which
is contained in the four gospels was
spent at Capernaum, which the most
careful investigation, by the highest
authorities ia such matters, has identi-
fed with these ruins of Tell Hum,
amid which / was Just now standing.
Here it was that Christ cured Peter
mother-in-laW, restored the paralytic,
called Matthew, cured the centurion )
servant. raised Jairus daughter from
the dead, and obtained the tribute Of
money from the mouth of fish. 1t
was here that He spoke the parallels
Of the sower, the tares, the treasure
hid in the field, the merchant seeking
goodly pearls, and the net east into the
sea. Sir Charles Wilson, whose re-
searches on this spot led him to identi-
fly it as being the site of the city Of
Capernaum, believes this synagogue
was, without doubt, the one built by
the Roman centurion duke vii, 81,
and, therefore, one Of the most sacred
spots on earth. it was in this build
ing, if that be the case, that the we'll
known discourse contained in the sixth
chapter Of John was delivered; and it
was not without strange feeling, says
the same explorer, shat on turning
over a large block we found the pot of
mamma engraved on its face, and re
memhered the words. Il am that
bread OF life. Your fathers did eat
mama in the wilderness aud are
dead.
This very synagogue was probably
the scene Of the healing of the demon
lac and Of the delivery Of many ofthose
divine lectures on faith, humility, broth
erly love, and formality in worship, as
we read at the end of one Of them:
These things said He in the synagogue
as He taught in Capernaum. Per
haps it was in the little creeks where q
boat was now riding at anchor only a
few feet from the shore, that Christ
taught the people from the boat 50 as
to avoid the crush Of the multitude 1t
was doubtless in one of these inlets that
James, the son OF Zcbeedee, and John.
his brother, were mending their nets,
when, being called, they left their ship
and followed HIM; and it was on this
coast that Andrew and Peter were
summoned to become fishers of men. 1t
has a higher claim to be called the
birthplace of the religion which has
since reyolutionized the world Chan any
other spot upon it, and it is q matter of
some surprise to me that neither the
Greek nor the Roman Catholic church
es, in their zeal to discover holy places,
which may serve as levers for political
intrigue, have vet thought of occupying
this one, which would seem the hottest
Of all. Perhaps it would lead to COM
parisQu between their practice and the
teaching of which it was the scene, which
might give rise to some inconyenient
reflections.
Apart from their associations, the
ruins themselves are not particularly
striking. They cover an area of about
half mile in length by a quarter in
breadth, and consist chiefly he
black blocks of basaltic stone which
formed tho walls of the houses. The
traces Of the synagogue, however, re-
main sufficiently for the building to be
planned. Built OF white limestone
blocks, it must have formed a conspic-
uous object amid the black basalt by
which it was surrounded. 1t was IS
feet by 81, builtnor;h and south, and at
the southern end had three entrances.
Many of the columns and capitals have
been carried away, but enough sim re-
main to convey some idea OF The gener-
al plan and aspect Of She building. The
capitals are of the Corinthian order,
and there 1ere cpistylia which rested
upon the columns and probably sup
ported wooden rafters. There are also
remains of heavy cQrnice and frieze.
The exterior was probably decorated
with attached pilasters.
Two miles north Of (t0Da1Oo,1y,, ara
the ruins of Chorazin. There is no dill
Guilty in identifying the site, which may
be determined partly by the itineraries
Of early travellers, and partly by the
similarity Of the modern name, Kirazeh.
The path to them leads up the sloping
rocky hillside, but, owing to the pecu
liar character of the masonry, which
is barely to be distinguished at 100
wards from the rocks which surround
1t, the extent and Importance Of these
ruins have been overlooked until quite
recently. They cover an area as large
as, if not larger than, those of Caper-
naum, and are situated partly in a shall
low valley, partly on a rocky spur
formed by sharp bend IL tho WadY
kirazeh, here 9 Wild gorge eighty feet
deep. From this spot there is a beauti-
ful view of the Lake of Liberals to its
southern end; and here, too, are gath
cred the most interesting ruins-a syn
agogue with Corinthian capitals and
nicheheads cut, not as at Capernaum
in limestone, but in hard black basalt.
The dimensions of this building are
about the same as those Of the one at
but the interior is a mass
OF ruins Two pedestals still remain il
stu, and portion of the wall The
Of this synagogue is an
excess of Ornamentation of rather a de-
based kind. The inches are most
and remain as sharp rs when
they were cut in the hard material
used. The mouldings Of the door posts
are similar to those used in other syna-
gogues, and there are many stones cut
with mouldings and pieces Of classical
strewn among the ruins,
Many Of the dwelling houses are in a
tolerably perfect state, the walls being
in some cases six feet high; and, IS
they are probably Of the same class Of
houses as that in which Christ dmelt,
description Of them may be interesting.
They are generally square, Of different
sizes. the largest, however, not over
thirty feet square, and have one or two
columns down the centre to support
the roof, which appears to have been
fiat, as in the modern Arab houses.
The walls are about two feet thick,
built of masonarY or Of loose blocks Of
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