The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1888-05-31
SOLOMON'S TEMPLE.
What Is Known About the Most Famou
Structure Ever Erected.

What Is Known About the Most Famous
Structure Ever Erected.
1t is probable that the actual temple stood
on an elevated platform like that which
now rises sixteen feet above the level of the
ground, upon the center of which lies the
great Sakhara Rock, which gives its name
of Dome of the Rock" TO the Mosque OF
Omar The temple of Herod, according to
the Mishna, was entirely built on raised
arches
We know that inside the temple no stone
was visible; all was of gilded cedar wood
and olive and cypress wood, yariously
carved and tapestried in parts by purple
and embroidered hangings. But what was
the external aspect of the sacred building
itself" the Joy of the whole earth?"
Strangely enough cur existing records leave
us entirely in the dark on this point In the
works of later rabbits we have glowing and
highly imaginative descriptions of the
aspect of the third temple, but even these
are too vague to help our imagination. The
outside of Solomons temple, and its general
appearance are left almost undescribed. We
know that there was richly-ornamented
porch, but we do not even know with any
certainty whether the building itself was
covered with one level roof, or whether on
the outside as well as within, the Holy
of Holes appeared to be of lower
elevation. We do not know whether tho
roof was fiat, or as the rabbis say ridged.
On the top of it there seem to have been
some gnded upper chambers There can be
no reasonable doubt that the roof of the old
tabernacle rose in a ridge, for otherwise the
outer skins would have sunk down and torn
the curtains, which, in case of a rainfall.
might have broken through altogether ID
is said the temple was covered with beams
and boards of cedar, but unless they were
sloped to both sides or supported by pillars,
1t would have been difficult TO secure beams
more than thirty feet long from becoming
warped and sagged We know that on APP
preaching it we should have seen threeA
storied house, over which rose the lattice
perforated wall OF the temple itself; but,
besides this uncertainty about the roof, we
do not even know whether the outer surface
was of stone, or whether il was oyerlaid
with cedar wood, or with precious metals,
as the chronicler seems TO imply, nor
whether it was ornamented or left blank
Nay, it has even been matter of dispute
whether the general character Of the temple
was Greek, or Egyptian, or Phmnician,
though the use of cedar beams and large
blocks of stone hewn In squares, and joined
without mortar, together with the whole
history of the structure, seems to prove de-
cisiyely that the style of architecture was
borrowed directly from neighboring Tyre.
The erection occupied seven years and a
half, in spite Of the small size Of the actual
temple Size, indeed, was no element OF its
magnifioence, for 1t was much smaller than
many an English church But it must DO
remembered that 1t was not intended for
either priests or worshipers Ancient and
Eastern worship was mainly in the open
mir tha ghrina itaalf only avtnholized tho
residence of God Even when we allow for
immense preparations the time devoted TO
the building is comparatively Insignificant
The temple Of the Ephesian Artemis took
two hundred years to build and four hum
dred years to embellish. One pyramid re-
quired the toll Of $50. 600 men for twenty
years Westminster Abbey did not assume
its present size and aspect for many CEN
turtles But no building in the world has
ever been more widely famous than ths
temple Of Solomon. w. Fasrar.