The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-07-11
THE POOL OF BETHESDA.
Recent Explorations Recover the Famous
Water.
Globe-Democrst

Water.
Globe Democrst
The American consul at Jerusalem, Mr.
Gilman, sends to the state department an
account of the recovery of the famous Pool
of Bethesda. As is well known, the Birket
Israel has in the past been considered as
the site of Bethesda; but the excavations
of the Algerine monks under the ruins
in the rear of the Crusader church
of st. Anne have gradually transferred
opinion in favor of the latter local.
ity. This was strengthened by the
discovery of q rock-hewn pool containing
water beneath three successive structures.
Subsequent excavations revealed the re-
mains of two tiers of five-arched porches,
the lower tier being in the pool. The intel
ligent labors of the monks who are in
charge OF the property have been further
rewarded by the recent recovery of an
other pool containing a good supply of
water to the westward of that first discov-
cred. the entire agreeing with the descrip-
lions of the Bethesda as given by the
fathers of the church and Christian pill
grims and writers as early as the fourth
century. The correspondence in num-
Der of the five porches to those men,
toned in the Gospel of st. John will not
escape notice. Steps cut in the rock lead
down into the water. An ancient Christ
The remains OF the upper tier of porches
extend above the pool at right angles from
the north wall of the crypt beneath the
church, IN which the apse, at the east end,
though dilapidated, is still distinctly de-
fined.
On clearing away the debris that choked
the fifth porch westward of the apse all
these discoveries eliminated in revealing
the remains of painting or fresco upon
the plaster of the wall in the rear The
fresco represents an angel as if descending
into and troubling the water, which latter
is depicted by conventional zgzag and
wavy lines of an olIve-green, shaded with
black. more suggestive of Egyptian HERO
glyphics than of modern art, and
The right hand of the angel was shown as
uplifted, but this has been care
fully destroyed, probably by the
Moslems, after their habits, in the
early days of their power. So.
also, the face of the angel, which
has been battered so as to be completely
obliterated. The glory or nimbus above
remains but little injured. The edge of
the pool appears to be indicated by broad
red line, inclosing the painting, and having
an occasional rectangular projection into
the water, perhaps representing steps or
the piers for the porches. On the east of
this NTH barreled arch 1.-THE wall extending
at right angles) are the remains of another
figure, also in fresco. much defaced, ane
supposed 10 represent the Saviour Aboyd
the head. evidently Intentionally mutilated,
is portion of the nimDus, and in the lower
outer corner OF the painting part of blue
robe.
1t is to be regretted that these frescoes.
the colors OF which W, re quite bright when
hrst uncovered, have since greatly faded,
so that the blue is now dull, ashy gray.
The reds and yellows, however, though
lowered in tone, preserve their hues some
what better.
TO summarize. these discoveries are as
follows: First comes the rubbish covering
the ruins, and built upon by the more or
less modern Turkish houses; next beneath
is the small church, with apse; under this
the crypt, with five porches, containing the
frescoes; and fourth and last, underneath
all is the pool itself, cut in solid rock. and
with hive arches of well-preserved masonry.
This last, from the historical and other
evidence is the veritable pool OF Bethesda.