Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-16

VdE capture or Jerusalem from the
Turks by the British forces is likely
to reveal to the modern civilized world
for the first time the most interesting sacred
relics in existence.
Chief interest centres in the mysterious
chambers, tunnels caves tombs and treasures
concealed beneath the Mosque OF Omar also
known as "the Dome Of the Rock This
building stands upon the site OF King Solo
mon s Temple and the rock beneath it was
revercd by prehistoric peoples even before the
Hebrews arrived in Jerusalem.
So long rs Jerusalem was under Afoslem
domination it was absolutely impossible for
any one TO secure a permit to cScavate at the
Holy City, for it was Just as holy to the Mos
lem as to Jew and Christian. and especially
did they guard the secrets OF the site of Solo
mon 8 Temple, which had beer built over with
mighty mosque. The huge rock III the cen
tire of the mosque was guarded By high iron
grill SO that no alien hand might touch or
foot profane it.
Why this stone which is sixty feet square
and now stands some five feet above the sur
rounding earth. was so highly revered by
ancient nations is one Of the many puzzles
which the spade Of the cxcavator may reveal,
once it is permitted to dig down underneath
the rock into the tunnels and chambers which
are known 10 be there.
The rock is known IS the "Sakhrah'' 1t
was the highest point Of the mountain on
which King Solomon built his temple. The
rebuilding Of the temple by Zcrubbabcl was
upon the same site, and it was enlarged under
IIerod the Great. On the west the area was
increased by banking up the earth. supported
by enormous walls OF stone There is
precipitous descent from the Sakhrah OF 200
feet to the valley in which tic west IIaram
wall was built. The descent on the south and
east is only about twenty feet from the level
of the rock itself. All scholars agree that the
temple proper covered the rock and in the
sacred book called Mishnah completed in the
second century, containing statements by
rabbis who had witnessed the destruction Of
the temple in the year 70 A. D. is descrip-
ton Of the awful Day Of Atoncment when
once year-the High Priest in fear and
trembling, entered the Holy Of Holes, where
there was no longer any Ark. fWhen the
Ark was removed stone was there. since the
days of the first prophets Chat is Of DAVID,
and it was called the Foundation it was
three fingers above the ground, and on it he
put the censor"
The SaEhrah is a very peculiar rock, hav-
ing steps cut in it on the west side as though
to form the base Of wall. There is cave
beneath it on the cast, with shaft through
it's roof to the surface. 1t is also said to have
another excavation below the floor Of the cave.
The Moslems have accepted the Jewish tradi-
ton and speak of the Sakhral as the founda-
ton Of the world, rock Of paradise suspend
cd over the abyss where souls dwell till the
Judgment.
The former temple was Of vast extent, for
there were many courts besides the building
which covered this stone.
There is little doubt in the minds Of those
who have studied tho ground that there arc
numerous tunnels and chambers under the
great rock. The ancient chroniclcr, Josephus,
speaks Of search made there by John Hyr-
canus for treasure (134 B. c. IIo opened
tombs supposed to be those of earlier Kings
Of Israel.
Wicked Herod, too, searched the tombs for
treasure, but he "did not come to the collins
Of tho kings themselves, for their bodies were