Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-06-21

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cavation beneath the celebrated
Dome Of the Rock, one of the mystery places
of the world, is being planned. To scientists
who read history in old foundations and bits
of pottery, this Dome of the Rock has long
been regarded as a tantalizing treasure
trove.
Here Solomon's temple undoubtedly stood
until it's ruined walls were buried beneath a
mass of debris. Over this other temples were
built and destroyed and the present Dome OF
the Rock was erected, SO that the walls of
Solomons famous temple must be sought
hundred feet below the surface.
Farther down still, where the treasure
vaults and secret places Of the old temple
were, science hopes perhaps to find some or
the gold and jewels Of the temple, or even
the Ark of the Covenant. 1t is certain that
UNEMPLOYED subterranean passages exist in
this a1 ca. and VIVA. is more likely than that
the priests carried down their treasure to
Sd ETY. when the templ5 vas threatened with
destruction.
Until now, there has been no chance for
eXcavators to prove or disprove their theo-
ries. The Turks guarded the temple area
with fierce strictness, holding it only little
less sacred than the sacred mosque at Mecca.
The reason for this extreme Moslem devo-
ton was a great brown rock, so by As feet
long and over four feet high, which figures
prominently in Mohammedan history. From
this rock, Mohammed is said to have mounted
his horse, Al Burak, the lightning, and to
have ridden off to heaven. The footprint of
the prophet left dent in the rock which any
one ay see to this day. The rock aspired to
follow the prophet and started up few
inches, but the Angel Gabriel put finger
on the surface and saved it to the children
of earth. Hence another dent in the rock,
also plainly visible.
The rock is further to be venerated, the
guides say, because it is the center of the
earth, and eighteen miles nearer to heaven
than any other place. Here Noah's ark rested
after the flood, and here Abraham prepared
to offer up his son as a sacrifice. Lest this
is not sufficient local color, the guide adds
that here too, Jacob had his angelic vision.
r. Where Mohammed Prayed
1t is, moreover, . desirable place in which
to pray. There is a record that Mohammed
prayed here in a cavern beneath the rock.
one thousand times as efficacious as those
from less holy places
All these associations and many more make
every inch Of the rock sacred to the Moslems.
Back in the seventh century when the last
Of the Jewish temples had been destroyed
and the place lay deserted and covered with
refuse, the Turks cleared off the rock and
built over it a beautiful building, with blue
tiled DOME colored marble pillars, stained
glass windows and soft rugs on the floor. In
this dim, octagon-shaped hall the rock has
reposed ever since, guarded by screens of
iron and wood.
Less than a hundred years ago, it would
have meant death to Christian or a Jew
even to venture inside the Dome of the Rock.
as the building was called. And when feel
ing became less intense, SO long as the Turks
held Jerusalem, an unbelieVer was permitted
in the building only when accompanied by
native guides.
With all precautions, the most devout OF
the Mohammedans protested against foreign
interest in the holy rock. Two American