DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2872#0065
JERUSALEM, FROM THE MOUNT. OF OLIVES.
No. I.
)HE only view of Jerusalem which does not disappoint the traveller is obtained from the hills
on the east or north-cast of the city. The view from Mount Scopas is very effective—being
at a distance of two or three miles from the city, the eye from thence embraces the whole
in one glance—but it is too distant to enable one to dwell upon special localities and objects,
as we are inclined to do when standing upon the place from which the present view is taken—
viz., a little below the Church of the Ascension, on the Mount of Olives. With the second
part of this panoramic picture we give a map of modern Jerusalem, to which I recommend reference, in order
the better to understand the details of this subject. Indeed, by comparing the map with this and the
following picture, so perfect a key to the panorama may be obtained, as to render any description of mine
almost needless.
From this position upon the Mount of Olives every building of importance is distinctly visible, owing to
the regular slope of the city from the west towards the Valley of Jehoshaphat, which extends the whole
length of my views, immediately under, and parallel with, the city wall.
The most conspicuous objects in this view are the various Moslem buildings upon the Temple area,
amongst which the beautiful dome of the Mosque of Omar is the chief attraction. The area is, besides, laid
out in gardens, with broad paved walks and groups of cypresses, and comprises nearly one-fifth of the whole
space within the walls. The circumference of the city walls, according to Robinson, is 4326 yards, or about
two and a-half miles. The side which is presented in these two pictures is 2790 feet, of which the Temple
area occupies 1530 feet. At .the south-east corner of the wall (to the left of the picture) are some courses
of very large and venerable stones, which have every appearance of being original Jewish masonry, and are
amongst the very few relics of this character now remaining. Of these stones Tipping, in Traill's "Josephns,"
says, " I consider this to be the finest specimen of mural masonry in the world; the joints are close and
the finishing of the bevelling and facing is so clean and fine, that, when fresh from the hands of the builder
it must have produced the effect of gigantic relievo panelling." At a distance of 1045 feet from the south-
east corner of the wall is the Golden Gate, which has for centuries been walled up. It is clearly of Roman
origin. Beneath it are seen the tombstones of a Mohammedan cemetery. In the distance, on the left of the
picture, outside the city walls, and near the Zion Gate, is the "Tomb of David." To the right of it are the
extensive buildings of the Armenian Convent. Here, at Easter, some thousands of pilgrims are lodged. The
Armenians are said to be the wealthiest sect in Jerusalem. They are for the most part not natives- and
those not attached to the. convents are usually merchants. Over the dome of the Great Mosque is the Tower
of Hippicus, and the Citadel. The Jaffa Gate is close by. On the extreme right of the picture is the dome
of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The total population of modern Jerusalem is probably about twelve
or fourteen thousand, of whom only about five thousand are Mohammedans.
No. I.
)HE only view of Jerusalem which does not disappoint the traveller is obtained from the hills
on the east or north-cast of the city. The view from Mount Scopas is very effective—being
at a distance of two or three miles from the city, the eye from thence embraces the whole
in one glance—but it is too distant to enable one to dwell upon special localities and objects,
as we are inclined to do when standing upon the place from which the present view is taken—
viz., a little below the Church of the Ascension, on the Mount of Olives. With the second
part of this panoramic picture we give a map of modern Jerusalem, to which I recommend reference, in order
the better to understand the details of this subject. Indeed, by comparing the map with this and the
following picture, so perfect a key to the panorama may be obtained, as to render any description of mine
almost needless.
From this position upon the Mount of Olives every building of importance is distinctly visible, owing to
the regular slope of the city from the west towards the Valley of Jehoshaphat, which extends the whole
length of my views, immediately under, and parallel with, the city wall.
The most conspicuous objects in this view are the various Moslem buildings upon the Temple area,
amongst which the beautiful dome of the Mosque of Omar is the chief attraction. The area is, besides, laid
out in gardens, with broad paved walks and groups of cypresses, and comprises nearly one-fifth of the whole
space within the walls. The circumference of the city walls, according to Robinson, is 4326 yards, or about
two and a-half miles. The side which is presented in these two pictures is 2790 feet, of which the Temple
area occupies 1530 feet. At .the south-east corner of the wall (to the left of the picture) are some courses
of very large and venerable stones, which have every appearance of being original Jewish masonry, and are
amongst the very few relics of this character now remaining. Of these stones Tipping, in Traill's "Josephns,"
says, " I consider this to be the finest specimen of mural masonry in the world; the joints are close and
the finishing of the bevelling and facing is so clean and fine, that, when fresh from the hands of the builder
it must have produced the effect of gigantic relievo panelling." At a distance of 1045 feet from the south-
east corner of the wall is the Golden Gate, which has for centuries been walled up. It is clearly of Roman
origin. Beneath it are seen the tombstones of a Mohammedan cemetery. In the distance, on the left of the
picture, outside the city walls, and near the Zion Gate, is the "Tomb of David." To the right of it are the
extensive buildings of the Armenian Convent. Here, at Easter, some thousands of pilgrims are lodged. The
Armenians are said to be the wealthiest sect in Jerusalem. They are for the most part not natives- and
those not attached to the. convents are usually merchants. Over the dome of the Great Mosque is the Tower
of Hippicus, and the Citadel. The Jaffa Gate is close by. On the extreme right of the picture is the dome
of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The total population of modern Jerusalem is probably about twelve
or fourteen thousand, of whom only about five thousand are Mohammedans.