DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.27910#0044
THE VALLEY OF JEHOSHAPHAT, JERUSALEM.
all their armour for a perpetual memory, and by the armour ships carved, that they might be seen of all
that sail on the sea. This is the sepulchre which he made at Modin, and it standeth yet unto this day.”
(1 Macc. xiii. 27—3Q.) How any persons, acquainted with architecture or archaeology, could assent to the
supposed greater antiquity of these tombs is quite inexplicable.
The first mention of these most remarkable tombs is in the “Itinerary of Jerusalem” (a.d. 333), where
the two, on either side of the excavation, are called the tombs of Isaiah and Hezekiah. One is mentioned
by Adamnus (a.d. 697) as the tomb of Jehoshaphat. Benjamin of Tudela assigns one to Absalom, and the
other to King Uzziah. (Robinson’s “ Biblical Researches,” vol. i. pp. 519, 520.) Now the furthest monument
in the view is called the Tomb of Absalom, and the nearest, the Tomb of Zechariah.
The ascription of one of these tombs to Absalom is based upon the mention, in the Bible, of his having
made a monument. “ Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar [or
“memorial,” lit. “hand”], which [is] in the king’s dale: for, he said, I have no son to keep my name in
remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name; and it is called unto this day, Absalom’s place.”
(2 Sam. xviii. 18.) There is nothing in this passage to warrant the supposition that Absalom made a monument
here, not to speak of the impossibility of the supposed tomb being of his age. The Tomb of Absalom is a
picturesque structure of a form which, notwithstanding radical faults, has some beauties. The lower part is
square, and measures about 24 feet on every side. There are two Ionic columns, and as many half-columns,
on each side, and pilasters at the corners. The height is about 18 or 20 feet to the top of the architrave,
and thus far the monument is rock-hewn. Above this is a square piece of masonry supporting a pyramidal
summit, which terminates in a florid ornament not unlike that of the Choragic monument of Lysicrates, at
Athens. The whole height is about 40 feet. Within there is a small excavated chamber. The Tomb of
Zechariah is very similar in its details, but simpler and heavy in its proportions.
all their armour for a perpetual memory, and by the armour ships carved, that they might be seen of all
that sail on the sea. This is the sepulchre which he made at Modin, and it standeth yet unto this day.”
(1 Macc. xiii. 27—3Q.) How any persons, acquainted with architecture or archaeology, could assent to the
supposed greater antiquity of these tombs is quite inexplicable.
The first mention of these most remarkable tombs is in the “Itinerary of Jerusalem” (a.d. 333), where
the two, on either side of the excavation, are called the tombs of Isaiah and Hezekiah. One is mentioned
by Adamnus (a.d. 697) as the tomb of Jehoshaphat. Benjamin of Tudela assigns one to Absalom, and the
other to King Uzziah. (Robinson’s “ Biblical Researches,” vol. i. pp. 519, 520.) Now the furthest monument
in the view is called the Tomb of Absalom, and the nearest, the Tomb of Zechariah.
The ascription of one of these tombs to Absalom is based upon the mention, in the Bible, of his having
made a monument. “ Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar [or
“memorial,” lit. “hand”], which [is] in the king’s dale: for, he said, I have no son to keep my name in
remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name; and it is called unto this day, Absalom’s place.”
(2 Sam. xviii. 18.) There is nothing in this passage to warrant the supposition that Absalom made a monument
here, not to speak of the impossibility of the supposed tomb being of his age. The Tomb of Absalom is a
picturesque structure of a form which, notwithstanding radical faults, has some beauties. The lower part is
square, and measures about 24 feet on every side. There are two Ionic columns, and as many half-columns,
on each side, and pilasters at the corners. The height is about 18 or 20 feet to the top of the architrave,
and thus far the monument is rock-hewn. Above this is a square piece of masonry supporting a pyramidal
summit, which terminates in a florid ornament not unlike that of the Choragic monument of Lysicrates, at
Athens. The whole height is about 40 feet. Within there is a small excavated chamber. The Tomb of
Zechariah is very similar in its details, but simpler and heavy in its proportions.