DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4592#0090
90 HELIOPOLISv
ered from the shock,, and the horrid sound's were
ringing in my ears for days afterwards.
The Coptic church at Old Cairo, which is said to
cover the grotto in which the virgin Mary and Joseph
dwelt, with the infant Saviour, when they had fled
from Judea to escape the wrath of Herod, is often
visited by travelers. The grotto or cave is a small
excavation, covered with smooth tiles, and of dimen-
sions but little larger than barely sufficient to permit
a person to sit upright in it. No enlightened trav-
eler can believe this tradition entitled to any credit-
If, indeed, Joseph and Mary fled to Cairo, the place
of their residence- during their stay, is not now to be
identified.
The site of the ancient Heliopolis is about two-
hours ride from Cairo- The place where this city
stood is now marked by several low mounds, enclos-
ing a space about three quarters of a mile in length,
and half a mile in breadth. This-was the On of the
Egyptians, named in Scripture,, where the father of
Joseph's wife was priest. One solitary obelisk, which
stands on this site, is all that remains of the former
splendor of the "City of the Sun." Near by is a very
old sycamore tree, under which tradition says Joseph,,
Mary, and the infant Savior once rested. I broke a
small branch from this tree and left the place-
Cairo is a compact, irregular built city.. The streets
are not more than fifteen feet wide,, and often not
more- than eight. Many of them' are quite filthy,,
though the Frank quarters are kept more clean and
neat. In this respect, however, Cairo is superior to
Alexandria- The houses are of stone and generally
ered from the shock,, and the horrid sound's were
ringing in my ears for days afterwards.
The Coptic church at Old Cairo, which is said to
cover the grotto in which the virgin Mary and Joseph
dwelt, with the infant Saviour, when they had fled
from Judea to escape the wrath of Herod, is often
visited by travelers. The grotto or cave is a small
excavation, covered with smooth tiles, and of dimen-
sions but little larger than barely sufficient to permit
a person to sit upright in it. No enlightened trav-
eler can believe this tradition entitled to any credit-
If, indeed, Joseph and Mary fled to Cairo, the place
of their residence- during their stay, is not now to be
identified.
The site of the ancient Heliopolis is about two-
hours ride from Cairo- The place where this city
stood is now marked by several low mounds, enclos-
ing a space about three quarters of a mile in length,
and half a mile in breadth. This-was the On of the
Egyptians, named in Scripture,, where the father of
Joseph's wife was priest. One solitary obelisk, which
stands on this site, is all that remains of the former
splendor of the "City of the Sun." Near by is a very
old sycamore tree, under which tradition says Joseph,,
Mary, and the infant Savior once rested. I broke a
small branch from this tree and left the place-
Cairo is a compact, irregular built city.. The streets
are not more than fifteen feet wide,, and often not
more- than eight. Many of them' are quite filthy,,
though the Frank quarters are kept more clean and
neat. In this respect, however, Cairo is superior to
Alexandria- The houses are of stone and generally