DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4592#0287
TOMBS OF THE KINGS.
287
a large square court is cut down in the solid rock, in
front of them. On the side of the tombs is an open
portico, facing the court, the top part of which is
sculptured in neat style. The entrance was nearly
choked up; and not having with us the means of ma-
king light, we did not enter these sepulchres. On the
plain between this place and the city, are vast piles
of refuse stones, which probably had been carried out
in clearing away the rubbish of the former city. The
Whole plain is sprinkled with olive trees, and small
sections of it are cultivated.
On the 9th of February, accompanied by Mr. B.,
t went out at the Bethlehem gate, and crossed the
plain of Rephaim, south-westwardly. We advanced
far enough to take a view of what is called the Wil-
derness of St. John, or, in other words, the place of
John's nativity, and where it is said the forerunner of
•our Lord commenced preaching. A convent is built
over the spot where the monks say he was born.
That region is well cultivated, and has a pretty ap-
pearance. We only approached near enough to take
a distant view of it.
Turning north, we came to the convent of the Holy
Cross. This is built, as the monks say, over the spot
where the tree grew out of which the cross was made.
What vain and empty legendary 1 Advancing beyond
this, we crossed the valley of Rephaim, where David
twice discomfited the Philistines in two pitched bat-
tles. 2 Samuel v. Before us, at a distance, crown-
ing the top of a high hill, were the ruins of the pal-
ace and the burial place of the warlike Maccabees.
In the distance, the whole bears the appearance of a
287
a large square court is cut down in the solid rock, in
front of them. On the side of the tombs is an open
portico, facing the court, the top part of which is
sculptured in neat style. The entrance was nearly
choked up; and not having with us the means of ma-
king light, we did not enter these sepulchres. On the
plain between this place and the city, are vast piles
of refuse stones, which probably had been carried out
in clearing away the rubbish of the former city. The
Whole plain is sprinkled with olive trees, and small
sections of it are cultivated.
On the 9th of February, accompanied by Mr. B.,
t went out at the Bethlehem gate, and crossed the
plain of Rephaim, south-westwardly. We advanced
far enough to take a view of what is called the Wil-
derness of St. John, or, in other words, the place of
John's nativity, and where it is said the forerunner of
•our Lord commenced preaching. A convent is built
over the spot where the monks say he was born.
That region is well cultivated, and has a pretty ap-
pearance. We only approached near enough to take
a distant view of it.
Turning north, we came to the convent of the Holy
Cross. This is built, as the monks say, over the spot
where the tree grew out of which the cross was made.
What vain and empty legendary 1 Advancing beyond
this, we crossed the valley of Rephaim, where David
twice discomfited the Philistines in two pitched bat-
tles. 2 Samuel v. Before us, at a distance, crown-
ing the top of a high hill, were the ruins of the pal-
ace and the burial place of the warlike Maccabees.
In the distance, the whole bears the appearance of a