DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11789#0152
142
UNDESCIUBED RUIN.
to examine this place, and found a number of stand-
ing, as well as several fallen columns, and also a few
fragments of what was probably a mosaic pavement.
They were composed of small rectangular stones, of
different colors, embedded in a sort of cement.
The edifice had probably been a temple or a pa-
lace, and had unquestionably been erected at a very
remote epoch. From its picturesque and com-
manding situation, as well as from the style of the
columns and mosaic, which were very similar to
what have been found on the site of Tyre itself, I
concluded it might very probably have been a
country residence of one of the Tyrian kings or
nobles, when the city was in the acme of her pride
and power. I am not aware that this ruin has
been before noticed by any traveller.
That evening we encamped not far from what have
been termed the " Cisterns of Solomon." These are
three reservoirs, somewhat similar in construction to
Solomon's Pools, near Jerusalem. The larger one—
which I did not see, as it was almost dark when we
pitched our tent—according to the testimony of a
very respectable traveller, is octagonal in its form,
and is twenty-two yards in diameter. Of the other
two, the larger is twenty, the smaller, twelve yards
square. These cisterns arc supposed to have been
UNDESCIUBED RUIN.
to examine this place, and found a number of stand-
ing, as well as several fallen columns, and also a few
fragments of what was probably a mosaic pavement.
They were composed of small rectangular stones, of
different colors, embedded in a sort of cement.
The edifice had probably been a temple or a pa-
lace, and had unquestionably been erected at a very
remote epoch. From its picturesque and com-
manding situation, as well as from the style of the
columns and mosaic, which were very similar to
what have been found on the site of Tyre itself, I
concluded it might very probably have been a
country residence of one of the Tyrian kings or
nobles, when the city was in the acme of her pride
and power. I am not aware that this ruin has
been before noticed by any traveller.
That evening we encamped not far from what have
been termed the " Cisterns of Solomon." These are
three reservoirs, somewhat similar in construction to
Solomon's Pools, near Jerusalem. The larger one—
which I did not see, as it was almost dark when we
pitched our tent—according to the testimony of a
very respectable traveller, is octagonal in its form,
and is twenty-two yards in diameter. Of the other
two, the larger is twenty, the smaller, twelve yards
square. These cisterns arc supposed to have been