DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.10358#0126
ACRE, THE KEY OF PALESTINE.
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About two miles due south of the convent, on a level space half-way up a picturesque
winding valley called Wady es Siyeh, ^Lw!5, on the western slope of Mount Carmel, there is
a ruin known as Ed Deir (the Convent). It Ts close to a copious fountain, " ' Ain es Siyeh " (the
RUINS ON THE WEST SIDE OF ATHLIT.
The fortress was built by the Templars in the year 1218, and was
the last place held by the Crusaders in Palestine. It was
taken by the Sultan Melek el Ashraf el Khaiil after his
conquest of Acre in 1291.
Pilgrim's Spring), and near to a large and
partly artificial cave, which, according to a very ancient
tradition, was a favourite retreat of Elijah, and is regarded
as a sacred "place" (mukdm) by the Mohammedans (refer to page 241, vol. i.). The ruin,
Ed Deir, probably marks the site of the convent said to have been built by Brocardus (the
second general of the order of the Carmelites) "at the fountain of Elijah." It had but a
brief existence, for it was pillaged and its inmates were massacred in the year 1238. The
Carmelites did not re-occupy this site, and the building gradually fell to decay.
75
101
About two miles due south of the convent, on a level space half-way up a picturesque
winding valley called Wady es Siyeh, ^Lw!5, on the western slope of Mount Carmel, there is
a ruin known as Ed Deir (the Convent). It Ts close to a copious fountain, " ' Ain es Siyeh " (the
RUINS ON THE WEST SIDE OF ATHLIT.
The fortress was built by the Templars in the year 1218, and was
the last place held by the Crusaders in Palestine. It was
taken by the Sultan Melek el Ashraf el Khaiil after his
conquest of Acre in 1291.
Pilgrim's Spring), and near to a large and
partly artificial cave, which, according to a very ancient
tradition, was a favourite retreat of Elijah, and is regarded
as a sacred "place" (mukdm) by the Mohammedans (refer to page 241, vol. i.). The ruin,
Ed Deir, probably marks the site of the convent said to have been built by Brocardus (the
second general of the order of the Carmelites) "at the fountain of Elijah." It had but a
brief existence, for it was pillaged and its inmates were massacred in the year 1238. The
Carmelites did not re-occupy this site, and the building gradually fell to decay.
75