Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume IX.djvu/637

JERUSALEM 617 spectively of the LatiD and Greek churches in Palestine, in order to establish a claim to ex- clusive possession. Claims thus originating in the large churches of Jerusalem, partitioned among different sects, have sometimes resulted in fierce quarrels, lawsuits, and even fights, re- quiring the interference of the Turkish soldiery. The space behind the piers was formerly open ; now it is partitioned off and divided among the various sects. In the centre of the rotunda is the holy sepulchre. Above it is a chapel 26 ft. long and 18 ft. broad, built of polished na- tive limestone, and surmounted with a small dome. The facade is ornamented with several twisted marble and limestone columns, and nu- merous silver and brass lamps, pictures, &c. On each side of this chapel is a small circular aperture, through which the holy fire is dealt out to the pilgrims by the Greek patriarch within. The chapel is divided into two com- partments. The front chamber is the " chapel of the angel," where the angel is supposed to have sat on the stone which he rolled away from the door of the sepulchre ; in the centre of the apartment, on a pedestal, is a fragment of the stone; the other part is said to have been placed by the Armenians in the convent of Caiaphas, just outside of the Zion gate. In the second chamber, which is entered by a low narrow doorway, is the tomb of Christ, occu- pying the whole length and nearly half the width of the apartment. It is raised about two feet from the floor, and covered with a single slab of marble, whose edges have been worn off by the kisses and embraces of the pil- grims who for centuries have gathered here from all parts of the world. Facing the chapel over the sepulchre is the Greek section of the church. It is the nave of the edifice, but is now divided from the aisles by high walls, said to have been built by the Greeks after the cru- saders were expelled by Saladin. This church is quadrangular, about 70 ft. by 40. At the E. end is the high altar, reached by four steps, and divided by a richly gilt screen. On the right hand is the Greek patriarch's throne. In the centre a small column indicates the middle of the earth, and Adam's skull is said to be buried beneath. There are two other side doors, N. and S., opening into the aisles. Re- turning by the main entrance on the west, facing the sepulchre, the visitor turns to the right, passing between the piers of the rotun- da, and arrives at a circular marble pavement, where Mary, according to the tradition, stood when she first saw Christ after his resurrec- tion. On the north, ascending a few steps, is the Catholic section of the church. In this place is pointed out the pillar to which Christ was bound when scourged ; the pillar itself is hidden from view by the building, but a stick with a silver head is thrust through an iron grating in the wall ; the silver head, hav- ing touched the pillar, is drawn out and kissed. In the vestry of this chapel the sword of God- frey is exhibited. Returning and following the course of the aisles behind the Greek sec- tion, the visitor, after passing one or two sta- tions connected with different events in the passion of Christ, arrives at a long flight of stairs leading to Helena's church, a massive and rudely constructed edifice, crowned by a dome with windows to admit the light. Here He- lena sat while search was made for the cross. At the further end another flight of stairs leads down to the cave where the cross, the crown of thorns, and the nails were discovered. It is an irregular excavation in the rock ; at one end an altar marks the spot where the true cross lay. Ascending again, and continuing his course, the pilgrim arrives at last at the prin- cipal gate to the church, near the stairs leading to Golgotha, from which he first started. About 35 yards beyond the E. door of the church of the Sepulchre are the ruins of the hospital of the knights of St. John ; the en- trance is by a picturesque Gothic gateway, the facade of which was richly carved with his- torical and symbolical sculptures, now nearly defaced by curious tourists. Beyond the gate- way is an open court, part of which was once the church ; at the E. end is the altar. A stairway on the south leads to a corridor sur- rounding a quadrangular court. The building itself is very spacious, but the chambers and halls have for ages been filled with rubbish, and several are in ruins. In 1869, on the oc- casion of the visit of the crown prince of Prus- sia, the Turkish sultan presented him with these ruins ; and the Prussians are now clear- ing them out, and intend to restore the church and other parts of the building. On the west of Jerusalem, at the Jaffa gate, is the citadel, consisting of three high square towers, sepa- rated from the city by a low wall and from the suburbs by a deep and wide moat. The largest and highest is called the tower of David. The lower part, rising in a solid mass, is undoubted- ly ancient, and is probably the remnant of the tower Hippicus, built by Herod, and named from his friend who had fallen in the Parthian wars. The upper part, like the other towers, is of more modern construction. The battle- ments afford a view of the whole city, the mount of Olives, the Dead sea, and the mountains of Moab beyond. To the northeast lies the pool of Hezekiah ; to the south lie the gardens of the Armenian convent, in which are the ruins of the pool of Bathsheba ; and to the west the Jewish almshouses, built by Sir Moses Monte- fiore as executor of his American coreligionist Judah Touro, who bequeathed a large sum of money for that purpose. The tomb of David, now outside of the walls, S. of the Zion gate, was formerly within the city ; the place is kept by the Mohammedans, who have a mosque over the spot. In the large hall, the canaculum, is a stairway leading to the cave which is said to contain the tombs of David and his succes- sors ; but no one is allowed to enter. Over the cave is a small room with a raised struc- ture about 3 ft. high, representing a Moslem