of the nave and transept are decorated with mosaics, with which the church was endowed by the Byzantine Emperor Manuel Comnenus in the twelfth century. In 1482 the roof, which had fallen into decay, was repaired, the lead for this purpose being given by King Edward IV. of England.
Two flights of steps descend into the Chapel of the Nativity and the Chapel of the Manger, which are situated below the choir. The unsightly wall, which formerly separated the nave from the transept and practically divided the church into two separate parts, was removed at the instance of the Governor of Jerusalem in 1919.
Like the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Church of the Nativity is shared by several communities (Orthodox, Latin, Armenian, Jacobite, Abyssinian and Coptic). In the extensive grotto below the church is shown the tomb of S. Jerome, who dwelt for many years in Bethlehem and died there in 420.
Two miles south of Bethlehem are the three mighty ancient reservoirs known as the "Pools of Solomon." These reservoirs are of considerable antiquity and collected the water for Jerusalem's early water-supply. They are now again being brought into use in conjunction with the other ancient sources at Arrub (cf. Part I., § 7, and Part V., § 10).
Between Bethlehem and the Dead Sea, at the head of a deep cañon, lies the Orthodox Monastery of S. Sabbas (Mar Saba), an ancient settlement of ascetics established in the fifth century. Ladies are not admitted within the monastery, which stands precipitously on the side of the cañon, but are able to overlook it from a mediaeval tower outside the porch. About 45 monks at present inhabit the monastery and lead lives of great austerity.
Jericho.—Jericho (in Arabic, Eriha) was the scene of the first victory of the Israelites in Palestine, was sacked by Joshua, but was subsequently rebuilt and formed part of the inheritance of Benjamin. It was here that Elijah performed the miracle of rendering a bitter spring sweet. After the Captivity Jericho increased in prosperity, and was subsequently given by Mark Antony to Cleopatra, who, in her turn,
