. Saladin and the fall of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. gh of Caesarea,* and from the statement thatamong the amazing wealth of jewels and preciousstones which Saladin discovered on the death of el-Adid were an emerald four fingers long, and a rubyknown as the Mountain, the weight of which, inour terms, was over 2400 carats ( I have seen andweighed it myself, says Ibn-el-Athir). The wealthof the Fatimids in jewels and works of the goldsmithsart had long been proverbial. In the inventory ofthe treasures of one of these Caliphs we read ofquantities of emeralds and pearls, cut crystal vases,chased an
. Saladin and the fall of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. gh of Caesarea,* and from the statement thatamong the amazing wealth of jewels and preciousstones which Saladin discovered on the death of el-Adid were an emerald four fingers long, and a rubyknown as the Mountain, the weight of which, inour terms, was over 2400 carats ( I have seen andweighed it myself, says Ibn-el-Athir). The wealthof the Fatimids in jewels and works of the goldsmithsart had long been proverbial. In the inventory ofthe treasures of one of these Caliphs we read ofquantities of emeralds and pearls, cut crystal vases,chased and enamelled gold plate ; coffers inlaid withdesigns in gold ; furniture and ornaments of san-dalwood, ebony, and ivory, adorned with preciousstones; cups and pitchers of fine porcelain filledwith camphor and musk ; metal mirrors framed insilver and gold with borders of emeralds and carnel-ian ; tables of sardonyx ; countless vessels of bronzeinlaid with silver and gold ; tapestry, silk, and bro-* See above, p. 86. ^AIRO in the days of SALADIN 1170. itted lines show additions to the Fortifications made by Saladinj. 1171] Treasures of the Caliphs. 115 cade, heavy with gold embroidery, and adorned withthe portraits of kings. Of all the treasures that he found, Saladin keptnothing for himself. Some he distributed amonghis followers, or presented to Nur-ed-din ; the glori-ous library of 120,000* manuscript volumes he gaveto his learned chancellor the Kady el-Fadil; therest of the treasure was sold for the public purse. Nordid it suit his simple and austere mode of life to takeup his residence in the stately palace of the lateCaliph. Silken divans and Pavilions of Pearls were nothing to him. He remained in the Houseof the Vezir, and gave up the Great Palace to thecaptains of his army, allotting the western pleasure-house to his brother el-Adil. No longer a royalresidence, the beautiful mansions of the Fatimidsgradually fell into decay. O censurer of my lovefor the sons of Fatima, cri
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Keywords: ., bookauthorlanepool, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookyear1898
