Syria from the saddle . SEPUL-CHRE— THE NEW CALVARY — SOLOMONS QUARRIES. HE south-east corner of Jerusalemis taken up by the grounds of theMosque of Omar. Here stoodSolomons Temple, and afterwardthat of Herod. When Mohammedconquered Syria, the place waschanged into a mosque. Permis-sion was given the native Chris-tians to keep for themselves eitherthe Temple site or the Church ofthe Holy Sepulchre. These Chris-tians, believing the latter place tobe the true Calvary, chose it inpreference to the far more sacred spot on which stood theRock of Moriah and the ruins of both the Jewish Temples. The
Syria from the saddle . SEPUL-CHRE— THE NEW CALVARY — SOLOMONS QUARRIES. HE south-east corner of Jerusalemis taken up by the grounds of theMosque of Omar. Here stoodSolomons Temple, and afterwardthat of Herod. When Mohammedconquered Syria, the place waschanged into a mosque. Permis-sion was given the native Chris-tians to keep for themselves eitherthe Temple site or the Church ofthe Holy Sepulchre. These Chris-tians, believing the latter place tobe the true Calvary, chose it inpreference to the far more sacred spot on which stood theRock of Moriah and the ruins of both the Jewish Temples. The outer courts of the Temple, the Court of theGentiles and the Court of Women, are still shown, asis the Judgment Seat — a low dome-covered pavilionopen on all sides and supported by pillars—from whichSolomon made his famous decision in the case of the twomothers and the child. The inner court, containingthe mosque and the Judgment Seat, is entered from abroad flight of steps at whose top stands a tall, carved 222. SYEIA FROM THE SADDLE. 223 pulpit. From this puipit, Omar, when tired of whole-sale butchery, was wont to exhort the faithful. The mosque itself is a polygonal building withgaudily tiled walls, ornamented pillars, and a huge blackdome capped by a gilt crescent. It covers the Rock ofMoriah on which Abraham was about to offer up his sonwhen prevented by the Lord. Inside the mosque acool twilight prevails, through which glisten the metalsand bright fixtures on the walls. In the center, sur-rounded by a railing, lies the great gray rock. Tradi-tion says that when Mohammed went to Heaven, therock wished to rise with him, but was held back b}^ thehand of the Angel Gabriel. The imprint of a hand inthe rock as large as the average mans body, is pointedout as the mark made by the archangel. Be3Tond the mosque, in a crypt, are the so-calledStables of Solomon; these were also used by the Cru-saders. A Crusader chapel stands near the pulpit of Omar,and still bears signs of
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookidsyriafromsad, bookyear1896
