Here the Via Dolorosa bends, for a short space, to the left, and then, turning again in the direction of St. Stephen’s gate, ascends a low eminence, and terminates at what they call the ruins of Pilate’s house. At this place is a lofty arch over the street, with two windows above, in which, they tell us, the Roman governors were accustomed to address the people; and which they call “Ecce Homo,” from a tradition that the Saviour was there brought out before the Jews, when they cried out, demanding his crucifixion. (John xix. 5.) Here, too, they showed us the place from which were taken a suite of marble steps, now shown at Rome, as then belonging to the Judgment Hall, and which I have seen in that city, where no one is allowed to ascend them except on his knees. Indeed, all the region around this spot is fruitful in their traditions; some of which are sufficiently curious, but the reader has probably by this time had enough of them. I will only add, that the windows over the arch had formerly a pillar between them; but that on one occasion a deputy of the Sultan being on a visit to the cities of Syria, on his arrival at Jerusalem the Father Guardian of the Latins neglected to carry him a present, on which the deputy ordered him to carry this pillar on his shoulders to the mosque of Omar. “But for this he was well chastised; for, on departing from Jerusalem, he fell from his horse and broke a leg; so at least it is affirmed by many.”[56] Pilate’s house stands a short distance from the street leading to St. Stephen’s gate; and we turned aside to it, not to speculate upon their traditions, but for the advantage offered by the lofty terrace that forms its roof for getting a good view of the mosque of Omar. The Turks will allow no Christian to enter even the court of this mosque, and as the edifice from which we had our view forms a part of its boundary, we were able, from our elevated position, to overlook the whole of it. This court stands at the south-eastern angle of the present city, the walls of which bound it on the east and partly at the south. Its dimensions are 1500 feet by 1000; and it therefore occupies considerably more ground than the ancient Mount Moriah, which was, I suppose, towards its southern extremity. Its clean grounds, and the shade trees which are scattered over them, make a very pretty appearance. The platform in its centre is ornamented along the edge on either side by a species of triumphal arch; and the mosque itself, which stands towards the southern end of this platform, is a very handsome building. It is octagonal, and is built of light colored marble with blackish veins, into which are set pannels of a darker shade. The other portion of the building, and the lofty cupola, are ornamented with various colored tiles disposed in fanciful patterns; and below, at each of the entrances, is an ornamented porch attached. The interior is enriched with twenty-four columns and pilasters, and also with carving and gilding.