Tent Work in Palestine: A Record of Discovery and AdventureConder, C. R. (Claude Reignier)
History
Tent Work in Palestine: A Record of Discovery and Adventure
Conder, C. R. (Claude Reignier)
Palestine -- Description and travel
I do not see how we can hesitate in applying to this “rock site” the
names given by Josephus. The southern, higher, and larger hill must be
the Upper City, the “Mountain Fort” of Zion; the knoll north of it is
Acra (which is identified by the Septuagint Version with Millo), the
site of the Lower City; the broad valley between is the Tyropœon; the
second valley is the Hasmonean; the third hill is Bezetha, north of the
Temple.
The existence of the narrow saddle at the head of the valley, as will
shortly appear, is an important indication. The fact is proved by no
less than ten distinct observations, made in sinking the foundations of
three large buildings, and the rock is here found to be slightly higher
than the top of the Acra knoll.
The conformation of ground in Jerusalem is not radically different, even
now, from that existing before the rubbish accumulated. David Street is
indeed forty feet above the bed of the Tyropœon, but it still is
reached from the southern hill by a steeply sloping street with steps.
The ground falls away east of the Acra knoll to the Hasmonean Valley on
somewhat the same line which the rock beneath it follows, and it again
rises into the third hill on the north-east. Thus any observer from the
roofs will see in modern Jerusalem a very fair reproduction of the
ancient city beneath; the main features are the same, but the
differences of level, in the hills and valleys, are less marked.
Such being the rock site, Josephus’s description of the walls is easily
followed. The first wall embraced only the Upper City, and in its
north-west corner were the Royal Towers, which formed the fortress of
that part of the town. The north line of the wall is that most important
to define, and it can scarcely be doubted that a line from David’s Tower
(where Hippicus and its two companions are placed in almost every plan)
towards the Haram will represent the First Wall. Remains of towers have
been found along this line, and, as above noticed, it is the line of the
northern crest of the hill of the Upper City. As to this there is but
little dispute between various authorities, nor is there any radical
difference of opinion as to the line on the south and west sides of the
Upper City. The valuable excavations made in 1874 by Mr. Maudslay have
thoroughly opened up the great scarp which formed the south-west corner
of ancient Jerusalem. Captain Warren’s adventurous shafts have shown
where the great wall joined the Temple. The line between these points
might be traced without much difficulty, by simply following out the
work already done.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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