The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus ChristEmmerich, Anna Katharina
Religion
The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Emmerich, Anna Katharina
Jesus Christ -- Passion -- Devotional literature
Behind Pilate's palace there were many other terraces, and likewise
gardens, and a country house. The gardens were between the palace of
the governor and the dwelling of his wife, Claudia Procles. A large
moat separated these buildings from the mountain on which the Temple
stood, and on this side might be seen the houses inhabited by those who
served in the Temple. The palace of Herod the elder was placed on the
eastern side of Pilate's palace; and it was in its inner court that
numbers of the Innocents were massacred. At present the appearance of
these two buildings is a little altered, as their entrances are
changed. Four of the principal streets commenced at this part of the
town, and ran in a southerly direction, three leading to the forum and
Pilate's palace, and the fourth to the gate through which persons
passed on their way to Bethsur. The beautiful house which belonged to
Lazarus, and likewise that of Martha, were in a prominent part of this
street.
One of these streets was very near to the Temple, and began at the
gate which was called Probatica. The pool of Probatica was close to
this gate on the right hand side, and in this pool the sheep were
washed for the first time, before being taken to the Temple; while the
second and more solemn washing took place in the pool of Bethsaida,
which is near the south entrance to the Temple. The second of the
above-mentioned streets contained a house belonging to St. Anna, the
mother of the Blessed Virgin, which she usually inhabited when she came
up to Jerusalem with her family to offer sacrifice in the Temple. I
believe it was in this house that the espousals of St. Joseph and the
Blessed Virgin were celebrated.
The forum, as I have already explained, was built on higher ground
than the neighbouring streets, and the aqueducts which ran through
these streets flowed into the Probatica pool. On Mount Sion, directly
opposite to the old castle of King David, stood a building very similar
to the forum, while to the south-east might be seen the Cenacle, and a
little towards the north the tribunals of Annas and Caiphas. King David's
castle was a deserted fortress, filled with courts, empty rooms, and
stables, generally let to travellers. It had long been in this state of
ruin, certainly before the time of our Lord's nativity. I saw the Magi
with their numerous retinue enter it before going into Jerusalem.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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