Page:History of Art in Sardinia, Judæa, Syria and Asia Minor Vol 1.djvu/195

 Materials used in the Wall oe the Enclosure. 177 at the bottom of the cave hidden by a flag, which was found to be the opening of a well, connected with a drain, abutting into the Kedron. 1 Should this cave be identified with the threshing-floor of Araunah, we should have to look upon the "souls' well " as the oldest monument on the haram. For the present we must fain be contented with the mystery that shrouds this grotto, since the Scriptures, where we might hope to find it mentioned, have no passing allusion thereto, and we are left to wonder at the shifting of human thought and human activity at this very place. For the sake of brevity, we may assume that the " second method " has been satisfactorily established, as dating from the Byzantine period, notably under Justinian. The "first method," distinguished by monumental stones with sunken face, will next claim our attention. In order to have its general outlines easily grasped, we shall go briefly over the history of the temple, down to its ultimate demolition, pointing out, as we proceed, that the foundation walls, which have been uncovered, formed no part of the temple of Hadrian, built to desecrate the Holy Mount and as a punishment to the rebellious Jews. We shall note the means that Solomon had at his disposal, and the skill of the men whom he employed. As we have seen, Solomon began to build the temple in the fourth year of his reign. 2 The circumstances of its erection may be read in Kings and Chronicles, 3 respecting the correctness of which no doubt need be entertained ; especially Kings, where the compiler, on account of the technical character of the documents he had before him, was obliged to faithfully transcribe them. In all likelihood these were scarcely older than the building they treated of, and as yet untainted by the spirit of national pride and other than this rock salience, is plainly contradicted by the Scriptures.* "Solo- mon," we are told, "covered the pavement of the house of the Lord with cypress wood." All was cedar, and no stones were seen. Had so striking a feature existed about the haram, Ezekiel would have recorded it in his vision. 1 The well is called Bir-el-Arûah, " souls' well," by Mohammedans, who believe that the dead return thither twice a week in order to pray (De Vogué, Le Temple, pp. 26, 27). 2 2 Sam. vii. : 1 Chron. xvi. 3 1 Kings v. ; 2 Chrou. ii. Exploration Fund, pp. 23-28, 1876). vol. 1. N
 * The Stone of Foundation and the Site of the Temple {Quarterly Statements,