Page:History of Art in Sardinia, Judæa, Syria and Asia Minor Vol 1.djvu/329

 Religious Architecture, 299 observations of recent explorers, who generally found traces of lighter structures, seemingly of a Punic character, in the vicinity of tumuli and dolmens, a not unsatisfactory presentment might be offered of the disposition and aspect of the bamoths at Bethel, Gilgal, and Sichem. They were the tabernacles of which we read about, be it like that of the Ephraimite Micah, or " es Aram Elohim," the ark of God, or " Beit Elohim," houses of God, 1 Fig. 203. — Mount Gerizim. Lortet, La Syrie d'aujourd'hui. Was it in cedicula of this kind or on a pedestal that the golden calves at Dan and Bethel were placed, and upon what structure stood the brazen serpent worshipped at Jerusalem down to the time of Hezekiah ? 2 We know not, except that there is a strong presumption in favour of their having been raised above ground or railed off, in order to protect them from the touch of the throng. These precautionary measures acquired in the course of time a decorative character. In many sanctuaries, however, bsetuli con- cealed by a shawl are still to be seen over the male headstones of Ezek. xvi. 16, 17 ; Judg. xviii. 1-5. Kings xii. 28-31 ; 2 Kings xviii.