Page:Palestine Exploration Fund - Quarterly Statement for 1894.djvu/305

Rh July 9th, 1894.

I was called away this afternoon for the purpose of photographing a magnificent mosaic a couple of hundred yards west of St. Stephen's, north-west of the Damascus Gate. When the Pasha heard of its discovery by the owner in the course of digging for foundations he arrested the work, and put the matter in our hands. I sent my foreman with labourers to complete the excavation, and on Saturday a photograph was taken, but not satisfactory, so we must try again to-day. Full reports will be given later; here I may say that it is a splendid piece of work, about 21 feet by 13 feet, with a small apse pointing almost exactly east. Within a beautiful border, springing from this base is a vine with ramifying branches, on which hang grape clusters; among the branches are numerous birds, peacocks, ducks, storks, an eagle, a partridge, a parrot in a cage, &c., &c. It is almost perfectly preserved. Near the east end there is an Armenian inscription, to the effect that the place was in memory of the salvation of all those Armenians whose names the Lord knows. It is evidently a mortuary chapel. The débris over the walls is hardly more than 3 feet, and the chapel rests on the rock, which doubtless contains tombs and coffins. The mosaic is similar to that found on the Mount of Olives with the Armenian inscription, but is far more elaborate, being the finest work of the kind ever found here. It is clearly Byzantine. The pattern is identical with that found in our mosaic near the counterscarp, and the walls of the two rooms are of the same construction. Hence our mosaic is also doubtless Byzantine.

2em



1. The Muristan.—In rebuilding the ancient church, St. Maria Major, the foundations of the old building—not only of the piers of which I have already reported, but also of the walls—were found so defective that the remaining parts of the walls had to be taken down. The foundations go down only from 8 to 10 feet below the surface and rest on rubble, small stones, and earth of no solidity. The north wall has already been taken down, together with the entrance arch, with the figures of the months of the year, but the stones will be preserved, and put up again as they were before.

This state of things delays the advance of the building and adds greatly to the expense.

The German Emperor has ordered this new church to be called "Erlöserkirche," or Church of the Redeemer. Nothing of interest was found in the rubbish, except the proofs that here was once an important 