214 THE HOLY LAND. 
CHAP, as early as the, fourth century. The roof is of 
^ - v -' stone, and it is vaulted. We could discover 
no inscription, nor any other clue to its origin. 
The priest, whom we found officiating-, was so 
ignorant, that he knew not by whom, for whom, 
nor when, it was erected ; saying only, that it 
House of ^as called TJie house of Peter. Under this name 
Feter. ... 
it is mentioned by former travellers '. Nicephorus 
Callistus^, as cited by RelancP, records the de- 
dication of a magnificent edifice to St. Peter, by 
Helena, mother of Constant'ine the First, in the 
city of Tiberias. Reland distinguishes this 
building from that now bearing the name of the 
Apostle*; but he believes the latter derived 
its name from the former ^ It is not however 
so insignificant a structure as he seems to 
suppose. Its arched stone roof, yet existing 
entire, renders it worthy of more particular 
(1) "At the north-east corner of the town, there is an oblong 
square church, arched over, and dedicated to St. Peter : it is men- 
tioned by antieut authors, and said by some to be the spot where the 
house of St. Peter was." Pococke's Descrijjt. of the East, vol. II. 
Part I. jo. 68. 
(2) Histor, Eccles. II, 12. 
(3) PalcEsUna Illustrata, torn. II. p. 1042. Traj. Bat. 1714. 
(4) " In h^c urbe nimirum aedera niajnificam, et ab fll^ quae hodie 
Petri dicitur planS diversam, Helena, Constantini mater, Petro olim 
dedicavit." Hid. 
(5) " Uiuc, puto, nomen aedis Petri huic aediculas adhaesit.' 
Palestina Illustrata, torn. II. p. 1042. 
