VIII 
;^;0 THE HOLY LAND. 
^,^!;V- descent may possibly have been owing to 
the notion entertained by the Empress Helena 
concerning its origin; but the sepulchre itself is 
of great antiquity. It is the largest of all the 
Cryptcc near Jerusalem. Appropriate chapels, 
within a lofty and spacious vault, distinguish 
the real or the imaginary Tombs of the Virgin 
Mary, of Joseph, of Anna, and of Caiaphas\ 
Struck with wonder, not only in viewing such 
an astonishing effort of human labour, but in 
the consideration that History affords no light 
whatsoever as to its origin, we came afterwards 
to examine it again ; but could assign no pro- 
bable date for the asra of its construction. It 
ranks among those colossal works which were 
accomplished by the inhabitants of Asia Minor, 
of Phoenicia, and of Palestine, in the first ages ; 
works which differ from those of Greece, in 
displaying less of beauty, but more of arduous 
enterprise ; works which remind us of the people 
rather than of the artist; which we refer to as 
monuments of history, rather than of taste. 
Proceeding hence towards the so?.uh, along 
(l) There is an accurate representation of this sepulchre in the 
curious and rare work of Bernardino, (" Trattato delle Piante ed Itii- 
magini de sacn Edifizi di Terra Santa," Sfc. Firema, 1620.) where 
the different parts of the Crypt are exhibited according: to geometrical 
sur\eys. 
