JERUSALEM. 
w 
tonceraiug the idol pictures of the Greek elmrch in Russia, 
which they resemble, in all circumstances of style and execti 
lion. Similar paintings have been noticed in the description 
given of our journey to the summit of Gargarns and source of 
the Scamauder, as found in the ruins 6f Oratories among the 
recesses of Mount Ida. # Shaw mentions very ancient paint¬ 
ings, as found in the cryptae of Egypt.f We also observed 
similar works in caves near the pyramids. WinkelmannV 
account of the art of painting among the ancient Egyptians 
may therefore possibly serve to illustrate the method used by 
Syrian or Greek artists in preparing and laying oh the colours 
for these paintings, which preserve their original freshness in a 
very remarkable manner.| 
Reaving the mountain where all these sepulchres are hewn, 
and regaining the road which conducts toward the east, into 
the valley of Jehosaphat, we passed the Fountain Siloa , and a 
white mulberry tree which is supposed to mark the spot where 
the Oak Rogd stood.5 Hence we ascended to the summit 
of the Mount of Olives; passing, on our way, a number of 
e.t uxorum filiorumque figuras depingentes exsultant, quidam vero etiam nihil sibi 
eompetentium summit imagines, alii vero etservos diligentes, hoc faciunt.” Joseph, 
contra Apionem, lib. ii. p. 474. tom, II. Edit. Havercampi, Amst. etc. 1726. 
*See chap. v. p. 81. and chap. vi. p. 86. of this volume. 
f"See Shaw’s Travels, p. 350. Lond. 1757. “Several of these crypts (Note 5, 
Ibid ) painted with symbolical figures, are seen near the pyramids. Clirvsippus’ An¬ 
trum Mithnfi'sfeems to have been of the same kind. Ta Tf.'xja ts crvoXaia Tnxvra 
7ToUil\ois fixoon xocrtioujLijva, xal to, twv Oftov, Ss iltmraj xciAScri, ayakiMTCL lrEpi&ro.- 
^fveu” 
+“Couleurs sont en detrempe, et plus-ou moins delayees avec de Peau.de colic, 
ou chargee de gonarwe: elles sont toutes employees pures et sans melange/ On en 
comp’te six: le blanc, le noi?, le bleu, le rouge, le jaune, et le vert. Le rouge et Ic 
bleu, qui dominent le plus, paroissent broyes, assez gross i ere me nt. Le blanc, com¬ 
pose de ceruse ordinaire, fait l’enduit de la toile des momies, et forme ce que nos 
pfeintres appellant Pimpression, sur laquelle ils appliquent les couleurs. ..... Les 
couleurs, ainsi que la dorure, ont conserve leur fraicheur pendant quelques milliers 
d’annees.” Histoire del’Art, par Winkelmann, tom. I. pp. 191, 192. Paris, An 2 de 
la Ttepublique. 
$ The author mentions this tree merely from its importance as a landmark. Po 
cbcke seemed aware that “the sepulchres of tha kings” (mentioned 2 Chron. xxi. 
20 .) might be situated somewhere near this spot; for he says, “Near this pool (Si¬ 
loa,) at a white mulberry tree, they say Isaiah was sawn asunder, by the order of Ala- 
nasseh; and here it is to be supposed he was buried, under the oak Rogel. It is pro¬ 
bable the king’s gardens were over this vale, in which the tree of Rogel is mention¬ 
ed.” See Pococke, vol. II. parti, p-24. Lond. 1745. If we can once ascertain the 
situation of the gardens,, that of the sepulchres will be thereby determined. He no 
ticesthe “great number of grottos cut out of the rock,some of which have porticos,, 
and are adorned with the plain Egyptian eornishand adds, “ they seem to be an¬ 
cient sepulchres” Seem to be! Is it possible to entertain a doubt of the fact ! 
The truth is, that the real nature of ancient sepulchres has been too little attended to, 
even where inscriptions upon them clearly explain their history, Renjamin of Tu- 
deia, who is at best but doubtful authority, might have satisfied Pococke on this 
head: he expressly mentions tfhese sepulchres. He is proceeding by the same road to 
the Mount of Olives, when he says, “ Mount Sion is without Jerusalem,: fronting the 
city are three Jewish burying places, where they buried their dead in ancient timesg, 
in one of them there is a sepulchre with the date remaining*” Travels of Rabbi 
Ben3aminj p. 74. eJ, by Gerfans. Lond. 1784. 
