Architecture Of Palestine From The Earliest Times To The Crusades.

into two compartments ; the vestibule , in which the guard of soldiers was placed , and the tomb itself , AA'hich has a small door of the same construction as those of the Sepulchres of tho Kings and of St . Pelagia on the Mount of Ascension . The religious Greeks , Armenians , and Latins assort that the Avholo -monument of the

present sepulchre is rock , beneath the marble facing . I could not discover this , nor do I believe it . Even if ifc withstood the destruction Avhich befell the city under Titus , and the occurrences of Hadrian's time , we know from history thafc ifc Avas greatly mutilated by Ohosroes II . in 614 , and by Hakeni , caliph of Egypt , in 1010 . Bufc I am quite certainbeyond all doubtthat I saw and

, , touched the rock in the pavement , which rises afc the distance of 21 feet to the ' west of the sepulchre and in the sepulchre itself , by the longitudinal cutting Avhich . is here exhibited . It is essential to remark that all the

sepulchres of antiquity are ofthe same length and breadth , the former 6 feet , the latter 2 |; and in this respect the sepulchre of Christ forms no exception to others . The disputes would never have arisen if Constantino had not been guilty of the relig ious Vandalism of separating the sepulchre from the rock on the western , side , in order to inclose tho sepulchre within tbe temple , and the further

barbarism of adapting the sepulchre to the temple , and not the temple to the sepulchre . The present Church of the Resurrection retains none of the elements of the grandeur of Constantine . They disappeared Avhen the invasions of the Persians ane Saracens covered Palestine with ruins . The successive repairs to AA'hich such portions as escaped hare since

been subjected , have deprived the structure of the characteristics of the fourth century , wifch the exception of the north wall and the wall and pilasters of the great cupola , Avhich are primitive . The Crusaders , Avho found the sanctuaries separated , reunited them , and it is their work Avhich is IIOAV seen . From their time to the present , no change of importance has taken place . On the 12 th October , " 1808 , a " part of the rotunda and the

Calvary , also a portion of the south Avail toAvards the west , were destroyed by fire . The absurd and unintelligent repairs of the Greeks in many points completed the de-A-asfcations begun by the flames ; and numbers of interesting details of Gothic or Byzantine art disappeared , thanks to the degenerate sons of Constantine the Great . The precious marbles Avhich ornamented the Basilica of

Constantine were taken by the Mussulmans in the seventh century to adorn their mosques , especially Koubbet-os-Sakkarah . Hence , among the ruins recently removed from the eastern side of the sepulchre , shafts of columns have been found formed of beautiful marble and granite , Avith capitals in form precisely like the gilded capitals of the mosque . Ifc cannot bo supposed , because

these precious relics are found there , that the remains of the mosque , which was never destroyed from the period of its erection , had been carried and placed round the sepulchre and in the A'icinity of the south . I am , therefore , compelled to conclude that it is not in the Temple of Resurrection , but elsewhere , that AVO must seek the elements of the period of Constantine . Let us now turn to Bethlehem . The Basilica of the

Nativity at Bethlehem Avas begun by St . Helena , and terminated by her son Constantino , between the years 327 and 333 of the Christian era . Some authors have attributed the erection of this monument to Justinian ; but a very cursory inspection will suffice to prove that ifc presents none of the characteristics of the architecture of the sixth century , and that this opinion must consequently

be erroneous . It is tho oldest and besfc authenticated monument of Christian art in Palestine . The eye embraces five naA'es afc a single glance . The centre naA'e is larger than both tho two together on either side of ifc . They are of great length , and formed by four rows of Corinthian monolithic colums , and are composed Avith eleven intercolumniations . The transept is as AA-ide as the centre nave . The north and south extremities terminate

Architecture Of Palestine From The Earliest Times To The Crusades.

each in a semicircular apse , wifch a radius of 14 feet . These a ] 3 ses project beyond the exterior Avails of tho building . On the east , on the side of the transept , separated by a wall formed by the Greeks , the five naves reappear , and form the choir of the church . The centre nave is composed of two intercolumniations and a semicircular apse , equal with those which terminate the

transepts . The two Avhich suceed , right and left , are terminated by a straight Avail , Avhich commences afc the ohoii - . Owing to this arrangement of the loAver sides of the basilica , the upper portion of the cross is symetrical in relation to its lateral arms . The width of the great centre nave is 30 feet ; the first lateral nave , 12 feet ; the second , 10 feet ; so that the total width of the fixe naves is 74 feet , while the entire length of the centre nave is 180 feet .

The monolithic columns forming the disisions of the naves are 17 feet 3 lines in height : their capitals are Corinthian ; that is to say , the proportions demanded by the rules generally observed in the time of fche Roman empire . In fact , fche column is short relatively to the diameter of the base , Avhich measures 2 feet 6 lines . Besides this , it presents no very distinctive characteristics ,

but shoAA's signs of the decadence , reposing as it does upon a plinth which measures 3 feet 2 lines on each side . This Avant of proportion has been supposed , by some , to have been owing to the inability of the calcareous bed from Avhich the ' columns were derived to produce monoliths of greater height ; but as the quaries still exist ,, and I have carefullexamined themI cannot admit the

y , explanation ; hat rather opine that it is siinply the result of the decadence of art . As I have already stated , thediameter of the base of the column is 2 feet 6 lines ; the height of the shaft , comprising the base and capital , is 17 ieefc 3 lines ; and , consequently , the latter is short in proportion to the former . Further , the base has no very decided character . It rests upon a rectangular plinth ,

measuring 3 feet 2 lines on each side . I may further add , that the total number of entire columns is forty-six , of half columns eighteen , aud thafc the latter are inserted in the pilasters on the wall , Avhere the rows of columns terminate . In the abacus , all these are ornamented with crosses in relief . In the lateral naves ( side aisles ?) architraves support the [ framing of the ] roof . In the central naves , the walls , which are 30 feet high , are also

supported by the architraves on Avhich rests the great armature of the roof . The roof is not vaulted , but composed entirely of wood . In the upper part the Avails contain circular-headed windows corresponding with each spaces befciveen the lower columns . The spaces between the AvindoAvs , and all the rest of the surface of the walls ,, in the twelfth century , were ornamented with

mosaicwork . The present roof dates from the seventeenth century , and the Greeks alone claim the right to repairit . I conclude then this is the only complete work of Constantine Avhich remains to us after the lapse of 1529 years . This alone has survived every destructive influence , and maintained its ancient characteristics . It is a very striking [ specimen of Roman genius . The

venerable aspect of the edifice , the harmony of its combinations , and its original conception , all arouse admiration . It is indisputable that the general plan of the church produces au impression of beauty , not only from its dimensions and the simplicity of its outlines , but because it is the embodiment of an intelligent phase of religious architecture , and thus cannot fail to satisfy

the taste and please the eye . Other remains of the period of Constantine and of his mother , Helena , are met with in many parts of Palestine , but they consist simply of walls , heaps of stones , shafts of columns , and mutilated capitals . I shall , therefore , pass them over without special mention . The buildings erected subsequently to Constantine are mere cemeteries of stones , mutilated by Mussulman fanaticism . ( To he continued . )