The Christian and Mohammedan Chapels on Mount Sinai, 1839.

SUMMIT OF MOUNT SINAI. SHOWING THE CHRISTIAN AND MOHAMMEDAN CHAPELS

by David Roberts

Those Chapels are placed on what is traditionally regarded as the summit of Sinai, but the peak distinguished as Mount St. Catherine has a greater elevation. The ascent from the Convent employs about two hours, and the spectator is rewarded by a scene of the most striking magnificence. Around, beneath, and above, all is grandeur; he stands as in the Alps, in the midst of a region of Mountains; but with a feature of beauty wanting in the Alps—the expanse of a brilliant sea, a part of the Gulf of Aqaba (Gulf of Eilat) being in sight. The Chapels on the summit are in singular juxtaposition (Christian and Mohammedan), apparently one structure (that on the right in the View is the Christian, the left the Mohammedan); but both in a state of ruin from neglect and exposure to the storm.

The Mountain is held sacred by the Mohammedans; for the legend tells, that when the Prophet rode on the sacred Camel to Ararat and back in one night, he rested, in passing, on Sinai, and the mark of the Burack, or Camel’s foot, where it touched the mountain, is still shown by his followers. The Artist, having heard this tradition, asked his guide from the Convent to point it out to him ; but the holy brother of St. Catherine did his bidding very reluctantly. 1) It is a few yards below, and beyond, the Chapel to the right. It has the exact form, and is not larger than the impression which the foot of a camel would make.

Marks, thus connected with fable, are not infrequent in religious legend. On the summit of a Ceylonese mountain, the shape of a gigantic foot is an object of native homage, as exhibiting the parting step of Adam! The freaks of Nature are easily seized by fancy or modified by art; and the Mahometan is as much entitled to the exercise of his imagination as the Monk.

1) Roberts’s Journal.

Source: The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt, & Nubia, by David Roberts (British, 1796-1864), George Croly, William Brockedon. London: Lithographed, printed and published by Day & Son, lithographers to the Queen. Cate Street, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, 1855.

Continuing

Chapel of the convent of Saint Catherine on Mount Sinai.

Principal court of the convent of St. Catherine, Mount Sinai.

The Rock of Moses in Wady-El-Leja valley, west of Mount Sinai.

Encampment of the Aulad-Said, Mount Sinai

The convent of St. Catherine at Mount Sinai, Egypt.

Jacob’s Well in Samaria at the foot of Mount Garizim near Nablus.

The Tomb of Joseph at Shechem, on the outskirts of Nablus (West Bank).

Tiberias, from the walls. The City of Safed in the distance. Israel.

Historical views of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives.

Ruins of Capernaum, Galilee, Palestine. Ancient city in Israel.

The sea of Tiberias, looking towards Bachan, Israel.

Town of Tiberias, looking towards Lebanon, Israel.

The ancient City of Tiberias at the Sea of Galilee, Israel.

Cana of Galilee, Holy Land. General View by David Roberts.

People visiting the Fountain of Cana at Galilee, Israel.

The Church of the Annunciation in the city of Nazareth, Israel.

The Shrine of the Annunciation at Nazareth, Israel

The Holy Land. Hebron one of the oldest cities in the world.

The Franciscan Convent of the Terra Santa, Nazareth.

Convent of Mar Saba. The Holy Laura of Saint Sabbas. Palestine.

The Fountain of Mary or Virgin Fountain at Nazareth.

Mount Tabor, the mountain of the world in Galilee in northern Israel.

General view of Nazareth, Northern Israel.

Calvary, or Golgotha in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem.

Jerusalem. Absalom’s Pillar in the Valley of Jehoshaphat.

The Mosque of Omar, on the Ancient Site of the Temple at Jerusalem.

The Shrine of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem, by David Roberts.