OLIVET, or Mount of OLIVES, in Ancient Geo-
graphy, was situated to the east of the city of Jerusalem,
and parted from the city only by the brook Kidron, and
by the valley of Jehoshaphat, which stretches out from
the north to the south. It was upon this mount that
Solomon built temples to the gods of the Ammonites
(1 Kings xi. 7.) and of the Moabites, out of complai-
sance to his wives, who were natives of these nations.
Hence it is that the mount of Olives is called the mount-
ain of corruption (2 Kings xxiii. 13.). Josephus says,
that this mountain is at the distance of five stadia, or
furlongs, from Jerusalem, which make 625 geometrical
paces, or the length of a Sabbath-day's journey, says St
Luke (Acts i. 12.). The mount of Olives had three
summits, or was composed of three several mountains,
ranged one after another from north to south. The
middle summit is that from whence our Saviour ascend-
ed into heaven. It was upon that towards the south
that Solomon built temples to his idols. The summit
which is most to the north is distant two furlongs from
the middlemost. This is the highest of the three, and
is commonly called Galilee.
In the time of King Uzziah, the mount of Olives
was so shattered by an earthquake, that half of the
earth that was on the western side fell down, and rolled
four furlongs or 500 paces from thence, towards the
mountain which was opposite to it on the east; so that
the earth blocked up the highways, and covered the
king's gardens.
Mr Maundrell tells us that he and his company going
out of Jerusalem at St Stephen's gate, and crossing the
valley of Jehoshaphat, began immediately to ascend the
mountain; that being got above two-thirds of the way
up, they came to certain grottoes cut with intricate
windings and caverns under ground, which were called
the sepulchres of the prophets; that a little higher up
were twelve arched vaults under ground, standing side
by side, and built in memory of the apostles, who are
said to have compiled their creed in this place; that 60
paces higher they came to the place where Christ is said
to have uttered his prophecy concerning the final de-
struction of Jerusalem; and a little on the right hand,
to another, where he is said to have dictated a second
time the Lord's prayer to his disciples; that somewhat
higher is the cave of a saint called Pragia; a little
above that, a pillar denoting the place where an angel
gave the Blessed Virgin three days warning of her
death; and at the top of all, the place of our blessed
Lord's ascension.