GETHSETIIANE (geth-s6mra-ne), (Gr. FeBoTntavi), eheth-say-man-ay', seemingly from oil press), the name of a small field, or garden, just out of Jeru salem, over the brook Kidron, and at the foot of the Mount of Olives.
That which is now pointed out as the garden in which our Lord underwent his agony, occupies part of a level space between the brook and the foot of the Mount, and corresponds well enough in situation and distance with all the conditions which the narrative requires. It is about fifty paces square, and is enclosed by a wall of no great height, formed of rough loose stones. Eight very ancient olive-trees now occupy this enclos ure, some of which are of very large size, and all exhibit symptoms of decay clearly denoting their great age. The garden belongs to one of the monastic establishments, and much care has been taken to preserve the old trees from de struction. Dr. Robinson admits the probability that this is the site which Eusebius and Jerome had in view ; and, as no other site is suggested as preferable, we may be content to receive the tradi tional indication. Thoinson, however (The Lana'
and the Book, vol. ii. pp. 483-4 ), says: "The posi tion is too near the city, and so close to what must have always been the great thoroughfare eastward, that our Lord would scarcely have selected it for retirement on that dangerous and dismal night." He believesGethsemane to have been in a secluded vale several hundred yards northeast of the tradi tional site. Barclay thinks it evident that the present enclosure, from its narrow dimensions, can occupy only in part the site of the ancient garden, and finds a better position higher up in the valley. Porter states that the Greeks, envious of the Latins, have recently enclosed a piece of ground a little north, beside the Virgin s tomb, and contend that this is the true garden.