OLIVES, or (also called Mount Oli vet). The mountain east of Jerusalem, separated from the city by the Kidnin Vnlley. It is, properly speaking, but one of a range of hills which starts out from the central highland about two miles north of Jerllsa lent. Just north of the city is the high known in ancient times as Seoul's. ‘‘ the Roman army under Titus encamped. After a depression the range deflects and is continued southward for about two miles by the Mount of Olives. Farther south (and southeast of Jerusalem) is a third Bill, the ..\lount of Offense, where, according to tradition, Solomon erected altars for the heathen gods of his foreign wives (I. Kings xi. 7-8; 11. Rings xxiii. 13). On the steep western slopes of the Mount of Offense lies the village of Siloam and in the valley between this mount and the Mount of Olives is one fork of the road to Jericho, on which lay Bethany, nhenre Jesus started on Ilis triumphant entry into Jerusalem (Alatt. xxi. I and parallels). The height of the Nlount of Olives averages over 2600 fret, about 200 feet higher than the city. The name has conic down from early times (cf. II. Sam. xv. 30), and there is thus reason to believe that it was once largely covered with olive trees. it was even called (11. Kings tixiii. 13) the Alount of Anointing. symbolical of the oil produced on it (cf. also 151. During the siege IT the Romans (A.D. 7(1) the trees were all cut down, and it has since been almost treeless.
As early as the days of David the mount ap pears to have had on it a sanctuary, perhaps originally instituted by the Canaanites and after wards appropriated by the Israelites. From its commanding situation, east of the temple hill. as a great wall before the city, the Mount of Olives was regarded with veneration by the Jews. it was called the Mountain of the Three Lights, since it was lighted up at night by the altar fire of the temple opposite, and by the first rays of the rising sun. and because it furnished the oil for the temple lamps. In prophecy (Zech. xiv. 4; Ezek. xi. 23) and in lialthinie teaching it plays a ride in the scenes of judgment connected with the Messianic era.
The mountain was the scene of several im portant incidents in Jesus' ministry. On its western slope, near the road leading down to the main eastern gate of the city, lay the (larden of Cethsemane. whither lle often resorted for prayer. and where Ile was arrested.
oinewhere on the same roadside lle sat and discoursed to the dis ciples eoncerning the coming doom of the city opposite. and in His triumphal entry Ile passed down its slope on the same highway.
Christian tradition has altered and amplified the notices in the Bible by the scene of the Ascension from near Bethany to the sum mit of olivet (Luke xxiv. 50; ef. Ael: I. 12), where two different spots claim the honor. One of these, an elevation directly cast of the old temple site, is occupied by the Church of the Ascension. a small modern building, hut on the ruins of a church built in the fourth century. It is in possession of Alosems. but Christians are permitted to use it on certain occasions. The rival spot is on a second eminence farther north, called Viri Galilad (Acts i. 11), also (but wrongly) scopes. now the property of the Greek Bishopric of Jerusalem and well eared for. on this hill extensive eatneombs have been reeent ly discovered. indicating that it was olive a Jewish burial place, afterwards appro priated and enlarged icy Christians. Year the touch of the Ascension is a wretched Knfr A little to the east on Russian property a fine observation tower has been ereeted. South of the Church of the Ascension are the possessions of the Latin ('hunch, with the IWO chapels. that of Creed, where the Apostles a re sni.l to ve formulated the Apostles' Creed, and the Pater Noster, built by a French princess in 1865. Deep down in the valley, just east of the bridge across the Kidrnn, is a chapel over the legendary site of the grave of Mary, mother of Jesus, whence her body• was carried by the angels to heaven. Consult the works treating of the city of Jerusalem (see JERUSALEM) ; reports of the Palestine Explora tion Funds especially volumes for 1859 and 1896; and Baedeker, Potosi lite and Syria (Leipzig, 1898).