The Forum: an overview

From The Life of Our Lord Jesus Christ, by J-J Tissot (1897)

The accompanying engraving gives an impression of a wider open space than that of the Forum, and this fact must be borne in mind in reading the following notes.  The large buildings in brownstone in the background are the lower portion of the massive Antonia Citadel.  In it, as is well known, was situated the Praetorium  and the Palace of the Governor, Pontius Pilate; whilst the loggia from which he looked down as he stood beside Jesus and cried Ecce Homo!  can be clearly seen and is to be identified by the red carpet hanging from it.  Skirting along the Palace is the narrow street already referred to, leading from the Tyropœon to the Sheep-Gate.  Beyond the street and opposite to the Gateway of the Palace is the narrow entrance to the public square or Forum, with a portico consisting of three columns, an architectural feature much in vogue at Jerusalem, and the tradition of which has been preserved by the Mussulmans, a fact illustrated in various examples still to be seen in the Haram.

On the left of this portico a few steps lead up to the Guard-house, in which were stationed the Roman soldiers whose business it was, under the orders of the Governor, to watch over the country, nip in the bud any incipient revolt, and restore order in case of disturbance.  The precaution was a very far from needless, for it is a notorious fact that risings were of very frequent occurrence, especially at the great Jewish festivals.  It was in the inner court of the Guard-house that, as we have already said, the crowning with thorns probably took place.  In front of the portico and on the left of the Guard-house is the column at which Jesus was scourged, still all red with His blood.  On the other side, that is to say on the right, is the Gabbatha or Lithostrotos to which Pilate repaired to announce the condemnation of Jesus.  The Master is accompanied by the two thieves bearing their crosses; His own cross is already being prepared behind Him, whilst lying near it is the bundle of His clothes shortly to be restored to Him.  The Forum is filled with the Roman soldiers forming the escort of the prisoners and with the chief Jews accompanying their Victim, some on horseback, some riding donkeys, and others on foot.  Here and there are posted Roman sentinels to keep back the crowd.  The flat roofs of the neighbouring houses, belonging to the Bethesda quarter, are covered with spectators.  Farther to the right, at one corner of the Forum, the slope leads down to the so called Ecce Homo arch which marks the limit of the property belonging to the Governor's Palace.  The town stretches far away on the left, dominated by the Sion quarter, which is reached by crossing the lower town known as the Akra quarter and the Tyropœon valley.

Totus tuus ego sum 

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:
Ad Jesum per Mariam