Plate 25 Absalom's Pillar Valley of Jehoshaphat Kidron Valley - David Roberts

Absalom's Pillar is an ancient tomb with a conical roof that is located in the Valley of Josaphat which is located in the Kidron Valley, close to Jerusalem. The tomb itself is close to the other tombs of Zechariah and Benei Hezir. The shrine has traditionally been identified as a monument to the Old Testament figure of Absalom who was the rebellious son of King David. In the Second Book of Samuel Chapter 18 Verse 5 it says 
'Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the Monument after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's Monument.' This is surely the shrine that David Roberts has depicted on his tour through the Holy Land on his way to Jerusalem.
 
The drawings and watercolours from this sketching trip by David Roberts of the Holy Land and Egypt were collated together into folios and released over a seven year period by the publisher F.G. Moon from 20 Threadneedle Street London. This lithograph is an original First Edition version (1842-1849).
 
Medium: Original First Edition Lithograph, hand tinted on thick woven paper.
 
Half Plate 25.
 
Inscribed 'Absaloms Pillar. Valley of Jehoshaphat' , 25.5 x 31.7 cm, mounted.