Gibeon: El Gib before 1866

Captured by Francis Bedford, this photograph of Gibeon, now known as El Gib, presents a stark, vertical landscape, steeped in biblical history. The high rocks, forming the setting for the events in the book of Joshua, tower above all. Notice how the rock face dominates, becoming a silent witness to the stories of deception and divine intervention. This is a powerful symbol, as we also see in, say, Albrecht Dürer’s work. Think of the rock in *Saint Jerome in his Study*: a symbol of steadfastness, spiritual strength, and refuge. Here, the rock is not just a geological feature but a living embodiment of history and faith. This archetype of the steadfast rock, or mountain, surfaces time and again, from ancient pagan altars to the biblical Mount Sinai, each echoing a subconscious longing for stability. Over time, as the meaning of this symbol has shifted, the emotional weight it carries persists; it continues to invoke a psychological resonance that stirs deep-seated cultural memories.