The Sorek Stream and Samson's Cave

It's getting a bit too hot for long hikes in the countryside now but a few weeks ago Mister Handmade in Israel and I enjoyed a return visit to Nahal Sorek in the Judean Hills. This time we parked our car close to the Scrolls of Fire memorial in the Martyrs Forest, which we visited last year. The memorial, Megilat Ha'esh in Hebrew, was inaugurated in 1971 and is the work of the sculptor and painter Nathan Rapoport.

From the Scrolls of Fire memorial we walked eastwards along the road for around 200 metres and then turned onto the trail we intended to follow, which was marked in blue. It descended through a KKL-JNF (Jewish National Fund) forest of pine and cypress trees interspersed with native Mediterranean vegetation, principally mastic trees, sage-leaved rockrose and thorny burnet, all of which bloom in the springtime.

Soft-Hairy Rockrose, לוטם שעיר

Allium carmeli, שום הכרמל

White Rockrose, לוטם מרווני

We emerged from the forest to follow a footpath that lead us across open ground. The landscape was wonderful: a Mediterranean scrubland of small carob and mastic trees, along with Greek sage and Israeli common oak. We spotted an ancient wine press cut into the rock, as well as holes and depressions in the surface of the rock, all signs of ancient human activity.

Bristly Hollyhock, חטמית זיפנית

A steep, prominent rocky hill stood before us as we made our way along the path, below. Near the hill, the blue-marked footpath descended to the left for some distance along a rocky shelf. The path then turned abruptly to the left and made its way down the cliff by means of steps, some of which appear to have been carved out in ancient times, and with the help of metal rungs driven into the rock face.

At this point Mister Handmade in Israel decided to stay where he was and I ventured just a bit further, trying a few of the rungs and then chickening out myself! Had I continued, the path would have led me to Me'arat Shimshon or Samson's Cave.

Samson's Cave, above, is apparently very large. Inside it, stone walls, steps and the traces of ancient rock-cutting activity are all evidence that the cave was once used as a dwelling place. High up on the western wall of the cave is an entrance to an alcove that may once have served as living quarters.
Solitary monks would appear to have lived in the cave in Byzantine times. They preferred to live in caves and on rocky ledges because such isolated quarters ensured that they disturbed no one, and because this isolation enabled them to keep their distance from human society. The cave bears the name of the Biblical Samson, the legendary Israelite warrior and judge, for no particular reason beyond the fact that the Bible mentions his having roamed the area around Nahal Sorek.

From the cave - or just before it - we had to retrace our steps along the blue-marked path and follow it back to the forest and trailhead. Before doing so, we took a moment to treat ourselves to the glorious view of the Sorek river as it curved gently through the valley, and the cliff face, from which the mouth of Samson's Cave gaped at us.
The long shelf of rock that supports Samson's Cave is composed of hard chalk and dolomite belonging to what is known as the Kisalon formation, which was responsible for the creation of the impressively steep rock faces of the Jerusalem Hills.

Pyramidal orchid, בן-סחלב צריפי

The hike had been a beautiful one. I loved how peaceful the trail was and thoroughly enjoyed the Mediterranean scrubland and stunning views. However, it was HOT. Rather too hot. Mister Handmade in Israel and I struggled on our return journey. We will be saving this gorgeous route for a return trip on a cooler day.

* This post has been shared on Little Things Thursday, Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday), Our World Tuesday, Nature Notes, Tuesday's Treasures, My Corner of the World, Floral Friday Fotos and Friday Bliss.