E00492: The Piacenza Pilgrim records his visit to the basilica of *Zechariah (Old Testament prophet, S00283) at Eleutheropolis (Palestine), where the prophet lay buried and where was displayed the saw with which *Isaiah (Old Testament prophet, S00282) had been killed. Account of an anonymous pilgrim, written in Latin, probably in Placentia (northern Italy), c. 570.

Pilgrim of Piacenza, Itinerarium 32

Extract from the pilgrim's account of his visit to Eleutheropolis:

First recension
Deinde uenimus, in loco, ubi Zacharias occisus est et iacet in corpore; basilica pulchra ornata et serui Dei multi. Inde uenimus in loco, ubi Esaias a serra secatus est uel iacet, quae serra pro testimonium ad sanctum Zachariam posita est.

'We then came to the place where Zachariah was killed and lies buried. There is a lovely basilica there, very well decorated, and many servants of God. Then we came to the place where Isaiah was sawn asunder and lies, and the saw has been put at saint Zachariah's as a testimony.'


Second recension
Dein uenimus inter templum et altare, ubi occisus est Zacharias, et ubi requiescit, est ibi ecclesia ornata; sunt in ea serui Dei multi. Inde uenimus ad locum, ubi Isaias propheta de serra lignea secatus est, et ibidem iacet sub quercu Rogel iuxta aquarum decursu. Et ipsa serra pro testimonio posita est ad sanctum Zachariam.

'We then came to the place between the temple and the altar where Zachariah was killed and lies buried. There is a well decorated church there, and many servants of God. Then we came to the place where Isaiah the prophet was sawn asunder with a wooden saw, and lies there under the oak of Rogel, next to the spring. And this saw has been put at saint Zachariah's as a testimony.'


Text: Geyer 1898, 178 and 210. Translation: Wilkinson 2002, 143, lightly modified.