E00482: The Piacenza Pilgrim records, on the road from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, the graves of *Rachel (wife of the patriarch Jacob, S00701) and *Benjamin (Old Testament patriarch, S00702), and his visit to the church [of the Kathisma] where *Mary (Mother of Christ, S00033), rested on the flight into Egypt and brought forth water from the rock. Account of an anonymous pilgrim, written in Latin, probably in Placentia (northern Italy), c. 570.

Pilgrim of Piacenza, Itinerarium 28

First recension
Via, quae ducit Bethlem, ad tertium miliarium de Hierosolima iacet Rachel in corpore, in finis loci, qui uocatur Rama. In ipso loco uidi in media uia de petra exire aquam inmobilem ad arbitratum usque ad sextarios septem, unde conplent omnes et neque minuitur neque ampliatur. Suauitudo ad bibendum innarrabilis, dicentes, eo quod sancta Maria fugiens in Aegyptum in ipso loco sedit et sitiuit, et sic egressa esset ipsa aqua. Ibi et ecclesia modo facta est.

'On the way to Bethlehem, at the third milestone from Jerusalem, lies the body of Rachel, on the edge of the area called Ramah. There I saw still water which came from a rock, of a quantity that could be judged as up to seven sextarii. Everyone has their fill of it, and the water does not become less or more. It is indescribably sweet to drink, and people say that saint Mary on the flight into Egypt seated herself thirsty on this very spot, and so the water immediately flowed. Now a church has been built there.'


Second recension
Via, quae ducit Bethleem, miliario tertio ab Hierusalem iacet Rachel uxor Iacob, mater scilicet Ioseph.
Et Beniamin iacet in finibus Rama. In ipso loco in media uia uidi aquam surgere, quasi sextarios septem. Vnde complent omnes satietatem bibendi, et nec minuitur nec augetur. Et est suauis ad potandum. Et dicunt, quod fugiens beata Maria in Aegyptum et sederit ibi cum puero et sitiens orauit et continuo ipsa aqua emanauit. Et in ipso loco modo ecclesia constructa est.

'On the way to Bethlehem, at the third milestone from Jerusalem, lies the body of Rachel, wife of Jacob, mother of Joseph. And Benjamin lies within the boundaries of Ramah. There I saw water which surged up to seven sextarii in quantity. Everyone has their fill to drink, and the water does not become less or more. It is sweet and good to drink, and they say that blessed Mary on the flight into Egypt seated herself there with her son, and, being thirsty, prayed, and the water immediately appeared. Now a church has been built there.'


Text: Geyer 1898, 177 and 208. Translation: Wilkinson 2002, 142, modified.