Mount Sinai
(Jebel Musa, or Mount
Moses)
John Lloyd Stephens said that "Among all the stupendous works of
Nature, not a place can be selected more fitting for the exhibition of
Almighty power. Mount Sinai is both the name of a collection of peaks,
sometimes referred to as the Holy Mountains, and the biblical name of
the peek on which Moses received the Ten Commandments. Mount Mousa (or
Musa), also referred to as Jebel Musa, Gebel Mousa, Mount Moses or the
Mountain of Moses (all of which basically
means the same thing) is considered to be that biblical peak. This peak
has religious significance to Islam as the place where Mohammed's horse,
Boraq, ascended to heaven. The 7,497 foot mountain has 3,750 steps hewn
out of stone by monks of St. Catherine's Monastery, which is located just
to the North. The peak is accessible by the steps, or by a gentler path
east of the monastery. Both lead to an amphitheater known as the "Seven
Elders of Israel". From there, one must ascend the remaining 750
steps to reach the summit where the Chapel of the Holy Trinity was built
in 1934 (on the location of the original chapel built in 363 and rebuilt
by Justinian in 530) and affords a truly breathtaking view. It is recommended
that you take the steps down, as they will lead you past the fountain
of Moses, a small chapel of the Virgin, and two
arches, the Gate of St. Stephen and the Gate of the Law.

Moses
Well and the Steps of Mount Moses built by St Catherine's Monks
There are other peaks in
this range, some of which have also been contested as the true Mount Sinai.
Jebel Serbal is also a candidate. Other peaks in this range include Jebel
Megafa and Jebel Moneiga.

Chapel of the Holy Trinity on the peak of Mount
Moses
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