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that most precious furniture which the Jews had, and which the owners had trea sured up under ground against the uncertain fortunes of war.

3. So Titus took the journey he intended to Egypt, and passed over the desert very suddenly, and came to Alexandria, and took up a resolution to go to Rome by sea. And as he was accompanied by two legions, he sent each of them again to the places whence they had before come; the fifth he sent to Mysia and the fifteenth to Pannonia: as for the leaders of the captives, Simon and John, with the other seven hundred men, whom he had selected out of the rest, as being eminently tall and handsome of body, he gave order that they should be soon carried to Italy, as resolving to produce them in his triumph. So when he had had a prosperous voyage to his mind, the city of Rome behaved itself in his re. ception, and their meeting him at a distance, as it did in the case of his father. But what made the most splendid appearance in Titus's opinion was, when his father met him and received him; but still the multitude of the citizens conceived the greatest joy when they saw them all three* together, as they did at this time: nor were many days overpast when they determined to have but one triumph, that should be common to both of them, on account of the glorious exploits they had performed, although the senate had decreed each of them a separate triumph by himself. So when notice had been given beforehand of the day appointed for this pompous solemnity to be made on account of their victories, not one of the immense multitude was left in the city, but every body went out so far as to gain only a station where they might stand, and loft only such a passage as was neces sary for those that were to be seen to go along it.

4. Now, all the soldiery marched out boforehand, by companies, and in their several ranks, under their several commanders, in the night-time, and were about the gates, not of the upper palaces, but those near the temple of Isis; for there it was that the emperors had rested the foregoing night. And as soon as ever it was day, Vespasian and Titus came out, crowned with laurel, and clothed in those ancient purple habits which were proper to their family, and then went as far as Octavian's walks: for there it was that the senate and the principal rulers, and those that had been recorded as of the equestrian order, waited for them. Now, a tribunal had been erected before the cloisters, and ivory chairs had been set upon it, when they came and sat down upon them. Whereupon the soldiery made an acclamation of joy to them immediately, and all gave them attestations of their valour; while they were themselves without their arms, and only in their silken garments, and crowned with laurel: then Vespasian accepted of these shouts of theirs; but while they were still disposed to go on in such acclamations, he gave them a signal of silence. their peace, he stood up, and covering the greatest part of his head with his cloak, And when every body entirely held he put up the accustomed solemn prayers: the like prayers did Titus put up also: after which prayers Vespasian made a short speech to all the people, and then sent away the soldiers to a dinner prepared for them by the emperors. retire to that gate which was called the Gate of the Pomp, because pompous shows do always go through that gate: there it was that they tasted some food; and Then did he when they had put on their triumphal garments, and had offered sacrifices to the gods that were placed at the gate, they sent the triumph forward, and marched through the theatres, that they might be the more easily seen by the multitudes 5. Now it is impossible to describe the multitude of the shows as they deserve, and the magnificence of them all; such, indeed, as a man could not easily think of, as performed either by the labour of workmen, or the variety of riches, or the rarities of nature: for almost all such curiosities as the most happy men ever get by piecemeal were here one heaped on another, and those both admirable and costly in their nature; and as all brought together on that day demonstrated the vastness of the dominions of the Romans; for there was here to be seen a mighty quantity of silver, and gold, and ivory, contrived into all sorts of things,

• Vespasian, and his two sons, Titus and Domitian.

and did not appear as carried along in pompous show only, out, as a man may say, running along like a river. Some parts were composed of the rarest purple hangings, and so carried along, and others accurately represented to the life what was embroidered by the art of the Babylonians. There were also precious stones that were transparent, some set in crowns of gold and some in other ouches as the workmen pleased; and of these such a vast number were brought, that we could not but thence learn how vainly we imagined any of them to be rarities. The images of the gods were also carried, being as well wonderful for their large ness as made very artificially, and with great skill of the workmen : nor were any of these images of any other than very costly materials; and many species of animals were brought, every one in their own natural ornaments. The men also, who brought every one of these shows, were great multitudes, and adorned with purple garments, all over interwoven with gold; those that were chosen for carrying these pompous shows having also about them such magnificent orna. ments as were both extraordinary and surprising. Besides these, one might see that even the great number of the captives was not unadorned, while the variety that was in their garments and their fine texture concealed from the sight the deformity of their bodies. But what afforded the greatest surprise of all was, the structure of the pageants that were borne along; for, indeed, he that met them could not but be afraid that the bearers would not be able firmly enough to sup port them, such was their magnitude; for many of them were so made that they were on three or even four stories one above another. The magnificence uls of their structure afforded one both pleasure and surprise; for upon many of them were laid carpets of gold. There was also wrought gold and ivory fast ened about them all, and many resemblances of the war, and those in severa ways, and variety of contrivances, affording a most lively portraiture of itself for there was to be seen a happy country laid waste, and entire squadrons of en. emies slain; while some of them ran away, and some were carried into captivity, with walls of great altitude and magnitude overthrown, and ruined by machines, with the strongest fortifications taken, and the walls of most populous cities upon the tops of hills seized on, and an army pouring itself within the walls; as also every place full of slaughter, and supplications of the enemies when they were no longer able to lift up their hands in way of opposition. Fire also sent upon temples was here represented, and houses overthrown, and falling upon their owners: rivers also, after they came out of a large and melancholy desert, ran down, not into a land cultivated, nor as drink for men or for cattle, but through a land still on fire upon every side; for the Jews related that such a thing they had undergone du. ring this war. Now, the workmanship of these representations was so magnificent and lively in the constructon of the things, that it exhibited what had been done to such as did not see it, as if they had been there really present. On the top of every one of these pageants, was placed the commander of the city that was taken, and the manner wherein he was taken. Moreover, there followed those pageants a great number of ships; and for the other spoils they were carried in great plenty. But for those* that were taken in the temple of Jerusalem, they made the greatest figure of them all; that is, the golden table of the weight of many talents; the candlestick also, that was made of gold, though its construction were now changed from that which we made use of: for its middle shaft was fixed upon a basis, and the small branches were produced out of it to a great length having the likeness of a trident in their position, and had every one a socket made * See the representations of these Jewish vessels, as they still stand on Titus's triumphal arch at Rome, in Reland's very curious book, de Spoliis Templi throughout. But what things are chiefly to be noted are these.-(1.) That Josephus says, the candlestick here carried in this triumph was not thoroughly ike that which was used in the temple, which appears in the number of the little knops and flowers in mat on the triumphal arch not well agreeing with Moses' description, Exod. xxv. 31-36, (2.) The smallness of the branches in Josephus. compared with the thickness of those on that arch. (3.) That the Law or Pentateuch does not appear on that arch at all, thoughJosephus, an eyewitness, assures us it wa carried in this procession. All which things deserve the consideration of the inquisitive reader.

CVL

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of brass for a lamp at the tops of them. These lamps were in number seven
and represented the dignity of the number seven among the Jews; and the last
of all the spoils was carried the laws of the Jews.
great many men carrying the images of victory, whose structure was entirely ei
ther of ivory or of gold. After which Vespasian marched in the first place, and
After these spoils passed by a
Titus followed him; Domitian also rode along with them, and made a glorious
appearance, and rode on a horse that was worthy of admiration.

6. Now the last part of this pompous show was at the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus, whither when they were come they stood still; for it was the Romans' ancient custom to stay till somebody brought the news that the general of the enemy was slain. been led in this triumph among the captives; a rope had also been put upon his This general was Simon, the son of Gioras, who had then head, and he had been drawn into a proper place in the forum, and had withal been tormented by those that drew him along; and the law of the Romans re. quired that malefactors condemned to die should be slain there. Accordingly, when it was related that there was an end of him, and all the people had set up a shout for joy, they then began to offer those sacrifices which they had conse. crated, in the prayers used in such solemnities, which, when they had finished, they went away to the palace. entertained them at their own feast; and for all the rest there were noble preAnd as for some of the spectators, the emperors parations inade for their feasting at home; for this was a festival day to the city of Rome, as celebrated for the victory obtained by their army over their enemies for the end that was now put to their civil miseries, and for the commencement of their hopes of future prosperity and happiness.

7. After these triumphs were over, and after the affairs of the Romans were settled on the surest foundations, Vespasian resolved to build a temple to Peace, which was finished in so short a time and so glorious a manner as was beyond all human expectation and opinion: for he having now by Providence a vast quantity of wealth, besides what he had formerly gained in his other exploits, he had this temple adorned with pictures and statues; for in this temple was collected and reposited all such rarities as men aforetime used to wander all over the hab. table world to see, when they had a desire to see one of them after another : he also laid up therein those golden vessels and instruments that were taken out of the Jewish temple as ensigns of his glory. But still he gave order that they should lay up their law, and the purple veils of the holy place, in the royal palace itself, and keep them there.

CHAP. VI.

Concerning Macherus, and how Lucilius Bassus took that Citadel and other Places § 1. Now Lucilius Bassus was sent as legate into Judea, and there he received the army from Cerealis Vitellianus, and took that citadel which was in Herodium, together with the garrison that was in it: after which he got together all the soldiery that was there (which was a large body but dispersed into several parties,) with the tenth legion, and resolved to make war upon Macherus; for it was highly necessary that this citadel should be demolished, lest it might be a means of drawing away many into a rebellion, by reason of its strength for the nature of the place was very capable of affording the surest hopes of safety to those that possessed it; as well as delay and fear to those that should attack it; for what was walled in was itself a very rocky hill, elevated to a very great height, which circumstance alone made it very hard to be subdued. It was also so contrived by nature, that it could not be easily ascended; for it is, as it were, ditched about with such valleys on all sides, and to such a depth, that the eye cannot reach their bottoms, and such as are not easily to be passed over, and even such as it is im

possible to fill up with earth. For that valley which cuts it on the west extends to threescore furlongs, and did not end till it came to the lake Asphaltitis; on the same side it was also that Macherus had the tallest top of its hill elevated above the rest. But then, for the valleys that lay on the north and south sides, although they be not so large as that already described, yet is it, in like manner, an imprac ticable thing to think of getting over them; and for the valley that lies on the east side, its depth is found to be not less than a hundred cubits. It extends a far as a mountain that lies over against Macherus, with which it is bounded.

2. Now when Alexander [Janneus,] the king of the Jews, observed the nature of this place, he was the first who built a citadel here, which afterwards was de molished by Gabinius when he made war against Aristobulus. But when Herod came to be king, he thought the place to be worthy of the utmost regard, and of being built upon in the firmest manner, and this especially because it lay so neat to Arabia; for it is seated in a convenient place on that account, and hath a prospect toward that country: he, therefore, surrounded a large space of ground with walls and towers, and built a city there, out of which city there was a way that led up to the very citadel itself on the top of the mountain: nay, more than this, he built a wall round that top of the hill, and erected towers at the corners of a hundred and sixty cubits high; in the middle of which place he built a palace, after a magnificent manner, wherein were large and beautiful edifices. He also made a great many reservoirs for reception of water, that there might be plenty of it ready for all uses, and those in the properest places that were afford. ed him there. Thus did he, as it were, contend with the nature of the place, that he might exceed its natural strength and security, which yet itself rendered it hard to be taken by those fortifications which were made by the hands of men. Moreover, he put a large quantity of darts, and other machines of war, into it, and contrived to get every thing thither that might any way contribute to its inhabi. tants' security under the longest siege possible.

3. Now within this place there grew a sort of rue,* that deserves our wonder on account of its largeness; for it is no way inferior to any fig-tree whatsoever, either in height or in thickness; and the report is, that it had lasted ever since the times of Herod, and would probably have lasted much longer, had it not been cut down by those Jews who took possession of the place afterward. But still in that valley which encompasses the city on the north side, there is a certain place called Baaras, which produces a root of the same name with itself: its colour is like to that of flame, and towards the evening it sends out a certain ray like lightning; it is not easily taken by such as would do it, but recedes from their hands, nor will yield itself to be taken quietly, until either the urine of a woman or her menstrual blood be poured upon it: nay, even then it is certain death to those that touch it, unless any one take and hang the root itself down from his hand, and so carry it away. It may also be taken another way without danger, which is this. They dig a trench quite round about it, till the hidden part of the root be very small, they then tie a dog to it; and when the dog tries hard to fol low him that tied him, this root is easily plucked up; but the dog dies immediately, as if it were instead of the man that would take the plant away; nor after this need any one be afraid of taking it into their hands. Yet after all this pains in getting, it is only valuable on account of one virtue it hath, that if it be only brought to the sick persons, it quickly drives away those called demons, which are no other than the spirits of the wicked that enter into men that are alive, and kill them, unless they can obtain some help against them. Here are also fountains

* Spanheim observes here, that in Græcia Major and Sicily they had rue prodigiously great and durable, like this rue at Macherus.

+ This strange account of the place and root Baaras seems to have been taken from the magicians, and the root to have been made use of in the days of Josephus in that superstitious way of casting out demons, supposed by him to have been derived from King Solomon, of which we have already seen he had a great opinion; Antiq. B. viii. ch. ii. sect. 5. We also may hence learn the true notion Josephus had of demons and demoniacs, exactly like that of the Jews and Christians in the New Testament, and the first four senturies. See Antiq. B. vi. ch. viii. sect. 2; B. xi. ch. ii. sect. 3.

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of not water that flow out of this place, which have a very different taste one froir the other; for some of them are bitter and others of them are plainly sweet. 455 Here also are many eruptions of cold waters, and this not only in the places that lie lower, and have their fountains near one another; but, what is still more wonderful, here is to be seen a certain cave hard by, whose cavity is not deep, but it is covered over by a rock that is prominent: above this rock there stand up two [hills or] breasts, as it were, but a little distant one from another; the one of which sends out a fountain that is very cold, and the other sends out one that is very hot; which waters, when they are mingled together, compose a most plea. sant bath: they are medicinal, indeed, for other maladies, but especially good for strengthening the nerves. 4. Now when Bassus had taken a full view of this place, he resolved to besiege This place has in it also mines of sulphur and allum. at, by filling up the valley that lay on the east side: so he fell hard to work, and took great pains to raise his banks as soon as possible, and by that means to ren der the siege easy. rated themselves from the strangers that were with them, and they forced those As for the Jews that were caught in that place, they sepa strangers, as an otherwise useless multitude, to stay in the lower part of the city, and undergo the principal dangers, while they themselves seized on the upper citadel, and held it, and this both on account of its strength and to provide for their own safety. They also supposed they might obtain their pardon, in case they should [at last] surrender the citadel. However, they were willing to make trial in the first place whether the hopes they had of avoiding a siege would come to any thing; with which intention they made sallies every day, and fought with those that met them, in which conflicts they were many of them slain, as they therein slew many of the Romans. presented themselves which chiefly gained both sides their victories; these were But still it was the opportunities that gained by the Jews, when they fell upon the Romans as they were off their guard; but by the Romans, when upon the other's sallies against their banks they fore. saw their coming, and were upon their guard when they received them. conclusion of this siege did not depend upon these bickerings; but a certain surprising accident, relating to what was done in this siege, forced the Jews to surBut the render the citadel. There was a certain young man among the besieged, of great boldness, and very active of his hand; his name was Eleazar: he greatly sig. nalized himself in those sallies, and encouraged the Jews to go out in great numbers, in order to hinder the raising of the banks, and did the Romans a vast deal of mischief when they came to fighting. sallied out made their attacks easily, and returned back without danger, and this He so managed matters, that those who by still bringing up the rear himself. when the fight was over, and both sides were parted and retired home, he Now it happened, that on a certain time, in way of contempt of the enemy, and thinking that none of them would begin the fight again at that time, staid without the gates, and talked with those that were upon the wall, and his mind was wholly intent upon what they said. Now a cer

tain person belonging to the Roman camp, whose name was Rufus, by birth an Egyptian, ran upon him suddenly, when nobody expected such a thing, and carried him off, with his armour itself; while, in the meantime, those that saw it from the wall were under such an amazement, that Rufus prevented their assistance, and carried Eleazar to the Roman camp. ordered that he should be taken up naked, set before the city to be seen, and sorely whipped before their eyes. Upon this sad accident that befell the young So the general of the Romans man, the Jews were terribly confounded, and the city, with one voice, sorely lamented him, and the mourning proved greater than could well be supposed upon the calamity of a single person. of using a stratagem against the enemy, and was desirous to aggravate their When Bassus perceived that, he began to think grief, in order to prevail with them to surrender the city for the preservation of Nor did he fail of his hope; for he commanded them to set up a cross as if he were just going to hang Eleazar upon it immediately: the sight of this

that man.

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