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THE DESCRIPTION OF JOSEPHUS.

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the Upper Market-Place.* But the other hill, which was called Acra, and sustains the lower city, is of the shape of a moon when she is horned; over against this there was a third hill, but naturally lower than Acra, and parted formerly from the others by a broad valley. However, in those times, when the Asamoneans reigned, they filled up that valley with earth, and had a mind to join the city to the temple. They then took off the part of the height of Acra, and reduced it to a less elevation than it was before, that the temple might be superior to it." And in another place, describing the temple he says-" At first the plain at the top was hardly sufficient for the holy house and the altar, for the ground about it was very uneven, and like a precipice; but when King Solomon, who was the person that built the temple, had built a wall to it on its east side, there was then added one cloister, founded on a bank cast up for it, and on the other parts the holy house stood naked. But in future ages the people added new banks, and the hill became a larger plain." This hill is Mount Moriah, and these pillars and supports still exist, and were seen by Maundrell, Richardson, and others, and it is also stated by Josephus that it was joined to Mount Sion by a bridge, of which I shall have to speak heareafter.

"Now the valley of Cheese-mongers (or Tyropœon), as it was called, and was that which we told you before distinguished the hill of the upper city from that of the lower, extended as far as Siloam; for that is the name of a fountain that hath sweet water in it, and this in great plenty also."

Of the fourth hill, he says, "for as the city grew more populous, it gradually crept beyond its old limits, and those parts of it that stood northward of the temple, and joined that hill to the city, made it considerably larger, and occasioned that hill, which is in number the fourth, and is called Bezetha, to be inhabited also."

Having now become acquainted with the ground on which the city stood, let us endeavour to follow out its walls and towers. The lines marked RED in the map, show the walls of the modern city, except along the eastern side, which, being also the boundary

*This was undoubtedly Mount Zion ; but Josephus, as has been frequently remarked, never uses this word in any of his descriptions.

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THE TOWER OF HIPPICUS.

of the ancient city, I have retained in BROWN, which colour marks the ancient wall.

The same Jewish historian tells us that on the outside the hills of Jerusalem were "surrounded by deep valleys, and by reason of the precipices to them belonging on both sides, they are every where unpassable." He informs us that there were three walls, which he describes in their numerical order, as regards their age; but in his account of the siege, he reverses them, and makes the third or Agrippa's wall the first, because it was first taken by Titus.

The first wall began at the tower Hippicus. This tower I have placed in the western wall, and believe that if it be not the same as that now called the Castle of David, or the Castle of the Pisans, and in which we find a most remarkable foundation of solid ancient masonry, that it at least stands on the basement of this ancient building. The stones of this tower are put together in that manner denominated "revealed rustic," having a deep groove or bevelling at the joinings. This method of building seems to be of very ancient date, though not at all peculiar to the Jews. It indeed appears more truly Grecian than any other I know of, and is frequently found in different ruins of that country, and is well exhibited in some parts of the walls of Mycena. It is, however, of much later date than some other, and more purely Jewish or Phoenician masonry, that I hope to point out hereafter. This tower was erected by Herod Agrippa, and it agrees in every respect with the description of the historian, except that it is a little more southward; a mistake rectified by giving it a northern position, with regard to the upper city on Mount Sion; and it is remarkable that Titus, we are told in two places, left this same tower standing, being struck with the strength and beauty of the work.* It is situated on the northern rise of Sion, to the right of the Jaffa gate, and is surrounded by a deep trench; and outside, the valley of Gihon or Raphaim turns by it to the west along the causeway, that here leads by the turning of the wall, and on which

*Josephus, Wars of the Jews, b. vi. chap. 9, and b. ix. chap. 1. It must, however, be borne in mind that the works of this historian were written at Rome many years after the destruction. The "Wars of the Jews," it is supposed, were written about the year 75, and the " Antiquities" eighteen years later.

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the road conducts into the city. The upper part of the wall is of modern masonry, and the stones are totally different from those at the foundation. In the celebrated Itinerary of the Rabbi Benjamin, we find that in the year 1170 the lower part of this castle was rented by the Jews as a "dyeing house." "About ten yards of the base of this building," says this early traveller, "are very ancient, having been constructed by our ancestors; the remaining part was added by the Mahometans: and the city contains no building stronger than the Tower of David." It is now the citadel or stronghold of the town, was garrisoned during our visit by the troops of Ibrahim, and was the only place not taken by the Arabs during the rebellion some years ago. It mounts a few small cannon, which at that time greatly annoyed the family of Mr. Nicolayson, whose residence is just opposite to it. I have been thus accurate in the description of this tower, as it is not only a most remarkable remnant of the ancient city, but also serves as a central point to all the different walls and other localities. From its northern side the Tyropoon valley commenced, and pursuing a semicircular course, between Sion and Acra, emerged at the southern end of Moriah, near the fountain of Siloam.

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Now Josephus informs us that the first wall "began on the north, at the tower called Hippicus, and extended as far as the Xistus,* a place so called, and then adjoining to the Councilhouse, ended at the west cloister of the temple. But if we go the other way, westward, it began at the same place, and extended through a place called Bethso, to the gate of Essens; and after that it went southward, having its bending above the fountain of Siloam, where it also bends again towards the east, at Solomon's pool," (evidently the lower pool of Siloam,) "and reaches as far as a certain place which they called Ophlas," (probably Ophel,) "when it was joined to the eastern cloister of the temple." In laying down the outline, and defining the extent of this wall, I have followed the natural lie of the ground enclosing the brow of the hill of Sion, and where the appearance of the rocks and acclivities above the several valleys of Gihon, Hinnom, and that southern extremity of Jehoshaphat, sometimes called the valley

*The Xistus was an open space upon Mount Zion, used for public meetings.

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THE TOWER OF ANTONIA.

of Siloam, point out an evident marking for such, as seen in the curves and indentations opposite both the fountain and the pool of Siloam, to be pointed out when following the course of Nehemiah's walls.

"The second wall took its beginning from that gate which they called Genneth, which belonged to the first wall; it only encompassed the northern quarter of the city, and reached as far as the tower Antonia." In order to trace this wall with any degree of accuracy, we must first inquire whether there be any existing remains of, or where stood Antonia-a place of exceeding interest during the siege of Titus, and in the history of the city for some time previous.

On entering St. Stephen's gate, on the left hand, adjoining the eastern end of the pool of Bethesda, of the outer wall of which it forms a part, are the remains of an ancient tower, the stones of which are of enormous size, some of them being twenty feet long, and the architecture of which is Cyclopean, as will be described hereafter. Some portions of the walls of this edifice are as high as those of the city. Beside it is a small entrance into the court of the Hareem Shereef, which it overlooks, and some broken steps formed of great stones lead to the top. This remnant of the ancient city corresponds in situation to that of one of the minor turrets and fortifications of the castle of Antonia. Josephus described this castle as "situated at the corner of the two cloisters of the court of the temple, of that on the west and that on the north, and built upon a rock fifty cubits high, on every side inaccessible." The castle itself was forty cubits high, of great size and magnificence. He says it was a tower surrounded by four other towers, one at every corner; those on the south and east side being seventy cubits high, the two others but fifty cubits, so that from the highest there was a perfect view of the temple. On either side there was a flight of steps for the soldiers to come down out of it into the temple, for a band of Roman soldiers always lodged there, and guarded the temple; and they remained under arms on festival days, lest the people should attempt a riot or rebellion; for it commanded both the sacred edifice and the town.

At that period we learn that it was the citadel of the lower part of Jerusalem, and it was in all probability the castle spoken of in the Acts, (chap. xxi. to xxiii.) from which the soldiers ran

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down to rescue Paul, when the tumult arose, and he was driven out of the temple. Nay, it may have been from these very stairs which still remain in the north-eastern tower, that he preached to the people. I was never allowed to ascend those steps; and one day on attempting it, a green-turbaned descendant of the prophet drove me off, in not the most friendly manner, and spat upon me as I retired, calling me a Nazarene.

The fortifications of Antonia, I conceive, extended across the whole of the upper inclosure of the outer court, though the tower itself was placed at the north-western side, and Sandys observed part of its foundations at the western part of the wall of the pool of Bethesda. This second wall, which topographers have completely omitted, I conceive to have commenced in the sloping ground to the east of the place marked Calvary.* It then ascended the side of Acra to the north of the Tyropoon, and crossing over the southern horn of Acra, joined to Antonia. In this wall were two other towers, Phasaelus and Mariamne ; these stood on the summit of the hill, and overlooked and commanded a great portion of the city. This is sometimes called "the old wall," and "the middle wall," and appears to be the "broad wall" of the inspired writers.

"The beginning of the third wall was at the tower Hippicus, whence it reached as far as the north quarter of the city and the tower Psephinus." This latter was of an octagon shape, and situated in the north-west corner; it is described as a building of great magnificence, seventy cubits in height, and affording a prospect of Arabia at sun-rising, as well as the utmost limits of the Hebrew possessions toward the sea westward. Titus pitched his own tent immediately outside of it. To trace this third wall from Hippicus to Psephinus is a difficult task, for in doing this we encounter in our way the disputed site of the holy sepulchre-and those who deny the identity of that place will, no doubt say, that it is thus constructed to meet the objection; but a careful examination of the ground, and of the several walls and cities that have existed on this spot, will clear

*May not the gate of Genneth, mentioned by Josephus, be the gate of Goath, a name, not without good reason, applied to the place of the crucifixion.

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