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are habitations of such a structure as are well worth seeing;
both on other accounts; and also on account of the water which is
brought thither from a great way off; and at vast expenses; for
the place itself is destitute of water。 The plain that is about
this citadel is full of edifices; not inferior to any city in
largeness; and having the hill above it in the nature of a
castle。
5。 And now; when all Herod's designs had succeeded according to
his hopes; he had not the least suspicion that any troubles could
arise in his kingdom; because he kept his people obedient; as
well by the fear they stood in of him; for he was implacable in
the infliction of his punishments; as by the provident care he
had showed towards them; after the most magnanimous manner; when
they were under their distresses。 But still he took care to have
external security for his government as a fortress against his
subjects; for the orations he made to the cities were very fine;
and full of kindness; and he cultivated a seasonable good
understanding with their governors; and bestowed presents on
every one of them; inducing them thereby to be more friendly to
him; and using his magnificent disposition so as his kingdom
might be the better secured to him; and this till all his affairs
were every way more and more augmented。 But then this magnificent
temper of his; and that submissive behavior and liberality which
he exercised towards Caesar; and the most powerful men of Rome;
obliged him to transgress the customs of his nation; and to set
aside many of their laws; and by building cities after an
extravagant manner; and erecting temples; … not in Judea indeed;
for that would not have been borne; it being forbidden for us to
pay any honor to images; or representations of animals; after the
manner of the Greeks; but still he did thus in the country
'properly' out of our bounds; and in the cities thereof (17) The
apology which he made to the Jews for these things was this: That
all was done; not out of his own inclinations; but by the
commands and injunctions of others; in order to please Caesar and
the Romans; as though he had not the Jewish customs so much in
his eye as he had the honor of those Romans; while yet he had
himself entirely in view all the while; and indeed was very
ambitious to leave great monuments of his government to
posterity; whence it was that he was so zealous in building such
fine cities; and spent such vast sums of money upon them。
6。 Now upon his observation of a place near the sea; which was
very proper for containing a city; and was before called Strato's
Tower; he set about getting a plan for a magnificent city there;
and erected many edifices with great diligence all over it; and
this of white stone。 He also adorned it with most sumptuous
palaces and large edifices for containing the people; and what
was the greatest and most laborious work of all; he adorned it
with a haven; that was always free from the waves of the sea。 Its
largeness was not less than the Pyrmum 'at Athens'; and had
towards the city a double station for the ships。 It was of
excellent workmanship; and this was the more remarkable for its
being built in a place that of itself was not suitable to such
noble structures; but was to be brought to perfection by
materials from other places; and at very great expenses。 This
city is situate in Phoenicia; in the passage by sea to Egypt;
between Joppa and Dora; which are lesser maritime cities; and not
fit for havens; on account of the impetuous south winds that beat
upon them; which rolling the sands that come from the sea against
the shores; do not admit of ships lying in their station; but the
merchants are generally there forced to ride at their anchors in
the sea itself。 So Herod endeavored to rectify this
inconvenience; and laid out such a compass towards the land as
might be sufficient for a haven; wherein the great ships might
lie in safety; and this he effected by letting down vast stones
of above fifty feet in length; not less than eighteen in breadth;
and nine in depth; into twenty fathom deep; and as some were
lesser; so were others bigger than those dimensions。 This mole
which he built by the sea…side was two hundred feet wide; the
half of which was opposed to the current of the waves; so as to
keep off those waves which were to break upon them; and so was
called Procymatia; or the first breaker of the waves; but the
other half had upon it a wall; with several towers; the largest
of which was named Drusus; and was a work of very great
excellence; and had its name from Drusus; the son…in…law of
Caesar; who died young。 There were also a great number of arches
where the mariners dwelt。 There was also before them a quay; 'or
landing place;' which ran round the entire haven; and was a most
agreeable walk to such as had a mind to that exercise; but the
entrance or mouth of the port was made on the north quarter; on
which side was the stillest of the winds of all in this place:
and the basis of the whole circuit on the left hand; as you enter
the port; supported a round turret; which was made very strong;
in order to resist the greatest waves; while on the right hand;
as you enter; stood two vast stones; and those each of them
larger than the turret; which were over against them; these stood
upright; and were joined together。 Now there were edifices all
along the circular haven; made of the politest stone; with a
certain elevation; whereon was erected a temple; that was seen a
great way off by those that were sailing for that haven; and had
in it two statues; the one of Rome; the other of Caesar。 The city
itself was called Cesarea; which was also itself built of fine
materials; and was of a fine structure; nay; the very
subterranean vaults and cellars had no less of architecture
bestowed on them than had the buildings above ground。 Some of
these vaults carried things at even distances to the haven and to
the sea; but one of them ran obliquely; and bound all the rest
together; that both the rain and the filth of the citizens were
together carried off with ease; and the sea itself; upon the flux
of the tide from without; came into the city; and washed it all
clean。 Herod also built therein a theater of stone; and on the
south quarter; behind the port; an amphitheater also; capable of
holding a vast number of men; and conveniently situated for a
prospect to the sea。 So this city was thus finished in twelve
years; (18) during which time the king did not fail to go on both
with the work; and to pay the charges that were necessary。
CHAPTER 10。
How Herod Sent His Sons To Rome; How Also He Was Accused By
Zenodorus And The Gadarens; But Was Cleared Of What They Accused
Him Of And Withal Gained To Himself The Good…Will Of Caesar。
Concerning The Pharisees; The Essens And Manahem。
1。 When Herod was engaged in such matters; and when he had
already re…edified Sebaste; 'Samaria;' he resolved to send his
sons Alexander and Aristobulus to Rome; to enjoy the company of
Caesar; who; when they came thither; lodged at the house of
Pollio; (19) who was very fond of Herod's friendship; and they
had leave to lodge in Caesar's own palace; for he received these
sons of Herod with all humanity; and gave Herod leave to give
his; kingdom to which of his sons he pleased; and besides all
this; he bestowed on him Trachon; and Batanea; and Auranitis;
which he gave him on the occasion following: One Zenodorus (20)
had hired what was called the house of Lysanias; who; as he was
not satisfied with its revenues; became a partner with the
robbers that inhabited the Trachonites; and so procured himself a
larger income; for the inhabitants of those places lived in a mad
way; and pillaged the country of the Damascenes; while Zenodorus
did not restrain them; but partook of the prey they acquired。 Now
as the neighboring people were hereby great。 sufferers; they
complained to Varro; who was then president 'of Syria'; and
entreated him to write to Caesar about this injustice of
Zenodorus。 When these matters were laid before Caesar; he wrote
back to Varro to destroy those nests of robbers; and to give the
land to Herod; that so by his care the neighboring countries
might be no longer disturbed with these doings of the
Trachonites; for it was not an easy firing to restrain them;
since this way of robbery had been their usual practice; and they
had no other way to get their living; because they had neither
any city of their own; nor lands in their possession; but only
some receptacles and dens in the earth; and there they and their
cattle lived in common together。 However; they had made
contrivances to get pools of water; and laid up corn in granaries
for themselves; and were able to make great resistance; by
issuing out on the sudden against any that attacked them; for the
entrances of their caves were narrow; in which but one could come
in at a time; and the places within incredibly large; and made
very wide but the ground over their habitations was not very
high; but rather on a plain; while the rocks are altogether hard
and difficult to be entered upon; unless any one gets into the
plain road by the guidance of another; f