GREEK AND JEW Julian of Ephesus, now the presumptive Philadelphus Maccabaeus, rode up the broad brown bosom of a hill that had confronted him for miles to the south, and the sun had sloped until its early spring rays struck level from the west.

At the summit, he drew up his horse suddenly with a quick intaking of the breath.
Below him lay Jerusalem.
South and east the barren summits of brown hills shaped a depression in which the city lay.

North, clean-white and regular, the wall of Agrippa was printed against the cold blue of the sky.

Below on three lesser mounts and overflowing the vales between was the goodliest city in all Asia.
About it and through it climbed such walls, planted on such bold natural escarpment, that made it the most inaccessible fortification in the world.

On its highest hill stood a vision of marble and gold--a fortress in gemstone--the Temple.