as, moreover, to some extent protected by the Valley
of Hinnom But between the top of the slope of that valley, and the
foot of the walls, was a level space of ground sufficiently wide
for the establishment of machines for breaching the wall.

Here, therefore, Titus determined to make his attack. On the 22nd
of April, the troops began the work. Each legion was to erect a
bank, mount a battering ram, and construct a tower. A vast quantity
of timber was required, and the desolation already effected between
the north wall and Scopus was now widely extended; the whole of the
trees, for a great distance round Jerusalem, being cut down and
brought to the spot. The towers were constructed about ninety feet
in height, and with a wide face. They were put together beyond the
range of the missiles of the defenders; and were to be advanced,
upon wheels, up the bank until they neared the wall. As the three
banks approached the wall, hurdles covered with hides were erected
to protect the workers; and on each side javelin men and archers
were posted, together with the war engines for casting missiles.

Simon was not idle. He possessed the war engines taken when Antonia
was surrendered by the Romans, and those captured from the legion
of Cestius; but his men had no experience in the working of these
machines. They could only manipulate them slowly, and their aim was
bad. They were able, therefore, to interfere but little with the
work of the Romans. The archers and slingers, however, did greater
damage, and killed many while, at times, the gate would be thrown
open, and Simon would dash out at the head of his men, and do much
damage before the Romans could drive him back within the walls.

The Tenth Legion did more injury to the defenders than did the
others, being provided with more powerful war machines. Their
ballistae threw stones, weighing a hundred weight, a distance of a
quarter of a mile. The Jewish watchmen on the walls kept a vigilant
watch upon these machines and, each time a stone was coming,
shouted a warning; and the defenders threw themselves on their
faces, until the stone passed over. Even at night, the whiteness of
the newly-cut rock rendered the masses visible, as they flew
through the air; and Titus then ordered the stones to be painted
black, before they were discharged, and thus added to their effect,
as their approach could be no longer seen.

Night and day, the Romans toiled at the work; night and day the
J