f it, and filled up the remaining space with the most
costly palaces round about, insomuch that not only the sight of the
inner apartments was splendid, but great wealth was laid out on the
outward walls, and partitions, and roofs also. Besides this, he brought
a mighty quantity of water from a great distance, and at vast charges,
and raised an ascent to it of two hundred steps of the whitest marble,
for the hill was itself moderately high, and entirely factitious. He
also built other palaces about the roots of the hill, sufficient to
receive the furniture that was put into them, with his friends also,
insomuch that, on account of its containing all necessaries, the
fortress might seem to be a city, but, by the bounds it had, a palace
only.

11. And when he had built so much, he showed the greatness of his soul
to no small number of foreign cities. He built palaces for exercise at
Tripoli, and Damascus, and Ptolemais; he built a wall about Byblus,
as also large rooms, and cloisters, and temples, and market-places at
Berytus and Tyre, with theatres at Sidon and Damascus. He also built
aqueducts for those Laodiceans who lived by the sea-side; and for those
of Ascalon he built baths and costly fountains, as also cloisters round
a court, that were admirable both for their workmanship and largeness.
Moreover, he dedicated groves and meadows to some people; nay, not a few
cities there were who had lands of his donation, as if they were parts
of his own kingdom. He also bestowed annual revenues, and those for ever
also, on the settlements for exercises, and appointed for them, as well
as for the people of Cos, that such rewards should never be wanting. He
also gave corn to all such as wanted it, and conferred upon Rhodes large
sums of money for building ships; and this he did in many places,
and frequently also. And when Apollo's temple had been burnt down, he
rebuilt it at his own charges, after a better manner than it was before.
What need I speak of the presents he made to the Lycians and Samnians?
or of his great liberality through all Ionia? and that according
to every body's wants of them. And are not the Athenians, and
Lacedemonians, and Nicopolitans, and that Pergamus which is in Mysia,
full of donations that Herod presented them withal? And as for that
large open place belonging to Antioch in Syria, did not he pave it with
polished marble, though it were twenty furlongs long? and this when
it was shunned by all men be