rts to his thighs, and had on an inner
garment of linen, together with a blue garment, round, without seam,
with fringe work, and reaching to the feet. There were also golden bells
that hung upon the fringes, and pomegranates intermixed among them. The
bells signified thunder, and the pomegranates lightning. But that girdle
that tied the garment to the breast was embroidered with five rows of
various colors, of gold, and purple, and scarlet, as also of fine linen
and blue, with which colors we told you before the veils of the temple
were embroidered also. The like embroidery was upon the ephod; but the
quantity of gold therein was greater. Its figure was that of a stomacher
for the breast. There were upon it two golden buttons like small
shields, which buttoned the ephod to the garment; in these buttons were
enclosed two very large and very excellent sardonyxes, having the names
of the tribes of that nation engraved upon them: on the other part there
hung twelve stones, three in a row one way, and four in the other; a
sardius, a topaz, and an emerald; a carbuncle, a jasper, and a sapphire;
an agate, an amethyst, and a ligure; an onyx, a beryl, and a chrysolite;
upon every one of which was again engraved one of the forementioned
names of the tribes. A mitre also of fine linen encompassed his head,
which was tied by a blue ribbon, about which there was another golden
crown, in which was engraven the sacred name [of God]: it consists of
four vowels. However, the high priest did not wear these garments at
other times, but a more plain habit; he only did it when he went into
the most sacred part of the temple, which he did but once in a year,
on that day when our custom is for all of us to keep a fast to God. And
thus much concerning the city and the temple; but for the customs and
laws hereto relating, we shall speak more accurately another time; for
there remain a great many things thereto relating which have not been
here touched upon.

8. Now as to the tower of Antonia, it was situated at the corner of two
cloisters of the court of the temple; of that on the west, and that on
the north; it was erected upon a rock of fifty cubits in height, and
was on a great precipice; it was the work of king Herod, wherein he
demonstrated his natural magnanimity. In the first place, the
rock itself was covered over with smooth pieces of stone, from its
foundation, both for ornament, and that any one who would either try to
get up or to