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[292]
Since, therefore, he had now the city fortified by the palace in
which he lived, and by the temple which had a strong fortress by it, called
Antonia, and was rebuilt by himself, he contrived to make Samaria a fortress
for himself also against all the people, and called it Sebaste, supposing
that this place would be a strong hold against the country, not inferior
to the former. So he fortified that place, which was a day's journey distant
from Jerusalem, and which would be useful to him in common, to keep both
the country and the city in awe. He also built another fortress for the
whole nation; it was of old called Strato's Tower, but was by him named
Cesarea. Moreover, he chose out some select horsemen, and placed them ill
the great plain; and built [for them] a place in Galilee, called Gaba with
Hesebonitis, in Perea. And these were the places which he particularly
built, while he always was inventing somewhat further for his own security,
and encompassing the whole nation with guards, that they might by no means
get from under his power, nor fall into tumults, which they did continually
upon any small commotion; and that if they did make any commotions, he
might know of it, while some of his spies might be upon them from the neighborhood,
and might both be able to know what they were attempting, and to prevent
it. And when he went about building the wall of Samaria, he contrived to
bring thither many of those that had been assisting to him in his wars,
and many of the people in that neighborhood also, whom he made fellow citizens
with the rest. This he did out of an ambitious desire of building a temple,
and out of a desire to make the city more eminent than it had been before;
but principally because he contrived that it might at once be for his own
security, and a monument of his magnificence. He also changed its name,
and called it Sebaste. Moreover, he parted the adjoining country, which
was excellent in its kind, among the inhabitants of Samaria, that they
might be in a happy condition, upon their first coming to inhabit. Besides
all which, he encompassed the city with a wall of great strength, and made
use of the acclivity of the place for making its fortifications stronger;
nor was the compass of the place made now so small as it had been before,
but was such as rendered it not inferior to the most famous cities; for
it was twenty furlongs in circumference. Now within, and about the middle
of it, he built a sacred place, of a furlong and a half [in circuit], and
adorned it with all sorts of decorations, and therein erected a temple,
which was illustrious on account of both its largeness and beauty. And
as to the several parts of the city, he adorned them with decorations of
all sorts also; and as to what was necessary to provide for his own security,
he made the walls very strong for that purpose, and made it for the greatest
part a citadel; and as to the elegance of the building, it was taken care
of also, that he might leave monuments of the fineness of his taste, and
of his beneficence, to future ages.
1
1 CONCERNING THE FAMINE THAT HAPPENED IN JUDEA AND SYRIA; AND HOW HEROD, AFTER HE HAD MARRIED ANOTHER WIFE, REBUILT CESAREA, AND OTHER GRECIAN CITIES.
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