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Now for the works that were above these foundations, these were not
unworthy of such foundations; for all the cloisters were double, and the
pillars to them belonging were twenty-five cubits in height, and supported
the cloisters. These pillars were of one entire stone each of them, and
that stone was white marble; and the roofs were adorned with cedar, curiously
graven. The natural magnificence, and excellent polish, and the harmony
of the joints in these cloisters, afforded a prospect that was very remarkable;
nor was it on the outside adorned with any work of the painter or engraver.
The cloisters [of the outmost court] were in breadth thirty cubits, while
the entire compass of it was by measure six furlongs, including the tower
of Antonia; those entire courts that were exposed to the air were laid
with stones of all sorts. When you go through these [first] cloisters,
unto the second [court of the] temple, there was a partition made of stone
all round, whose height was three cubits: its construction was very elegant;
upon it stood pillars, at equal distances from one another, declaring the
law of purity, some in Greek, and some in Roman letters, that "no
foreigner should go within that sanctuary" for that second [court
of the] temple was called "the Sanctuary," and was ascended to
by fourteen steps from the first court. This court was four-square, and
had a wall about it peculiar to itself; the height of its buildings, although
it were on the outside forty cubits,
1
was hidden by the steps, and on the inside that height was but twenty-five
cubits; for it being built over against a higher part of the hill with
steps, it was no further to be entirely discerned within, being covered
by the hill itself. Beyond these thirteen steps there was the distance
of ten cubits; this was all plain; whence there were other steps, each
of five cubits a-piece, that led to the gates, which gates on the north
and south sides were eight, on each of those sides four, and of necessity
two on the east. For since there was a partition built for the women on
that side, as the proper place wherein they were to worship, there was
a necessity for a second gate for them: this gate was cut out of its wall,
over against the first gate. There was also on the other sides one southern
and one northern gate, through which was a passage into the court of the
women; for as to the other gates, the women were not allowed to pass through
them; nor when they went through their own gate could they go beyond their
own wall. This place was allotted to the women of our own country, and
of other countries, provided they were of the same nation, and that equally.
The western part of this court had no gate at all, but the wall was built
entire on that side. But then the cloisters which were betwixt the gates
extended from the wall inward, before the chambers; for they were supported
by very fine and large pillars. These cloisters were single, and, excepting
their magnitude, were no way inferior to those of the lower court.