The temple was built of stones that were white and strong,
and each of their length was twenty-five cubits,
their height was eight, and their breadth about twelve;
and the whole structure, as well as the structure of the
royal cloister, was lower on each side than it was in the
middle, so that they were visible to those dwelling a great
many furlongs off in the country, and especially to those
living close by and to those that approached.
The temple had doors at the entrance, and lintels over them,
of the same height as the temple itself. They were adorned
with embroidered veils, with their flowers of purple, and
pillars interwoven: and over these, but under the crown-work,
was spread out a golden vine, with its branches hanging
down from a great height, the largeness and fine workmanship
of which was a astonishing sight for the vastness of the
materials and the great skill of the artisans.
He also encompassed the entire temple with very large cloisters,
designed to be proportion to the temple; and he laid out
larger sums of money upon them than any had done before
him, till it seemed that no one else had so greatly adorned
the temple. There was a large wall to both the cloisters;
which wall was itself the most prodigious work that was
ever heard of by man. . . .
When the work [for the foundation] was done, and joined
together as part of the hill itself to the very top of it,
he wrought it all into one outward surface, and filled up
the hollow places which were about the wall, and made it
a level on the external upper surface, and a smooth level
also. This hill was walled all round, and in compass four
furlongs, [the distance of] each angle containing in length
a furlong: but within this wall, and on the very top of
all, there ran another wall of stone also, having, on the
east quarter, a double cloister, of the same length with
the wall; in the midst of which was the temple itself. The
cloister looked to the gates of the temple; and it had been
adorned by many kings in former times; and round about the
entire temple were fixed the spoils taken from barbarous
nations; all these had been dedicated to the temple by Herod,
with the addition of these he had taken from the Arabians.
