Стварно...
Siege of Jerusalem
Main article:
Siege of Jerusalem (AD 70)
Arch of Titus: North inner panel, relief of Titus as
triumphator Arch of Titus: South inner panel, close-up of
relief showing spoils from the
fall of Jerusalem Conquest of Jerusalem by Emperor Titus, by
Nicolas Poussin (1638), depicts the destruction and looting of the Second Temple
Meanwhile, the Jews had become embroiled in a civil war of their own by splitting the resistance in Jerusalem among several factions. The
Sicarii, led by
Menahem ben Judah, could hold on for long; the
Zealots, led by
Eleazar ben Simon, eventually fell under the command of the Galilean leader
John of Gush Halav; and the other northern rebel commander,
Simon Bar Giora, managed to gain leadership over the
Idumeans.
[31] Titus
besieged Jerusalem. The Roman Army was joined by the
Twelfth Legion, which had been previously defeated under
Cestius Gallus, and from Alexandria, Vespasian sent
Tiberius Julius Alexander, governor of Egypt, to act as Titus' second in command.
[32]
Titus surrounded the city with three legions (Vth, XIIth and XVth) on the western side and one (Xth) on the
Mount of Olives to the east. He put pressure on the food and water supplies of the inhabitants by allowing pilgrims to enter the city to celebrate
Passover and then refusing them egress. Jewish raids continuously harassed the Roman Army, one of which nearly resulted in Titus being captured.
[33]
After attempts by Josephus to negotiate a surrender had failed, the Romans resumed hostilities and quickly breached the first and second walls of the city.
[34] To intimidate the resistance, Titus ordered deserters from the Jewish side to be
crucified around the city wall.
[35] By that time the Jews had been exhausted by famine, and when the weak third wall was breached, bitter street fighting ensued.
[36]
The Romans finally captured the
Antonia Fortress and began a frontal assault on the gates of the
Second Temple.
[37] As they breached the gate, the Romans set the upper and lower city aflame, culminating with the destruction of the Temple. When the fires subsided, Titus gave the order to destroy the remainder of the city, allegedly intending that no one would remember the name Jerusalem.
[38] The Temple was demolished, Titus's soldiers proclaimed him
imperator in honour of the victory.
[39]