Jerusalem Burning

When Roman forces burned the Temple in Jerusalem in AD 70, the Flavian dynasty thought it had defeated the Jewish god in the name of Jupiter. It was mistaken. 

Frieze panel showing triumphant Romans carrying the seven-branched menorah from the Temple of Jerusalem from the Arch of Titus, Rome © Werner Forman Archive/Getty Images.
Frieze panel showing triumphant Romans carrying the seven-branched menorah from the Temple of Jerusalem from the Arch of Titus, Rome © Werner Forman Archive/Getty Images.

The Roman general Titus was napping when the news came. His soldiers were inside the walls of the Temple compound in Jerusalem. Rousing himself, Titus rushed to the Temple. After months of frustrated fighting beneath the scorching summer sun he found himself a few feet away from the doors of the Temple building itself.

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