From the Taking of Jerusalem by Antiochus Epiphanes to the Death of Herod the Great - Flavius Josephus
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opens itself; within which <strong>the</strong>re is a horrible precipice, that descends abruptly<br />
<strong>to</strong> a vast depth; it contains a mighty quantity <strong>of</strong> water, which is immovable;<br />
and when any body lets down any thing <strong>to</strong> measure <strong>the</strong> depth <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> earth<br />
beneath <strong>the</strong> water, no length <strong>of</strong> cord is sufficient <strong>to</strong> reach it. Now <strong>the</strong><br />
fountains <strong>of</strong> Jordan rise at <strong>the</strong> roots <strong>of</strong> this cavity outwardly; and, as some<br />
think, this is <strong>the</strong> utmost origin <strong>of</strong> Jordan: but we shall speak <strong>of</strong> that matter<br />
more accurately in our following his<strong>to</strong>ry.<br />
4. But <strong>the</strong> king erected o<strong>the</strong>r places at Jericho also, between <strong>the</strong> citadel<br />
Cypros and <strong>the</strong> former palace, such as were better and more useful than <strong>the</strong><br />
former for travelers, and named <strong>the</strong>m from <strong>the</strong> same friends <strong>of</strong> his. To say all<br />
at once, <strong>the</strong>re was not any place <strong>of</strong> his kingdom fit for <strong>the</strong> purpose that was<br />
permitted <strong>to</strong> be without somewhat that was for Caesar's honor; and when he<br />
had filled his own country with temples, he poured out <strong>the</strong> like plentiful<br />
marks <strong>of</strong> his esteem in<strong>to</strong> his province, and built many cities which he called<br />
Cesareas.<br />
5. And when he observed that <strong>the</strong>re was a city <strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> sea-side that was<br />
much decayed, (its name was Stra<strong>to</strong>'s Tower,) but that <strong>the</strong> place, <strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
happiness <strong>of</strong> its situation, was capable <strong>of</strong> great improvements from his<br />
liberality, he rebuilt it all with white s<strong>to</strong>ne, and adorned it with several most<br />
splendid palaces, wherein he especially demonstrated his magnanimity; for<br />
<strong>the</strong> case was this, that all <strong>the</strong> sea-shore between Dora and Joppa, in <strong>the</strong><br />
middle, between which this city is situated, had no good haven, insomuch<br />
that every one that sailed from Phoenicia for Egypt was obliged <strong>to</strong> lie in <strong>the</strong><br />
s<strong>to</strong>rmy sea, <strong>by</strong> reason <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> south winds that threatened <strong>the</strong>m; which wind,<br />
if it blew but a little fresh, such vast waves are raised, and dash upon <strong>the</strong><br />
rocks, that upon <strong>the</strong>ir retreat <strong>the</strong> sea is in a great ferment for a long way. But<br />
<strong>the</strong> king, <strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> expenses he was at, and <strong>the</strong> liberal disposal <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m,<br />
overcame nature, and built a haven larger than was <strong>the</strong> Pyrecum (2) [at<br />
A<strong>the</strong>ns]; and in <strong>the</strong> inner retirements <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> water he built o<strong>the</strong>r deep stations<br />
[for <strong>the</strong> ships also].<br />
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