Three gigantic lines of masonry were drawn east and west across the plateau. First, there was the wall directly facing them, called by the Jews the Third Wall, as being the latest built. This, when breached or surmounted, opened the way into the northern suburb of Bezetha or New-town. Marching through Bezetha, the Romans would come to the Second or Middle Wall, which, when taken, would admit them to Acra or the Lower City; passing through Acra, they would find themselves staring helplessly up at the scarped cliff of Mount Zion or the Upper City, whose edge was surmounted by a wall so lofty that the Titans themselves might have despaired of scaling it. But ere any attempt could be made upon Zion, it would be necessary first to take the towering rock-citadel of Antonia, and, secondly, the lofty temple-fortress, otherwise while besieging Zion they would be continually exposed to a flank attack from these two strongholds. “You have to deal,” said Tiberius Alexander, “not with one city, but with five cities. A fivefold siege lies before us.” As Titus glanced with the eye of a trained soldier from point to point, and took in the nature of the defenses, natural and artificial, he began to realize the stupendous nature of the task imposed upon him. Haughtily enthroned upon its mountain-rock, this Oriental city with its girdling _enceinte_ of walls, towers and bastions, seemed as if built with set purpose to triumph over every device that could be brought against it by the military science of the West. There was no doubt about it: it was THE STRONGEST CITY IN THE WORLD, and if adequately provisioned, and defended with due care, was absolutely impregnable. “And I have wagered Mucianus,” said Titus grimly, “that I’ll take it within seven weeks.” Alexander gravely shook his head. “Twice seven weeks will pass--yea, and three times seven weeks--ere the eagles fly over Zion.” In the midst of this reconnoitering, a gate by the Women’s Tower opened, and the Zealots poured forth in such numbers that the little Roman band, after holding their ground for a time, deemed it prudent to beat a retreat. Great was the delight of the Jews. Cæsar himself had been seen to fly! It was the promise and presage of more glorious victories. Early next day the Roman army advanced to within a mile of the northern wall of the city, and there began the construction of two huge camps. The forces of Titus consisted of four legions, the fifth or _Macedonia_, the tenth or _Fretensis_, the twelfth or _Fulminata_ (memorable for its flight under Cestius), and the fifteenth or _Apollinaris_.