“I deplore your taste, but for friendship’s sake I’ll accompany you. ’Tis the fashion of the Jews, as you see, to run to their synagogue, by way of showing their eagerness for divine worship. But we, who are dignified Romans, can take it more leisurely.” Discoursing thus, Rufus drew near the Royal Synagogue. “A small edifice, this, but neat,” he continued. “Now if you want to see something really splendid in a synagogic shape, go to Alexandria and view the Diapleuston, with its seventy golden chairs for the seventy members of the Sanhedrim; and as for size, so vast is it that the signal for the ‘Amen’ has to be given by the waving of a flag. ’Tis a striking scene!” As they stood upon the threshold, Rufus addressed the decurion that was in attendance upon him. “It is forbidden to wear arms in the synagogue; therefore, Quintus, take charge of my good sword, and tarry here till I come again. Doff we our sandals, Crispus, for ’tis the custom to enter barefoot.” Access was gained to the interior of the synagogue by a vestibule. Here stood the doorkeeper. He recognized in Rufus the commandant of Antonia, and at the latter’s desire conducted the two visitors to a place at the rear, where, screened by a pillar, they could see without being seen. The interior of the synagogue was very similar to that of a basilica, being oblong in shape and divided by pillars into aisles. The worshipers were ranged, the men on the one side and the women on the other, a partition about four feet high running between them--a striking contrast to the modern synagogic usage of placing the women in side galleries, screened with lattice-work. At the farther end of the building was a platform or daïs, on which stood the ark, or coffer, containing the rolls of the sacred books. Before it rose a golden candlestick, with seven branches. “A copy of the one in the temple,” observed Rufus. In front of the platform was a line of seats, whose occupants, mostly aged rabbis, sat facing the congregation. These were the places of honor, the “chief seats” so much coveted by every Jew; and here, by special privilege, as being the foundress of the synagogue, sat the Princess Berenice. “Who is that sitting on the right of the princess?” asked Crispus. For reply Rufus drew forth a golden coin, and pointed to its obverse, which bore the legend, “Agrippa, the Great King.” Crispus, knowing that Agrippa’s realm of Chalcis was of less extent than many a Roman estate, asked: “In what is he great?” “In his own esteem, and in the knowledge of his own law, being expert ‘in all customs and questions which are among the Jews.’ We shall perhaps have the pleasure of hearing him read from the Law and the Prophets, since he is fond of so doing.” “And what is that short marble pillar at one side of the daïs?” “That is the Red Column. Offenders against synagogic discipline are tied to it and scourged.”