Not far away, also, but somewhat in front of them and to the left, rose the mighty tower of Antonia, now one of the strongholds of John of Gischala and the Zealots, while also to the west, across the width of the city, were the towers of Hippicus, Phasael and Mariamne, backed by the splendid palace of Herod.

Besides these were walls, fortresses, gates and palaces without number, so intricate and many that the eye could scarcely follow or count them, and, between, the numberless narrow streets of Jerusalem.
These and many other things Ithiel pointed out to Miriam, who listened eagerly till he wearied of the task.

Then they looked downwards through the overhanging platforms of stone to the large market-place beneath and to the front, and upon the roofs of the houses, mostly of the humbler sort, that were built behind almost up to the walls of the Old Tower, whereon many people were gathered as though for safety, eating their morning meal, talking anxiously together, and even praying.
Whilst they were thus engaged, Nehushta touched Miriam and pointed to the road which ran from the Valley of Thorns on the northeast.
She looked, and saw a great cloud of dust that advanced swiftly, and presently, through the dust, the sheen of spears and armour.
"The Romans!" said Nehushta quietly.
She was not the only one who had caught sight of them, for suddenly the battlement of every wall and tower, the roof of every lofty house, the upper courts of the Temple, and all high places became crowded with thousands and tens of thousands of heads, each of them staring towards that advancing dust.

In silence they stared as though their multitudes were stricken dumb, till presently, from far below out of the maze of winding streets, floated the wail of a single voice.
"Woe, woe to Jerusalem!" said the voice.

"Woe, woe to the City and the Temple!" They shuddered, and as it seemed to them, all the listening thousands within reach of that mournful cry shuddered also.
"Aye!" repeated Ithiel, "woe to Jerusalem, for yonder comes her doom." Now on the more rocky ground the dust grew thinner, and through it they could distinguish the divisions of the mighty army of destroyers.