[The Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus]@TWC D-Link book
The Antiquities of the Jews

CHAPTER 6
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Over this there was a veil of linen, of the same largeness with the former: it was to be drawn this way or that way by cords, the rings of which, fixed to the texture of the veil, and to the cords also, were subservient to the drawing and undrawing of the veil, and to the fastening it at the corner, that then it might be no hinderance to the view of the sanctuary, especially on solemn days; but that on other days, and especially when the weather was inclined to snow, it might be expanded, and afford a covering to the veil of divers colors.

Whence that custom of ours is derived, of having a fine linen veil, after the temple has been built, to be drawn over the entrances.
But the ten other curtains were four cubits in breadth, and twenty-eight in length; and had golden clasps, in order to join the one curtain to the other, which was done so exactly that they seemed to be one entire curtain.

These were spread over the temple, and covered all the top and parts of the walls, on the sides and behind, so far as within one cubit of the ground.

There were other curtains of the same breadth with these, but one more in number, and longer, for they were thirty cubits long; but these were woven of hair, with the like subtilty as those of wool were made, and were extended loosely down to the ground, appearing like a triangular front and elevation at the gates, the eleventh curtain being used for this very purpose.

There were also other curtains made of skins above these, which afforded covering and protection to those that were woven both in hot weather and when it rained.


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