ire itself with bodies insensible of pain, and
with a soul that in a manner rejoiced under them. But what was most of
all astonishing to the beholders was the courage of the children; for
not one of these children was so far overcome by these torments, as to
name Caesar for their lord. So far does the strength of the courage [of
the soul] prevail over the weakness of the body.

2. Now Lupus did then govern Alexandria, who presently sent Caesar word
of this commotion; who having in suspicion the restless temper of the
Jews for innovation, and being afraid lest they should get together
again, and persuade some others to join with them, gave orders to Lupus
to demolish that Jewish temple which was in the region called Onion,
[19] and was in Egypt, which was built and had its denomination from
the occasion following: Onias, the son of Simon, one of the Jewish high
priests fled from Antiochus the king of Syria, when he made war with the
Jews, and came to Alexandria; and as Ptolemy received him very kindly,
on account of hatred to Antiochus, he assured him, that if he would
comply with his proposal, he would bring all the Jews to his assistance;
and when the king agreed to do it so far as he was able, he desired him
to give him leave to build a temple some where in Egypt, and to worship
God according to the customs of his own country; for that the Jews would
then be so much readier to fight against Antiochus who had laid waste
the temple at Jerusalem, and that they would then come to him with
greater good-will; and that, by granting them liberty of conscience,
very many of them would come over to him.

3. So Ptolemy complied with his proposals, and gave him a place one
hundred and eighty furlongs distant from Memphis. [20] That Nomos was
called the Nomos of Hellopolls, where Onias built a fortress and a
temple, not like to that at Jerusalem, but such as resembled a tower.
He built it of large stones to the height of sixty cubits; he made the
structure of the altar in imitation of that in our own country, and in
like manner adorned with gifts, excepting the make of the candlestick,
for he did not make a candlestick, but had a [single] lamp hammered out
of a piece of gold, which illuminated the place with its rays, and which
he hung by a chain of gold; but the entire temple was encompassed with
a wall of burnt brick, though it had gates of stone. The king also gave
him a large country for a revenue in money, that both the pries