April 14: The Siege of Jerusalem

Titus, soon to be emperor of Rome, laid siege to Jerusalem on this date in 70 CE, the fifth year of conflict described by Josephus in The Jewish War. To pressure the city’s water and food supplies, Titus allowed Passover pilgrims in but barred them from leaving. In May, he began to batter and breach the city’s outer walls; by September, Jerusalem was under Roman military control, with the Temple and many houses burned down and 100,000 residents killed (by Josephus’ count). Three years later the last Jewish stronghold in the land, Masada, was besieged until the Jews there committed mass suicide. A final war against the Romans would break out in 132, ending with the annihilation of the Jewish state and the torture and execution of its rabbinic leaders.

“There are three gates to hell. One of them is in Jerusalem.” —Talmud, Eruvin 19a