The destruction of Jerusalem and the Second Temple of Jerusalem (the First Temple had been built by King Solomon and destroyed by the Assyrians) took place in the year 70 A.D., i.e., the fourth year of the Jewish revolt against Roman domination. The siege was conducted by General Titus, son of General Vespasian, who had just been proclaimed emperor by his troops. Most of he Jewish survivors of the siege of the city were enslaved and forced to parade on the streets of Rome as part of Titus's Triumph or victory celebration. The few survivors who managed to escape, mainly members of two extremist groups known as the zealots and sicars managed to occupy the fortress of Masada, some 20 miles south of Jerusalem, and resist a three-year siege. As the Roman legions were about to breach the walls of Masada and take the fortress, the defenders took their own lives to prevent the Romans from taking them as prisoners and having them parade in Rome.
