ARCH OF TITUS, WITH THE MENORAH

Roman troops display their booty from Jerusalem: the Menorah

In the summer of 69AD, the Emperor Vespasian entrusted Titus with the suppression of the Jewish Revolt. In the following year, after a siege of four months, Jerusalem fell. The Temple of Jerusalem was destroyed, and the contents of its treasury were looted and taken to Rome.

Here's an interesting if little known fact: so massive was the haul of gold removed from the Temple, that the price of gold on the Syrian market fell to half its former value.

The scene above shows the procession from the Triumph given to Titus. His troops march through the main thoroughfare of Rome, carrying tangible evidence of their victory: the sacred seven branched Menorah used in Temple ceremonies.

The Jewish historian Josephus, who changed sides at the crucial moment, declared that Titus had tried to save the sanctuary of the Temple. Josephus always tried to present the Romans in the best possible light, since they were now his patrons.

But another tradition contradicts this view, saying that Titus showed no such clemency.

In any case, Titus'  treatment of his Jewish prisoners was ruthless, and it is not surprising that the Zealots at Masada decided to die rather than fall into his hands.