Western Gates
Josephus Antiquities Book 12 Chapter 11
Grand Causeway
5. Now in the western quarters of the inclosure of the temple there were four gates. The first led to the King’s palace, and went to a passage over the intermediate valley.
Robinson's Arch
and the last led to the other city, where the road descended down into the valley by a great number of steps, and thence up again by the ascent. For the city lay over against the temple, in the manner of a theatre; and was encompassed with a deep valley, along the intire south quarter.
Southern Cloister
as also it had the royal cloisters, with three walks: which reached in length from the east valley, unto that on the west: for it was impossible it should reach any farther. And this cloister deserves to be mentioned better than any other under the sun. For while the valley was very deep, and its bottom could not be seen, if you looked from above into the depth, this farther vastly high elevation of the cloister stood upon that height: insomuch that if any one looked down from the top of the battlements, or down both those altitudes, he would be giddy: while his sight could not reach to such an immense depth.
Cloister Pillars
This cloister had pillars that stood in four rows, one over against the other all along; for the fourth row was interwoven into the wall, which [also was built of stone.] And the thickness of each pillar was such, that three men might, with their arms extended fathom it round, and join their hands again: while its length was twenty seven feet: with a double spiral at its basis. And the number of all the pillars [in that court] was an hundred and sixty two. Their chapiters were made with sculptures, after the Corinthian order; and caused an amazement [to the spectators,] by reason of the grandeur of the whole.