Gallus leads his main force down the coast from
Caesarea via
Antipatris to
Lydda, detaching other units, by land and sea, to neutralize the rebel strongholds at
Joppa,
Narbata and the Tower of
Aphek. With
Galilee and the entire Judean coast in his hands, Gallus assumes his campaign before the winter
rains render the roads impassable. He turns inland and marches on Jerusalem, taking the road via the plain at
Emmaus. Gallus succeeds in conquering
Beit She'arim (the "New City") on the
Bezetha Hill.[3]
November –
Battle of Beth-Horon: Gallus abandons the
siege of Jerusalem and chooses, for uncertain reasons, to withdraw west to winter quarters, where he is
ambushed and defeated by Judean rebels. Some 5,300 Roman troops are killed, as well as all their
pack animals, their artillery (which is to serve the Jews of Jerusalem during
Titus's siege operations four years later), and the greatest disgrace of all, the
eagle standard of Legio XII Fulminata. Gallus abandons his troops in disarray, fleeing to
Syria.[4]