The old building was demolished and the new begun in 20 BC. Work went on intermittently till AD 64. the plan followed the shape of Solomon's Temple, but the new one was 60ft. high and built of blocks of white stone. The Holy of Holies was of course still empty – there was no Ark of the Covenant, and was separated from the Court by a veil. The gate to the Holy of Holies was on the East, and had doors 75 ft. high and 24 ft broad. The whole structure stepped up towards the Holy of Holies, which was of 2 levels. Surrounding the Temple was a great pillared Court – the court of the Gentiles. On the East Solomon's Porch of the Gentiles. On the West was the Tyropoeon Valley. The Royal porch was on the south side. The Temple itself had the Beautiful Gate, or Gate of Nicanor, on the East, opening on to the Court of the Women, surrounded by the Women's gallery. Moving West straight through an opening was the Court of Israel, with a vast altar of Burnt Offering. Contained within the Court of Israel was the Court of the Priests, and within it, the Holy Place, reached by a porch and with the Holy of Holies beyond. The Jews used this Temple as a citadel when Titus besieged Jerusalem, and with the Romans victory, the temple was completely destroyed in AD 70.