rome. so the romans burned the temple to the ground, and titus and his men seized the spoils of war. >> the gold was melted down. the silver was melted down, and these precious metals were actually used in the facing of the coliseum, to adorn the coliseum. as all conquerors do, they took the wealth for themselves. >> the destruction of the temple was devastating and symbolic, further dividing jews and christians. jesus had prophesied the end of the temple. "truly i tell you," he said to his disciples, "not one stone will be left here upon another. all will be thrown down." >> for the christians, the destruction of the temple was punishment on the jews for their rejection of jesus.