Josephus (Wars 5) also described a terrace against the enclosing wall of the colonnade at the south side of the inner court. This terrace was 15 feet wide and called in the Mishnah (Middoth 2) the "Chel." Josephus adds that the terrace was reached by descending a 7 foot wide stairway, 5 stairs downward from the gates in the southern wall. He also adds that there were 14 steps beyond the terrace.