The walls of ancient fortified cities had a broad space at the top, protected by battlements at the outer edge, where the bulk of the defenders were stationed and from which they hurled stones or shot arrows at the enemy. The king seems to have been making the rounds of these defenses, encouraging his troops and acquainting himself with the progress of the siege. A woman in the street below, or perhaps from a housetop near the city wall, saw the king and appealed to him for help.