We discuss strong gravitational lensing by multiple objects along any line
of sight. The probability for strong gravitational lensing by more than one
lens is small, but a number of strong lens systems in which more than one
separate lens contribute significantly to the lensing potential will be det
ected in the large sample of lens systems compiled with new instruments. Us
ing multi-lens ray-tracing, we estimate the likelihood for gravitational le
nsing by two lenses at different redshifts and investigate typical image ge
ometries and magnification cross-sections. We find that, for a cosmology wi
th Omega (M) = 0.3 and Omega (Lambda) = 0.7, about one in 20 lens systems c
onsists of two lenses with merging caustics. Multiple lens systems differ f
rom single lenses as the presence of a second lens in close proximity along
the line of sight leads to a strongly asymmetric potential, which increase
s the multiple imaging cross-section and significantly changes the image co
nfiguration. The external shear induced by a second nearby galaxy, group or
cluster can significantly affect image positions even for more widely sepa
rated lens pairs. Both of these effects must be accounted for in lens model
ling. We also show how the presence of aligned discs in the pair of lensing
galaxies can lead to very large high-magnification cross-sections. Lensing
by more than one galaxy along the line of sight can lead to interesting im
age configurations. Such systems will be important in future, both for cons
training lens models of individual systems and for statistical lensing.