Bust of Julius Caesar, 48-44 BCE
Gaius Julius Caesar was born in 100 BCE and died in 44 BCE. He was the dictator of the Roman Empire from 48-44 BCE.
Fall of the Hasmoneans and Roman Conquest
Portrait of Pompey the Great, 53-48 BCE
Pompey the Great was born in 106 BCE. He was a military and political leader towards the end of the Roman Republic. He was an ally of Julius Caesar and Marcus Licinius Crassus and together they formed the First Triumvirate. After Crassus’ death, Pompey fought with Caesar over control over the Republic. He was […]
Shaye Cohen. “Roman Domination: The Jewish Revolt and the Destruction of the Second Temple.” Part II
Excerpted from Ancient Israel- From Abraham to the Roman Destruction of the Temple. Ed. Hershal Shanks. Washington, D.C.- Biblical Archaeology Society, 1999. The Romans entered Judean politics, ironically, by invitation of one Jewish faction that was in a power struggle with another. In 76 B.C.E. Alexander Jannaeus, the last great king of the Hasmonean line, died. He […]
Judea Under Roman Rule
Excerpted from Lawrence H. Schiffman, From Text to Tradition, Ktav Publishing House, Hoboken, NJ, 1991. We have already traced the history of the Hasmonean dynasty through the days of Salome Alexandra to its end in recrimination and civil war in 63 B.C.E. The decline of this great dynasty resulted, as was noted, from the very same Hellenizing […]
Fall of the Hasmoneans and Roman Conquest (63-37 BCE)
From Text to Tradition Judea Under Roman Rule Historical surveys Shaye Cohen. “Roman Domination- The Jewish Revolt and the Destruction of the Second Temple.” Part II Primary sources Josephus, War I, 160-79- The Last Revolts of the Hasmoneans Tacitus, Historiae V, 9-1-3- The Roman Conquest of Judaea Josephus, War II, 167-404- Jewish Law Clashes with […]