by hadassah | Dec 11, 2016 | Jews in the Diaspora
The Visigoths led by King Alaric besieged Rome “It was at length agreed that the city should give 5,000 pounds of gold and 30,000 pounds of silver… Palladius was not able to complete the whole sum … they (e.g. the Romans) not only robbed statues of their ornaments but...
by hadassah | Dec 5, 2016 | Jews in the Diaspora
Synagogues It is alleged that Christian arsonists burned a synagogue in the Italian city of Aquilea. In a letter to Emperor Theodoric, Saint Ambrose denied the allegation, characterizing the event as “an act of providence.” Source: Ruggini,...
by hadassah | Oct 31, 2016 | Jews of Egypt
What was “Jewish Egypt” like after the defeat of 117 CE? The evidence of tax receipts on ostraca is both objective and appalling. Ever since the year 70, which saw the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, any Jew in the Roman Empire was subjected to a special tax....
by hadassah | Oct 31, 2016 | Jews of Egypt
One undisputed fact remains: the brief idyll between the benevolent imperial couple (e.g. Trajan and Plotina) and the Jews was soon to be shattered by the revolt of 115. The reaction of the Roman government fulfilled the desire of Hermaiskos to see the emperor...
by hadassah | Oct 31, 2016 | Jews of Egypt
We do know that the embassies (e.g. Jews and Pagans from Alexandria) or trial must have taken place before Trajan left Rome in November 113 C.E. to make war on the Parthians. CPJUD. II 157, Col. 2 When the winter was over they arrived in Rome. The Emperor learned that...
by hadassah | Oct 31, 2016 | Jews in the Diaspora
Jews and Christians In his Lives of the Caesars, Suetonius gives some valuable information about Jews in the early imperial period, and for part of the data is the only source. This applies to his statements concerning the mourning among the Jews at the death of...
