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 of Egypt
Josephus tells us that, after the fall of Masada (The Jewish War 7, 420-36), some fighters, having escaped from the disaster and taken refuge in Egypt, had attempted to foment a revolutionary movement within the ranks of the Jews of Egypt. The prefect of Egypt,...
by hadassah | Oct 31, 2016 | Jews of Egypt
In 69 Tiberius was at work preparing the accession of Vespasian, who needed Egyptian support in order to be proclaimed emperor. Our prefect knew this and, on July 1, 69, he had his troops and the people of Alexandria swear allegiance to Vespasian. A mere scrap of...
by hadassah | Oct 31, 2016 | Jews of Egypt
Tiberias Julius Alexander (e.g. nephew of the Jewish Philosopher, Philo) Tiberius had chosen an administrative career in the emperor’s service. Like everyone else, he had to begin by serving a term in the armed forces, before taking his first civil position in about...
