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...
by hadassah | Oct 31, 2016 | Jews of Egypt
The action begins with a preliminary hearing before the Imperial Council, the Consilium Caesaris (symboulion in Greek), on the fifth of Pachon, the day before the Calends of May, i.e., April 30. The year has not been conserved but we may assume it was the first of...
by hadassah | Oct 30, 2016 | Jews of Egypt
Judeopagan Conflict Berlin Papyrus Inv. 8877; CPJUD. II 156C, Col. 2 Isidoros: “My Lord Augustus, with regard to your interests, Balbillus (e.g. leader of the Alexandria mission) indeed speaks well. But to you, Agrippa (King of Judaea), I wish to retort in connection...
by hadassah | Oct 30, 2016 | Jews of Egypt
Judeopagan Conflict/ The Temple Mount and Statue of Caligula Both the Jews and the Greeks (e.g. sent emmisaries to Rome) continued to plead their respective causes before the emperor. A Greek delegation, composed of “elders” (gerontes), left for Rome just after the...