World History
A Flavius Josephus Page - Site on the famous Jewish historian including his biography, works, and extracts with commentary. Includes additional articles about Josephus, Judaism, and Jewish history and practices.
Josephus fought in the revolt against Rome that was crushed by the future Emperor Vespasian. He survived a suicide pact, was captured and spared by the Romans, and eventually became one of the most influential men in the Roman Empire.
From the site:
Taken prisoner by Vespasian, Josephus presented himself as a prophet. Noting that the war had been propelled by an ancient oracle that foretold a world ruler would arise from Judaea, Josephus asserted that this referred to Vespasian, who was destined to become Emperor of Rome. Intrigued, Vespasian spared his life. When this prophecy came true, and Vespasian became Emperor, he rewarded Josephus handsomely, freeing him from his chains and eventually adopting him into his family, the Flavians. Josephus thus became Flavius Josephus.
During the remainder of the war, Josephus assisted the Roman commander Titus, Vespasian's son, with understanding the Jewish nation and in negotiating with the revolutionaries. Called a traitor, he was unable to persuade the defenders of Jerusalem to surrender to the Roman siege, and instead became a witness to the destruction of the city and the Holy Temple.
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World History
A Flavius Josephus Page
A Flavius Josephus Page - Site on the famous Jewish historian including his biography, works, and extracts with commentary. Includes additional articles about Josephus, Judaism, and Jewish history and practices.
Josephus fought in the revolt against Rome that was crushed by the future Emperor Vespasian. He survived a suicide pact, was captured and spared by the Romans, and eventually became one of the most influential men in the Roman Empire.
From the site:
Taken prisoner by Vespasian, Josephus presented himself as a prophet. Noting that the war had been propelled by an ancient oracle that foretold a world ruler would arise from Judaea, Josephus asserted that this referred to Vespasian, who was destined to become Emperor of Rome. Intrigued, Vespasian spared his life. When this prophecy came true, and Vespasian became Emperor, he rewarded Josephus handsomely, freeing him from his chains and eventually adopting him into his family, the Flavians. Josephus thus became Flavius Josephus.
During the remainder of the war, Josephus assisted the Roman commander Titus, Vespasian's son, with understanding the Jewish nation and in negotiating with the revolutionaries. Called a traitor, he was unable to persuade the defenders of Jerusalem to surrender to the Roman siege, and instead became a witness to the destruction of the city and the Holy Temple.
- Which Roman Emperor Are You?
You scored as Trajan, You are quite fortunate to rank as the emperor Trajan, possibly the greatest of Roman emperors. You have relentlessly expanded the empire and even humbled the mighty Parthian empire. Loved by all, vastly larger than life, you are...
- Herod’s Tomb Reported Found
Has the tomb of Herod the Great been found? It looks like it may have been. A Los Angeles Times article by Ken Ellingwood titled Israeli claims site is Herod's tomb has the details. Ellingwood wrote, "For more than three decades, Israeli archaeologist...
- Hbo Rome (season Two) Coming Soon
I leave 2006 with happy news. HBO Rome, the awesome TV series about the last days of the Roman Republic and the birth of the Roman Empire, will have season two debut on January 14th. Sadly, this may be the final season. Wikipedia notes, "Subsequently...
- Nerva (96-98 A.d.)
Nerva (96-98 A.D.). This is a good biography of the elderly man who replaced the hated Domitian as Emperor of the Roman Empire. Edward Gibbons claimed that Nerva was the first of the Five Good Emperors. He changed the practice of Imperial succession...
- Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire. This is a nice essay on the history of the Eastern Roman Empire. It is from Wikinfo. From the site: The Byzantine Empire or Eastern Roman Empire was the eastern section of the Roman Empire which remained in existence after the...