Josephus
It is said that, in Britain from the 18th Century, copies of Josephus’ works were as widespread and as well read as The Bible. Christians valued “The Antiquities of the Jews” in particular, for the retelling of parts of the Old Testament and apparently corroborating the historical existence of Jesus. Born Joseph son of Matthias, in Jerusalem, in 37AD, he fought the Romans in Galilee in the First Jewish-Roman War. He was captured by Vespasian’s troops and became a Roman citizen, later describing the siege and fall of Jerusalem. His actions and writings made him a controversial figure, from his lifetime to the present day.
Guests
- Tessa Rajak
2 episodes
Professor Emeritus of Ancient History, University of Reading - Philip Alexander
4 episodes
Professor Emeritus of Jewish Studies, University of Manchester -
Martin Goodman No other episodes
Professor of Jewish Studies, University of Oxford and President of the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies
Reading list
-
Flavius Josephus and Flavian Rome
Jonathan Edmondson, Steve Mason and James Rives (eds.) (Oxford University Press, 2005) Google Books → -
Josephus's Interpretation of the Bible
Louis H. Feldman (University of California Press, 1999) Google Books → -
The Ruling Class of Judaea: The Origins of the Jewish Revolt against Rome, A.D. 66-70
Martin Goodman (Cambridge University Press, 1987) Google Books → -
Rome and Jerusalem: The Clash of Ancient Civilizations
Martin Goodman (Allen Lane, 2007) Google Books → -
Prophetic Figures in Late Second Temple Palestine: The Evidence from Josephus
Rebecca Gray (Oxford University Press, 1997) Google Books → -
Josephus, the Emperors and the City of Rome
William den Hollander (Brill, 2014) Google Books → -
The Jewish War
Josephus (trans. G. A. Williamson) (Penguin, 1981) Google Books → -
Flavius Josephus, Translation and Commentary
Steve Mason (ed.) (Brill, 1999) Google Books → -
Josephus, Judea and Christian Origins: Methods and Categories
Steve Mason (Baker, 2008) Google Books → -
Josephus: The Historian and his Society
Tessa Rajak (Duckworth, 2002) Google Books → -
Making History: Josephus and Historical Method
Zuleika Rodgers (ed.) (Brill, 2006) Google Books →
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Programme ID: b05vfdzl
Episode page: bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05vfdzl
Auto-category: 220 (Bible and related religious texts)