Early Judaism- A Comprehensive Overview

now a largely independent subunit of Syria under a subordinate official: a

prefect of Judea(praefectus Iudaeae).The other parts of Herod’s former

kingdom came under direct Roman administration only after their rulers

Antipas and Philip had died, but they were not added to Judea. Only be-

tween 41 and 44c.e.were all parts reunited under the Jewish king Agrippa I.

Few material remains can be securely attributed to the Romans, among

them mostly inscriptions or building projects relating to infrastructure

such as the aqueducts at Caesarea Maritima and Jerusalem. Caesarea is the

only city where some building activity from the post-Herodian and pre-

Revolt period can be observed. The governor probably resided in Herod’s

promontory palace, not far from the hippodrome. Administrative buildings

were erected and the large storage vaults used for trade. Especially famous is

an inscription discovered in 1961 that mentions Pontius Pilate (re)erecting a

building dedicated to Tiberius (probably a lighthouse):Tiberieum [Pon]tius

Pilatus [Praef ]ectus Iuda[eae].Large estates that formerly belonged to

members of the Herodian family were now administered byprocuratoresof

the emperor, who were mostly freedmen. A small garrison was stationed on

Masada.

The First Revolt (66-73/4c.e.)

The outbreak of the Jewish Revolt in 66c.e.interrupted most integrative

trends in Palestinian Jewish culture. Archaeological evidence for the activi-

ties and ideology of the insurgents is strong and varied. Coins serve as di-

rect evidence of the ideology of the insurgents and their efforts to set up an

effective administration (see figs. 12-13). The Jewish population was mobi-

lized and cities, especially in the north, were fortified. Many of these forti-

fications are known from Josephus, only a few from the archaeological

record. Apart from the wall surrounding Itabyrion (Mt. Tabor), it is espe-

cially the Zealot occupation at Herodium and Masada that has triggered

the interest of scholars. Both strongholds and their supplies were seized

from the Romans in the year 66. At Herodium and Masada, triclinia were

converted into assembly rooms (synagogues) by changing the layout of the

room (Masada) and adding benches around the walls (Herodium and

Masada). The casemate walls at Masada were subdivided into workshops,

and living quarters for families and headquarters were set up in the west-

ern palace. According to the excavators, the construction of numerous

stepped pools(miqva}ot)and the use of special types of pottery (“dung

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jürgen k. zangenberg

EERDMANS -- Early Judaism (Collins and Harlow) final text
Tuesday, October 09, 2012 12:04:13 PM