Flavius Josephus
Flavius Josephus
The Jewish historian of the Roman world
AD 37 – c. AD 100
Josephus was born around 37 AD in Jerusalem into an aristocratic Jewish priestly family. He commanded Jewish forces in Galilee during the Great Revolt of 66–70 AD, was captured by the Romans, and — in one of the more remarkable career pivots in ancient history — became the protégé of the Flavian emperors.
His Jewish War, written in seven books, is our primary account of the revolt and the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD. His Jewish Antiquities, in twenty books, tells the entire history of the Jewish people from creation to his own time. The Antiquities contains the earliest non-Christian reference to Jesus of Nazareth — a passage whose authenticity has been debated for centuries.
Josephus writes as a man caught between two worlds. His Greek prose is capable and sometimes powerful, his narrative vivid, his political insight sharp. He has been reviled as a traitor and valued as an irreplaceable witness. Both judgements are fair.
Works (4)
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1
Against Apion oratory
A defence of Judaism against Greek critics. Josephus argues that Jewish civilisation is older and more coherent than Greek — and that Greek writers ha...
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2
Jewish Antiquities history
Twenty books covering Jewish history from creation to the outbreak of the revolt in AD 66. Josephus retells the Bible for a Greco-Roman audience and c...
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3
Life of Josephus biography
Josephus' autobiography, defending his conduct during the Jewish War against accusations from rival historians.
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4
The Jewish War history
Seven books on the Jewish revolt against Rome, from its origins to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. Josephus fought in the war, surrendered, and...