Ten Caesars: Roman Emperors From Augustus to Constantine by Barry Strauss

Author:Barry Strauss [Strauss, Barry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781451668858
Google: _jtqDwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 2019-03-05T00:00:00+00:00

THE JEWISH WAR

Hadrian incited a new, massive Jewish revolt against Rome, lasting from 132 to 135. The proximate cause was probably his decision to refound Jerusalem as a Roman city. Hadrian also banned circumcision, a fundamental Jewish practice, but maybe only as a punishment for rebellion; the chronology is unclear. We might think of Jerusalem as a wasteland after Titus destroyed the city in 70, but, in fact, it was still inhabited. In ancient times, a small number of people often continued to live in “destroyed” cities. So, not only was a legion based in Jerusalem, but also Jews continued to live there. Although the temple had been destroyed, there were seven synagogues.

Both Trajan and Hadrian hinted at first at friendlier policies toward Jews, even possibly allowing the temple to be rebuilt. But the plans for Aelia Capitolina, announced in 130, put an end to all that. The new city would be thoroughly Roman, laid out on a grid plan, and named after both Hadrian (Aelius) and Jupiter (Capitolinus, after Capitoline Jupiter).

The revolt, when it came, was violent and dramatic. The rebels prepared carefully by forging weapons and using caves as both fortresses and refuges. They declared independence and made it stick. They took a large part of Judea away from the Romans and governed it for three years. They passed laws, issued coins, and above all, ran a war.

Unlike in the revolt of 66 to 70, the Jews were united. Their leader was a charismatic, ruthless, and effective man who acquired the nom de guerre Simon Bar Kokhba, Simon, Son of a Star. This may refer to a biblical prophecy, to the new star that Hadrian’s astrologers saw after Antinous’s death, or to both. Bar Kokhba acquired the title of Prince of Israel, and his coins advertised liberty and redemption. Jews hoped that he was the Messiah. Romans saw a security challenge requiring a major response, especially when rebel attacks caused Roman losses leading to the disbandment of one and possibly two legions.

Hadrian might have considered the rebels ingrates who rejected his liberation from their backward beliefs. Before deciding to build Aelia, perhaps he spoke to Hellenized Jews who assured him that most Jews would embrace Hellenism with open arms. Alas, a very different reality lay ahead. Hadrian was neither the first nor the last Western statesman to underestimate the degree of resistance to outside reformers in the Middle East.

Hell hath no fury like an emperor scorned. Hadrian took emergency measures. He rushed troops to Judea from other provinces and levied soldiers in Italy, an unpopular policy that emperors tried to avoid. He sent in his best general, Sextus Julius Severus, the governor of far-off Britain. Hadrian probably even visited the front in person, which shows the seriousness of the situation. Roman strategy was a long, hard counterinsurgency campaign against the rebels in their caves. When the time was right, the Romans laid siege to Bar Kokhba’s stronghold in the town of Betar, just southwest of Jerusalem. Its fall

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