Flavius Josephus and Flavian Rome

Abstract

Abstract Flavian Rome has most often been studied without serious attention to its most prolific extant author, Titus Flavius Josephus. Josephus, in turn, has usually been studied for what he is writing about (mainly, events in Judaea) rather than for the context in which he wrote — Flavian Rome. For the first time, this book brings these two phenomena into critical engagement, so that Josephus may illuminate Flavian Rome, and Flavian Rome, Josephus. Who were his likely audiences or patrons in Rome? How did the context in which he wrote affect his writing? What do his narratives say or imply about that context? To explore such a wide range of issues, requiring different kinds of special knowledge, this book brings together scholarship from North America, Europe, and Israel. All of the chapters, from different vantage-points, deal with the central questions posed above. The result is a set of studies that works coherently from Josephus’ historical situation through the interpretation of his writings in context. A full introductory essay situates each contribution in the history of scholarship, highlighting its significance for the underlying problems. This is the first study of Josephus’ Roman context in such scope and detail. Readers will find it a valuable resource for both Josephus and Flavian Rome, as well as a reference-point for the developments that are sure to follow.

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