Greco-Roman antiquity's premier Jewish historian.

Josephus, soldier, statesman, historian, was a Jew born at Jerusalem about AD 37. A man of high descent, he early became learned in Jewish law and Greek literature and was a Pharisee. After pleading in Rome the cause of some Jewish priests he returned to Jerusalem and in 66 tried to prevent revolt against Rome, managing for the Jews the affairs of Galilee. In the troubles that followed he made his peace with Vespasian. Present at the siege of Jerusalem by Titus, he received favors from these two as emperors and from Domitian, and assumed their family name Flavius. He died after 97.

As a historical source Josephus is invaluable. His major works are: History of the Jewish War, in seven books, from 170 BC to his own time, first written in Aramaic but translated by himself into the Greek we now have; and Jewish Antiquities, in twenty books, from the creation of the world to AD 66. The Loeb Classical Library edition of the works of Josephus, which is in thirteen volumes, also includes the autobiographical Life and his treatise Against Apion.

About the Author
Ralph Marcus (1900-1956) taught at the Jewish Institute of Religion at Columbia and at the University of Chicago. Allen Paul Wikgren (1906-1998) was Professor of New Testament and Early Christian Literature at the University of Chicago.


Book Information
ISBN 9780674995789
Author Josephus
Format Hardback
Page Count 400
Imprint LOEB
Publisher Harvard University Press
Weight(grams) 272g