Reading Companion to Book 1 of The Seculary of a Wandering Jew Read online

the pagans. The Jews, armed with clubs and swords, meet in the marketplace. The Procurator of Judea, Antonius Felix, orders his troops to charge. The violence continues and Felix asks Nero to arbitrate. Nero, sides with the pagans and relegates the Jews to second-class citizens. This decision does nothing but increase the Jews' anger.

  Judaea is returned piecemeal to Agrippa I's son Marcus Julius Agrippa between 48 and 54.

  Paul of Tarsus begins his third mission.

  Years 55-57

  Agrippina the Younger is expelled from the imperial palace by her son Nero, who installs her in Villa Antonia in Misenum.

  Britannicus, son of Claudius is killed by supporters of Nero.

  War between Rome and Parthia breaks out due to the invasion of Armenia by Vologases I, who had replaced the Roman supported ruler with his brother Tiridates of Parthia.

  The apostle Paul writes his First and Second Epistle to the Corinthians and his Epistle to the Romans (probable date).

  Year 58

  Paul of Tarsus is arrested in Jerusalem, and is imprisoned in Caesarea. He then invokes his Roman citizenship and is sent to Rome to be judged.

  Marcus Antonius Felix is replaced by Porcius Festus.

  St. Paul writes his Epistle to the Romans.

  Years 59-61

  Emperor Nero orders the murder of his mother Julia Augusta Agrippina. He tries to kill her through a planned shipwreck, but when she survives has her executed and frames it as a suicide.

  Paul of Tarsus journeys to Rome, but is shipwrecked at Malta.

  Porcius Festus dies and is replaced by Lucceius Albinus.

  Year 62

  After the death of Sextus Afranius Burrus and the disgrace of Seneca, Nero, free from their influence, becomes a megalomaniacal artist fascinated by Hellenism and the Orient. From this time onward his rule becomes highly abusive.

  A great earthquake damages cities in Campania, including Pompey. A violent storm destroys 200 ships in the port of Portus.

  James, first Bishop of Jerusalem, is stoned to death in Jerusalem.

  Paul of Tarsus is imprisoned in Rome (approximate date).

  Aulus Persius Flaccus, Roman poet and satirist dies.

  Years 63-64

  Pompey the city at the foot of Mount Vesuvius, is heavily damaged by a strong earthquake. Fearing an eruption of the volcano, many of the 20,000 inhabitants leave their homes in a panicked flight.

  A fire begins in the merchant area of Rome and soon burns completely out of control. The fire destroys close to one-half of the city and it is officially blamed on the Christians, a small but growing religious movement. Nero is accused of being the arsonist by popular rumor.

  In Rome, persecution of early Christians begins under Roman Emperor Nero. Peter the Apostle is possibly among those executed.

  Seneca proclaims the equality of all men, including slaves.

  Lucceius Albinus is replaced by Gessius Florus as Procurator of Judaea.

  Deaths of Paul the Apostle (earliest date) and Peter the Apostle (earliest date)

  Year 65

  After a stage performance in which he appears and shocks the senatorial class considerably, Nero engages in a series of reprisals against Seneca, Tigellinus, pro-republican senators, and anyone else he distrusts.

  Nero kills his pregnant wife, Poppea Sabina, with a kick to the stomach.

  The Gospel of Matthew is probably written between 60 and this year.

  Paul of Tarsus ordains Timothy as bishop of Ephesus (traditional date).

  The first Christian community in Africa is founded by Mark, a disciple of Peter. Mark begins to write his gospel.

  Year 66

  The Jewish Revolt (66 - 70 AD) commences against the Roman Empire. The Zealots lay siege on Jerusalem and annihilate the Roman garrison (a cohort of Legio III). The Sicarii capture the fortress of Masada overlooking the Dead Sea.

  Cestius Gallus, legate of Syria, marches into Judea and leads a Roman army of 28,000 soldiers to put down the Jewish rebellion. Gallus succeeds in conquering Beit She'arim "the new city", but is unable to take the Temple in Jerusalem. He retreats to the coast, but is surrounded at Beth-Horon and nearly wiped out by the Zealots. He finally manages to arrive in Caesarea, with six thousand men and numerous standards, including the eagle of Legio XII.

  The First Epistle to Timothy is written (approximate date).

  Years 67-69

  Vespasian arrives in Ptolemais, along with Legio X Fretensis and Legio V Macedonica to put down the Jewish Revolt. He is joined by his son Titus, who brings Legio XV Apollinaris from Alexandria. By late spring the Roman army numbers more than 60,000 soldiers, including auxiliaries and troops of king Agrippa II.

  Jewish leaders at Jerusalem are divided through a power struggle, a brutal civil war erupts, the Zealots and the Sicarii execute anyone who tries to leave the city.

  Siege of Jotapata and massacre of its 40,000 Jewish inhabitants. The historian Josephus, leader of the rebels in Galilee, is captured by the Romans. Vespasian is wounded in the foot by an arrow fired from the city wall. Fall of the Jewish fortress of Gamla in the Golan to the Romans and massacre of its inhabitants.

  In 68 Emperor Nero commits suicide four miles outside Rome. He is deserted by the Praetorian Guard and then stabs himself in the throat. The Roman Senate declares Nero as a persona non grata. In the line of succession, Galba follows Nero.

  The year 69 is the Year of the Four Emperors: After Nero's death, Galba, Otho, Vitellius and Vespasian succeed each other as emperor during the year.

  Galba and his adopted son Piso are murdered by the Praetorian Guard on the Roman Forum. Otho seizes power in Rome, proclaims himself emperor, and reigns for three months before committing suicide. After the Battle of Bedriacum, Vitellius becomes emperor. A few months later, Vitellius is captured and murdered by the Gemonian stairs. Vespasian becomes emperor.

  The Flavian dynasty starts.

  Vespasian lays siege to Jerusalem, the city is captured the following year by his son Titus.

  Sardinia becomes a Roman province.

  Possible martyrdom of apostles Peter and Paul in Rome. Linus succeeds Peter as the second Bishop of Rome (in Catholic reckoning).

  Year 70

  Panic strikes Rome as adverse winds delay grain shipments from Africa and Egypt, producing a bread shortage. Ships laden with wheat from North Africa sail 300 miles to Rome's port of Ostia in 3 days, and the 1,000 mile voyage from Alexandria averages 13 days. The vessels often carry 1,000 tons each to provide the city with 8,000 tons per week it normally consumes.

  Vespasian arrives in Ostia from Alexandria as the new Emperor.

  Titus surrounds the Jewish capital, with three legions (V Macedonica, XII Fulminata and XV Apollinaris) on the western side and a fourth (X Fretensis) on the Mount of Olives to the east. He puts pressure on the food and water supplies of the inhabitants by allowing pilgrims to enter the city to celebrate Passover and then refusing them egress.

  The Romans open a full-scale assault on Jerusalem, concentrating their attack on the city's Third Wall (HaHoma HaShlishit) to the northwest. The Wall collapses and the Jews withdraw from Bezetha to the Second Wall, where the defenses are unorganized.

  The Roman legions breach the Second Wall of Jerusalem. The Jewish defenders retreats to the First Wall. The Romans built a circumvolution, all trees within fifteen kilometers of the city are cut down.

  Titus storms the Fortress of Antonia north of the Temple Mount. The Romans are drawn into street fighting with the Zealots. Titus destroys the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. Roman troops are stationed in Jerusalem and the Jewish high priesthood and the Sanhedrin are abolished.

  Following this event, the Jewish religious leadership moves from Jerusalem to Jamnia, and this date is mourned annually as the Jewish fast of Tisha B'Av.

  A few days later, Titus assaults the Temple Mount and destroys Herod's Palace in the Upper City of Jerusalem. Jewish resistance ends on September 26.

  Annexation of the island of Samothra
ce by the Roman Empire under Vespasian.

  Year 71

  Titus is awarded a triumph, accompanied by Vespasian and his brother Domitian. In the parade are Jewish prisoners and treasures of the Temple of Jerusalem, including the Menorah and the Pentateuch. The leader of the Zealots, Simon Bar Giora, is executed.

  Titus is made Prefect of the Praetorian Guard and receives pro-consular command and also tribunician power, all of which indicates that Vespasian will follow the hereditary tradition of succession.

  Herodium, Jewish fortress south of Jerusalem, is conquered and destroyed by Legio X Fretensis on their way to Masada.

  Years 72-73

  The Romans lay siege to Masada, a desert fortress held by Jewish victims of the Sicarii.

  Vespasian starts the building of the Colosseum; the amphitheater is used for gladiatorial games and public spectacles, such as sea battles, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas of Classical mythology.

  In 73, the Roman governor Lucius Flavius Silva lays siege to Masada, the last outpost of the Jewish rebels following the end in 70 of the First Jewish-Roman War (Jewish Revolt). The Roman army (Legio X Fretensis) surrounds the mountain fortress with a 7-mile long siege wall and built a rampart of stones and beaten earth against the western approach. After the citadel is conquered, 960 Zealots under the leadership of Eleazar ben Ya'ir commit mass suicide when defeat becomes imminent.

  Years 74-79

  In 75, the Temple of Peace, also known as the Forum of Vespasian, is built in Rome. The temple celebrates the conquest of Jerusalem (in 70) and houses the Menorah from Herod's Temple.

  In 76, Pope Anacletus I succeeds Pope Linus as the third pope (according to the official Vatican list).

  In 79 Vespasian dies of fever from diarrhea, his last words on his deathbed are: "I think I'm turning into a god" Titus succeeds his father as Roman emperor.

  Mount Vesuvius erupts, destroying Pompey, Herculaneum, Stabiae and Oplontis. The Roman fleet based at Misenum, commanded by Pliny the Elder, evacuates refugees but he dies after inhaling volcanic fumes.

  Emperor Titus dedicates the famous Roman Colosseum.

  Year 81

  Domitian succeeds his brother Titus as emperor. Domitian is not a soldier like his two predecessors, and his administration is directed towards the reinforcement of a monarchy. By taking the title of Dominus ("lord"), he scandalizes the senatorial aristocracy. Romanization progresses in the provinces, and life in the cities is greatly improved. Many provincials - Spanish, Gallic, and African - become Senators.

  The Arch of Titus is constructed.

  Years 82-93

  Roman emperor Domitian fights the Chatti, a Germanic tribe. His victory allows the construction of fortifications (Limes) along the Rhine-frontier.

  Through his election as consul for ten years and Censor for life, Domitian openly subordinates the republican aspect of the state to the monarchical.

  In 88, Pope Clement I succeeds Pope Anacletus I as the fourth pope.

  In 90, drafting of The Gospel of John and the Acts of the Apostles.

  In 93, Emperor Domitian persecutes the Christians.

  PERSONAE

  The Family

  Ahasver*

  Narrator

  Isaac*

  Brother of Ahasver

  Rebecca*

  Wife of Isaac

  Ruth*

  Wife of Ahasver, proselyte

  Simon*

  Son of Isaac

  Simon (father)*

  Father of Ahasver and Isaac

  Daniel*

  Son of Ahasver

  The Messianics / Christians

  Abiram*

  Head of the Messianics in Arimathea

  Barnabas

  Missionary and companion to Saul

  Barnabas, born Joseph, was an early Christian, one of the earliest Christian disciples in Jerusalem. According to Acts 4:36 Barnabas was a Cypriot Jew. Named an apostle, he and Paul the Apostle undertook missionary journeys together and defended Gentile converts against the Judaizers.

  They traveled together making more converts (c 45-47), and participated in the Council of Jerusalem (c 50). Barnabas and Paul successfully evangelized among the "God-fearing" gentiles who attended synagogues in various Hellenized cities of Anatolia.

  Although the date, place,