Josephus

Abstract

Passages in Greco-Roman writings imply that several pagan authors were familiar with Josephus's writings, but Josephus was especially popular among the Christians, who have preserved and transmitted his works. Josephus is a very important source for the history of the Jews in the Near East in the Hellenistic and Early Roman periods. The Jewish War concerns the conflict between the Jews and the Romans in Judaea and Galilee in the first century ce. Josephus's Jewish War describes not only the events but also the locations where the conflict with the Romans took place, the actual theaters of war. Jerusalem is not only of central importance for thematic reasons, but the city also forms the center of Josephus's geographical system. Josephus is an important source about persons who belonged to local elites in the Near East and acted as so-called friendly kings of the Romans. Josephus himself provides useful information about Diaspora communities.