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Josephus’ Portrait of the Flavian Triumph in Historical and Literary Context

  • Steve Mason
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Der römische Triumph in Prinzipat und Spätantike
This chapter is in the book Der römische Triumph in Prinzipat und Spätantike

Abstract

Students of the Roman triumph usually amputate Josephus’ account (Bell. Iud. 7.121-162) for comparison with others. This has encouraged the view that he gives an official Flavian description of something he may not even have seen. The present chapter argues that reading Josephus’ triumph story as an integral part of his Judaean War produces a different picture. In the War’s periodic structure, the end of the work reprises the beginning. Josephus writes to challenge simplistic accounts, according to which Vespasian and Titus crushed a contemptible Eastern Menace (Bell. Iud. 1.1-8). Writing from a Judaean-elite perspective, Josephus dismantles this view. Pompey took Judaea for Rome more than a century earlier, and Augustus’ friend Herod established Judaea as Rome’s trusted regional broker, a relationship that has endured. Vespasian took over the suppression of conflict in this longstanding province from its legate; it was no foreign conquest. In taking Jerusalem, Titus admitted his dependence on the Judaean God. The Flavian triumph, fons et origo of Judaean humiliation, was a sham. Lacking real Kriegsbeute, the Flavians constructed a spectacle themselves, fabricated make-believe scenes, and were reduced to featuring sacred objects as booty. (Contrast Pompey.) Josephus was not in a position to object, and anyway he understood the need for public dissembling. His portrayal of the triumph was in the vein of ‘safe criticism’, and it became useful for Titus.

Abstract

Students of the Roman triumph usually amputate Josephus’ account (Bell. Iud. 7.121-162) for comparison with others. This has encouraged the view that he gives an official Flavian description of something he may not even have seen. The present chapter argues that reading Josephus’ triumph story as an integral part of his Judaean War produces a different picture. In the War’s periodic structure, the end of the work reprises the beginning. Josephus writes to challenge simplistic accounts, according to which Vespasian and Titus crushed a contemptible Eastern Menace (Bell. Iud. 1.1-8). Writing from a Judaean-elite perspective, Josephus dismantles this view. Pompey took Judaea for Rome more than a century earlier, and Augustus’ friend Herod established Judaea as Rome’s trusted regional broker, a relationship that has endured. Vespasian took over the suppression of conflict in this longstanding province from its legate; it was no foreign conquest. In taking Jerusalem, Titus admitted his dependence on the Judaean God. The Flavian triumph, fons et origo of Judaean humiliation, was a sham. Lacking real Kriegsbeute, the Flavians constructed a spectacle themselves, fabricated make-believe scenes, and were reduced to featuring sacred objects as booty. (Contrast Pompey.) Josephus was not in a position to object, and anyway he understood the need for public dissembling. His portrayal of the triumph was in the vein of ‘safe criticism’, and it became useful for Titus.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Inhalt IX
  3. Abkürzungen XI
  4. Verzeichnis der Karten XII
  5. Der römische Triumph in Prinzipat und Spätantike 1
  6. Teil 1: Der römische Triumph im frühen Prinzipat
  7. The Late Republican Triumph 29
  8. Die Transformation des Triumphes in augusteischer Zeit 59
  9. Tracht, Insignien und Performanz des Triumphators zwischen später Republik und früher Kaiserzeit 83
  10. Die Triumphe der julisch-claudischen Zeit 103
  11. Teil 2: Der römische Triumph in der hohen Kaiserzeit
  12. Josephus’ Portrait of the Flavian Triumph in Historical and Literary Context 125
  13. Die Dynamik von Herrschaftsdarstellung und Triumphideologie im ausgehenden 1. und frühen 2. Jh. 177
  14. Sieg und Triumph in der Zeit von Antoninus Pius bis Commodus 215
  15. Der Triumph im Dienste dynastischer Politik 255
  16. Die Stadt Rom als triumphaler Raum und ideologischer Rahmen in der Kaiserzeit 283
  17. Turning Victory into Defeat 317
  18. Teil 3: Der römische Triumph im dezentralisierten Imperium
  19. Two Third-Century Triumphal Decennalia (ad 202 and 262) 337
  20. Zwischen Severus Alexanders Triumph über die Sāsāniden im Jahre 233 und den Triumphfeierlichkeiten Diocletians und Maximians im Jahre 303 357
  21. Triumph in the Decentralized Empire 397
  22. Die Triumphatordarstellung auf Münzen und Medaillons in Prinzipat und Spätantike 419
  23. Teil 4: Der römische Triumph in der Spätantike
  24. Der römische Triumph und das Christentum 455
  25. Roma tardoantica come spazio della rappresentazione trionfale 487
  26. The Topography of Triumph in Late-Antique Constantinople 511
  27. The Decline and Fall of the Ancient Triumph 555
  28. Indizes (Namen, Orte, Begriffe, triumphale Inszenierungen) 569
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110448009-008

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Inhalt IX
  3. Abkürzungen XI
  4. Verzeichnis der Karten XII
  5. Der römische Triumph in Prinzipat und Spätantike 1
  6. Teil 1: Der römische Triumph im frühen Prinzipat
  7. The Late Republican Triumph 29
  8. Die Transformation des Triumphes in augusteischer Zeit 59
  9. Tracht, Insignien und Performanz des Triumphators zwischen später Republik und früher Kaiserzeit 83
  10. Die Triumphe der julisch-claudischen Zeit 103
  11. Teil 2: Der römische Triumph in der hohen Kaiserzeit
  12. Josephus’ Portrait of the Flavian Triumph in Historical and Literary Context 125
  13. Die Dynamik von Herrschaftsdarstellung und Triumphideologie im ausgehenden 1. und frühen 2. Jh. 177
  14. Sieg und Triumph in der Zeit von Antoninus Pius bis Commodus 215
  15. Der Triumph im Dienste dynastischer Politik 255
  16. Die Stadt Rom als triumphaler Raum und ideologischer Rahmen in der Kaiserzeit 283
  17. Turning Victory into Defeat 317
  18. Teil 3: Der römische Triumph im dezentralisierten Imperium
  19. Two Third-Century Triumphal Decennalia (ad 202 and 262) 337
  20. Zwischen Severus Alexanders Triumph über die Sāsāniden im Jahre 233 und den Triumphfeierlichkeiten Diocletians und Maximians im Jahre 303 357
  21. Triumph in the Decentralized Empire 397
  22. Die Triumphatordarstellung auf Münzen und Medaillons in Prinzipat und Spätantike 419
  23. Teil 4: Der römische Triumph in der Spätantike
  24. Der römische Triumph und das Christentum 455
  25. Roma tardoantica come spazio della rappresentazione trionfale 487
  26. The Topography of Triumph in Late-Antique Constantinople 511
  27. The Decline and Fall of the Ancient Triumph 555
  28. Indizes (Namen, Orte, Begriffe, triumphale Inszenierungen) 569
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