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ROMAN OCCUPATION & LIFE OF JESUS
37 BC - 390 AD
37 BC
70 AD
132 AD
390 AD
Caesarea Roman Amphitheater
HERODEAN DYNASTY & ROMAN EMPIRE
Judea lost its independence to the Romans in the 1st century BC, becoming first a tributary kingdom, then a province, of the Roman Empire. The Romans had allied themselves to the Maccabees and in 63 BC, at the end of the Third Mithridatic War, Pompey the Great (proconsul Pompeius Magnus) interfered. He besieged Jerusalem in 63 BC and gained control of Judea. After Pompey the rule of Judea passed on to the family of Herod. Herod I or Herod the Great was born in 72 B.C. in Judaea and reigned form 40 to 4 BC. He came from a powerful and wealthy Idumaean family that had converted to Judaism and had a strong connection with the rulers in Rome since Herod's father Antipater had been the Roman governor for Judea. Herod received the position of governor of Galilee during his father's rule. When his father was murdered by political rivals and the Parthians invaded Judaea in 40 B.C., Herod fled to Rome. The Senate became impressed by his allegiance to the Romans and named him King of Judaea. Herod returned with a Roman army and in 37 AD he captured Jerusalem. Herod's power expanded rapidly (both in territory and wealth) because of his good relationship with Rome.
Video of the Davidson Centre that displays the Migdal stone and the Antigonus Coins.
Temple of Jerusalem - Dura Europos Synagogue (245-256 AD Syria)
King Herod left an unmistakable print on the architecture of Israel. First of all he enlarged the Temple in Jerusalem, The most holy place in Judaism and some remnants can still be seen (See Temple mount). To have an impression of how the Temple and the Temple menorah looked like, it is interesting to see the Bar Kochba coins, the small King Antigonus coin, and the Dura Europos Synagogue located in Syria (see photo).
King Herod also build Masada, Jericho, Caesarea Maritima and the Herodion. The synagogues and mikvaot's of these Herodion buildings are a fascinating reminder of the connection of the Herodean Family to Judaism! However within Herods kingdom many people saw his allegiance to Rome as a betrayal. King Herod's 33-year rule was marked by his political, military, and architectural genius on one hand and by increasing paranoia and extraordinary cruelty on the other. He killed many of his own family (wife and sons) and it was near the end of his life that Herod according to the scriptures ordered the brutal killing of all male infants in Bethlehem. His goal was the death of the baby whom according to prophets, would become King of the Jews.
In 4 B.C King Herod died in Jericho and he was buried in the Herodium. He was succeeded by his sons Herod Antipas, Archelaus and Philip and the area was divided by the three rulers until Agrippa I united the kingdom again. Agrippa, a grandson of Herod the Great was king form Judea from 41 - 44 AD and the father of Herod Agrippa II, the last king from the Herodean dynasty. In the centuries before Alexandria became an important and large community of Jews. During the Roman era antisemitic sentiment began developing and it resulted in the pogroms of 38 AD and 66 AD. Many Jews migrated to neighbouring countries and also Jews fled to Judea. Prosecution and migration became themes that were mutually connected to the early and later development of Judaism.
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Fine Quality Stone work - Herodion Photo Carole Raddato
EARLY ROMAN JEWISH LIFE
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Migdal stone: photo by Hanay
Despite the end of Jewish political independence Jewish life seems to have flourished in the land of Israel. The rebuilding of the Tempel of jerusalem is of course the greatest testimony of Jewish life during the early Roman period. Herodean synagogues in Masada and Herodium were build and also in the Galilee some of the earliest synagogues can be found. At Migdal or Magdala two synagogues existed in this Roman town and they were in use from about 50 B.C.E. until the Jewish rebellion in 67 A.D. In one of the synagogues archaeologists discovered an unusual stone (see photo) carved with a seven branched menorah. The menorah engraving is the first of its kind to be discovered from the Early Roman period and according to the researchers, the relief shows that Migdal’s synagogues were built when the temple of Jerusalem was still standing.
Another fascinating example shows unique traditions that today are a vital part of Judaism and that can be traced back to ancient times. Ancient leather 'Tefillin' cases were discovered in caves near Qumran in the Judean Desert. Tefillin are a pair of black leather boxes containing Hebrew parchment scrolls. One is used for the head and one for the arm and each consist of the biblical scrolls, a box and the strap. The Torah commands Jews or Jewish men to bind tefillin onto their head and upper arm every weekday and by doing so to literally bind ourselves to the one and only God.
LIVE OF JESUS
For many people no description can ever describe the unique and world inspiring live of Jesus except the New Testament. Apart from religion, the archaeological world can not prove 100% what has been written about him in the Bible but there are very strong indications that he truly lived in Israel. (See: article). The earliest New Testament papyri found nearby in Egypt are confirmations of the Gospels of John and Matthew and dated between 100 and 175 AD. Furthermore the archaeological record provides us with the fascinating Pilate stone, found in Caesarea that confirms the existence of Pontius Pilate. The recently excavated Biar Shat Tunnel was also probably built by or during the reign of Pontius Pilate. It gives an impressive picture of the highly developed engineering skills used by the Roman engineers and by the slaves they used in the construction. This was the world, dominated by powerful Roman rulers in which Jesus lived among his fellow Jews. He lived according to the Jewish law and learned Torah in the synagogues. His teachings are connected to many ancient sites in Israel (See also 'Synagogues from the Live of Jesus' and 'Some famous Churches'). His religiosity, teachings and legacy gave rise to Christianity, and he is even seen as a prophet within Islam. The life of Jesus is there for connected to three world religions even though he (except for messianic Jews) has no accepted role in Judaism.
Perhaps no person ever gave more sacred inspiration, without compromises, in helping vulnerable people in this world, working for equal rights to all and working for and cherishing love, friendship and faith (instead of wealth, materialism and power). Even our modern lives are often influenced by the teachings of Jesus. The Torah gave him the religious and moral foundations of human rights regarding equality. Jesus at the same time was a true revolutionary with his treatment of women, children and the weak, poor and vulnerable people. This was truly exceptional in those ancient times. He praised women and made it clear that he saw women as equals. Jesus talked about ethics when he urged us to “do to others what you want them to do to you” similar to Leviticus 19:18 "thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself". This is a duty that everyone should see of the most holy importance. According to Jesus this way of living was equally important to the faith in God and together these are the most important goals in a faithful Life. His live eventually accelerated the development of equal human rights. (see article for more info on his impact on human rights.) Revolutionary teachings but on the other hand always part of and not contradicting the teaching of the Torah.
JUDAISM & RELATION TO JESUS
More than 1,000 years after Jesus’ crucifixion, the famous medieval sage Maimonides (also known as Rambam) laid out in his Mishneh Torah specific things Jews believe the messiah must accomplish in order to confirm his identity. The most important are restoring the kingdom of David to its former glory, achieving victory in battle against Israel’s enemies, rebuilding the temple (which the Romans destroyed in 70 CE) and in gathering the exiles to the land of Israel. “And if he’s not successful with this, or if he is killed, it’s known that he is not the one that was promised by the Torah,” Maimonides wrote. Clearly Jesus did not fulfil these three tasks according to the Rabbi's. Nor was he interested in war or material like buildings but Jesus was interested in devotion and did in fact restore the sanctity of the Temple which he called "my fathers House". Both in the very early days of his ministry, he cleansed the Temple court of the merchandisers and money changers (See John 2:13-16) and just before his death “He went into the temple of God, cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money changers” (Matt.21:12). Jesus even foretold to his followers the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple (Luke 21:5-7). To the local Romans Jesus became more of a threat when he gathered rising numbers of followers which could lead to a revolt.
Jesus & antisemitism
Very often the highly negative experiences with the crusades, pogroms and the role of the church during the holocaust, affected the Jewish imaging of Jesus while these are clearly not related. This was also because of the way extremist Christians during the crusades blamed the Jews as a group for the death of Jesus. This bizarre idea that caused so much destruction and death is because the New Testament tends to place the blame specifically on the Temple leadership and more generally on Jewish people. According to the Gospels, the Roman governor Pontius Pilate was reluctant to execute Jesus but was egged on by bloodthirsty Jews According to the Gospel of Matthew, after Pilate washes his hands and declares himself innocent of Jesus death, “all the people” (i.e., all the Jews in Jerusalem) respond, “His blood be on us and on our children” (Matthew 27:25). This “blood cry” and other verses were used to justify centuries of Christian prejudice against Jews.
This violence in fact totally contradicts the non-violent teachings of Jesus and those teachings are crucial for Christian faith. Only in 1965 the Vatican promulgated a document called Nostra Aetate (Latin for “In Our Time”) which stated that Jews should not be held responsible for the death of Jesus. This text paved the way for a historic rapprochement between Jews and Catholics. Several Protestant denominations and Eastern Orthodox churches across the globe subsequently adopted similar statements. Antonio Barluzzi created in the 1930's the calvary chapel mosaics in the church of the Holy Sepulchre with a similar statement. More important for the future of our world are the lines mentioned in the Nostra Aetate (see link):
"Furthermore, in her rejection of every persecution against any man, the Church, mindful of the patrimony she shares with the Jews and moved not by political reasons but by the Gospel's spiritual love, decries hatred, persecutions, displays of anti-Semitism, directed against Jews at any time and by anyone." & "We cannot truly call on God, the Father of all, if we refuse to treat in a brotherly way any man, created as he is in the image of God. Man's relation to God the Father and his relation to men, his brothers are so linked together that Scripture says: "He who does not love does not know God" (1 John 4:8)." And: "that all men are created in God's image, and that it is contrary to the mind of Christ to discriminate against, show hatred towards or harass any person or people on the basis of colour, race, religion, and condition of life."
Hopefully times of hatred between religions in Israel & between Christians and Jews can be banished!
....thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself...
leviticus 19:18
"God's promise stands. Israel remains God's people just like God's promise to the followers of Jesus is unbreakable. How God will shape their future is up to him. Scolars should actually be true teachers that create bridges instead of differences. Of course differences between Judaism, Christianity and Islam remain but
God's love is so much greater!"
Arch of Titus - Rome
DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM
After the Babylonian captivity and the destruction of the first temple in Jerusalem the most profound influence of the development of Judaism was the destruction of the second temple in Jerusalem by the Romans. The great Jewish uprising began in the year 66 and started when the Jews discovered that the Roman governor, Florus, had stolen huge amounts of silver from the Temple. The Jews rioted and defeated the Roman soldiers in and outside Jerusalem. These initial victories convinced the Zealots that they actually had a chance at defeating the Roman Empire. Unfortunately, this would not happen. In AD 70 the Roman army lead by General Titus destroyed Jerusalem and the Holy Temple leaving only the outer retaining wall of the Temple known today as the Wailing Wall. The destruction of the Second Temple made the Jews realise that the revolt had failed. More dramatic an estimated one million Jews died in the Great Revolt or were taken into captivity.
The aim to destroy Jerusalem could not have been the idea that Judea was a real threat to Rome. This victory was used as propaganda for the Flavian family who rule Rome. The famous Arch of Titus (together with another Arch in Rome that does exist anymore) shows the people of Rome the grandiose power of Rome the conquest of Jerusalem, bringing wealth of the Temple treasury and slaves to Rome and showing the humiliation of the enemy. The victory was shown on Vespasian coins in 71 AD but this propaganda was still used in 80 AD when the Arch of Titus was completed. Clearly this victory would all help Vespasian and Titus consolidate their positions as emperor (or future emperor) of Rome.(see more in this article). Not all Jews or cities revolted against the Romans as can be seen in other contemporary coins from Sepphoris/Zippory one of the most important cities of the 1st century AD.
FIRST SCHOOLS IN THE WORLD!?
Important to mention is the famous Joshua Ben Gamla a High Priest in the last years of the Second Temple. He was married to Martha, daughter of Boethus, one of the wealthiest women of Jerusalem, She was a widow and married Ben Gamla before he was appointed by Agrippa II since it was forbidden for a High Priest to marry a widow. After being married she had paid large sums of money for the position of High Priest for Yoshua Ben Gamla. Ben Gamla is credited and praised for establishing a universal system of education. Perhaps those were the first school in the world. He started a system and pedagogical principles with teachers in each district and each town (instead of only in Jerusalem). Because of this, it was said of Ben Gamla: "Truly, the name of that man is blessed… since but for him the Torah would have been forgotten in Israel.." (Talmud , Bava Batra 21a)
BAR KOCHBA REVOLT & ROMAN ATTEMPTS TO ERADICATE JUDAISM
The Bar Kochba rebellion by the Jews of the Judea was fought between 132–136 AD. It was the last of three major Jewish-Roman wars and it became known as The Third Jewish–Roman War (when also the much smaller and local Kitos war of 115AD -117 AD is counted). The revolt began as small, spontaneous clashes between Jews and Roman forces. Jews were hiding in caves in order to be able to perform the mitzvahs. When discovered by Roman soldiers, they resisted, in some cases successfully. Shimon ben Kozba, united the disparate armed Jewish groups into a cohesive fighting force, which then captured Jerusalem from the Romans. Ben Kozba further proclaimed himself as the Messiah and had the backing of the greatest sage of his time, Rabbi Akiva, along with many other sages. Shortly, Ben Kozba became known as Bar Kokhba (Bar Kochba), which means son of a star, based on a verse in the Torah (Numbers 24:17) that likens the Messiah to a star. Interesting are the archeological finds in the 'Cave of Letters' related to Bar Kochba. Bar Kochba commanded an impressive Jewish army of more than 300.000 soldiers. Empreror Hadrian brought a massive army and his best generals from Europe showing that the Roman Empire truly felt threatened by his revolt. The city of Beitar was the most important strategical fortress of the Jewish forces led by Bar Kochba. It was so heavily fortified and held enough supplies to hold on nearly indefinite, but the secrets of the city were betrayed by unknown Jews to the Romans. Bar Kochba however accused the Rabbis of betrayal and lost their support and his short status of the Messiah. Beitar fell to the Romans on Tisha B’Av, the ninth day of the month of Av, in 135 CE.
It marks on of the greatest national tragedies of the Jewish people. Bar Kochba was eventually killed in battle that ended in a horrible blood bath. According to Dio Cassius and Jewish sources, at least a half a million Jews were killed. Bar Kochba’s defeat marked the end of any sort of Jewish autonomy in the Jewish homeland until the twentieth century. After 135 CE, when the rebellion was crushed, Hadrian went on to commit a true genocide in his campaign to kill all the Jews but also completely destroy the memory that they had ever existed. In effect, he decided to “solve the Jewish problem” once and for all. He banished the Jews from Jerusalem and even partly lowered temple mount in an effort to make rebuilding of the Jewish temple impossible. (See article) Hadrian also changed the name Judea into Syria Palaestina. A famous Roman Military Diploma dating to this period is still visible in Louvre Museum. Previously the larger region was called Syria, while the name Palaestina was used to describe the coastal area (today Gaza-Ashkelon).
Magnificent photo of 3th century Kfar Baram Synagogue by Erez Ashkenazi
OTHER DEVELOPMENTS DURING THE ROMAN OCCUPATION OF ISRAEL
The Romans had introduced legal citizenship for all residents of the Roman Empire in 212 during the reign of Caracalla. This 'Edict of Caracalla' also implied that the Jews obtained legal equality like all other Roman citizens. Maybe in this way more people were obliged to pay tax or serve in the Roman Army. However, few of those that gained citizenship were wealthy and could pay these taxes. This legal status continued when the Byzantine empire succeeded the Roman Empire and Jews enjoyed the right to practice their faith and build synagogues (as can be seen in the number of Synagogues that were built in the Galilee during Late Roman and Byzantine era). However, there were exemptions for example in 351 AD when the Jews were banished from Jerusalem after rebellion against Rome.
Apart from legalizing Christianity the most important decision of Emperor Constantine was changing the Capital from Rome to Byzantium in the eastern part of the Roman empire. Renamed Constantinopel the new capital was located more strategically and less vulnerable to foreign attacks than Rome. Valentian I (who ruled between 364 and 375) appointed his brother Valens as emperor of the East while he remained Emperor of the West part of the Roman empire. This would eventually lead to the rise of the Eastern Roman or Byzantine empire.
Marble tablet from a synagogue in Ashkelon, 3th century AD. Photo by Bukvoed
New research revealed that in the late Roman Period the Jezreel Valley in Israel "was one of the foremost centres" for glass production in the ancient world. Israel was a centre were large quantities of raw glass were manufactured but also techniques for higher quality glass were developed (see article). Glass vessels from this period discovered in sites in Europe and in shipwrecks in the Mediterranean basin have shown that the glass was produced in Israel (see article). This industry seems to be functioning well into the 7th century AD and after the Arabs conquered Israel (see shipwreck of Ma'agan Michael). Apart from producing glass it is fascinating to see other types of production like the ceramic oil-lamp workshop in Beit Shemesh. It is one of the largest ever found and hundreds of ceramic oil lamps, two bearing symbols of the menorah, and stone lamp molds were found together with terracotta figurines from about 1600-1700 years ago.
Tiberias - 2nd century Mausoleum Rabbi Meir Baal Hanes
JEWISH REVIVAL IN ISRAEL
Between the second and fifth century AD two cornerstones of Judaism were written in the Roman province of Palaestina or the land of Israel. In Beit Shearim and Sepphoris, the Rabbi Judah HaNasi ( called "Rabbi") compiled and wrote 'The Mishnah' probably around 200 AD. The Mishnah is the written collection of the Oral Torah. The Mishnah was partly formed due to fear that the Jewish people would lose their unity and beliefs if they were not in the Holy City of Jerusalem. It ran into 63 volumes, and Rabbi Judah divided it into six sections that specified Jewish law for agriculture, family matters (marriage divorce etc), religious rituals, festivals, civil and criminal law and purity laws.
After the Bar Kochba revolt many Jews fled to other parts of Israel and the Jewish Court or Great Sanhedrin moved to the Galilee (that became part of the Roman province of Syria Palaestina). In this period the Sanhedrin was sometimes named the Talmudic Academies or Patriarchate of Syria-Palaestina or the Galilee, being the governing legal body of Galilean Jewry. At the end of the 3th century the name 'Sanhedrin' was changed into Beit HaMidrash (house of learning) to avoid the growing persecution by the Romans. The last decision of the Great Sanhedrin was the establishment of the Hebrew Calendar in 358 AD and in 425 AD the Great Sanhedrin was disbanded. Some Jews fled to Peki'in in North. According to Josephus' in his famous book 'The Jewish War' this village was named Baca and marked the border between the kingdom of Herod Agrippa II and the kingdom of Tyre. The Jewish presence in Peki'in survived until the modern day.
MISHNAH & TALMUD
Picture: a 12th century Mishnah
Leiden Or. 4720: ancient Talmud dating to 1289 AD, now in Leiden Museum (see link)
The term "The Talmud" can encompass either the Gemara alone or both the Mishnah and Gemara together. The Gemara, a vital element of the Talmud, consists of a collection of rabbinical interpretations and commentaries on the Mishnah. Its development began in the late second century CE, stemming from the study of the Mishnah. The dialogues and discussions among rabbis and their students in academies in both Israel and Babylon were eventually recorded in two distinct forms of the Talmud:
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The Talmud Yerushalmi (The Jerusalem or Palestinian Talmud) was compiled during the early part of the 4th century, spanning from the late 300s to 400 CE, in locations such as Tiberias, Caesarea, and Sepphoris.
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The Talmud Bavli (Babylonian Talmud) was assembled around 500 CE by two Babylonian rabbis.
The Babylonian Talmud has traditionally been more extensively studied and held in higher regard. However, there has been a recent resurgence of interest in studying the Jerusalem Talmud.
PILGRIMAGE & BURIAL BY JEWS FROM YEMEN
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Besides writings and stories that remain of great importance, many graves of famous Rabbi's are sacred places of worship in Judaism today (see Graves of Important Rabbi's). Tiberias is famous for the graves of Rabbi Akiva, his wife Rachel and Rabbi Meir who lived in the time of the Mishnah.
The rabbi's of the Sanhedrin, like Judah HaNasi were buried in the fascinating Beit Shearim rock cut tombs. Remarkable are the tombs of the Himyarite Jews. The Himyar Kingdom that became Judaized between the second and 4th century was located in what is now Yemen. In the 3th century rich Jews from the Kingdom of Himyar made pilgrimages to Judea and some were buried in Beit Shearim next to the Sanhedrin tombs confirming the high status of the Sanhedrin among Jews. See article for more info on the Jews from Himyar and Ethiopia.
START OF CHRISTIANITY
Originally Christianity was a movement of Jews who accepted Jesus as the Messiah with Jerusalem as its center. During the violent siege of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 AD, the church escaped temporally to Pella (Jordan) but returned afterwards. A list of 15 Bishops of Jerusalem who ruled to 130 AD, was given by the great historian Eusebius of Caesarea. After the Bar Kokhba Revolt in AD when all Jews and Jewish Christians were banished from Jerusalem. The 'first church' in Jerusalem was headed by James the Just, Jesus’s half-brother. He is also known as James the Lesser to distinguish him from James the Great, son of Zebedee, who was one of Jesus’s 12 apostles.
Eusebius of Caesarea, Garima Gospels. Photo: Michael Gervers
In 48-50 AD the Council of Jerusalem was held with apostles Barnabas and Paul. The meeting was held to discuss the legitimacy of Paul's evangelising mission to the Gentiles and the freedom from Mosaic law and circumcision of males granted to the Gentiles. Most followers of Jesus however were living according to the Jewish law with the addition that they accepted Jesus as their messiah. At the conference it was decided that Gentile Christians no longer have to observe the Laws of Moses and were not bound by ceremonial regulations of the Jews. So in the very early days the church was reshaped by Paul and the other apostles and at the same time Christians were severely persecuted under the Roman Empire. Also tensions between the Jewish Christians and the Jews were sometimes high. James the Just (or known as James the Lesser) is believed to have been martyred in Jerusalem in 62 or 69 AD. He was stoned to death by the Pharisees on the order of high priest Ananus ben Anunus.
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The Cenacle, claimed to be the location of the Last Supper and the church of the Apostles.
The early Christian community of Jerusalem was led by a Council of Elders as described in Acts 11:30 and 15:22. According to Eusebius this collegiate system of government continued until the year 324 AD, with an unbroken succession of thirty-six Bishops of Jerusalem.
During the reign of the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great (306-337 AD) Christianity began to transition to the dominant religion of the Roman Empire after Constantine legalized Christianity and converted in 312 AD. However, during the reign of Constantine pagan religions still held their important position in Roman society until Emperor Theodosius I (who ruled from 379-395 AD) made Christianity a state religion at the end of the 4th century AD.
Intriguing is the recent discovery of a concealed church within a prison at Tell Megiddo. Archaeologists have meticulously dated this structure and its mosaic floor to a time preceding the reign of St. Constantine and the official recognition of Christianity as a religion. This makes it the oldest Christian church in Israel, constructed during an era when many Christians were still persecuted by the Romans.
What's particularly noteworthy is the Greek mosaic inscription that reads: "The God-loving Akeptous has offered the table to God Jesus Christ as a memorial." This inscription serves as clear evidence that the belief in the divinity of Jesus was not a later development during Constantine's time but was firmly established in the early years of Christianity. Additionally, the inscription suggests that this place of worship existed before the Byzantine era when Christians began using altars instead of tables in their religious ceremonies. Remarkably, remnants of a table were discovered between the two mosaics. The mosaic floor was adorned with geometric patterns and featured the early Christian symbol of the fish, with no crosses found within the site.
Important was also the translation of the scriptures from Hebrew and Greek into Latin by the Dalmatian priest Eusebius Hieronymus (Saint Jerome). He began in 386 AD and spent 30 years in a Cave (St Jerome cave underneath Saint Catherine's Church in Bethlehem) producing the first official vernacular version of the Bible. This translation of the Torah remained the authoritative version for Catholics until the 20th century. With his contribution Bethlehem became the monastic centre of Christianity in Israel during this period. The oldest complete bible in the world are the Garima Gospels, written in Ge'ez, the Ethiopian language that was remarkable preserved in an ancient monastery in Ethiopian mountains. It is dated between the late 4th and 7th century AD (see article).
In the 4th century AD Constantine’s mother, Queen Helena, had visited the Holy Land (326-328 A.D.). She identified, or might have misidentified, multiple important sites related to the life of Jesus. Many churches or monasteries were later erected at these places. The three most famous were The Church of the Holy Sepulchre (the place of crucifixion and resurrection), the Church of the Nativity (Bethlehem), and the Church of the Ascension (Mount of Olives). The first and the last were partly destroyed by the Persians in 614 A.D. The church of nativity was spared according to a legendary story because of a Persian commander who was moved by the depiction above the church entrance of the three kings or Magi (dressed like Persian priests). Clearly the church would have been even more impressive at that time plus the amount of destruction by the Persians was at such enormous scale that it could not have been blind rage of soldiers but a deliberate attempt to erase Christianity and to kill all Christians in a pure genocide
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WOMEN IN ROMAN TIMES
During the Roman period some important contributions to the history of Israel are related to women. The old Testament also contains many important stories and contributions of women to all that happened in these ancient times. For example Leah, Rachel, Devorah, Ruth and Esther. Apart from the Old Testament women, Luke describes Anna as female prophet in the New Testament (see link). And of course the great religious importance of mother of Jesus, Mary is obvious. She is the most divine person in Christianity. In Islamic tradition 'Maryam' (Arabic) has an exalted position, being the mother of Jesus, whom Muslims revere as a prophet. She is the only woman mentioned by name in the Quran, The nineteenth sÅ«ra, SÅ«rat Maryam – bears her name.
But apart from Mary, many more women left profound marks on developments in Israel and certainly in the Roman era. For example Helena the mother of Emperor Constantine and her travel to the holy land and St.Catherine of Alexandria who became the first female martyr at the beginning of the 4th century. Fascinating are also the stories of a less powerful Jewish women named Babatha (see Babatha scrolls) or the Jewish Queen Helena of Diabene. She was Queen of the far away Kingdom of Adiabene and was buried in Jerusalem after she was converted to Judaism.