Cestius Gallus

Cestius Humiliated by Zealots (AD 66)

After Eleazar b. Ananias lawlessly put a stop to all Gentile sacrifices, the Moderates and pro-Roman citizens of Jerusalem pleaded with him to restore the sacrifices, but he refused. This division between the Moderates in the upper city and the Zealots in the Temple rapidly degenerated into armed conflict. Menahem overpowered the Roman garrison on…

Put a Stop to Sacrifices (AD 66)

We are continuing to build a chronology of the Zealot rebellion and their war with Rome. We pick up the historical narrative in May of AD 66 just after Gessius Florus had attempted to seize all the remaining temple gold. This action by Florus forced the Zealots to revolt. Josephus mentions several of the reasons…

Cestius Gallus Fiasco (AD 66)

We look at the early months of the Jewish rebellion (August through December AD 66). We notice how the Zealots quickly organized their government and prepared for the Roman attack. The Roman Legate in Antioch, Cestius Gallus, did not waste any time responding to the rebellion, but his attack on Jerusalem was mismanaged from start…