114 - Julius Caesar and the Jews, w/ Barry Strauss

Key Takeaways

Julius Caesar's patronage significantly influenced Jewish life and Roman relations.
Caesar's assassination stemmed from conspirators' personal ambitions and fears of his monarchical intentions.
Herod the Great navigated complex Roman politics with extraordinary adaptability to secure his rule in Judea.
Herod's Romanization policies and ruthless actions led to both prosperity and widespread unpopularity among his Jewish subjects.

Caesar granted Jews 'religio licita,' exempting them from military service and respecting Sabbath and dietary laws.
He reversed punitive measures imposed by Pompey in 63 BCE, restoring Jewish territory, sea access, and Jerusalem's walls.
Caesar's support stemmed from crucial aid in Egypt in 48 BCE, when Antipater, Herod's father, led a contingent of 1,500 to 3,000 men to help him prevail in Alexandria.

Caesar's dominance created a power vacuum, blocking ambitious Roman politicians, including some of his own allies.
Fears intensified that Caesar aimed for hereditary rule, potentially through his great-nephew Octavius and his son Caesarion with Cleopatra.
Caesar's plans included conquering Dacia and attacking Parthia, and potentially moving the empire's capital to Alexandria Troas.
The placement of a statue of Cleopatra and Caesarion within Rome's pomerium was seen as a remarkable and potentially impious act.

Marcus Junius Brutus's loyalties were complex, with his mother being Caesar's mistress and his uncle Caesar's enemy, Cato the Younger.
Decimus, a close supporter and military commander for Caesar, turned against him due to thwarted ambitions.
Trebonius, a military associate, was tasked with preventing Mark Antony from intervening during the assassination.

The conspirators' motives were a mix of thwarted personal ambition and a genuine belief in the Roman Republic's ideals.
Caesar's perceived arrogance and his statements regarding the Republic's lack of substance contributed to the conspiracy.
His actions, including his relationship with Cleopatra, likely fueled fears of his monarchical ambitions among senators.

Following Caesar's assassination, Judea's geopolitical situation was precarious, heavily dependent on Roman power.
Internal divisions existed between pro-Roman factions and those vehemently opposed to Roman rule.
Herod executed anti-Roman raiders without trial, leading to protests and his appearance before the Sanhedrin, where he asserted his power.

In 40 BC, a Parthian invasion ousted the Roman-backed ruler in Judea, leading to the execution of Herod's brother.
Herod escaped to Cleopatra's court in Egypt before traveling to Rome for Roman support.
Mark Antony and Octavian convinced the Senate to declare Herod the King of Judea in 40 BC, a move solidified by their alliance after the Battle of Philippi.

Herod faced fierce opposition from Jewish nationalists who favored Parthia, recalling Cyrus the Great's liberation of Jews from Babylonian captivity.
Parthia, a wealthy empire controlling Silk Road trade routes with strong cavalry, was seen by Jewish rebels as a potential strategic ally against Rome.
Jewish communities were established both westward and eastward, including in regions of modern-day Iraq and Iran, fostering ties beyond Rome's immediate sphere.

Herod's fierce loyalty to Rome was seen in his efforts to Romanize Judea, leading to widespread unpopularity among his subjects.
He built fortified palaces like Herodium for self-protection and constructed pagan cities such as Caesarea Maritima, renamed Shechem to Sebaste, and added a temple to Augustus.
Despite expanding the Second Temple in Jerusalem, Herod's pagan constructions and installation of a Roman eagle symbol angered traditional Jewish opinion.

Following the Battle of Actium, Herod executed the Sanhedrin and deftly switched allegiance from Mark Antony to Octavian, securing his throne.
He executed three of his most talented sons due to suspicions of their ambition for the throne, ensuring less capable heirs.
The biblical 'slaughter of the innocents' is considered plausible given Herod's ruthless character and succession anxieties during his final illness in 4 BCE.
Herod, while dying, planned a mass slaughter of notable Judean men to compel mourning upon his death, a plan reportedly prevented by his sister.