Dr. Guy Maclean Rogers

And at that point, the Romans decided again to send out governors, this time called procurators. And

It's really in the period from 44 to 66 when the revolt broke out that you can see things begin to spiral out of control as a result in large part of not only Roman mismanagement, but also increasing tensions between the different ethnic groups that were living side by side in most of the towns and cities in the region.

It's really in the period from 44 to 66 when the revolt broke out that you can see things begin to spiral out of control as a result in large part of not only Roman mismanagement, but also increasing tensions between the different ethnic groups that were living side by side in most of the towns and cities in the region.

It's really in the period from 44 to 66 when the revolt broke out that you can see things begin to spiral out of control as a result in large part of not only Roman mismanagement, but also increasing tensions between the different ethnic groups that were living side by side in most of the towns and cities in the region.

In fact, our friend Alexander the Great, in many ways, was responsible for kind of laying the groundwork for all of this. Because until Alexander went through there in 332, basically there were only indigenous peoples living in this area, speaking these Near Eastern languages. In Alexander's wake, his successors, so Lucas in this area and his successors,

In fact, our friend Alexander the Great, in many ways, was responsible for kind of laying the groundwork for all of this. Because until Alexander went through there in 332, basically there were only indigenous peoples living in this area, speaking these Near Eastern languages. In Alexander's wake, his successors, so Lucas in this area and his successors,

In fact, our friend Alexander the Great, in many ways, was responsible for kind of laying the groundwork for all of this. Because until Alexander went through there in 332, basically there were only indigenous peoples living in this area, speaking these Near Eastern languages. In Alexander's wake, his successors, so Lucas in this area and his successors,

brought in a different culture with different practices and traditions. And by the time we get to the middle of the first century CE,

brought in a different culture with different practices and traditions. And by the time we get to the middle of the first century CE,

brought in a different culture with different practices and traditions. And by the time we get to the middle of the first century CE,

These peoples are living side by side in places like Caesarea on the coast, which was probably originally what they call a Phoenician foundation, but had been kind of refounded by Herod the Great as a place that had synagogues in it, but also Greco-Roman public buildings and games being celebrated.

These peoples are living side by side in places like Caesarea on the coast, which was probably originally what they call a Phoenician foundation, but had been kind of refounded by Herod the Great as a place that had synagogues in it, but also Greco-Roman public buildings and games being celebrated.

These peoples are living side by side in places like Caesarea on the coast, which was probably originally what they call a Phoenician foundation, but had been kind of refounded by Herod the Great as a place that had synagogues in it, but also Greco-Roman public buildings and games being celebrated.

Yes, everything. All the sort of typical things you would find in a Greek city of the first century. And there developed a conflict and a rivalry over who was going to be kind of in charge of places like Caesarea. Was it going to be the Hellenes, the Greeks, or people who Josephus called Syrians, who were probably non-ethnically Greek, but culturally Greek people, or the Jews.

Yes, everything. All the sort of typical things you would find in a Greek city of the first century. And there developed a conflict and a rivalry over who was going to be kind of in charge of places like Caesarea. Was it going to be the Hellenes, the Greeks, or people who Josephus called Syrians, who were probably non-ethnically Greek, but culturally Greek people, or the Jews.

Yes, everything. All the sort of typical things you would find in a Greek city of the first century. And there developed a conflict and a rivalry over who was going to be kind of in charge of places like Caesarea. Was it going to be the Hellenes, the Greeks, or people who Josephus called Syrians, who were probably non-ethnically Greek, but culturally Greek people, or the Jews.

And actually, that's kind of the exact starting point for the war itself. According to Josephus, that rivalry in Caesarea, it led to a riot over a sacrifice that a Greek guy decided he would make next to a synagogue owned by the Jews. And that was the start of it.

And actually, that's kind of the exact starting point for the war itself. According to Josephus, that rivalry in Caesarea, it led to a riot over a sacrifice that a Greek guy decided he would make next to a synagogue owned by the Jews. And that was the start of it.

And actually, that's kind of the exact starting point for the war itself. According to Josephus, that rivalry in Caesarea, it led to a riot over a sacrifice that a Greek guy decided he would make next to a synagogue owned by the Jews. And that was the start of it.

Right. So the background to the spark which lit off the revolt was this conflict over who was going to be able to say that they were in charge of Caesarea. And essentially, both sides were provoking the other, but it got ratcheted up by this attempted sacrifice of birds outside of the synagogue. We don't know exactly what the purpose of the sacrifice was.