Ventidius Cumanus
Ventidius Cumanus | |
---|---|
3rd Procurator of Iudaea | |
In office 48 – c. 52 | |
Appointed by | Claudius |
Preceded by | Tiberius Julius Alexander |
Succeeded by | Marcus Antonius Felix |
Personal details | |
Born | 1st century? |
Ventidius Cumanus (
Procuratorship of Iudaea
Nothing is known about Cumanus before he was appointed
Scope of Authority
Josephus, the main source for Cumanus' career, presents him as governing the whole of Iudaea until 52, when he was succeeded by Marcus Antonius Felix.[2] However, Tacitus states that Felix was already governing Samaria before 52, while Cumanus had authority over Galilee to the north (see map).[3] Tacitus does not mention who controlled other areas of the province.
This conflict has led historians to take a number of positions on political arrangements in the province. Some have argued that Josephus' greater knowledge of Jewish affairs justifies favouring his account.[4] M. Aberbach believes that there was a division of power, but that Tacitus reversed the governors' areas of authority and that Cumanus actually governed the south and Felix the north; this fits better with Josephus, who describes Cumanus as active in Jerusalem and nearby.[5] Another suggestion is that part of the province was transferred to Felix after disturbances under Cumanus' rule.[6]
Roman-Jewish conflict
Under Alexander, the province of Iudaea had enjoyed a period of relative peace, but that proved to be transient, as Cumanus' governorship was marked by a series of serious public disturbances. Trouble started while Jewish pilgrims were gathered in
Further unrest was triggered when an Imperial slave named Stephanus was robbed while travelling near
Jewish-Samaritan conflict
The events that would cost Cumanus his office began with the murder of one or more Galilean pilgrims who had been travelling through Samaria on their way to Jerusalem. A Galilean embassy asked Cumanus to investigate but received little attention; Josephus alleges that he had been bribed by the Samaritans to turn a blind eye.
Meanwhile, two separate embassies had been dispatched to
Perhaps after hearing a case against Cumanus in Iudaea,
See also
- Prefects, Procurators, and Legates of Roman Judaea
Notes
- .
- ^ a b Josephus, War 2.247; Antiquities 20.137.
- ^ a b c Tacitus, Annals 12.54.
- ISBN 0-567-02242-0.
- JSTOR 1453002.
- ISBN 90-04-06403-6.
- ^ Josephus, War 2.224-225; Antiquities 20.105-108.
- ^ a b Smallwood, p. 264.
- ^ Josephus, War 2.226 (the Temple courtyard); Antiquities 20.109-110 (the Fortress).
- ^ Josephus, War 2.227; Antiquities 20.111-112.
- ^ Josephus, War 2.227.
- ^ Josephus, War 2.228-231; Antiquities 20.111-117.
- ^ Josephus, War 2.232-233; Antiquities 20.118-119.
- ^ Josephus, War 2.234-238; Antiquities 20.120-124. See also Smallwood, pp. 267–268.
- ^ Josephus, War 2.239-240; Antiquities 20.125-127.
- ^ Josephus, War 2.241-242; Antiquities 20.128-131.
- ^ Josephus, War 2.243-246; Antiquities 20.131-136.
References
Ancient
- War 2.223-247
- Josephus, Antiquities 20.103-137
- Tacitus, Annals 12.54
Modern
- Aberbach, M. (July 1949). "The Conflicting Accounts of Josephus and Tacitus concerning Cumanus' and Felix' Terms of Office". Jewish Quarterly Review. 40 (1). University of Pennsylvania Press: 1–14. JSTOR 1453002.
- ISBN 0-567-02242-0.
- Smallwood, E. Mary (1981). The Jews Under Roman Rule from Pompey to Diocletian: A Study in Political Relations (2nd ed.). Leiden: E. J. Brill. pp. 263–269. ISBN 90-04-06403-6.
Further reading
- Jewish Encyclopedia. Vol. IV. New York: Funk & Wagnalls. p. 383. Retrieved 2007-01-20.
- McKechnie, Paul (2005). "Judaean Embassies and Cases before Roman Emperors, AD 44–66". Journal of Theological Studies. 56 (2): 339–361. .