ABSTRACT
The role of Sepphoris in the Great Revolt of 66-73 C.E., or lack of one, is a point of special interest due to the city’s decision to adopt a pro-Roman policy, official at least from the spring of 68 C.E. onwards, or just prior to the death of the emperor Nero on June 9, 68 C.E. (Meyers 1999). I speak of this short time span specifically since we have several coins minted in Sepphoris under Nero with the sobriquet Eirenopolis on its legend (“City of Peace”). Allowing the second largest Jewish city (after Jerusalem) to mint coins at so late a date is surely significant since even King Agrippa II ceased to mint coins during the Revolt, resuming only after it was suppressed in 73 C.E. (Meshorer 1996). But this is getting a bit ahead in our story.
