ABSTRACT

Rome and Judaea explores the nature of Judaea’s first diplomatic mission to Rome during the Maccabean revolt: did it result in a sanctioned treaty or was it founded instead on amity? This book breaks new ground in this debate by bringing to light the "Roman-Jewish Friendship tablet," a newly discovered piece of evidence that challenges the theory Rome ratified an official treaty with Judaea. Incorporating interdisciplinary research and this new textual evidence, the book argues that Roman-Jewish relations during the Maccabean revolt were motivated by the Roman concept of diplomatic friendship, or amicitia.

chapter |8 pages

Introduction

chapter 2|12 pages

The timing of the embassy

chapter 4|44 pages

Roman international friendship

chapter 5|63 pages

The treaty hypothesis revisited

chapter 6|59 pages

The outcome of the embassy in 162 bce

chapter 7|50 pages

Epilogue: from 160 to 100 bce