The Jewish War
Published on 23. February 2017
Book
Paperback/Softback
608 pages
978-0-19-964602-9 (ISBN)
Description
'I am Josephus...I myself fought against the Romans'
In August of AD 70 the city of Jerusalem was destroyed by Roman forces after a six-month siege. This was the disastrous outcome of a Jewish revolt against Roman domination which began in AD 66 with some early success, but soon became mired in factional conflict. The war ended in the destruction of the famous Jewish Temple (rebuilt by Herod the Great a century before).
The remarkable story of the war is narrated by an eye-witness and participant, Josephus. He was at first a rebel commander, then after his capture, supported Titus in the final assault on Jerusalem. Josephus spares no detail of a horrific conflict - atrocities on both sides, the reign of terror in Jerusalem, the appalling conditions of the siege, and the final mass suicide at Masada. His vivid narrative is our prime source for this period of history. It is a dramatic story, with resonances to the present day.
In August of AD 70 the city of Jerusalem was destroyed by Roman forces after a six-month siege. This was the disastrous outcome of a Jewish revolt against Roman domination which began in AD 66 with some early success, but soon became mired in factional conflict. The war ended in the destruction of the famous Jewish Temple (rebuilt by Herod the Great a century before).
The remarkable story of the war is narrated by an eye-witness and participant, Josephus. He was at first a rebel commander, then after his capture, supported Titus in the final assault on Jerusalem. Josephus spares no detail of a horrific conflict - atrocities on both sides, the reign of terror in Jerusalem, the appalling conditions of the siege, and the final mass suicide at Masada. His vivid narrative is our prime source for this period of history. It is a dramatic story, with resonances to the present day.
Reviews / Votes
This paperback is now the best choice for anyone who wishes to read through the most impactful text of western antiquity, outside the Bible, in English... This accessible Josephus will both satisfy and stimulate the considerable interest in this author. * Steve Mason, Expository Times * Hammond's fluent, colloquial translation does considerable justice to Josephus' fastpaced, scandal-filled narrative... This new translation brings the modern reader closer to Josephus and equips us to understand him. * The Tablet * The great strength of this excellent addition to the Oxford World's Classics series lies in the way that a flowing translation is supported by an introduction, copious notes, maps and a first class expanded index, which enable the readers to find their way through a maze of similar sounding individual, family and place names. * Classics for All *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 195 mm
Width: 126 mm
Thickness: 35 mm
Weight
413 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-964602-9 (9780199646029)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Josephus | Martin Goodman
The Jewish War
E-Book
02/2017
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€7.49
Available for download
Josephus | Martin Goodman
The Jewish War
E-Book
02/2017
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€7.49
Available for download
Persons
Martin Hammond retired as the Headmaster of Tonbridge School in 2005. He has previously translated Arrian's Alexander the Great (2013) and Thucydides' The Peloponnesian War (2009) for Oxford World's Classics, as well as Homer's Iliad (Penguin, 1987) and Odyssey (Bloomsbury, 2014). His translation of Procopius' The Secret History for Oxford World's Classics is forthcoming.
Martin Goodman is President of the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies and Reader in Jewish Studies at the University of Oxford. He has edited a number of books including Rabbinic Texts and the History of Late-Roman Palestine (BA/OUP, 2011), The Oxford Handbook of Jewish Studies (OUP, 2002), and Representations of Empire: Rome and the Mediterranean World (BA/OUP, 2002). His authored books include Rome and Jerusalem: the clash of ancient civilizations (Allen Lane, 2007) and Judaism in the Roman World: Collected Studies (Brill, 2007)
Martin Goodman is President of the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies and Reader in Jewish Studies at the University of Oxford. He has edited a number of books including Rabbinic Texts and the History of Late-Roman Palestine (BA/OUP, 2011), The Oxford Handbook of Jewish Studies (OUP, 2002), and Representations of Empire: Rome and the Mediterranean World (BA/OUP, 2002). His authored books include Rome and Jerusalem: the clash of ancient civilizations (Allen Lane, 2007) and Judaism in the Roman World: Collected Studies (Brill, 2007)
Content
Introduction
Select Bibliiography
Chronology
Maps
The Jewish Wars
Notes
Index
Select Bibliiography
Chronology
Maps
The Jewish Wars
Notes
Index