So for example, by pointing out that "Josephus is reticent to name more in detail" and the features of the story that appear to involve pagan propaganda -- showing the favor on the site leaving it by the 'gods' or 'us' vacating the place -- you show that Josephus did not come up with all the details of this story itself. Indeed this is plausible to be found in some source put out by the Flavians, such as the commentaries of Titus or of Vespasian. That being the case, the appearance of the features of the original source in Tacitus (full polytheism referring to 'the gods') likewise suggests that Tacitus got this from a source that influenced Josephus, rather than from Josephus directly.yes. For example the fact that Tacitus reports the vision of the gods who abandoned the temple. Tacitus specified that they were gods.Is there good evidence that Tacitus had read Josephus at all?he remembered that Josephus talked aboutProdigies had indeed occurred, but to avert them either by victims or by vows is held unlawful by a people which, though prone to superstition, is opposed to all propitiatory rites.43 Contending hosts were seen meeting in the skies, arms flashed, and suddenly the temple was illumined with fire from the clouds. Of a sudden the doors of the shrine opened and a superhuman voice cried: "The gods are departing": at the same moment the p199 mighty stir of their going was heard.44 Few interpreted these omens as fearful; the majority firmly believed that their ancient priestly writings contained the prophecy that this was the very time when the East should grow strong and that men starting from Judea should possess the world.45 This mysterious prophecy had in reality pointed to Vespasian and Titus, but the common people, as is the way of human ambition, interpreted these great destinies in their own favour, and could not be turned to the truth even by adversity.
Josephus doesn't specify that they were gods:as the priests were going by night into the inner [court of the] temple,10 as their custom was, to perform their sacred ministrations, they said, that in the first place they felt a quaking, and heard a great noise: and after that they heard a sound, as of a multitude, saying, “Let us remove hence.”
It is obvious why Josephus is reticent to call them "gods": he couldn't lie about the Jews being adorers of more gods. Josephus couldn't say that they were demons, since otherwise he would have defamed too much the his own people. Hence we have at least a precedent where Tacitus reveals what Josephus is reticent to name more in detail, fearing the consequences.
Statistics: Posted by Peter Kirby — Sun Dec 01, 2024 1:09 am