Josephus before Vespasian
Josephus before Vespasian, detail of a miniature from a Josephus manuscript, 14th century; in the Hessian State Library, Fulda, Germany.
Flavius Josephus
Jewish priest, scholar, and historian
Also known as: Joseph ben Matthias
Flavius Josephus (born 37/38 ce, Jerusalem—died c. 100 ce, Rome) was a Jewish priest, scholar, and historian who wrote valuable works on the Jewish revolt of 66–70 ce and on earlier Jewish history. His major books are History of the Jewish War (75–79), The Antiquities of the Jews (93), and Against Apion. Flavius Josephus was born of an aristocratic priestly family in Jerusalem. According to his own account, he was a precocious youth who by...