Thursday, February 1, 2007

Crucifixion of 3,600 Jews by Vespasian

According to the Roman historian Josephus, during the first Jewish War against the Romans in 66-70 CE, the Roman commanders Vespasian and his son Titus both ordered thousands of crucifixions as public warnings and deterrents. During the Titus's siege of Jerusalam in 70 CE, Roman soldiers crucified up some 3,600 Jews over the course of several months... up to 500 in a single day. So many Jews were crucified outside of the walls that "there was not enough room for the crosses and not enough crosses for the bodies" (Wars of the Jews 5:11.1).

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