02-27-2002, 11:23 PM
Back to the original comments:<br>
This is something that I've wondered about in the past, and more recently have been trying to pinpoint. In fact, I found this discussion group through a websearch for "Judea +garrison."<br>
I wonder if there is anyone here who can confirm for certain that the X Fretensis was in Syria post-AD 6, (when Judea was annexed as an Imperial province) as opposed to in or around Jerusalem. I know that the records proir to that indicate a presence in Syria, but some time prior to that, if I am not mistaken, Judea was considered part of the Roman province of Syria.<br>
The usual arguement is that there was no place for an entire legion to be stationed in or around Jerusalem, but this assumes a rather small size for the Antonia fortress. Disregarding the current popular conceptions concerning the Antonia, is there any hard evidence that X Fretensis was not in Jerusalem? Or is the placement further north an arguement from silence?<br>
The reason I ask about the X Fretensis specifically is mainly because of timing. AD 66 is the year that the Jewish revolt broke out. It also happens to be the year that the X Fretensis was removed from the Judeo-Syrian area and sent by Nero, along with the V Macedonia, to Alexandria for his planned campaign against the Ethiopians (as attested by H.M.D. Parker in his book "The Roman Legions"). Is this merely coincindence? Or was the beginning of the Jewish War in part because of a sudden withdrawal of military control? It has been suggested in this discussion that perhaps only a part of the X Fretensis was garrisoned in Judea. Perhaps that is it. But if there is no evidence to the contrary, I am inclined to think that perhaps the main body of the legion was stationed in or about Jerusalem<br>
It seems that the city would require more that a couple cohorts to keep the Pax Romana, so to speak, especially during feast days.<br>
As someone who is looking into this, I would appreciate any comments. And if anyone wants to discuss the Antonia or the Temple, maybe we can open another topic, eh? :c)<br>
<br>
~Chris <p></p><i></i>
This is something that I've wondered about in the past, and more recently have been trying to pinpoint. In fact, I found this discussion group through a websearch for "Judea +garrison."<br>
I wonder if there is anyone here who can confirm for certain that the X Fretensis was in Syria post-AD 6, (when Judea was annexed as an Imperial province) as opposed to in or around Jerusalem. I know that the records proir to that indicate a presence in Syria, but some time prior to that, if I am not mistaken, Judea was considered part of the Roman province of Syria.<br>
The usual arguement is that there was no place for an entire legion to be stationed in or around Jerusalem, but this assumes a rather small size for the Antonia fortress. Disregarding the current popular conceptions concerning the Antonia, is there any hard evidence that X Fretensis was not in Jerusalem? Or is the placement further north an arguement from silence?<br>
The reason I ask about the X Fretensis specifically is mainly because of timing. AD 66 is the year that the Jewish revolt broke out. It also happens to be the year that the X Fretensis was removed from the Judeo-Syrian area and sent by Nero, along with the V Macedonia, to Alexandria for his planned campaign against the Ethiopians (as attested by H.M.D. Parker in his book "The Roman Legions"). Is this merely coincindence? Or was the beginning of the Jewish War in part because of a sudden withdrawal of military control? It has been suggested in this discussion that perhaps only a part of the X Fretensis was garrisoned in Judea. Perhaps that is it. But if there is no evidence to the contrary, I am inclined to think that perhaps the main body of the legion was stationed in or about Jerusalem<br>
It seems that the city would require more that a couple cohorts to keep the Pax Romana, so to speak, especially during feast days.<br>
As someone who is looking into this, I would appreciate any comments. And if anyone wants to discuss the Antonia or the Temple, maybe we can open another topic, eh? :c)<br>
<br>
~Chris <p></p><i></i>
