Pompey’s Entry into the Temple

In his legal oration For Flaccus, the Roman orator Cicero defends the Roman consul Lucius Valerius Flaccus, who has been charged with betraying his responsibilities as governor of Asia by preventing the Jews from contributing annual funds to the Jerusalem Temple. Cicero does not deny the charge but instead attributes it to the merit of Flaccus. His defense includes criticism of Jewish religious practices, which he associates with “barbarian superstition.” Cicero also attributes Pompey’s alleged restraint when entering the Second Temple to considerations of public perception rather than the inviolability of the Temple itself. (This contrasts with Josephus’ account, which claims that Pompey was deeply impressed by the piety of the Jews who were performing their sacred rites within the Temple.) Cicero further argues that Pompey’s forbearance in the face of a rebellious people testifies to his high character. True to his rhetorical strategy, Cicero aimed at arousing sympathy among the jurors.