Roman Tactics against the Jewish Revolt

Most of our knowledge about the First Jewish Revolt against Rome and the events leading up to it comes from the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus. However, the late first- and early second-century Roman historian and politician Tacitus recounts another version of these events in his Histories. This history also includes a description of the fortifications surrounding Jerusalem and the Temple. In an interesting interpretation of omens allegedly manifesting prior to Jerusalem’s defeat, Tacitus acknowledges the Jews’ anticipated victory, deriving from what he calls the Jews’ expectation of overturning empires as recorded in their “priestly writings.” Tacitus, however, understands such omens as signaling the victories of the Roman emperors Vespasian and Titus.