Tacitus, Histories 2.78-2.79
https://caesarea-maritima.org/testimonia/44
Context
Cornelius Tacitus (ca. 56-ca. 120 C.E.) was an ancient historian of
the Roman Empire held in high esteem by scholars today. He enjoyed a successful career
as a prominent lawyer, a rising official in both the civic and provincial spheres, and
eventually suffect consul in 97 C.E. and then governor of Asia in 112-113 C.E. His major
historical works, Histories and so-called Annals (“From
the Departure of Augustus the God,” ab excessu divi Augusti), offered
a detailed narrative with penetrating political analysis of the Imperial government and
its ruling class from the death of Augustus through the Flavian dynasty, probably the
death of Domitian (14-96 C.E.)This important passage in the Histories recounts the
pivotal months during early 69 C.E. when Vespasian rose to supreme power in the East. He
had led Imperial troops against the Jewish Revolt since 66 CE when he joined forces with
Mucianus, the powerful governor of Syria, and received the famous prophecy of his
elevation to the throne on Mount Carmel. From there Mucianus advanced north overland
eventually to challenge the short-lived emperor Vitellius, and Vespasian advanced to
Caesarea, his military base, to continue solidifying control and suppressing unrest in
Judaea. In Alexandria on July 1 the Egyptian prefect Tiberius Julius Alexander
orchestrated Vespasian’s acclamation as emperor among the troops, which was followed a
few days later by his acclamation in Judaea, perhaps at Caesarea. The formal declaration
by the Roman Senate did not come until December 20, 69 C.E., following the bloody final
battle in the streets of Rome between the forces of Vitellius and Vespasian.
Text
(78) Post Muciani orationem ceteri audentius circumsistere, hortari,
responsa vatum et siderum motus referre. nec erat intactus tali superstitione, ut qui
mox rerum dominus Seleucum quendam mathematicum rectorem et praescium palam habuerit.
Recursabant animo vetera omina: cupressus arbor in agris eius conspicua altitudine
repente prociderat ac postera die eodem vestigio resurgens procera et latior virebat.
Grande id prosperumque consensu haruspicum et summa claritudo iuveni admodum Vespasiano
promissa, sed primo triumphalia et consulatus et Iudaicae victoriae decus implesse fidem
ominis videbatur: ut haec adeptus est, portendi sibi imperium credebat. Est Iudaeam
inter Syriamque Carmelus: ita vocant montem deumque. Nec simulacrum deo aut templum—sic
tradidere maiores—: ara tantum et reverentia. illic sacrificanti Vespasiano, cum spes
occultas versaret animo, Basilides sacerdos inspectis identidem extis ‘quicquid est’
inquit, ‘Vespasiane, quod paras, seu domum extruere seu prolatare agros sive ampliare
servitia, datur tibi magna sedes, ingentes termini, multum hominum.’ Has ambages et
statim exceperat fama et tunc aperiebat; nec quicquam magis in ore vulgi. Crebriores
apud ipsum sermones, quanto sperantibus plura dicuntur. Haud dubia destinatione
discessere Mucianus Antiochiam, Vespasianus Caesaream: illa
Syriae, hoc Iudaeae caput est. (79) Initium ferendi ad Vespasianum imperii Alexandriae
coeptum, festinante Tiberio Alexandro, qui kalendis Iuliis sacramento eius legiones
adegit. Isque primus principatus dies in posterum celebratus, quamvis Iudaicus exercitus
quinto nonas Iulias apud ipsum iurasset, eo ardore ut ne Titus quidem filius
expectaretur, Syria remeans et consiliorum inter Mucianum ac patrem nuntius. Cuncta
impetu militum acta non parata contione, non coniunctis legionibus.1
Textual Note
Ed. Fisher 2008Translation
(78) After Mucianus had spoken, the others grew more bold and
gathered around (Vespasian), encouraged him, and recounted the prophesies of seers and
the movements of the stars. Indeed he was not unaffected by such beliefs, as one who
shortly thereafter, when he had gained supreme power, openly employed a certain
astrologer named Seleucus as his guide and counselor. Old omens rushed back to his mind.
Once on his farm a cypress of unusual height suddenly fell over, but on the next day it
rose again from its remnants and grew healthy, tall and even broader than before. This
was a favorable omen of great significance, all the haruspices agreed, and it promised
this highest distinction for Vespasian, who was then still a young man. At first, the
insignia of a triumph, his consulship, and his victory of Judaea appeared to have
fulfilled the promise given by the omen; but, after he had gained these honors, he began
to think that his rule over the Empire was foretold. Between Judaea and Syria is Carmel,
the name of both a mountain and a god. The god has no image or temple, according to
ancestral tradition; there is only an altar and worship. When Vespasian was making a
sacrifice there and contemplating his secret hopes, the priest Basilides, upon
repeatedly inspecting the internal organs, said to him, “Whatever you are planning,
Vespasian, whether to build a house or to enlarge your rural holdings or to increase the
number of your slaves, the god grants you a mighty home, vast territory, a multitude of
men.” These obscure words were immediately caught up in rumor and soon became widely
known; there was no more popular topic of discussion. There was even more frequent
discussion in the presence of Vespasian, for men have more to those filled with hope.
The two (leaders) departed, each with a clear sense of his purpose, Mucianus to Antioch
and Vespasian to Caesarea, the one the capital of Syria and the
other the capital of Judaea. (79) The transfer of the Empire to Vespasian began at
Alexandria, where Tiberius Alexander moved quickly to administer the oath of allegiance
to his troops on July 1. This day was celebrated in later times as the first day of
Vespasian’s reign, though it was on July 3 that army in Judaea swore the oath before
Vespasian himself, with such excitement that they did not even wait for his son Titus,
who was coming back from Syria and served as go-between for Mucianus and his father. The
whole process was carried out by the enthusiastic initiative of the soldiers, without
prepared speeches or gathering of the troops.2
Translation Note
Adapted from Moore 1925Works Cited
- 1 Cornelius Tacitus, Corneli Taciti historiarum libri, ed. Charles D. Fisher, repr. (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 2008), bk: 2, ch: 78-79.
- 2 Cornelius Tacitus, Tacitus. The Histories; The Annals, trans. Clifford Herschel Moore and John Jackson, 4 vols., Loeb Classical Library (London & New York: Heinemann / Putnam, 1925), vol: 1, p: 284-287.
How to Cite This Entry
Joseph L. Rife, “Tacitus, Histories 2.78-2.79,” in Caesarea Maritima: A Collection of Testimonia, entry published January 20, 2023, https://caesarea-maritima.org/testimonia/44.
Show full citation information...
Bibliography:
Joseph L. Rife, “Tacitus, Histories 2.78-2.79.” In Caesarea Maritima: A Collection of Testimonia, edited by Joseph L. Rife., edited by Joseph L. Rife. Caesarea City and Port Exploration Project, 2023. Entry published January 20, 2023. https://caesarea-maritima.org/testimonia/44.About this Entry
Entry Title: Tacitus, Histories 2.78-2.79
Authorial and Editorial Responsibility:
- Joseph L. Rife, general editor, Vanderbilt University
- Joseph L. Rife, editor, Caesarea Maritima: A Collection of Testimonia
- David A. Michelson, Daniel L. Schwartz, and William L. Potter, technical editor, “Tacitus, Histories 2.78-2.79”
- Joseph L. Rife, entry contributor, “Tacitus, Histories 2.78-2.79”
Additional Credit:
- TEI encoding by Joseph L. Rife
- URNs and other metadata added by Joseph L. Rife
- Electronic text added by Joseph L. Rife
- Testimonia identified by Joseph L. Rife