Tacitus, Histories 2.78-2.79
created: This entry is taken from Histories 2.78-2.79 written by Tacitus in 100-110 CE. T
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https://caesarea-maritima.org/testimonia/44

Caesaream

, and

Caesarea

are directly attested at Tacitus, Histories 2.78-2.79. This passage was written ca. 100-110 CE possibly in Rome. 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.

(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.

[Ed. Fisher 2008]

(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.

[Adapted from Moore 1925]

Works Cited

[...] 2 78-79
[...] 1 284-287

[Tacitus, Histories 5.10]

[Alexandria

Antioch on the Orontes

Carmel

Judaea

Syria]

[Titus, emperor

G. Licinius Mucianus, general

Tiberius Julius Alexander, governor of Egypt

Vespasian, emperor]

[Family

Government and Law

Military

Natural Environment

Roman History]