Jewish gladiator at Pompeii suspected

[guy]

 

Possible evidence may been found in Pompeii of a Jewish gladiator. The eruption of Vesuvius occurred in AD 79, nine years after the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus under his father the Emperor Vespasian. 
 

The palm tree became the symbol for the Romans of Judaea.(The coin below of Vespasian has the inscription IVDEA CAPTA or Judaea conquered.)
 

The helmet has the symbolic palm, suggesting the gladiator was of Jewish origin.

 

 

 

 

 

https://m.jpost.com/archaeology/article-823947

Edited October 11 by guy

[guidoLaMoto]

I wonder if he refused to play on Jewish holidays like Sandy Koufax did 1900 yrs later?

That helmet is remarkably well preserved snd so ornate- almost like it's intended for ceremonial, not utilitarian purposes.

[guy]

Josephus describes the terrible fate that awaited many Jews during the capture of Jerusalem.

 

Quote

The young men that [Fronto]* chose out the tallest and most beautiful, and reserved them for the triumph; and as for the rest of the multitude that were above seventeen years old, he put them into bonds, and sent them to the Egyptian mines. Titus also sent a great number into the provinces, as a present to them, that they might be destroyed upon their theatres, by the sword and by the wild beasts; but those that were under seventeen years of age were sold for slaves.

 

Flavius Josephus, The Wars of the Jews, Book VI, Whiston chapter 9, Whiston section 2 (tufts.edu)

 

 

*Gaius Aeterius Fronto was a Roman eques, a member of the equestrian order, who played a significant role during Emperor Vespasian's reign. According to Josephus's writings, Fronto was present with Roman troops during the capture of Jerusalem in AD 70. He was specifically mentioned as being with the legions stationed in Egypt, including Legio XXII Deiotariana and Legio III Cyrenaica.

After the capture of Jerusalem, Titus delegated Fronto the responsibility of passing judgment over the Jewish survivors. This indicates his importance and trustworthiness in the eyes of the Roman leadership at the time.

Edited October 11 by guy