Caesarea under Roman rule

156 Pages·1975·22.918 MB·English

CAESAREA
STUDIES IN JUDAISM
IN LATE ANTIQUITY UNDER ROMAN RULE
EDITED BY
JACOB NEUSNER
BY
VOLUME SEVEN
CAESAREA LEE 1. LEVINE
UNDER ROMAN RULE
With 2 maps
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LEIDEN LEIDEN
E. J. BRILL E. J. BRILL
1975 1975
IN MEMORY
OF MY BELOVED FATHER AND TEACHER
DR. HARRY 0. H. LEVINE
ISBN 90 04 04013 7
Copyright 1975 by E. J. Brill, Leiden, Netherlands
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or
translated in any form, by print, photoprint, microfilm, microfiche
or any other means without written permission from the publisher
PRINTED IN BELGIUM
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface . IX
Abbreviations xv
Introduction 1
I. From Strato's Tower to the Founding of Caesarea 5
A. The Persian Period . 5
B. The Hellenistic Period 6
C. The Founding of Caesarea under Herod 11
II. The First Century . 15
A. Under Herod 15
B. Under Roman Rule 18
1. 'Procurators' . 18
2. Jewish Community 22
3. Christian Community 24
C. Under Agrippa I . . 27
D. The Jewish-Greek Conflict 29
E. Caesarea during the Jewish Revolt 31
III. The Second Century : Caesarea as a Roman Colony 34
A. Introduction . 34
B. Colonial Status 35
1. Inscriptions 36
2. Coins . 38
3. Literary Sources 39
C. The Provincial Capital 41
D. The Jewish Community 44
IV. Caesarea in the Third and Fourth Centuries 46
A. New Prestige 46
B. Economic Life 48
1. Introduction 48
2. Agriculture 51
3. Industry . 52
4. Commerce-Domestic 54
5. Commerce-Foreign 54
VIII TABLE OF CONTENTS
6. Investments . 56
C. Pagan Community 57
PREFACE
V. The Jewish Community 61
A. The Historical Background of the Community 63 This study began a number of years ago as a seminar paper on the
B. Socio-Economic Diversity of Caesarean Jewry 68 Jewish community of Caesarea under the late Empire. Jewish history
C. Cultural and Religious Activity 70 after 70 C.E. has been sorely neglected by modern historiography. In
D. The Jews and their Neighbors . 80 part this is a result of the preference of Christian scholars for the
E. The Caesarean Rabbinate . 86 intertestamental period, with Jewish history serving only as back
1. The Emergence and Development of the Caesarean ground for a better understanding of the life and times of Jesus of
Rabbinate- ea. 230-360 86 Nazareth. The necessity of almost total reliance on rabbinic sources,
2. The Rabbinic Class 92 themselves forbidding and esoteric, also dissuades scholars from
3. 'Rabbis of Caesarea' - A Rabbinic Guild 1 95 embarking on historical investigations in this period. The research
4. The Rabbis and the Courts . 98 conducted by such luminaries as Graetz, Dubnov, Halevi and others
5. The Rabbis within the Jewish Community 101 centered almost exclusively on the rabbis and their academies, as if
6. The Academy and its Studies 103 these constituted the sum total of Jewish activity at the time. Allon
was among the first to expand the horizons of Jewish historical research
VI. The Samaritan Community 107 of this period, although in many ways he maintained the same emphasis.
In all fairness, it should be noted that this perspective is most dif
VII. The Christian Community 113 ficult to eschew. There is just no way of circumventing the fact that
A. Sources 113 almost all literary sources stem from rabbinic circles, and the tempt
B. The Caesarean Episcopate and Clergy . 113 ation to identify rabbinic history with general Jewish history at the
C. Origen and his Schoolin Caesarea 119 time is unavoidable.
D. Pamphilus and Eusebius 124 Even when discussing 'the rabbis,' there has been a tendency to
E. The Christian Community 127 view the group monolithically, as if one could speak of a rabbinic
F. Persecutions 131 tradition without noting the extensive and sometimes sharply con
trasting beliefs and practices within rabbinic circles. Without denying
VIII. Caesarea under Byzantine Rule 135 the enormous similarity in outlook and expression which united the
sages, over-emphasizing this aspect is apt to blind one to the diversity
Conclusion 140 within rabbinic life which also characterized this period.
As has been the case for some time in general historiography, there
Notes 143 is urgent need, in this as'well as other periods of Jewish history, to go
beyond the sweeping surveys and all-encompassing studies of past
Bibliography 242 masters, and to begin investigating specific phenomenon. Local
histories have thus become indispensable correctives to the often
Indices . 269 over-generalized pictures heretofore offered. What is likely to Gmerge
is that the variety of Jewish experiences and expressions so charac
teristic of other periods is likewise evident in 'classical' Judaism, i.e.
the Talmudic era, if one but scrutinizes the sources carefully and
asks the necessary probing questions.
X PREFACE PREFACE XI
What is becoming ever clearer is that a Jewish community in a Talmud scholars with whom I have studied : Profs. S. Lieberman,
cosmopolitan setting is invariably influenced by its immediate sur M. Zucker, Z. Dimitrovsky and D. Weiss. Under these mentors I
roundings. The way a Jew dressed, his forms of entertainment, political acquired the tools with which to approach the challenge of a very
views, social habits and economic pursuits were all profoundly affected complex and rich treasure of historical information.
by the non-Jewish world in which he found himself. Even his intel During the course of my studies, I was fortunate in receiving
lectual horizons and religious attitudes and practices were often financial assistance from a number of institutions and foundations :
significantly shaped by these forces. Moreover, this was true not Columbia University, the National Foundation for Jewish Culture,
only of the ordinary Jew, but to a great extent of the rabbis themselves. the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture and the American
Thus, studying the Caesarean Jewish community led of necessity Friends of the Hebrew University. I am most grateful for the help
to an inquiry into the city as a whole, its origin, the changes in its extended.
political status and its economic and social life. Only within such a In preparing the manuscript for press, I have been aided by the
context can the nature and uniqueness of Caesarean Jewry be properly editor of this series, Prof. J. Neusner, as well as by the Max Richter
assessed, a uniqueness vis-a-vis other Caesarean communities as well Foundation which has defrayed the cost of preparing the index. My
as Jewish communities elsewhere. thanks also to Mr. F. C. Wieder Jr. of Brill, who has been so responsive
and supportive in our communications. I am most appreciative for
The present study, a revised version of my doctoral dissertation, the help given by my research assistant, Mr. Howard S. Yudkin, both
owes much to the guidance and direction offered by Profs. Gerson D. in preparing the manuscript for publication and in the long and
Cohen and Morton Smith. Both have been exacting advisors, and have tedious work of reading proofs.
been instrumental in introducing me to the world of historical research To my wife, Mira, who has lived with this research as long aa I
and methodology. Each in his own way has demonstrated the extent have, I owe my greatest thanks and gratitude. Her devoted assistance
to which probing questions and rigorous analysis can force even small has made this work possible, and her critical sense and perceptive
quantities of material to yield rich dividends. Prof. Smith has opened comments have contributed immeasurably to its final form. To her
new vistas in the study of ancient history, never failing to be provo and our children, David, Elana and Talya, I forever remain indebted
cative and stimulating. His careful readings and copious notes have for providing a family setting which so meaningfully complements
sensitized me to issues and problems which otherwise might never one's research and teaching.
have been so fully confronted. To Prof. Cohen I owe much more
than can ever be acknowledged. It was he who first awakened me
to the excitement and challenge of researching and teaching Jewish
history; it was he who offered frank criticism and warm encourage
ment during our years of working together. He has been both teacher
and friend, both mentor and colleague.
My thanks are also extended to Profs. Z. Ankori, E. Bickerman
and D. Weiss who served on my doctoral dissertation committee and
to Profs. R. Chazan, S. Friedman and J. Greenfeld who read parts
of this manuscript. Their comments and suggestions have been invalu
able. For the views expressed in this book, however, I alone am res
ponsible.
Any work in Jewish history of this period is, as noted, heavily
dependent on rabbinic literature. For this training I am profoundly
indebted to the Jewish Theological Seminary of America and its
ABBREVIATIONS
AAS Les annales archeologique Syrie
AASOR Annual of the American School of Oriental Research
AJA American Journal of Archeology
AJP American Journal of Philology
AJSLL American Journal of Semitic Languages and Literatures
AN Archeological News (Hebrew) - Israel Department of Antiquities
b hen = the son of
B Babylonian Talmud
BA Biblical Archaeologist
BCH Bulletin de correspondance hellenique
BEO Bulletin d'etudes orientales
BIES Bulletin of the Israel Exploration Society (Hebrew)
BJPES Bulletin of the Jewish Palestine Exploration Society (Hebrew)
BMB Bulletin du musee de Beyrouth
BMC British Museum Catalogue
BSAJ British School of Archaeology in Jerusalem - Bulletin
BZ Byzantinische Zeitschrift
CAH Cambridge Ancient History
cc
Origen, Contra Celsum
CIG Corpus Inscriptionum Graecarum
CIL Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum
CNI Christian News from Israel
CP Classical Philology
CPJ V. Tcherikover, A. Fuks, M. Stern, Corpus Papyrorum Judaicarum
DAIMR Department of Antiquities of the Israel Museum, Reports
DS Dikduke Sofrim - Variae Lectiones (Rabbinovicz)
EAEHL Encyclopaedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land (Hebrew)
ed. B. Mazar
EH Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History
EI Eretz Yisrael
GJP S. Lieberman, Greek in Jewish Palestine
GSC Griechische Christliche Schriftsteller
HJP S. Lieberman, Hellenism in Jewish Palestine
HTR Harvard Theological Review
HUCA Hebrew Union College Annual
IEJ Israel Exploration Journal
INB Israel Numismatic Bulletin
INC International Numismatic Convention - 1963, ed. A. Kindler
J Palestinian (Jerusalem) Talmud
JA Journal Asiatique
JAOS Journal of the American Oriental Society
JBL Journal of Biblical Literature
JCS Journal of Cuneiform Studies
XIV ABBREVIATIONS ABBREVIATIONS xv
JE Jewish Encyclopedia. TZ Theologische Zeitschrift
JEA Journal of Egyptian Archaeology VT Vetus Testa.mentum
JJS Journal of Jewish Studies ZAW Zeitschrift fiir die alttestamentliohe Wissenscha.ft
JNES Journal of Nea.r Eastern Studies ZDPV Zeitschrift des deutschen Palistina-Vereins
JPOS Journal of Palestine Orients.I Society ZNW Zeitschrift fiir die neutesta.mentliche Wissenschaft
JQR Jewish Quarterly Review ZPE Zeitschrift fiir Pa.pyrologie und Epigraphik
JRS Journal of Roman Studies ZRGG Zeitschrift fiir Religions - und --Geistesgeschiohte
JSS Jewish Socia.I Studies
JTS Journal of Theologica.l Studies
JWCI Journal of the Warburg a.nd Courta.uld Institutes
KAI Ka.na.a.niisohe und Ara.miisohe Inschriften, ed. H. Donner and W. Rollig
LA LiberAnnus
Loeb Loeb Classics.I Library
MGWJ Monatschrift fiir Geschichte und Wissenschaft des Judentums
MP Eusebius, Martyrs of Palestine
NZ Numismatische Zeitschrift
OGIS Orientis Graeci Inscriptiones Selectae, ed. W. Dittenberger
PBSR Papers of the British School at Rome
PEFQSt. Palestine Exploration Fund, Quarterly Statement
PEQ Palestine Exploration Quarterly
PG Patrologia. Graeca. (Migne)
PL Pa.trologia. La.tin& (Migne)
PO Patrologia Orients.lie (Graffin, Nau)
PPTS Pa.Jestine Pilgrims Text Society
PRK Pesikta. de Rav Kahana.
QDAP Quarterly of the Department of Antiquities of Palestine
R Rabbi
RB Revue Biblique
RE Real - Encyclopidie des klassischen Altertums - Wissenschaft (Pauly
Wissowa.)
REA Revue des 6tudes anciennes
REG Revue des 6tudes greos
REJ Revue des 6tudes juives
RHPR Revue d'histoire et de philosophie religieuses
RHR Revue de l'histoire des religions
RM Roemische Mitteilungen
RN Revue Numismatique
ROC Revue de !'orient ohr6tien
RSR Recherohes de science religieuse
SEG Supplementum epigra.phicum graecum
SEHHW M. Rostovtzeff, Social and Economic History of the Hellenistic World
SEHRE M. Rostovtzeff, Social a.nd Economic History of the Roman Empire
SH Script& Hierosolymita.na
SHA Scriptores Historiae Augusta.a
SWP C.R. Conder, H.H. Kitchener, The Survey of Western Palestine
T Tosefta.
TAPA American Philologica.1 Association - Transactions and Proceedings
TK S. Lieberm~ Tosefta. Ki-Fshutah
..
.. INTRODUCTION
Cl)
Some ancient cities were founded in hoary antiquity and their
origins remain obscure; others came into being in the full light of
history. The two main cities of Greco-Roman Palestine reflect this
historical contrast. Jerusalem, its beginnings unaccounted for in
Biblical tradition, exemplifies the former category; Caesarea, the
"' latter.
Originally a Sidonian colony dating from the Persian period, Strato's
Tower remained of minor importance during its three hundred years
of existence. Only under Herod was the settlement rebuilt and renamed
J...
Caesarea in honor of the Roman emperor. The transformation from
small town to cosmopolitan center, an integral part of Herod's overall
policy, required enormous investments of time and money by the
founder. Clearly the city was intended to play a major role in Pales
tinian affairs.
I OUMEA
Cities within the Roman Empire developed in one of several ways .
.........• ••••••••,/'•••••••••••••••o•ooo•oouooooo••oho••
Some were originally founded on a grand scale and enjoyed extensive
economic, political, and cultural independence from the very start.
Herodian Palestine
Alexandria, Seleucia and Constantinople emerged full-grown from
under their founder's hands, organized as poleis and accorded the
Plan of Gauarea :
rights and privileges of Greek cities. On the other hand, many cities
1. High-level aqueduct attained recognition only after a long period of growth and develop
2. Low-level aqueduct ment. At first only paying tribute, they grew significantly in population
3. Byzantine city-wall and acquired colonial or municipal rights during the period of large
4. Herodia.n city-wall a.nd northern
scale urbanization in the first centuries C.E.
gate
Caesarea's development fits neither pattern neatly. Originally built
5. Hellenistic remains (Strato's To
wer ?) and Byzantine syna on a grand scale, the city would appear to have enjoyed a prestigious
gogue municipal rank among the cities of the area. However, since its founder
6. Byzantine church was a vassal king, the city enjoyed no privileged status vis-a-vis
7. Hippodrome
the Empire at large. Only after the Jewish war did Caesarea begin
8. Amphithea.ter?
ascending the ladder of municipal honors, being accorded the rank
9. Crusader city
10. Podium of Herodia.n temple to of colony around the year 70.
Augustus a.nd Roma. Caesarea functioned at the vortex of Palestinian affairs as capital
ll. Byzantine street of the Roman sub-province (later province) and seat of the governor
12. Necropolis
and his officium. Its economic importance to large areas of the country
13. Port
was insured by its magnificent port. Because of its political role and
14. Thea.ter
15. Byzantine fortress ready access to other Roman communitit's via land and sea, the city
2 INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION 3
also became a center of Greco-Roman culture m Palestine, and his pupil Choricius, and Procopius of Caesarea) and non-Palestinians
abounded in temples, theaters and sport arenas. (Malalas of Antioch) shed light on Caesarea's history. The first century,
What is known about Caesarea during the historically pivotal of course, is greatly illuminated by the writings of Josephus, who
first century indicates the city's deep involvement with the events not only describes aspects of Caesarea's history, but also provides
of the province. Reverberations of the procuratorial acts offensive extensive background material relating to events in the city.
to Jewish sensibilities, the transformation of Palestine into a Jewish Archeological findings have aided the study and understanding
kingdom under Agrippa I, and even the emergence of the Christian of the city's life considerably. Although by no means complete (most
Church were all reflected within the city. The bitter struggle which of the city still lies under sand-dunes), ·excavations have supplied
erupted in Caesarea between Jew and pagan around the year 60 C.E. important data concerning the history of the city. While several
was likewise closely related to wider regional events. buildings have been unearthed fully or in part, of far greater signifi
Under the later Empire, Caesarea claimed an unusual population cance are the many inscriptions brought to light during this century
distribution. Four separate minority groups functioned within the in the Caesarean environs. Originally found on buildings, public
city : pagans, Jews, Christians, and Samaritans. Each community monuments and graves, such evidence is of inestimable assistance
was well represented numerically, and each produced outstanding in reconstructing the history and life of the city. All the various
leaders and spokesmen. Such demographic composition was without communities are richly represented in the collection, with the possible
parallel, at least among Palestinian cities. This diversity added exception of the Samaritans.
immeasurably to the cosmopolitan nature of the city, a characteristic Coins struck in the city are another important source of information.
which in turn influenced the component communities. Operating for two and one half centuries, the local mint produced a
variety of specimens which greatly illuminate the religious, cultural
The study of Caesarea requires the investigation of an engaging and political life in Caesarea. In one instance, coins provide the only
variety of sources. Of primary importance is the material preserved evidence of what would constitute a major event in the history of
in rabbinic literature. While focusing on the Jewish community and the city. Fortunately, most of these coins have been published by
more particularly on the rabbis and their activities, these texts shed L. Kadman, and while suffering deficiencies, his work marshals
considerable light on many other aspects of Caesarean life: Christian invaluable numismatic data.
and Samaritan communities, economic activities and topography. Only integrating the wide range of literary and archeological
Heretofore an almost untapped source, this material can yield rich sources into a coherent historical account can offer some under
rewards if used carefully by the critical historian. standing of Caesarea and its resident communities. Such synthesis
Owing to the prominence of the local Christian community and of multiple sources is essential in treating a subject so complex as
especially to the prolificness of its two outstanding leaders, Origen the history of an ancient city, particularly in the absence of a city
and Eusebius, Christian sources abound. The sermons of Origen are historian, as Malalas was to Antioch.
an invaluable repository of information, as are the several historical The task of the modern historian requires even more than a careful
books written by Eusebius. The local Christian community was also integration of the various sources at his disposal. The writing of such
mentioned by a number of other third and fourth century Christian a history is complicated by the different issues and problems dealt
writers. with by these sources, in contrast to those which interest modern
As a provincial capital and urban center, Caesarea was mention historical study. References to the political, economic and social
ed at times by Roman writers. From Strabo and Pliny the Elder to aspects of city life are sketchy, and the organization of the data into a
Ammianus Marcellinus, Eunapius and the anonymous author of the meaningful picture is a formidable task. In large measure, the problems
fourth century Ezpositio totius mundi et gentium, much about the considered are determined by the sources themselves. In the case of
city is known through revealing comments and descriptions. In the Caesarea, most literary sources, although abundant, are communal
Byzantine period, both Palestinians (the bishop Procopius of Gaza, in origin and describe only the internal life of each group : its leader-
4 INTRODUCTION
ship, religious and intellectual activity, social friction. The political
events of the city, the role of the aristocracy and populace in govern•
ment, the relations between social classes generally, economic activity CHAPTER ONE
and the nature and composition of the resident Imperial bureaucracy
are rarely mentioned. Thus little opportunity is afforded to recreate FROM STRATO'S TOWER TO THE FOUNDING OF
the life of Caesarea as a whole. This work is therefore not urban CAESAREA
history in the sense of a consecutive narrative tracing the rise, pros•
parity and decline of a city. While a chronological framework has A. THE PERSIAN PERIOD
been maintained, the material itself has been organized more as a
series of studies on various aspects of Caesarean· life. The history of the Palestinian coast during the Persian period
Finally, a word concerning scope; after dealing briefly with the (538-332 B.C.E.) is primarily one of Phoenician colonization and
history of Strato's Tower, this study focuses on Caesarea from its development. Owing to the extensive destruction wrought by the
Herodian foundation to the mid-fourth century. The terminus ad century and a half (734-586) of Assyrian and Babylonian military
quem is not arbitrary. During the fourth century, our main literary campaigns, much of the area lay desolate and underpopulated.1
sources, i.e. rabbinic and Christian, terminate, with but isolated Sidon and Tyre, enjoying as they did considerable freedom and
remarks stemming from the Byzantine period. This absence of sources prosperity under Persian rule, took the lead in filling this vacuum .2
may be related to the apparent political and economic decline suffered Besides the archeological finds attesting to extensive Phoenician
by Caesarea and its various communities under Byzantine, and later influence along the Palestinian coast during this period, 3 two additional
Arab, rule. sources reveal actual control of the region. The first is the well-known
inscription found on the sarcophagus of Eshmunazar, king of Sidon.
After warning strangers not to tamper with his remains and listing
some achievements of the royal family, the inscription continues:
And then the Lord of Kings gave us Dor and Joppa., the excellent grain districts 4
which a.re in the plain of Sharon a.a payment for the great things which I did, and
he added them to the territory so that they became the poseeeeion of Sidonia.ns
forever.5
Thus, the coast of northern Palestine had been entrusted to Sidonian
overlordship by the time of this king. Although dating the inscription
has engendered much debate, general scholarly consensus places it in
the first half of the fifth century.6
The second source indicating extensive Phoenician presence along
the coast is the Periplus ascribed to Scylax of Caryanda (late sixth -
early fifth century B.C.E.)7 but usually dated to the mid-fourth
century.8 This work has been described as a sailors' handbook of
places and distances primarily within the Mediterranean basin. 9
In surveying the Palestine coast, the author mentions :
... the city of Acco; beyond at some distance a Tyria.n city; Carmel, a holy mountain
of Zeus; Ara.due, a Sidonia.n city ... and a Tyria.n river; Dor, a Sidonia.n city; J oppa.,
the city where Andromeda. is said to have been exposed to the sea-monster; Ascalon,
a Tyrian city and royal domain ... 10