02-26-2004, 05:42 AM
Avete,<br>
Graham Sumner has asked me to post this:<br>
<br>
Garrison Of Judaea:<br>
<br>
It is believed the garrison of Judaea was initially one cavalry unit, the ALA I SEBASTENORUM and at least five cohorts of infantry, one of them was possibly a COHORS I SEBASTENORUM. Local militias could also be raised as occasion demanded whilst the nearest Legions were in Syria. The total number of troops in Judaea was perhaps therefore no more than 3-5000 men.<br>
<br>
The soldiers were recruited mainly from the Romanised cities, especially Sebaste and Caesarea. The Romans undoubtedly exploited the fact that the local Samarians hated the Jews who were generally exempt from service in the Roman Army because of their unwillingness to fight on the Sabbath.<br>
<br>
However the Acts of the Apostles suggest there may have been other non local units based in Judaea including an 'Italian' cohort and a COHORS AUGUSTA. The true identity of both of these units has been hotly debated by various scholars<br>
<br>
When St Paul was arrested he was sent to Caesarea by the Tribune Claudius Lysias, commander of the Jerusalem garrison. Paul was escorted by 200 foot soldiers and 70 horsemen so possibly the Jerusalem garrison at that time was a COHORS EQUITATA.<br>
<br>
During the trial of Christ, Pontius Pilate speaks directly to him. There is no mention of a translator being present and as Pilate was unlikely to speak Aramaic and Christ, Latin the common language must therefore have been Greek.<br>
<br>
Like most English speaking Roman re-enactors today who know the Latin commands but don't speak it, the same must have happened in the Roman east where the official language of the army was Latin but the ordinary soldiers spoke to each other and wrote in Greek.<br>
<br>
After the trial of Christ the Romans do not seem to have expected too much trouble as the New Testament informs us that Christ was escorted to his execution by only four soldiers and a Centurion. Paul was obviously considered a greater security risk!<br>
<br>
The way the soldiers play dice and divide up Christ's clothes afterwards is also an illuminating account.<br>
<br>
For further information see 'The Roman Army in Judaea under the Procurators', M.P. Speidel.<br>
<br>
When I was in Roman kit I was once asked by a little girl why had I crucified Jesus! Although dumbfounded at the time I can now say it was because the BBC paid me to do it!<br>
<br>
Graham <p></p><i></i>
Graham Sumner has asked me to post this:<br>
<br>
Garrison Of Judaea:<br>
<br>
It is believed the garrison of Judaea was initially one cavalry unit, the ALA I SEBASTENORUM and at least five cohorts of infantry, one of them was possibly a COHORS I SEBASTENORUM. Local militias could also be raised as occasion demanded whilst the nearest Legions were in Syria. The total number of troops in Judaea was perhaps therefore no more than 3-5000 men.<br>
<br>
The soldiers were recruited mainly from the Romanised cities, especially Sebaste and Caesarea. The Romans undoubtedly exploited the fact that the local Samarians hated the Jews who were generally exempt from service in the Roman Army because of their unwillingness to fight on the Sabbath.<br>
<br>
However the Acts of the Apostles suggest there may have been other non local units based in Judaea including an 'Italian' cohort and a COHORS AUGUSTA. The true identity of both of these units has been hotly debated by various scholars<br>
<br>
When St Paul was arrested he was sent to Caesarea by the Tribune Claudius Lysias, commander of the Jerusalem garrison. Paul was escorted by 200 foot soldiers and 70 horsemen so possibly the Jerusalem garrison at that time was a COHORS EQUITATA.<br>
<br>
During the trial of Christ, Pontius Pilate speaks directly to him. There is no mention of a translator being present and as Pilate was unlikely to speak Aramaic and Christ, Latin the common language must therefore have been Greek.<br>
<br>
Like most English speaking Roman re-enactors today who know the Latin commands but don't speak it, the same must have happened in the Roman east where the official language of the army was Latin but the ordinary soldiers spoke to each other and wrote in Greek.<br>
<br>
After the trial of Christ the Romans do not seem to have expected too much trouble as the New Testament informs us that Christ was escorted to his execution by only four soldiers and a Centurion. Paul was obviously considered a greater security risk!<br>
<br>
The way the soldiers play dice and divide up Christ's clothes afterwards is also an illuminating account.<br>
<br>
For further information see 'The Roman Army in Judaea under the Procurators', M.P. Speidel.<br>
<br>
When I was in Roman kit I was once asked by a little girl why had I crucified Jesus! Although dumbfounded at the time I can now say it was because the BBC paid me to do it!<br>
<br>
Graham <p></p><i></i>
It\'s all an accident, an accident of hands. Mine, others, all without mind, from one extreme to another, but neither works nor will ever.
Rolf Steiner
Rolf Steiner
