From Nero to the Death of Trajan

Rome in Cinema Factual Errors Anachronisms (= errors in chronology)

Factual Errors in the film “The Last Days of Pompeii” (1935) Pontius Pilate committed suicide in Gaul in approximately 38 AD and cannot have been present in Pompeii during the same year that Mt Vesuvius erupted (79 AD) Anachronisms in the film “The Last Days of Pompeii” (1935) The central subplot of the meeting with Jesus is improbable, as Pompeii was destroyed 46 years after his death. Given these dates Flavius would have been in his mid to late 50’s, clearly not the youth in his 20’s as portrayed in the film.

The Empire and the Provinces (69-138)

Astonishing archaeological finds from the latter half of the first century and from the second: Pompeii and other Campanian sites buried by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79. Growing urbanization through the early third century Increased attention to Rome’s provinces; benefits to cities other than Rome itself; Hadrian’s benefactions listed at a shrine in Athens are gifts to non Roman cities (Paus. 1.5.5)

VESPASIAN (69-79) Jewish Revolt, also known as the First Jewish War (66-73) He started the great amphitheater known today as the

Colosseum Germano-Gallic revolt in 69-70 Ability to balance military and civil concerns

Vespasian, who had been sent to Judaea by Nero, was declared emperor by his troops before the complete crushing of the revolt. In 70 Titus (V.’s son) stormed Jerusalem and destroyed the great Temple. The suppression of this Jewish Revolt furthered the Jewish diaspora and began the distinction of Christians from Jews. Huge Triumph in Rome for Vespasian and Titus (lasting 30 days) Latin status, ius Latii: the Romans offered citizenship to individuals who undertook local magistracies

Under the Flavians a fresh start was essential: Extravagances of Nero Jewish and Germano-Gallic Revolts Vespasian and Titus conducted the census in 73-74 which created a soundly based collection of taxes Vespasian’s and Titus’ work was far reaching: many inscriptions record the restitution of public lands to communities. Peace was restored

Roman Soldiers carry litters on which are displayed some of the booty seized in Jerusalem

Titus (79-81) Princeps for no more than 2 years Provided funds to alleviate the catastrophe caused by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 and to rebuild the areas of Rome destroyed by fire the following year He died prematurely and still unmarried in 81

VESPASIAN

Titus

Vesuvius

Domitian (81-96) Vespasian’s younger son; there had been no expectation that he would ever become emperor Neglect and contempt for the senate # devotion to the army and his concern for the people of Rome and the provinces Reasserted the military character of the Principate Autocratic style (treason trials); paranoia. Conspiracy kills him in 96

Domitian

The era from 96-180 is praised as “the period in the history of the world, during which the condition of the human race was most happy and prosperous” (Edward Gibbon) The period was free of the persecutions of Christian that were to scar the history of the third century, and it had also the good fortune to be spared lengthy warfare with external foes

Nerva (96-98) A senior ex-consul aged sixty six confirmed as emperor and given the honorary title Pater Patriae Probably established the so-called alimenta: child support scheme known almost exclusively from inscriptions In 97 he adopted Trajan who was to be the first emperor from the provinces (southern Spain)

Trajan (98-117) One of the few emperors who successfully combined the goodwill of the army and the harmony with the senate He came down in the tradition as Optimus Princeps “Best Princeps” a term appearing on coins etc. beginning in 103. In Rome in 99 and 100 he was much praised, notably by Pliny’s speech in the senate later revised as the Panegyricus. Special appointments: curatores special caretaker officials who reported directly to the emperor # traditional principle of cities’ autonomy which all emperors upheld

Trajan waged Dacian Wars in 101-102 and 105-106 which are said to have yielded about 225 tons of gold, double that amount of silver and 50,000 slaves These spoils financed the great Forum of Trajan in the heart of Rome and other monuments in Italy and elsewhere By 114 he had captured Armenia; in 115 he made the lands between Armenia and the upper reaches of the Tigris into the province of Assyria and he annexed northern Mesopotamia as the province of Mesopotamia; he was awarded the title “Parthicus” in 116 In 117 he brings under control the Jews whose communities in Egypt, Cyprus and Cyrenaica had rebelled in 115

Trajan died unexpectedly in Cilicia while returning to Rome from his Parthian Campaigns. Just before he died he adopted Hadrian, a distant relative of his, as his heir.