The Roman Army, 31 BC–AD 337: A Sourcebook

76 The Roman Army
his tribunician power, imperator for the seventeenth time, consul for
the eighth time, father of the fatherland, their own leader (princeps),
because under the direction, advice, and auspices of his father, he
subdued the Jewish race and destroyed the city of Jerusalem, which
had been either besieged fruitlessly or left completely untouched by all
the commanders, kings, and peoples before him.
139 Josephus, Jewish War 7. 132–57 (extracts)
It is impossible to describe properly the huge number of wonderful sights
and their magnificence in every conceivable way, either as works of art
or in variety of wealth or as rarities of nature. (Section 133) Virtually all
the things which men of exceptional good fortune have acquired
individually, the marvellous and priceless achievements of other peoples,
these were assembled on that day and demonstrated the magnitude of
the Roman empire… (A description of the riches in the procession).
(Section 136) Moreover, the images of their (Roman) gods of astonishing
size and brilliantly worked craftsmanship were carried in the procession,
and there was nothing which was not made from an expensive material.
Many types of animals were also led past, all decorated with the proper
trappings. (Section 137) The men who had charge of each group of these
animals were adorned with clothing of purple and gold, while those
chosen to participate in the procession itself had on their persons the
most remarkable and astonishingly rich adornment. (Section 138)
Furthermore, even the mob of captives did not lack ornaments, and the
elaborate and beautiful nature of their garments hid from view any
unsightly mutilation of their bodies… (Description of various tableaux
depicting the course of the campaign.) (Section 148) The spoils were
carried piled up in heaps, but those taken from the temple in Jerusalem
were more conspicuous than all the rest… (Description of the spoils
including the seven-branched-candelabrum.) (Section 150) A copy of
the Jewish Law was carried after this, as last of all the spoils. (Section
151) Next came many people carrying statues of Victory, all made from
ivory and gold. (Section 152) Behind them first drove Vespasian with
Titus following, while Domitian rode beside them magnificently dressed,
and his horse too was a wonderful sight.
(Section 153) The triumphal procession reached its conclusion at
the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus where they came to a halt. It was an
ancient custom to wait there until the death of the general of the enemy
should be announced. (Section 154) This man was Simon, son of Gioras,
who had just taken part in the procession with the prisoners; then a
noose was placed round his neck and he was whipped by his escort as