Strasburg, Dietzel, 1630.
Folio (34 x 215 mm). In contemporary full vellum with yapp edges. Title in contemporary hand to spine. Small paper label pasted on to spine indicating the volume's number in an estate library. Title-pages in red and black within historiated woodcut border. Binding soilied and with a few stains. Outer lower corner of title-page cut off, no loss of text. A fine copy. (12), 960, (36), (12), 214, (10) pp.
Fine copy of this later edition of two of Jesephus' most important works. The later work is a translation of a Latin christological version of Josephus' De bello Judaico, dating from ca. 367-374 A.D. It is of uncertain authorship but cited as the work of "Hegesippus" or "Egesippus." It was transmitted among the works of and sometimes attributed to Ambrose, Bishop of Milan Titus Flavius Josephus was a first-century Romano-Jewish historian who was born in Jerusalem. He fought against the Romans during the First Jewish–Roman War as head of Jewish forces in Galilee, but surrendered in 67 CE to Roman forces led by Vespasian. After Vespasian became Emperor in 69 CE, he granted Josephus his freedom, at which time Josephus assumed the emperor's family name of Flavius. Josephus recorded Jewish history, with special emphasis on the first century CE and the First Jewish–Roman War (66–70 CE), including the Siege of Masada. His most important works were The Jewish War (c. 75) and Antiquities of the Jews (c. 94). For centuries Josephus' works were more widely read in Europe than any book other than the Bible. They are an invaluable eye-witness to a momentous turning point in Judaism, Christianity, and Western civilization. The present edition was first published in 1569. Graesse III, Pp. 481-482
The Jewish War recounts the Jewish revolt against Roman occupation. Antiquities of the Jews recounts the history of the world from a Jewish perspective for an ostensibly Greek and Roman audience. These works provide valuable insight into first century Judaism and the background of Early Christianity, although not specifically mentioned by Josephus. Josephus' works are the chief source next to the Bible for the history and antiquity of ancient Palestine.
Order-nr.: 60564