The decades preceding the First Jewish Revolt against the Romans in 66 B.C.E. were marked by Herod's establishment of Caesarea as the Roman capital of Judea, increased taxes on the Jewish population by the Roman-appointed procurators, and a rising belief in the eminence of the "Kingdom of God" on earth. This messianic vision of the end of days went hand-in-hand with a belief that the Jewish nation's redemption could only be initiated by the termination of Roman rule.

In 66 B.C.E., Emperor Nero sent one of his ablest generals, Vespasian, to put down the rebellion. After Vespasian became Emperor in 69 C.E., the command of the Roman forces transferred to his son Titus. In the spring of 70 C.E., Titus' armies laid siege to Jerusalem. During the summer, the Tenth Roman Legion captured Jerusalem on the 17^th of Tammuz and destroyed the Temple on the 9^th of Av, the same date that is ascribed to the Babylonian destruction of the First Temple in 586 B.C.E. The revolt ended with the capture of Masada from the Zealots in 73 C.E.

To celebrate the Roman conquest of Jerusalem, numerous "Judea Capta" coins in bronze, silver, and gold were minted. The Judea Capta coin testifies to the great importance the Romans attached to quelling the revolt in Judea and capturing Jerusalem. This image was designed and circulated to send a message of Judea's defeated revolt to all the provinces of the Roman Empire and served as constant reminder of the fate of rebellious provinces.

Next >>