Chronology 66-74

Chronology of the Jewish War, 66-70

The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus offers a consistent chronology of the Jewish War that started in 66 and culminated in the destruction of the temple in 70. However, there is a problem. He uses the Macedonian names for the months, but does not say what he means. There are three possibilities:

1. He uses the normal Macedonian calendar, which we can corroborate with the calendar of Tyre or Antioch;
2. He uses Macedonian names for the Julian months of the Roman calendar (e.g., 1 Panemus = 1 July);
3. He uses the Babylonian-Judaean lunar calendar (e.g., Artemisius = Iyar).

At first sight, it seems that Josephus used all systems but preferred the Roman one (which suggests that he had access to a Roman military source), except for the period before the legions arrived in Judaea and for Jewish liturgical dates.

This looks like a plausible solution, but is in fact too simple, because it implies that the killing of the emperor Vitellius (20 December 69) was recorded by the Romans before it actually happened.

In the following table, you will find a comparison. Preferred dates bold; certain dates red; religious festivals green; contemporary events (Year of the Four Emperors; Batavian revolt) here.

*
Flavius Josephus does not mention the year in which Masada fell. Most scholars have assumed 73, but archaeologists have discovered coins of that year on top of the rock. 74 is, therefore, much more plausible, although 73 cannot be ruled out.

Literature

This table was based on Barbara Levick, Vespasian (1999 London), pp.40-42; with some some modifications.