When was destruction of jerusalem

The J. Paul Getty Museum. The Destruction of Jerusalem. No Copyright - United States. Object Details. Object Number:. Alternate Titles:. Previous Attribution:. Vespasian became embroiled in a leadership struggle that concluded with the eastern armies calling for him to be emperor.

One of his first imperial acts was to appoint his son Titus to conduct the Jewish War. By now, Jerusalem was isolated from the rest of the nation, and factions within the city fought over strategies of defense. As the siege wore on, people began dying from starvation and plague. Meanwhile the Romans employed new war machines to hurl boulders against the city walls. Battering rams assaulted the fortifications. Jewish defenders fought all day and struggled to rebuild the walls at night.

Eventually the Romans broke through the outer wall, then the second wall, and finally the third wall. Still the Jews fought, scurrying to the temple as their last line of defense. That was the end for the valiant Jewish defenders and for the temple. Historian Josephus claimed that Titus wanted to preserve the temple, but his soldiers were so angry at their resilient opponents that they burned it. The remaining Jews were slaughtered or sold as slaves.

The Zealot band that took Masada held it for at least three more years. When the Romans finally built their siege ramp and invaded the mountain fortress, they found the defenders dead—they had committed suicide to avoid being captured by foreigners. The Jewish Revolt marked the end of the Jewish state until modern times. The first destruction of the temple, by the Babylonians in B. They adjusted, of course, creating new rituals for home and synagogue. But the Sanhedrin was dissolved, and the center of Jewish religion moved to the educational institutions of Jamnia.

Where were the Christians? Out of town, basically. They were allowed to return under an edict issued by Cyrus King of Persia. It was also during this period that Jesus was in Jerusalem.

He was crucified about 40 years before the destruction of the city. Trade Paperback Arrow Icon Arrow icon ebook.