God's Gold (19 page)

Entrance facade into the Jewish catacombs of Roman Beth Shearim, Israel. The site's rich sarcophagus decoration confirms which images were acceptable to the Jews of Roman Palestine.

Nike, the Roman goddess of victory, an acceptable image for a Jewish burial sarcophagus at Beth Shearim.

An eagle on the side of a secondto- third-century AD sarcophagus atBeth Shearim corresponds exactly to eagles on the base of the Arch of Titus candelabrum pedestal, confirming its ancient ancestry.

A soldier with a candelabrum on his head in Beth Shearim's Roman catacombs. The candelabrum's knotted central shaft replicates the Tree of Life, which was its original inspiration. (
Z. Radovan, www.BibleLandPictures.com
)

The bronze Judaea Capta coin series, struck by Vespasian from AD 71 as Flavian propaganda. The reverse shows a mourning Jewess alongside a conquered Jew with tied hands, a palm tree—the symbol of Judaea—and conquered enemy armor. (©
CNG Inc
)

Model of imperial Rome by Italo Gismondi (Museo della Civilt´ Romana), showing the highlights of the route followed by Vespasian and Titus in their triumph of AD 71 celebrating Israel's defeat.
Top left:
Marcellus's theater in the Field of Mars.
Bottom left:
The Circus Maximus.
Middle right:
The Colosseum and, to its left, the Temple of Peace.

A sixth-century BC Egyptian obelisk originally marked the location of the Temple of Isis, where the triumph began.

Madam Lucretia in the Piazza di San Marco, Rome, is probably the original cult marble statue of the Egyptian goddess Isis.

On the morning of the triumph, Vespasian and Titus offered prayers at the Pantheon in the Field of Mars, Rome.

The Senate House in Rome's Forum (
brick structure at right
), with the rostra, state orator's platform, at left. Here Vespasian received formal congratulations in AD 71 from the Senate for defeating Israel.

The triumph of AD 71 was a dark day for Rome's Jews. Of the city's original thirteen synagogues, only one Jewish temple survives today at Ostia, with its Torah shrine intact.

A column capital in Ostia's synagogue decorated with a candelabrum.

The arched Porticus of Octavia, Rome, across which Vespasian's triumph paraded in AD 71.