The historians' history of the world in twenty-five volumes, volume 02 : $b Israel, India, Persia, Phoenicia, Minor Nations of Western Asia
History
The historians' history of the world in twenty-five volumes, volume 02 : $b Israel, India, Persia, Phoenicia, Minor Nations of Western Asia
World history
At Rome, whither all men seeking their fortunes drifted, the Jews were
very numerous, and insinuated themselves among all classes, especially
among women, exploiting their credulity by interpreting dreams and
selling philtres and amulets. They were generally confounded with
Chaldeans and other venders of horoscopes. A lady of rank, whom they
had converted to their religion, having had reason to complain of their
sharp practices, Tiberius enlisted four thousand Jews, whom he sent to
Sardinia. A grandson of Herod, Agrippa by name, who had squandered his
fortune in profligate courses and lived by his wits, insinuated himself
into the good graces of the young Caligula. During a walk which they
took together, Agrippa said aloud, “When will the day come on which
the death of old Tiberius will leave thee master of the empire, for my
happiness and that of the world?” The words were repeated to Tiberius
by a freedman, and Agrippa was put in prison. Caligula, who became
emperor soon after, set him at liberty and gave him the tetrarchy of
his uncle Philip (who had died shortly before), with the title of King.
But the ambitious Herodias could not endure to see her brother, whom
she had formerly assisted out of her bounty, win a higher rank than her
husband. At her instigation Antipas proceeded to Rome to solicit the
diadem. It was an evil day for him; Agrippa accused him of having laid
up a store of arms and of holding communication with the Parthians;
Caligula, without deigning to inquire into the matter, banished him to
Lyons in Gaul, and added his tetrarchy to Agrippa’s kingdom.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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