The Wars of the Jews; Or, The History of the Destruction of JerusalemJosephus, Flavius
Religion
The Wars of the Jews; Or, The History of the Destruction of Jerusalem
Josephus, Flavius
Jews -- History
1. In the meantime, there was a man, who was by birth a Jew, but brought
up at Sidon with one of the Roman freed-men, who falsely pretended,
on account of the resemblance of their countenances, that he was that
Alexander who was slain by Herod. This man came to Rome, in hopes of not
being detected. He had one who was his assistant, of his own nation, and
who knew all the affairs of the kingdom, and instructed him to say how
those that were sent to kill him and Aristobulus had pity upon them,
and stole them away, by putting bodies that were like theirs in their
places. This man deceived the Jews that were at Crete, and got a great
deal of money of them for traveling in splendor; and thence sailed to
Melos, where he was thought so certainly genuine, that he got a great
deal more money, and prevailed with those that had treated him to sail
along with him to Rome. So he landed at Dicearchia, [Puteoli,] and got
very large presents from the Jews who dwelt there, and was conducted by
his father's friends as if he were a king; nay, the resemblance in
his countenance procured him so much credit, that those who had seen
Alexander, and had known him very well, would take their oaths that he
was the very same person. Accordingly, the whole body of the Jews that
were at Rome ran out in crowds to see him, and an innumerable multitude
there was which stood in the narrow places through which he was carried;
for those of Melos were so far distracted, that they carried him in a
sedan, and maintained a royal attendance for him at their own proper
charges.
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