Representing the Dynasty in Flavian Rome: The Case of Josephus' Jewish War

Representing the Dynasty in Flavian Rome explores the problem of contemporary historiography and regime representation in Flavian Rome by examining the Jewish War of Flavius Josephus. It provides a series of thematically-focused readings of the three senior members of the Flavian family, Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian, as represented by Josephus. Key topics explored include Josephus' independence, his work's relationship to other contemporary sources, how Josephus makes the Flavians serve his own agenda, and the viability and usefulness of figured critique in Josephan scholarship. The book offers a new approach to Josephus' relationship to the Flavian Dynasty and sheds new light on contemporary historiography and political expression in the Early Principate.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 18 August 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Representing the Dynasty in Flavian Rome delves into the intricate realm of contemporary historiography and the portrayal of regimes in Flavian Rome by examining a text that is often overlooked in such studies, but holds immense potential for exploring the theme of regime representation. Through a comprehensive analysis, the book explores the evolution of our understanding of Josephus' relationship with Flavian power, examines the broader issues of political expression and regime representation in Flavian Rome beyond Josephus, and investigates questions related to the structure and dating of the Jewish War.

In his meticulous exploration, Davies offers a series of thematically focused readings of the three senior members of the Flavian family, Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian, as portrayed by their contemporary and client Josephus. These readings delve into critical topics such as the extent of Josephus' independence of vision, the relationship between Josephus' work and the depiction of the regime in other contemporary sources, the ways in which Josephus manipulates the Flavians to serve his own agenda (which diverges from the predominant focus of previous scholarship on how Josephus served the Flavian agenda), and the viability and usefulness of certain types of reading practices related to figured critique, which have gained significant prominence in Josephan scholarship.

By adopting a fresh approach to Josephus' relationship with the Flavian Dynasty, the book sheds new light on contemporary historiography and political expression in the Early Principate. It provides valuable insights into the complexities of representing and interpreting historical events and sheds light on the ways in which historical narratives shape our understanding of the past. Representing the Dynasty in Flavian Rome is a groundbreaking contribution to the field of ancient history and scholarship, offering a rich and nuanced perspective on the dynamics of power, politics, and historical representation in the Roman Empire.

Weight: 542g
Dimension: 165 x 241 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198882992