Category:Gratus (subject)

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Valerius Gratus was the Roman governor of Judea, from 15 CE to 26 CE, under Emperor Tiberius.

Overview

In 15 CE, the new Emperor Tiberius appointed Valerius Gratus to succeed Annius Rufus as the Roman Prefect of Judea. Gratus' tenure was characterized by the deposition of the High Priest Annas and the repeated changes he made in the appointment of the high priesthood. Annas however remained the éminence grise controlling de facto the Jewish high priesthood, having his son Eleazar (16-17) and then his son-in-law Caiaphas (18-36) holding the position. In 26 CE Pontius Pilate took Gratus' place.

Gratus in ancient sources

Josephus, Jewish Antiquities

Ant XVIII 2, 2 -- Tiberius sent Valerius Gratus to be procurator of Judea, and to succeed Annius Rufus. This man deprived Ananus of the high priesthood, and appointed Ismael, the son of Phabi, to be high priest. He also deprived him in a little time, and ordained Eleazar, the son of Ananus, who had been high priest before, to be high priest; which office, when he had held for a year, Gratus deprived him of it, and gave the high priesthood to Simon, the son of Camithus; and when he had possessed that dignity no longer than a year, Joseph Caiaphas was made his successor. When Gratus had done those things, he went back to Rome, after he had tarried in Judea eleven years, when Pontius Pilate came as his successor.

Gratus in literature & the arts

Ben-Hur's family is accused of attempted murder when a tile accidentally falls from the roof of their house on Gratus.

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