Augustus (by Samuele Rocca)

• SCHOLARLY AND FICTIONAL WORKS: see Category:Augustus (subject)
• ANCIENT SOURCES: see Augustus (sources)

Augustus (63 BCE - 14 CE) was the first Roman Emperor, from 27 BCE to 14 CE.

Overview

Augustus was the founder of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, followed by Tiberius.

Around 30 BCE, he took control of the land of Israel before becoming emperor in 27 BCE.

Augustus continued the friendly policy of his uncle, Julius Caesar, toward the Jews. He showed his sympathy by sending gifts to the Jerusalem Temple and by causing the daily sacrifice to be offered up in his name. He renewed the edicts granting freedom of worship, and protecting Jewish religious practice.

In Judea Augustus supported the Herodian dynasty. King Herod the Great proved to be a loyal ally of the Emperor and after him named the cities of Sebaste and Caesarea Maritima. When Herod died in 4 BCE, his kingdom was divided among three of his sons--Herod Archelaus (etnarch of Judea), Herod Antipas (tetrarch of Galilee and Perea), and Herod Philip (tetrarch).

In 6 CE, Herod Archelaus was deposed and Judea became a Roman province. Augustus appointed the first three governors of the region--Coponius (6-9 CE), Marcus Ambivulus (9-12 CE), and Annus Rufus (12-15 CE).

Herod Antipas and Herod Philip continued the practice of dedicating their building projects to their patron.

Jesus of Nazareth was born at the time of Augustus. Later Christian tradition would develop the legend that Augustus received the annunciation of the birth of Jesus by the Sybyl.

Related categories

• Roman Emperors (subject)

References

• Augustus / David S. Potter / In: The Anchor Bible Dictionary (1992 Freedman), dictionary, 1:524-528

External links

• Wikipedia
• Jewish Encyclopedia (1906)