Varus
- ANCIENT SOURCES: see Varus (sources)
- SCHOLARLY AND FICTIONAL WORKS: see Category:Varus (subject)
Publius Quinctilius Varus was a Roman general and governor of Syria.
Overview
Publius Quinctilius Varus was an influential Roman politician and general at the time of Emperor Augustus.
When governor in Syria, Varus was known for his harsh rule. In 4 BCE he mercilessly suppressed a rebellion following the death of Herod the Great, destroying the Galilean capitol of Sepphoris. Josephus, who compared Varus' invasion to Antiochus IV Epiphanes' and Pompey's, says that on that occasion Varus crucified more than 2,000 rebels. His cruelty created lasting popular resentment.
After serving as governor in Africa and Syria, Varus came back to Rome and was then appointed governor of Germania. In 9 CE, in a failed attempt to subdue some German tribes, he suffered a devastating defeat in the battle of the Teutoburg Forest and committed suicide.
Varus in Scholarship
Varus in Fiction
Fictional works focus on Varus' defeat in German, rather than on his deeds in Syria.