Category:Silva (subject)

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Lucius Flavius Silva Nonius Bassus was a Roman general and governor of Judea, 73-80 CE.

Overview

Lucius Flavius Silva was born at Urbisaglia [Marche, Italy].

He began his political career under Nero and Vespasian.

During the Jewish War he replaced Lucilius Bassus as commander of the Legio X Fretensis, when Bassus died of illness after conquering Herodium and Machaerus. In 73 Silva besieged and conquered the fortress of Masada, the last stronghold of Jewish resistance. According to Josephus, the Sicarii led by Eleazar ben Yair committed mass suicide when the fortress was about to fall.

Flavius Silva was governor of Judea from 73 to 80. In 81 he became consul at Rome, but fell into disgrace under Domitian.

Lucius Flavius Silva in ancient sources

• See Silva (sources)

Lucius Flavius Silva in literature & the arts

In 1970 American writer Ernest K. Gann made Silvia the co-protagonist (with Eleazar ben Yair) of The Antagonists (1970 Gann), novel, a narrative focusing on the Siege of Masada. The success of the novel inspired in 1981 a TV mini-series, Masada (1981 Sagal), film, where Silva was portrayed by British actor Peter O'Toole. In 1986 Gann published the sequel The Triumph (1986 Gann), novel.

Related categories

• Roman Governors of Judea -- Vespasian
• Masada -- Siege of Masada -- Eleazar ben Yair -- Jewish War

External links

• Wikipedia