 |
| Picture of King Herod from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great |
October 12, 2016
I came across this story in Flavius Josephus's Antiquities of the Jews while conducting research for a book. I've been chuckling at the audacity of this plan ever since and thought it ought to be shared online the enjoyment of people who aren't reading Jewish historians from 2,000 years ago.
To put the audacity and ridiculous courageousness of this scam in perspective, Publius Quinctilius Varus had recently crucified 2,000 Jewish men for sedition against the Roman Empire.
I added in a couple of parentheticals and paragraph spaces, but otherwise left Josephus's description as it was interpreted in Havercamp's translation.
To put the audacity and ridiculous courageousness of this scam in perspective, Publius Quinctilius Varus had recently crucified 2,000 Jewish men for sedition against the Roman Empire.
I added in a couple of parentheticals and paragraph spaces, but otherwise left Josephus's description as it was interpreted in Havercamp's translation.
Concerning a Spurious Alexander
When the affairs had been thus settled [after King Herod's death] by Caesar [Augustus], a certain young man, by birth a Jew, but brought up by a Roman freed man in the city Sidon, ingrafted himself in the kindred of Herod, by the resemblance of his countenance, which those that saw him attested to be that of Alexander son of Herod, who he [Herod] has slain; and this was an incitement to him to endeavor to obtain the government; so he took to him as an assistant, a man of his own country, (one that was well acquainted with the affairs of the palace, but on other accounts, an ill man, and one who nature made him capable of causing great disturbances to the public, and one that became a teacher of such a mischievous contrivance to the other,) and declared himself to be Alexander, and the son of Herod, but stolen away by one of those that were sent to slay him, who, in reality, slew other men in order to deceive the spectators, but saved both him and his brother Aristobulus.
Thus was the man elated, and able to impose on those that came to him; and when he was come to Crete, he made all the Jews that came to discourse with him believe him [to be Alexander.] And when he had gotten much more money which had been presented to him there, he passed to Melos where he got much more money than he had before, out of their belief that he was of the royal family, and their hopes that he would recover his father's principality, and reward his benefactors: so he made haste to Rome, and was conducted thither by those strangers who entertained him. He was also fortunate, as, upon his landing at Dicearchia, to bring the Jews that were there also into the same delusion; and not only other people, but also all those that had been great with Herod, or had a kindness for him, joined themselves to this man as to their king.
The cause of it was this, that men were glad of his pretences, which were seconded by the likeness of his countenance, which made those that had been acquainted with Alexander strongly to believe that he was no other but the very same person, which they also confirmed to others by oath; insomuch that when the report went out about him that he was coming to Rome, the whole multitude of the Jews that were there went out to meet him, ascribing it to divine Providence that he had so unexpectedly escaped, and being very joyful on account of his mother's family.
And when he was come, he was carried in a royal litter through the streets, and all of the ornaments about him were such as kings are adorned withal; and this was at the expense for those that entertained him. The multitude also flocked about him greatly, and made mighty acclamations to him, and nothing was omitted which could be thought suitable to such as had been so unexpectedly preserved.
When this thing was told to Caeser he did not believe it, because Herod was not easily to be imposed upon in such affairs as were of great concern to him; yet, having some suspicion it might be so, he sent one Celadus, a freed man of his, and one that had conversed with the young men themselves , and bade him bring Alexander into his presence: so he brought him, being no more accurate in judging about him than the rest of the multitude.
Yet did not he deceive Caeser; for although there were a resemblance between him and Alexander, yet was it not so exact as to impose on such as were prudent in discerning; for this spurious Alexander had his hands rough, by the labours he had been put to, and instead of that softness of body which the other had, and this as derived from his delicate and generous education, this man, for the contrary reason, had a rugged body. When, therefore, Caeser saw how the master and the scholar agreed on this lying story, and in a bold way of talking, he inquired about Aristobulus, and asked what became of him, who (it seems) was stolen away together with him, and for what reason it was that he did not come along with him, and endeavor to recover that dominion wich was due his high birth also?
And when he said, That "he had been left in the isle of Crete, for fear of the dangers of the sea, that, in case any accident should come to himself, the posterity of Mariamne might not utterly perish, but that Aristobulus might survive, and punish those that laid such treacherous designs against them."
And when he persevered in his affirmations, and the author of the imposture agreed in supporting it, Caeser took the young man by himself, and said to him, if thou wilt not impose upon me, thou shalt escape with thy life; tell me, then, who thou art, and who it was that had boldness enough to contrive such a cheat as this. For this contrivance is too considerable a piece of villainy to be undertaken by one of thy age."
Accordingly, because he had no other way to take, he told Caeser the contrivance, and after what manner, and by whom it was laid together. So Caeser, upon observing the spurious Alexander to be a strong active man, and fit to work with his hands, that he might not break his promise to him, put him among those that were to row among the mariners; but slew him that induced him to do what he had done; for as for the people of Melos, he thought them sufficiently punished, in having thrown away so much of their money on this spurious Alexander. And such was the ignominous conclusion of this bold contrivance about the spurious Alexander.
Thus was the man elated, and able to impose on those that came to him; and when he was come to Crete, he made all the Jews that came to discourse with him believe him [to be Alexander.] And when he had gotten much more money which had been presented to him there, he passed to Melos where he got much more money than he had before, out of their belief that he was of the royal family, and their hopes that he would recover his father's principality, and reward his benefactors: so he made haste to Rome, and was conducted thither by those strangers who entertained him. He was also fortunate, as, upon his landing at Dicearchia, to bring the Jews that were there also into the same delusion; and not only other people, but also all those that had been great with Herod, or had a kindness for him, joined themselves to this man as to their king.
The cause of it was this, that men were glad of his pretences, which were seconded by the likeness of his countenance, which made those that had been acquainted with Alexander strongly to believe that he was no other but the very same person, which they also confirmed to others by oath; insomuch that when the report went out about him that he was coming to Rome, the whole multitude of the Jews that were there went out to meet him, ascribing it to divine Providence that he had so unexpectedly escaped, and being very joyful on account of his mother's family.
And when he was come, he was carried in a royal litter through the streets, and all of the ornaments about him were such as kings are adorned withal; and this was at the expense for those that entertained him. The multitude also flocked about him greatly, and made mighty acclamations to him, and nothing was omitted which could be thought suitable to such as had been so unexpectedly preserved.
When this thing was told to Caeser he did not believe it, because Herod was not easily to be imposed upon in such affairs as were of great concern to him; yet, having some suspicion it might be so, he sent one Celadus, a freed man of his, and one that had conversed with the young men themselves , and bade him bring Alexander into his presence: so he brought him, being no more accurate in judging about him than the rest of the multitude.
Yet did not he deceive Caeser; for although there were a resemblance between him and Alexander, yet was it not so exact as to impose on such as were prudent in discerning; for this spurious Alexander had his hands rough, by the labours he had been put to, and instead of that softness of body which the other had, and this as derived from his delicate and generous education, this man, for the contrary reason, had a rugged body. When, therefore, Caeser saw how the master and the scholar agreed on this lying story, and in a bold way of talking, he inquired about Aristobulus, and asked what became of him, who (it seems) was stolen away together with him, and for what reason it was that he did not come along with him, and endeavor to recover that dominion wich was due his high birth also?
And when he said, That "he had been left in the isle of Crete, for fear of the dangers of the sea, that, in case any accident should come to himself, the posterity of Mariamne might not utterly perish, but that Aristobulus might survive, and punish those that laid such treacherous designs against them."
And when he persevered in his affirmations, and the author of the imposture agreed in supporting it, Caeser took the young man by himself, and said to him, if thou wilt not impose upon me, thou shalt escape with thy life; tell me, then, who thou art, and who it was that had boldness enough to contrive such a cheat as this. For this contrivance is too considerable a piece of villainy to be undertaken by one of thy age."
Accordingly, because he had no other way to take, he told Caeser the contrivance, and after what manner, and by whom it was laid together. So Caeser, upon observing the spurious Alexander to be a strong active man, and fit to work with his hands, that he might not break his promise to him, put him among those that were to row among the mariners; but slew him that induced him to do what he had done; for as for the people of Melos, he thought them sufficiently punished, in having thrown away so much of their money on this spurious Alexander. And such was the ignominous conclusion of this bold contrivance about the spurious Alexander.
