The Jewish War: Second half of Book 4

[cahn]

Last week: Mass suicide (canonical), Constantinople (not present in canon), pro-surrender factions, the translation of "bandits/terrorists/troublemakers" (apparently "lestes" in Greek). Anyone familiar with the Talmud want to weigh in about the question of marrying a raped-by-a-Roman woman in Jewish society?

This week: Jerusalem continues to be torn apart by various factions. Simon son of Gioras makes his appearance. The Year of the Four Emperors happens, with Vespasian finally making his bid for emperor.

Next week: Half of book 5? To where? From selenak: until the tale of Kastor duping Titus has concluded: “…for they believed nothing but that their opponents had thrown themselves into the fire."

Comments

[selenak]

Dying is an art. I do it exceptionally well...

(Inevitable Sylvia Plath quote is inevitable on this topic.)

While we're talking about Nero-caused suicides, I dimly recall Seneca's took eons as well, with him supposedly covering all the bases by first opening his arteries, then drinking Socrates-style poison, and finally going for death by Sauna.

I note Otho, deciding to committ suicide rather than engage in more pointless battles he's going to lose costing soldlier's lives, does this much faster and more efficiently.

[cahn]

(Inevitable Sylvia Plath quote is inevitable on this topic.)

That is indeed the perfect quote for this!

Wow, that does seem rather overkill, so to speak, by Seneca. Heh on Otho being more efficient...