Pontius Pilate and the imperial cult in Roman Judaea

TY - JOUR

T1 - Pontius Pilate and the imperial cult in Roman Judaea

AU - Taylor, Joan E.

PY - 2006/10

Y1 - 2006/10

N2 - While Pontius Pilate is often seen as agnostic, in modern terms, the material evidence of his coinage and the Pilate inscription from Caesarea indicate a prefect determined to promote a form of Roman religion in Judaea. Unlike his predecessors, in the coinage Pilate used peculiarly Roman iconographic elements appropriate to the imperial cult. In the inscription Pilate was evidently responsible for dedicating a Tiberieum to the Dis Augustis. This material evidence may be placed alongside the report in Philo Legatio ad Gaium (299-305) where Pilate sets up shields - likewise associated with the Roman imperial cult-honouring Tiberius in Jerusalem.

AB - While Pontius Pilate is often seen as agnostic, in modern terms, the material evidence of his coinage and the Pilate inscription from Caesarea indicate a prefect determined to promote a form of Roman religion in Judaea. Unlike his predecessors, in the coinage Pilate used peculiarly Roman iconographic elements appropriate to the imperial cult. In the inscription Pilate was evidently responsible for dedicating a Tiberieum to the Dis Augustis. This material evidence may be placed alongside the report in Philo Legatio ad Gaium (299-305) where Pilate sets up shields - likewise associated with the Roman imperial cult-honouring Tiberius in Jerusalem.

U2 - 10.1017/S0028688506000300

DO - 10.1017/S0028688506000300

M3 - Article

SN - 0028-6885

VL - 52

SP - 555

EP - 582

JO - NEW TESTAMENT STUDIES

JF - NEW TESTAMENT STUDIES

IS - 4

M1 - N/A

ER -