Roman History in Sibylline Oracle 13: A Palestinian Jewish Perspective on Emperors, Usurpers, and Saviors During the Third Century CE (Part One: From Maximus I “Thrax” to Philip I “The Arab”)

The period commonly known as the “Crisis of the Third Century” (235-284 CE) began with the assassination of the Roman emperor Severus Alexander (222-235 CE), the last ruler of the Severan dynasty. This turbulent era was marked by nearly fifty years of civil war, barbarian invasions, rebellions, and political and social unrest caused by approximately twenty-six claimants to the imperial throne. Although the end of this age of disorder under Diocletian (284-305 CE) is well-known, we have little information about much of the third century CE, particularly its first decades. This study examines book 13 of the Sibylline oracles, which contains significant and largely neglected historical materials written from the perspective of a Palestinian Jew who was loyal to the Roman Empire, and who documented his community’s view of its enemies during the third century CE.