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orion-list Josephus



Josephus claims he lived among the Pharisees, Sadducees and Essenes (Life,
10). However, there are good reasons to cast doubt upon this claim:

(1) The time-schedule Josephus gives in Life 10-12 is impossible: between 16
and 18-19 years of age he claims to have enjoyed 'philosophical' training
with Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes and a desert-teacher named Bannus, with
whom he lived for 3 years. Elsewhere however, Josephus asserts that becoming
a full member of the Essenes took 3 years (War, 2.137-142).

(2) a broad philosophical education in one's youth was the ideal in
upper-class Roman society, so Josephus clearly has an axe to grind.

Yours,

Marco Rotman


----- Oorspronkelijk bericht -----
Van: alexandre bermudez-bagniewski <alexbagniewski@hotmail.com>
Aan: <orion@mscc.huji.ac.il>
Verzonden: donderdag 15 februari 2001 16:10
Onderwerp: orion-list orion-digest


> I am very interested in the works of Josephus and I would like to know if
> there is any evidence that show us that he lived among the Essenes?
> Cheers, Alexandre.

For private reply, e-mail to "Marco en Leontine Rotman" <m.rotman@wxs.nl>
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