| Notes: Director: J. Gordon Edwards; In the writing credits, no lesser a historical giant is given the credit for the story, than Flavius Josephus, or as he is known in Hebrew Yoseph ben Matityahu. This Jewish historian, who lived and wrote in the 1st century AD, had a life eventful enough for a Hollywood movie all his own. Suffice it to mention that he was a member of the priestly aristocracy of Jerusalem at the times of the second Temple, his ancestry goes back to the royal house of the Hasmonaeans(Maccabees), he was given command of the troops in Galilee during the First Jewish Revolt against the Romans, survived a suicide pact of the last defenders of the stronghold of Yodfat, went over to the Romans’ side after his capture, served as an interpreter to Titus during the siege of Jerusalem, went to Rome after the war, was awarded Roman Citizenship and even the imperial family name of Flavius. He has written a number of very important books but remains a very controversial figure in Jewish history to say the least, hated by many in fact. Still, a lot of what we know today about the pivotal Jewish war against the Romans in 66-71AD, at the end of which the Second Temple was destroyed and a free Jewish State has ceased to exist until the 20th Century, we owe to Josephus and his book The Jewish War. In this scene, a crazed looking Salome seems to be taunting the head of John The Baptist, laying on a platter, which she requested as prize for performing her dance in front the adoring King Herod. Wow! |
