Pontius Pilatus in der Darstellung des Bellum Iudaicum

Abstract

The picture of Pontius Pilate, the fifth Roman governor of Judaea, is all in all a negative one but it proves to be the result of a complex literary strategy in Josephus’ Bellum Iudaicum. Pilate’s figure is very much shaped by the narrative role that Josephus has assigned to him in the plot. The confrontations between Pilate and his provincial subjects show to the Jewish readers the right strategy to adopt in future situations of conflict with the Roman Empire. Besides, his portrayal has a sociological impact, too. The Prefect Pontius Pilate is used as a dark background in order to model the Legatus Augusti in Syria, Petronius, as the perfect Roman upper class citizen. Petronius’ character aims at inspiring the pagan reader to adopt a positive and fostering attitude towards the Jewish religion and tradition. Thus, Petronius serves as a model, whereas Pilate is as negative example. The usual comparison between Pontius Pilate and the other Roman Prefects of Judaea contributes much less to his literary character just as the frequently emphasised responsibility of Pilate and his colleagues for the Jewish uprising is an unconvincing interpretation of Josephus’ literary concept in Bellum.