RATIONES RERUM 23: Articolo Thomas R. Martin

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Rationes Rerum 23

THOMAS R. MARTIN
Courage (parastema) and Ethnicity in Josephus’ Jewish War

This article argues that Josephus uses the rare Greek word παράστηµα (here translated as “courage”) in the narrative of the climax of the Roman assault on Jerusalem in his Jewish War to suggest a contrast between, on the one hand, non-elite ethnically Roman soldiers, and, on the other hand, Jews, ethnically non-Roman auxiliary soldiers, Vespasian, and Titus. Using this term more often than any author before him, Josephus describes non-Romans as displaying outstanding παράστηµα in combat, while their Roman comrades in the ranks conspicuously fail to do so.