Flavius Josephus PATRON-CLIENT DYNAMICS IN FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS’ VITA: A CROSS-DISCIPLINARY ANALYSIS. Thesis submitted to the Department of Religious Studies, University of Ottawa, October 1991, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Master of Arts, Religious Studies. Submitted by: Michael Strangelove

Flavius Josephus

Copyright © © (C) 1991 by Michael Strangelove. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the author, Michael Strangelove. HOW TO OBTAIN A COPY: This thesis is available in print and on diskette by contacting: Michael Strangelove Religious Studies Department University of Ottawa 177 Waller Ottawa, Ontario CANADA K1N 6N5 (613) 237-2052 (voice) (613) 564-6641 (fax) E-Mail Address: <441495@UOTTAWA> Bitnet <441495@ACADVM1.UOTTAWA.CA> Internet Please indicate media choice. This thesis also will be available over the international academic networks (Bitnet/Internet) via FTP in 1992. Contact the author (above) for retrieval information.

ABSTRACT Throughout history, Flavius Josephus has been the victim of character assassinations carried out by Jews, Christians and modern scholars alike. This thesis uses the methodology of social scientific analysis to compile a model of patron-client relations from the disciplines of sociology, anthropology, political science, and ancient history. This eclectic model is then applied to Josephus’ autobiography, the Vita, in an effort to arrive at a culturally sensitive understanding of the social personality of Josephus as a patron of the Galileans. Patron-client dynamics are uncovered in four groups of relational encounters; (1) Josephus, Poppea Sabina and Aliturus; (2) Josephus and John of Gischala; (3) Josephus and the Galileans; and (4) Josephus and Vespasian, Titus, Domitian and Epaphroditus. The results of this modelling process are contrasted against the results of the dominant historical methodology, with particular attention being given to the conclusions of Shaye J.D. Cohen’s Josephus in Galilee and Rome: His Vita and Development as a Historian, (Leiden: Brill, 1979). It is demonstrated that patron-client relations are a significant factor within the Vita and the application of a model of patron-client relations serves to eliminate ethnocentric judgements that have been erroneously applied to both the text and its author.

PREFACE This thesis has grown out of an earlier article, “Honour and Patronage in Josephus’ Vita (1-103): An Analysis of Ancient Mediterranean Cultural Concerns and Their Role in Interpretation,” (M. Strangelove, 1990, unpublished). The process of exploring Mediterranean honour, patronage and social prominence themes convinced me that the unique cultural concerns of the ancient Mediterranean that are embedded in the Vita are the key to its interpretation. A brief survey of the literature surrounding Josephus also revealed that a social-scientific commentary of the Vita is desperately needed. Thus this work as the beginning of of a larger commentary that departs from the tired agenda of Josephan studies. Here the focus is on the wealth of anthropological dynamics that Josephus has captured in his autobiography (indeed, where better can we be confronted with an alien society than through a text that tries to explain an alien self?). If there is any insight in this work, if it has anything of value to add to the field, this is so largely because of the past six years that I have spent under the gentle and creative guidance of Professor Carl Kazmierski here at the University of Ottawa. The errors, over-generalizations and wild inaccuracies are my own unique contribution. I have also my ever loving wife, Natalie Strangelove, to thank for her constant encouragement, invaluable insights, and longsuffering patience.

TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACTii PREFACEiii LIST OF DIAGRAMSvi ABBREVIATIONSvii PART ONE I. GENERAL INTRODUCTION A. THE ISSUES 1 B. THESIS STATEMENT 6 PART TWO II. METHODOLOGY A. THE LIMITS OF HISTORICAL CRITICISM 9 B. THE BASIS OF CROSS-DISCIPLINARY METHODOLOGY13 1. Meaning and Texts14 2. Models15 C. THE CORE CHARACTERISTICS OF PATRON-CLIENT DYNAMICS 1. The History of a Concept20 2. Eisenstadt and Roniger’s Model of Basic Characteristics22 3. An Expansion of Eisenstadt and Roniger’s Model28 a. Generalized Exchange29 b. Power and Oppression31 c. Structure Versus Ideology35 d. The Role of Brokers36 D. SUMMARY OF METHODOLOGY43

PART THREE III. FOUR TEST CASES A. JOSEPHUS, ALITURUS AND POPPEA SABINA46 1. Indications of Patronage in the Roman Embassy (V 13-16)47 2. Aliturus the Broker50 3. Poppea Sabina the Patron51 4. A Response to Intuitive Analysis54 5. Summary56 B. JOSEPHUS AND JOHN b. LEVI OF GISCHALA 1. Josephus and the Jerusalem Coalition of 66-67 C.E.60 2. Josephus and John as Faction Members63 3. Excursus: Shaye J.D. Cohen on Josephus and John66 4. Competition for the Loyalty of the Tiberians68 5. John Gains the Loyalty of Gabara69 6. Summary71 C. JOSEPHUS AND THE GALILEANS 1. Josephus Initiates the Patron-Client Relation74 2. Indications of the Galileans as Clients of Josephus 80 3. Summary84 D. JOSEPHUS AS THE CLIENT OF THE EMPERORS (V 414-430)88 IV. CONCLUSIONS91 APPENDIX I The Mediterranean Personality99 APPENDIX II Characteristics of Mediterranean Biography102 APPENDIX III Other Clients of Poppea Sabina104 BIBLIOGRAPHY106

LIST OF DIAGRAMS 1. Variable and Invariable Factors26 2. Factors that Mitigate Exploitation35 3. Brokerage in Antiquity42 4. Summary of Patron-Client Dynamics45 5. Patron-Client Dynamics Within the Embassy to Rome49 6. The Jerusalem-Galilee Networks62 7. Factors that Mitigated the Exploitation of the Galileans84 8. Cross-Cultural Comparison of Story Telling (Biography)102-103

ABBREVIATIONS AJ Antiquitates Judaicae ANRW Aufstieg und Niedergang der r