Jerusalem Aqueduct Riots Analysis

The purpose of this essay is to analyze various sources on the Jerusalem Aqueduct Riots.
This event took place in chapter 9 of the book. I will give an overview of the event from my point of view, then as Maier describes it, and as each source describes it. I will compare and contrast these versions, and decide whether Maier’s version is valid. I will be using two primary sources, both written by the Jewish historian Josephus Flavius. The first source is from The Wars of the Jews, Book 2, Chapter 9. The second is from The Antiquities of the Jews, Book 18, Chapter 3. I will also be using two secondary sources. The first is the section of the Wikipedia Page on Pontius Pilate on the subject, and the second is an analysis on the event from livius.org. First, I will give an overview of the event. Jerusalem desperately needed a better water supply, the solution was to build a system of aqueducts for the city. To do this the taxes on the city would have to be raised significantly, alternatively the surplus of the temple treasury from that year could be used. After giving the high priests this ultimatum, they agreed with Pilate to use the treasury funds for the aqueduct. The Jewish people were not told of this, and word got out shortly after it was

The first is Wikipedia, which states a brief overview, along with this, “when Jews again protested his actions he gave the signal for his soldiers to randomly attack, beat and kill – in an attempt to silence Jewish petitions.” My second source is an analysis of the event from livius.org. It starts by briefly describing the aqueduct in its construction. The writer then explains the temple treasury, and that it could be used for public welfare such as this. Therefore. the consent of the high priests is implied, and “It is unclear what Pilate did wrong.” It then states that the riots probably took place during a festival, and that the soldiers were most likely local