@Isaacmantx

1 year ago

Although the Roman’s were ruling the area at the time of the destruction of the 2nd temple, it wasn’t destroyed under Roman orders. It was destroyed by the Arabs. Historically, we know that by the time of the destruction, the legions were almost exclusively made up of the local population, often times below 5% Italian Roman in composition. 2 full legions, 2 partial legions, a large numbers of auxiliaries, and a very large contingent of Arab (Syrian and Turk) volunteers from surrounding kingdoms (more than a legion’s worth according to Josephus and Taticus’s accounts) came against the city. There would be approximately 25,000 full time legionnaires, and an additional 35,000 or so auxiliaries/volunteers according to the contemporary accounts… only perhaps 5,000 total of which were Roman. Josephus records that the Arabs initiated the destruction and that Titus even attempted to stop them from continuing the destruction after burning the temple… saying quote “he came in haste and endeavored to persuade the soldiers to quench the fire... yet were their passions too hard for the regards they had for Caesar, and the dread they had of him who forbade them, as was their hatred of the Jews, and a certain vehement inclination to fight them, too hard for them also... And thus was the holy house burnt down, without Caesar's approbation.”

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