Ancient Jewish Rome
Duration: 4 hours.
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The Jewish Community of Rome is one of the oldest in the world, with a continuous existence from classical times through to the present day. The first recorded Jews were in Rome in 161 BCE, when the Judean generals and aristocrats were said to have gone there as envoys from Judah Maccabee. The Roman Jews are said to have been conspicuous in the mourning for Julius Caesar in 44 BCE. On the death of Herod in 4 BCE, 8,000 native Roman Jews are reported to have escorted the Jewish delegates from Judea who came to request that the Senate abolishe the Herodian monarchy.
Two synagogues were allegedly founded by "freedmen" who had been slaves of Augustus (d.14 CE) and Agrippa (d.12 BCE) respectively and bore their names. Although the position of the Roman Jews was devastated by the great Roman-Jewish wars in Judea in 66-73 and 132-135, the prisoners of war brought back as slaves gave rise to a Jewish population which thrives to this day in the City. From the second half of the first century CE, the Roman Jewish community has been firmly established in Rome, when a delegation of scholars in 95-96, led by the Patriarch Gamliel II, founded as its religious head the enthusiastic but unlearned Theudas. The Jewish population in Rome has been estimated as high as 40,000.
The tour guide will lead you through the Roman Forum and the Coliseum, through the Jewish Ghetto, and will conclude with a visit to the church of St Peter's in Chains, the home of the famous statue of Michelangelo’s Moses.
Entrance to the Colosseum and Forum Euro 12.00
Price includes the Driver/Guide for the tour.
Price does not include gratuities, meals or entrance fees.
We can also offer you a Private Licensed Guide who will give you a detailed narrative during the tour.
Official Licensed Guides are selected by us for expertise and service. For more information and pricing for License Guides, please contact us.