Coponius

Coin of Coponius

Coponius was the first governor (Prefect[1]) of Iudaea province, from 6–9 CE. He was, like the procurators who succeeded him, of knightly rank, and "had the power of life and death".[2] During his administration occurred the revolt of Judas the Galilean,[3] the cause of which was not so much the personality of Coponius as the introduction of Roman soldiers. Owing to the reconstruction of the province of Judea then in progress, the census was being taken by Quirinius, which was a further cause of offence.

Coponius was recalled to Rome, and replaced by Marcus Ambivulus.[4] Probably it is on account of this occurrence that one door of the Temple bore the name of "door of Coponius".[5] Regarding the personal attitude of Coponius toward the Jews nothing definite is known.

See also

References

Notes

  1. ↑ H.H. Ben-Sasson, A History of the Jewish People, Harvard University Press, 1976, ISBN 0-674-39731-2, page 246: "At first the governor of Judea held the title of prefect; only after Agrippa's death (in 44) did procurator become the official designation."
  2. ↑ Josephus, "B. J." ii. 8, § 1; "Ant." xviii. 1, § 1.
  3. ↑ "B. J." l.c.
  4. ↑ "Ant." xviii. 2, § 2.
  5. ↑ Mid. i. 3.; compare the reading in Parḥi 16a, ed. Edelman.

External links

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Jewish Encyclopedia. 1901–1906. 

Coponius
Preceded by
Herod Archelaus,
Ethnarch of Samaria, Judea, and Edom		 Prefect of Judaea Succeeded by
Marcus Ambivulus
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