Overview

The only historic figure outside the early Christian tradition to whom the Gospels ascribe a dialogue with Jesus is the first-century Roman prefect Pontius Pilate. Presiding over the trial and execution of Jesus, Pilate is a figure who has straddled history and legend for over two thousand years. Now, Aldo Schiavone presents a comprehensive, revisionist biography of Pilate that meticulously reconstructs the social, religious and political context in which his fateful encounter with Jesus took place. Drawing on a wealth of original research, Schiavone weaves together the sources, from epigraphs to the Gospels, from Josephus to Tacitus and Philon, to create a portrait that approaches its subject as if for the first time, without any other intent than to try to explain what happened.

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9781631492358

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In this slender, elegantly translated work geared toward lay readers, Schiavone navigates between memory--by the four writers of the Gospels, especially John, 'the closest to the context of first century Palestine'--and history--Josephus and Philo of Alexandria, 'two first-century intellectuals'--to help in the reconstruction of these contested events . . . . A levelheaded, engaging reading of the Gospels and historical account that forms a solid sense of this pivotal personage and his role on the epic stage.

In this slender, elegantly translated work geared toward lay readers, Schiavone navigates between memory by the four writers of the Gospels, especially John, the closest to the context of first century Palestine and history Josephus and Philo of Alexandria, two first-century intellectuals to help in the reconstruction of these contested events . . . . A levelheaded, engaging reading of the Gospels and historical account that forms a solid sense of this pivotal personage and his role on the epic stage.

Author Information

Aldo Schiavone is the author of Spartacus and was a professor of Roman law at the Istituto Italiano di Scienze Umane, which he founded. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, he lives in Rome. Jeremy Carden lived in Italy from 1987 to 2014. Now based in the UK, he works as a freelance translator.

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