The “New Cleopatra” and the Jewish Tax

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Warning: This article contains much that is uncertain and even speculative. You must therefore be over 18 to continue reading. On the other hand, the uncertainties and speculations are clearly marked as such. Moreover, the background of the story is unquestionably true.

This is the true part.

Each Jewish male 20 years or older was Biblically required to contribute a half shekel each year to the Tabernacle (Tent of Meeting) (see Exodus 30:11–16). In Temple times this half-shekel tax was used for upkeep of the Temple. After the Roman legions destroyed the Temple in 70 C.E., the emperor Vespasian imposed the so-called Fiscus Judaicus as a kind of replacement tax, to be used for the upkeep of the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus in Rome. Unlike the half-shekel tax, which 048was imposed only on adult males, the two-denarius Fiscus Judaicus was imposed on every Jew—male and female, young and old, in the Land of Israel and elsewhere.

When Domitian, the last of the Flavian emperors, was murdered in 96 C.E., he was succeeded by the emperor Nerva who reigned, however, a bare 16 months. But they were important months for the Jews. Nerva was apparently less repressive of the Jews than the Flavians had been. It seems he also repealed the Fiscus Judaicus. Like many Roman laws, this one was announced to the populace by means of a legend on a coin.

One of these rare coins announcing the cancellation of the Fiscus Judaicus is in my collection. It is a large bronze sestertius with the legend around the rim of the reverse: “FISCI IVDAICI CALVMNIA SVBLATA”—“The calumny of the Jewish tax is removed.” The head of Nerva in intimate detail graces the obverse of a coin that is barely 3 centimeters in diameter, revealing details of Nerva’s face and hair. We even see a ribbon tied at the back of the emperor’s curly hair. Around the portrait is Nerva’s full name and title. On the reverse, in addition to the proclamation concerning the Fiscus Judaicus, are large initials “S C,” indicating that the repeal of the Fiscus Judaicus was done with consent of the Senate (Senatus Consulto). The palm tree in the center of the reverse had become a well-known symbol for Judea. It had appeared on so many Judaea Capta coins issued by the Romans in the years after the destruction of their Jewish Temple (see “Roman Coins Boast ‘Judaea Capta’”).

It is not clear whether or not Nerva totally repealed the hated Fiscus Judaicus. There is some evidence that it was collected as late as the third century. Perhaps Nerva only effected a partial repeal.

The puzzle, however, is why Nerva would do this—in whole or in part?

Enter, stage left: Berenice (pronounced Bare-uh-NEE-kay in Greek)—powerful, political and pulchritudinous. She was the great granddaughter of Herod the Great and the scion of a Hasmonean 049king of Judea as well. Her father was Herod Agrippa I and her brother was Herod Agrippa II, both rulers of Judea. Born in 28 C.E., Berenice was active politically throughout her life. She was with her brother at Paul’s trial in Caesarea, as recorded in Acts 25:23, 26:30.

She married three times, briefly in each case. Her third husband, King Polomon (or Polemo) II of Cilicia, a direct descendant of Marc Antony, was apparently attracted both by Berenice’s wealth and beauty. But Polomon was not Jewish. Berenice demanded that he be circumcised before the nuptials. (It is unclear, but he may even have converted to Judaism, at least in name.) The marriage did not last long, however.

In the years leading up to the Jewish Revolt against Rome (which began in 66–70 C.E.), Berenice was in Jerusalem. There she sought to intervene with the Roman rulers on behalf of the Jews. Together with her brother she also made strenuous efforts to dissuade the Jews from rebelling. She was even active in Vespasian’s bid to become the Roman emperor.

While in Jerusalem, Vespasian’s son Titus apparently took a fancy to her, even though he was more than ten years her junior. She was beautiful and well connected, and the affair was apparently a passionate one. After Vespasian became emperor, Titus suppressed what remained of the Jewish Revolt. Thereafter, in 75 C.E., Berenice arrived in Rome with her brother. The romance was rekindled. She moved into Titus’s palace and reportedly acted as his wife in every respect. Rumor had it that she was to become his wife, which, however, did him no good politically—the heir to the emperor! Jewish! The Romans nicknamed Berenice the “New Cleopatra.” When Titus in fact became emperor in 79 C.E., he immediately, if reluctantly,¹ sent his Jewish paramour back to Jerusalem. However, it seems she came back to Rome a couple of years later. The passion did not die easily.

Like Berenice, Nerva was a skilled politico. Together they were masters of diplomacy and intrigue. Nerva served as consul during the reigns of Vespasian and Titus’s son Domitian, posts normally reserved for relatives. Nerva is the only non-Flavian to have held two such consulships in this period. One writer has described his “almost uncanny ability to survive each change of ruler and, at the same time, to acquire even greater honors from the new regime.”² Finally, he himself became emperor.

Was the Jewish Berenice somehow behind Nerva’s decision to annul the Fiscus Judaicus? This is the speculative part. Do you have a better suggestion?

Warning: This article contains much that is uncertain and even speculative. You must therefore be over 18 to continue reading. On the other hand, the uncertainties and speculations are clearly marked as such. Moreover, the background of the story is unquestionably true. This is the true part. Each Jewish male 20 years or older was Biblically required to contribute a half shekel each year to the Tabernacle (Tent of Meeting) (see Exodus 30:11–16). In Temple times this half-shekel tax was used for upkeep of the Temple. After the Roman legions destroyed the Temple in 70 C.E., the emperor Vespasian […]