Only the Jewish historian Josephus provides us with what little information is known about Pilate’s life before 26 A.D. when Tiberius Caesar appointed him procurator of Judea. The sketchy information suggests that Pilate was probably an Italian born Roman citizen whose family was wealthy enough for him to qualify for the middle class.
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The Pilate Inscription is an inscribed relief with a dedicatory inscription to Tiberius Caesar bearing the name Pontius Pilate. It was discovered among the ruins of ancient Caesarea Maritima. It is the only known occurrence of the name Pontius Pilate...
The ancient sun dial reveals the hours in a day. It has a surface with hour lines and a stick or gnomon which casts a shadow as the sun advances in its daily course. The sun dial is mentioned in the Bible as far back as the time of King Ahaz. Herodot...
Around 1000 BC David became king over Israel and conquered the Jebusites and stormed their fortress on Mount Zion (1 Sam. 5:5-9). Jerusalem became his home and the capital of his kingdom. He brought the Ark of the Covenant to the city and danced befo...
History records that the Assyrians were ruthless to any enemy that tried to withstand them. One inscription from an Assyrian King Tiglath-Pileser records: “I built a wall before the great gates of the city; I flayed the chief men of the rebels, and...
The Dead Sea holds several significant aspects in biblical and historical contexts. Here are some key points: Geological and Natural Features: The Dead Sea is a saltwater lake located at the lowest elevation on Earth. Its high salt concentration make...
The seven hills of Rome were very noticeable in the landscape of the city of Rome. The hills were no higher than 60 yards, but they had steep slopes that rose above the flat marshland. Several small streams flowed between the seven hills. The names o...
The Platform for the Temple compound built by Herod the Great was a monumental feat, considering the steepness of the surrounding terrain. According to scholars the flat platform measured 1041 feet on the north side, 1556 feet on the east side, 929 f...
The ancient historian Tacitus mentioned Pontius Pilate by name (Ann. xv. 44) and that he was appointed in A.D. 25-26, “in the twelfth year of Tiberius.” Pontius Pilate was the sixth Roman procurator of Judea, and under him our Lord worked, suffer...
Ancient Egyptians had a complex and elaborate process of mummification to preserve the bodies of the deceased for the afterlife. The process involved several steps: Removal of organs: The embalmers would first remove the internal organs, except for t...
Augustus, the first emperor of Rome had in his empire 25 legions of approximately 6,000 soldiers each. A legion was formed of 10 Cohorts (540 men in each Cohort). Each Cohort was subdivided into 6 Centuries (90 men formed a Century), and each legion ...
Babylon is Akkadian “babilani” which means “the Gate of God(s)” and it became the capital of the land of Babylonia. The etymology of the name Babel in the Bible means “confused” (Gen 11:9) and throughout the Bible, Babylon was a symbol of...
The main powers in ancient Rome were Carthage, Greece, and Etrura. The Italian Peninsula is located right in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea. Rome is located right in the heart of Italy on a large plain known as Latium. Source: Latium and Geo...
The Battle of Thermopylae stands as one of the most iconic and consequential battles in ancient Greek history. Fought in 480 BCE between an alliance of Greek city-states led by King Leonidas I of Sparta and the Persian Empire under King Xerxes I, thi...
This bust was discovered by archaeologists at Meroe (Modern Sudan) and is currently in the British Museum. It depicts the face of the Roman Emperor Augustus who ordered the census just before the birth of Jesus. This brought the parents of Jesus (Jos...
According to history the Emperor of Rome at the time of Jesus’ birth was Augustus. In 27 B.C., the Senate of Rome voted to give him the title Augustus, which means “the respected one.” He ruled the empire until 14 A.D. In the Bible Luke refers ...
The five primary sources we have for the events in the life of Alexander are Diodorus Siculus, Quintus Curtius Rufus, Plutarch, Lucius Flavius Arrianus, and the Alexander Romance. “For I myself believe that there was at that time no race of mankind...
The ancient Greeks and Romans left a lasting legacy in the field of medicine, with their innovative theories and treatments that shaped the foundations of Western medicine. Drawing upon a combination of empirical observations, philosophical insights,...
In ancient Rome the “centurion” meant “captain of 100”, and the Roman centurion was captain over 100 foot soldiers in a legion. The centurion was loyal and courageous, beginning as a soldier in the army and working their way up the ranks. The...
Welcome to Free Bible: Unearthing the Past, Illuminating the Present! Step into a world where ancient history and biblical narratives intertwine, inviting you to explore the rich tapestry of human civilization.
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