| After Herod Archelaus
was exiled for misrule in 6 ad, Augustus appointed a prefect, Coponius, to
rule Judaea as a part of Syria. Up to the reign of Herod Agrippa I, the
procurators were reasonably honest, although relations with the Jews were
uncomfortable. In 41 Herod Agrippa I became king and reigned until his death in 44. |
Prutah of Coponius |
When Judaea reverted
to rule by procurators, trouble developed. Procurators became more
and more avaricious, until the last, Gessius Florus, after many lesser provocations, tried
to extort 17 talents from the temple. This led to the revolt of 66 ad which was suppressed by the Roman army. |
