event · E0100

The Great Revolt המרד הגדול

The Jewish war against Rome that began in 66 CE, saw the Galilee fall to Vespasian, Jerusalem and the Temple destroyed by Titus in 70, and ended with the fall of the desert fortresses, last of them Masada in 73/74. The war frames the destruction of the Temple and the rise of Yavneh.

I. Who

Hebrew: המרד הגדול
Also known as: First Jewish–Roman War

II. When

Traditional: 3826–3834 AM
Academic: 66–73/74 CE
Date range: 66–73/74 CE
Duration: ≈8 years
Precision: approximate

III. Where

Places: Jerusalem, Qumran, Masada

V. How do we know

Claim	Evidence	Confidence	Sources
The revolt broke out in 66 CE; Vespasian subdued the Galilee (67–68), and after his elevation to emperor his son Titus took and destroyed Jerusalem in 70; the last strongholds — Herodium, Machaerus, and Masada — fell by 73/74 CE. Josephus, the main source, was a participant on both sides and wrote under Flavian patronage; his outline is corroborated but his numbers and speeches are not taken at face value.	external	★★★★★	Josephus, The Jewish War 2–7 Tacitus, Histories 5.1–13
Destruction layers matching Josephus's campaign narrative have been excavated at Yodfat (Jotapata) and Gamla in the Galilee and throughout Jerusalem — ash, collapsed buildings, ballista stones, and arrowheads — and the Roman siege system around Masada still stands.	archaeology	★★★★★	Yodfat and Gamla excavations; Jerusalem destruction layer of 70 CE Roman siege works at Masada
The rebel government minted its own silver shekels and bronze coins dated to years one through five of the revolt (66–70 CE), with Hebrew legends such as "Shekel of Israel" and "Jerusalem the Holy."	archaeology	★★★★★	First Jewish Revolt coinage
Rome commemorated the victory empire-wide: the Judaea Capta coin series of Vespasian and Titus, and the Arch of Titus in Rome with its relief of the Temple spoils carried in the triumph Josephus describes.	archaeology external	★★★★★	Judaea Capta coinage Arch of Titus, Rome Josephus, The Jewish War 7.148–152 (the triumph)
Rabbinic memory frames the war through the story of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza ("Jerusalem was destroyed on account of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza") and the escape of Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai from the besieged city to found the center at Yavneh. Aggadic narrative recorded generations later; invaluable for the tradition's self-understanding, not a chronicle of the siege.	rabbinic	★★★★☆	Gittin 55b–56a (Kamtza and Bar Kamtza) Gittin 56a–b (Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai and Vespasian)

Referenced by: Destruction of the Second Temple, Jerusalem, Yavneh, Qumran, Masada