| |
On August 10, 70AD, Roman troops broke through the walls of Jerusalem and destroyed the temple.
In 66 AD, the Jews rebelled against their Roman overlords. For four years the battle raged, but in 70 AD, the Roman general Titus marched 80,000 troops into Jerusalem, razed it, and destroyed the Temple.
According to Jewish historian Josephus, “No pity was shown for age, no reverence for rank; children and graybeards, laity and priests alike were massacred.”
The destruction of Jerusalem fully severed Christianity from Judaism. Christianity could no longer be considered a sect of Judaism with the Roman status religio licita (a legal and protected religion). This would eventually expose the Church to the wrath of Roman persecution.
The Church saw the destruction of Jerusalem as God’s specific judgment upon Israel for rejecting the Messiah. This would later sow the seeds for a fierce anti-Semitism in the Church.
 |
| The Destruction of the Temple by Francesco Hayez |
|
|
