Jerusalem's siege famine and civilian suffering
About this date: This famine belongs to the months of the Roman siege. It is a different crisis from the famine under Claudius in the 40s.
Josephus describes civilians trapped between Roman siege operations and internal fighting, with food seized or destroyed and hunger becoming catastrophic. Eusebius excerpts this material at length.
Historical context
Josephus connects the famine with the destruction of stored provisions, coercion by armed factions, and the tightening Roman blockade. His narrative draws attention to the experiences of families as well as military leaders.
Key points
- The destruction of food stores is described near the beginning of War V.
- War V.10 depicts searches for food and the unequal exposure of civilians to violence.
- War V.12 describes a Roman encircling wall that worsens isolation; Eusebius III.6 reuses the famine narrative.
People
- Titus
- John of Gischala
- Simon bar Giora
- Flavius Josephus
Sources and further reading
- Church History: Eusebius's famine excerpts
Josephus is the quoted source; the Christian interpretation belongs to Eusebius. - Jewish War: provisions, hunger, and the blockade
The sequence of conditions behind the siege famine.