The Jesus Forgery: Josephus Untangled.

[Cato]

Ralph Ellis doesn't mention the family of Calpurnius Piso (who always brings to mind Stratford Johns, the actor who played him in I Claudius), but it makes a lot of sense.

Here's another odd fact, which I noticed myself after buying a copy of Tacitus's Annals - the part dealing with the years surrounding the Crucifixion are suspiciously missing. This is a great pity indeed, since the Annals are the major source for Roman history in the first century - the only other writer of note, Seutonius, concentrating on gossip.

I don't recall Suetonius mentioning anyone named Saul/Paul for that matter...

[Wulfhere]

I don't recall Suetonius mentioning anyone named Saul/Paul for that matter...

Nor indeed anyone named Jesus - though at one point during the reign of Claudius (41-54) he mentions that the Jews of Rome were rioting at the instigation of a certain Chrestus. Chrestus, as it happens, was a very common name given to slaves.

[Cato]

The Chrestus references, to me, means that Jews at that time during the reign of Tiberius Claudius were being riled up by someone, a Jew, named Chrestus- in Rome herself. Some Christians have latched onto that to mean Christ(us), which is kinda like trying to make the name Tom out of Tim or somesuch.

[Wulfhere]

The Chrestus references, to me, means that Jews at that time during the reign of Tiberius Claudius were being riled up by someone, a Jew, named Chrestus- in Rome herself. Some Christians have latched onto that to mean Christ(us), which is kinda like trying to make the name Tom out of Tim or somesuch.

Indeed - the clear meaning of Seutonius's words are that this Chrestus was alive at the time, and in Rome.