Caligula in Jerusalem : the hostile relationship between Emperor Gaius and his Jewish subjects.

This thesis examines the relationship between Gaius (Caligula) and his Jewish subjects via unrest in Alexandria and the emperor’s decree that the Jerusalem Temple be converted into a pagan shrine. It is concluded that Gaius was a competent leader who intentionally asserted his power over the region of Judea based on his knowledge of the Jewish people based on their history and his relationship with Agrippa I. It is also concluded that the Jewish authors’ view of the emperor was tainted predominately by the Temple incident, which has shaped how historians have studied Gaius by focusing on his madness and immorality.