May 21, 66🇮🇱Sighting
Historical

Josephus Report: Aerial Chariots and Armies Over Jerusalem

The historian Flavius Josephus recorded aerial phenomena over Jerusalem before the Roman siege.

Date
May 21, 66
Location
Jerusalem🇮🇱
Type
Sighting
Country
🇮🇱 Israel
Map

Background

In his work 'The Jewish War' (Book VI, Chapter 5), the Roman-Jewish historian Flavius Josephus described extraordinary aerial phenomena over Jerusalem before the Roman siege of 70 CE. These events, witnessed throughout the region, include chariots in the clouds and other anomalous lights, recorded by a first-rank professional historian.

Der Vorfall

Flavius Josephus reported that before sunset, chariots and troops of soldiers in their armor were seen running about among the clouds.

These aerial formations were observed surrounding the cities.

The phenomena were witnessed by people throughout the region.

Zeugenaussagen

  • 'chariots and troops of soldiers in their armor were seen running about among the clouds and surrounding the cities'
  • A brilliant light illuminating the Temple altar at night
  • A star resembling a sword hovering over the city for an entire year

Bedeutung

These accounts are among the most detailed ancient descriptions of anomalous aerial phenomena.

They were recorded by Flavius Josephus, a professional historian of the first rank.

Connections