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Fulvia

FULVIA (1st century C.E.), Roman proselyte. A lady of high rank, she was attracted to Judaism and entered the Jewish faith. She was then persuaded by a certain Jew, who had come from Ereẓ Israel, to send presents of purple and gold to the Temple in Jerusalem. The gifts, deposited with this Jew and his three confederates, were never delivered. Fulvia urged her husband to report the matter to Emperor Tiberius. The latter thereupon expelled all the Jews from Rome (19 C.E.). Four thousand young Jews were drafted into military service and sent to fight the brigands in the island of Sardinia. The expulsion is mentioned by the Roman historians, Suetonius, Tacitus, and Dio Cassius, all of whom connect the incident in some manner with proselytism.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Jos., Ant., 18:81–84; Schuerer, Gesch, 3 (19094), 168; Heidel, in: American Journal of Philology, 41 (1920), 38–47; Rogers, ibid., 53 (1932), 252–6; Roth, Italy, 9f.; Vogelstein-Rieger, 1 (1896), 14f.


Sources: Encyclopaedia Judaica. © 2007 The Gale Group. All Rights Reserved.