Letter 153
Isidore of Pelusium→Unknown|isidore pelusium
From: Isidore of Pelusium, monk at Pelusium
To: Menas the Deacon
Date: ~410 AD
Context: Isidore on the destruction of Jerusalem and the dispersion of the Jews as consequences of what was done to Christ there.
On the captivity of the Jews.
When Roman fire brought low that celebrated temple and that famous city — the one that had conquered many wars without bloodshed — because of what dared to be dared within it against Christ, they too were scattered across the whole world, in the manner of prisoners. This is what power looks like when it is turned against itself.
Περὶ τῆς τῶν Ιουδαίων αἰχμαλωσίας. ἩΝνίχα τὸν πολυθρύλλητον ἐχεῖνον ναὸν, καὶ τὴν περιθόητον χαὶ πολλοὺς πολέμους ἀναιμαχτὶ νικὴ- σασαν τῶν Ἰουδαίων μητρόπολιν πῦρ ἹΡωμαῖχὸν, διὰ τὸ τετολμῆσθαι ἐν αὐτῇ κατὰ τοῦ Χριστοῦ τὰ ἀτόλ- μὴητα, ἔχλινε" τότε δὴ χαὶ αὐτοὶ πανταχοῦ τῆς οἷ- χουμένης αἰχμαλώτων τρόπον διεσπάρησαν. Δυνά-
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From: Isidore of Pelusium, monk at Pelusium
To: Menas the Deacon
Date: ~410 AD
Context: Isidore on the destruction of Jerusalem and the dispersion of the Jews as consequences of what was done to Christ there.
On the captivity of the Jews.
When Roman fire brought low that celebrated temple and that famous city — the one that had conquered many wars without bloodshed — because of what dared to be dared within it against Christ, they too were scattered across the whole world, in the manner of prisoners. This is what power looks like when it is turned against itself.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.