andrewcriddle

I think Philo's 'Ad Gaium' is considerably more problematic as history than Josephus. 'Ad Gaium' is a polemic rather than a history and Philo blackens Pilate's character in order to give a favourable portrayal of Tiberius.

As to the contrast between Pilate in the Gospels and Pilate in Josephus. I don't think the picture of Pilate in Mark is really incompatible with the impression of Pilate given by Josephus. The later gospels may be another matter.

Andrew Criddle

Vorkosigan

Do Philo and Josephus outright contradict each other on Pilate? Or is it merely that Philo is more vociferous than Josephus?

andrewcriddle

At face value they don't overlap enough to contradict each other.

However some scholars hold that the 'Iconic Standards' incident in Josephus 'War' Book 2 chapter 9 and Antiquities Book 18 chapter 3, is really the same incident as the 'Golden Shields' incident in Philo 'Ad Gaium' section 38.

If so at least one and probably both are giving a distorted view of the incident.

Andrew Criddle