the modern state of Israel in 1948, 2015 years later.

73 BCE: SPARTACUS!

Former gladiator Spartacus leads a slave revolt back in Rome and initially defeats many Roman soldiers.

Roman legions are brought home from abroad to deal with the insurgency.

After Spartacus is defeated and his army surrenders, all the insurgents are executed (crucified), with the 6,000 corpse–laden crucifixes lined–up along the Appian Way.

The Romans justify the execution of the surrendered army with the (spurious) assertion that “since the slaves had violated their employment contracts, they were liable for the death penalty.”

67 BCE: DEATH OF QUEEN SALOME/ HYRCANUS II MARCHES

Civil war between the two sons, of Salome, Hyrcanus and Aristobulus.

Hyrcanus II reigns as king of northern Judea from 67 to 63 BCE.

Allied with Aretas, King of the Nabataeans, he marches on Jerusalem—the stronghold of his adversary Aristobulus. Both Hyrcanus II and Aristoblus were from wings of the Maccabeean dynasty. During the siege of Jerusalem, the forces of Hyrcanus II commit two interrelated acts that incense the majority of the Jews and brand him forever: