Judaea Ae Porcius Festus (AD 59-62) Prutah NGC

Porcius Festus was the 5th procurator of Judea from about 59 to 62, succeeding Antonius Felix.

The exact time of Festus in office is not known. The earliest proposed date for the start of his term is c. 55–56, while the latest is 61.^[1] These extremes have not gained much support and most scholars opt for a date between 58 and 60. F. F. Bruce says that, "The date of his [Felix's] recall and replacement by Porcius Festus is disputed, but a change in the provincial coinage of Judaea attested for Nero's fifth year points to A.D. 59".^[2] Conybeare and Howson lay out an extended argument for the replacement taking place in 60.^[3]

Festus inherited the problems of his predecessor in regard to the Roman practice of creating civic privileges for Jews.^[4] Another issue that bedeviled his administration was the controversy between Herod Agrippa II and the priests in Jerusalem regarding the wall erected at the temple to break the view of the new wing of Agrippa's palace.^[5]