Aquila et Noctua

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In 70 CE, Jerusalem had been completely sacked by Emperor Vespasian's eldest son Titus. The Romans wrapped up a horrifyingly bloody suppression of the Second Jewish Revolt (ca. 66 CE), which ended in 73 CE at the final siege at Masada. The city was razed to the ground after it, and the all-important Temple was looted. People still inhabited the ruins, and the Jews still lived in Judaea.

In 129/130 CE, Hadrian promised the Jews he would rebuild Jerusalem. His promise initially excited them, until they learned the truth; the Romans were rebuilding the city as Aelia Capitolina, complete with a temple to Jupiter. The process started with plowing the land, which distressed the Jews. To till the holy land of Jerusalem was forbidden. This launched the Third Jewish War, led by Simon bar Kochba, who styled himself as the Messiah (this also distanced the Jewish Christians from the Jews, as the Christians already believed Jesus was their Messiah). Many people died during the war (~580k in its suppression). Afterward, due to the history of rebellion, Hadrian decided to merge Judaea with Syria and called the entire province, Syria Palaestina.

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