Alexander (VIII)

VIII. Alexander a Jewish Impostor of the City of Sidon, who so much resembled Alexander the Son of Herod and Mariamne, of whom we have been speaking, that all who had ever been acquainted with him were persuaded that this was really he¹. He gave out, that his Brother Aristobulus and he had been delivered from death by the kindness of a friend, who had placed others in their room at the time when they were to have been executed. He came into the Isle of Crete, where all the Jews owned him to be the Son of Herod, and furnished him with money to provide an equipage, and make a journey to Rome. He landed at Puzzuolo, where the Jews received him with honour. Herod’s friends, and they who had known Alexander most particularly, were deceived by the great resemblance which he bore to him, so that the Jews of Rome came in crowds to meet him; and he entred the City with a train that might become a King.

Augustus was the only one who was not deluded; the air of this Man, and his hands, which had been hardened by labour, discovered to him that he was an Impostor. He first of all asked him what was become of his Brother Aristobulus, and why he did not come to Rome, to share either in his good or bad fortune. He answered, that he was in the Isle of Cyprus; that he was left behind there, because they would not both expose themselves to the dangers of the sea; and that if any misfortune should befall one of them, the other might be preserved. Augustus putting on a serious air, took this young Man aside, and said to him, If you will declare the truth to me, I promise to dismiss you without taking away your life. Tell me then who you are, and who has engaged you to play the counterfeit in this manner; for you are not of an age to form an intrigue of this nature of your self. The young Man being unable to persist longer in this falshood before the Emperor, confessed the whole cheat to him; and Augustus, not to violate the promise he had made, sent him to the Gallies, because he was a corpulent and robust Fellow; and put the person to death who had persuaded him to act this part. This happened some time after the death of Herod, in the year of the world 4001. of J. C. 1. and three years before the vulgar Æra.

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