Sextus Vettulenus Cerialis

Sextus Vettulenus Cerialis was a Roman military commander and office holder. He was appointed suffect consul by Vespasian.^[1]

Cerialis was of Sabine origin.^[2] Vespasian sent him to subdue the Samaritans and Edomites. During the siege of Jerusalem in 70 Cerialis was a legatus of Legio V Macedonica ^[3] and remained as the head of the garrison.^{[4] [5]}

After the fall of Jerusalem Cerialis became the governor of Judaea in 70-71. He appears in the military diploma dated April 28, 75 and in the inscription dated February 7, 78 (CIL 16.22). Subsequent offices he held include governor of Moesia in 74-75,^[6] and proconsul of Africa in 83-84.^[7]

Notes

1. Paul Gallivan dates his consulship to 72 or 73 ("The Fasti for A. D. 70-96", Classical Quarterly, 31 (1981), p. 219); however Wener Eck dates his office to 83 or 84 (Werner Eck, "Jahres- und Provinzialfasten der senatorischen Statthalter von 69/70 bis 138/139", Chiron, 12 (1982), p. 307 n. 108)
2. Brian W. Jones. The Emperor Domitian, Routledge, 1992, p. 11
3. Josephus, Jewish War, 6.237
4. Josephus, Jewish War, 7.163
5. A Life of Rabban Yohanan Ben Zakkai, Brill Archive, p. 151
6. Eck, "Jahres- und Provinzialfasten", p. 293
7. Eck, "Jahres- und Provinzialfasten", p. 307.