TACITUS AS NERATIUS PRISCUS

TACITUS AS NERATIUS PRISCUS
===========================
(Writen 12/08/99, updated 07/15/00)

In order to discover the alias names or alternate names that were used by the Roman figureswho hitherto have only been known to us by their public names one must search out allpossible leads, leaving no stone unturned.

Let's begin this with info from "The True Authorship of the New Testament," by AbelardReuchlin. In it, Reuchlin states; "The family also put their friends into the story. Justus(Piso) inserted Cornelius Tacitus, the Roman historian. He became Cornelius, the Romancenturion in Acts, Chapter 10, who was devout and feared God; and he was also (Cornutus)Tertullus, the prosecuting attorney against Paul in Acts 24:1-2. Tacitus reciprocated bydedicating his 'Diologues on Oratory' shortly after the year 100 to "dear Fabius Justus"."This, on page 14 of Reuchlin's booklet.

Reuchlin further states (on pg. 17); "Now the family had other writers place Jesus andChristianity in prior history. First, the Pisos used their friend Cornelius Palma, the jurist.Writing under the name Cornelius Tacitus between 115 and 120, he mentioned Christ andsaid that he had founded the Christians and had been crucified by Pontius Pilate; and alsodetailed that Nero had caused Christians to be torn by dogs and burned on crosses." (Ref.Tacitus, Annals, XV.44, Loeb Classical Library edition)
Reuchlin so claims to have found Cornelius Tacitus as "Cornutus Tertullus" and "CorneliusPalma, the jurist." It is also Reuchlin who is credited (by us here) for discovering Tacitus'other identity as "Neratius Priscus."

Now as for Cornelius Tacitus as Neratius Priscus, it may well have been that the late Romanhistory scholar Ronald Syme knew of this and several other items relating to the truth aboutancient Roman history. Syme is a major source for the critical examination of these namesand personages, because of his extensive work in this area. (See his articles in JRS - TheJournal for Roman Studies)

Syme says in his article "Tacitus: Some Sources of his Information",* that; "The case of thejurist Neratius Priscus is instructive, consul suffect in 97, the same year as Cornelius Tacitus."And this is precisely how one needs to work through these names and identities - carefullyfollowing EVERY clue.

One finds Cornelius Tacitus as Cornelius Palma, a jurist. And we see Neratius Priscus (alsoa jurist), as consul suffect in 97, the same year as Cornelius Tacitus! Persons who researchthese names need to consult lists of consuls (as well as other lists of compiled data), comparedates and events, titles and positions, names of relatives and even cross-reference material.
There most certainly are other names in Roman history of that time or near it that contain thenames "Cornelius" and "Priscus", but one must work through these names with caution. It islike following bread crumbs, a "trail" that was deliberately made to be like a great maze atthe same time! It indeed, is like a tangled web! Which brings up another point. Those whohave fancied themselves 'experts' in ancient history and who have been used to thinking ofRoman names in terms of first and last names will realize that thinking in that way is likeputting blinders on. You can never find out the truth by limiting your thinking in that way.As we are proving here, 'history' was not done in that way. It is a much more challengingthing that most have yet begun to imagine. Facades of that type were created deliberatelyto keep you from easily discovering the truth.

In Syme's article titled "People in Pliny,"** he says; "Proconsuls of Asia and of Africa arelikewise not much in evidence. Asia from 103/4 to 120/1 (the list is now complete) exhibitsonly two, viz. Cornelius Tacitus and Cornelius Priscus." So, here we see Tacitus again withthe same title, in the same place, at the same time... this time with another "Priscus" (whojust so happens to have the name "Cornelius" as well). As a person works through the mazeof names in this way, the evidence mounts and the likelihood of coincidence disappears. Bythe way, we also again see "Cornutus Tertullus" in association with "Cornelius Tacitus" and"Cornelius Priscus" in the footnote regarding these two in the same article. More informationshould be gained from further examination of this, including the list of proconsuls of Asiaand Africa of that time. It is by following such clues that we are able to finally piece togetherthe truth in ancient history and find out who was really whom.

Moreover, in the same article, we find our friend Neratius Priscus (now known to us as theperson who wrote 'history' as "Tacitus"), as the husband of Corellia Hispulla (See pg. 147).In addition to such overwhelming evidence as that which we find in following these clues,we continue to find (and disclose) even more.When one reads, for instance, "The Life of Hadrian," by Aelius Spartianus, one learns that(at least supposedly); "There was, to be sure, a widely prevailing belief that Trajan, with theapproval of many of his friends, had planned to appoint as his successor not Hadrian butNeratius Priscus, even to the extent of once saying to Priscus: "I entrust the provinces toyour care in case anything happens to me."

One would wonder just how it is that Trajan had thought to make Neratius Priscus (Tacitus)his successor. Well, having looked into this further by comparing the alias names of theemperor Nerva and those of Neratius Priscus, as well as doing more studies into the variousalias names used by other persons of the time the reality of the matter has now come tolight. "Neratius Priscus" is now seen as "Ner(va) Atius Priscus", and this along with otherfacts reveal that Neratius Priscus or the person that history knows as Tacitus was actuallyson of emperor Nerva. You may see this in the genealogical charts that give the true relation-ship between ALL of the Roman emperors Galba up to Constantine I.Now, if this does not warrant more attention to this issue - what would?

NOTES:======
[Important: Before drawing any conclusions about alias names being used in ancient times byancient authors read the articles on that subject that are now available online at The RomanPiso Homepage. And most especially the article titled "Flavius Josephus was Arrius CalpurniusPiso". These are extremely important works.]
Ref. Tacitus, "Diologue on Oratory", Vol. 1, page 231, Loeb Classical Library edition.
* Ronald Syme, JRS (Journal for Roman Studies, a periodical), "Tacitus: Some Sourcesof his Information," 1982, pg. 68.
** Ronald Syme, JRS, "People in Pliny," 1968-69, pg. 141. (And pg. 147).
"The Life of Hadrian," Aelius Spartianus, Loeb Classical Library edition.
RE: Tacitus as "Cornelius Palma"; as Palma he was governor of Syria in 107, succeededas governor of Syria by Fabius Justus (Justus Piso) in 108 CE. Also as Palma, he is cos.II, in 109.
A merging of aliases: we find a mixing of the aliases of Tacitus blending two to makeeven another alias "Cornelius" of Cornelius Palma and "Priscus" of Neratius Priscus, tomake "Cornelius Priscus". Using this identity, he reports the death of Martial to Pliny theYounger. (See the works of Pliny the Younger, Loeb Classical Library edition)
For more information on specifics you will want to get a copy of the booklet titled 'TheTrue Authorship of the New Testament', by Abelard Reuchlin. You can send for this for $10.00 from: The Abelard Reuchlin Foundation, P.O. Box 5652, Kent, WA 98064 Theprice of this barely covers the cost of printing and postage. Because many libraries arerun by Christians and those who are adverse to anything that contradicts their own personalbeliefs, this booklet is in very few libraries at this point in time. This is strong informationand many persons wish to keep it out of the public eye. You can see a sample of a page fromthe booklet on this site: