Feature Film Investment Dossier
Historical Sources
Research references, reliability notes, image credits, and the boundaries between history and dramatic interpretation.
Historical sources and reliability
The website uses Josephus' own works, modern reference sources, and film-industry data. Josephus is indispensable but not neutral: he wrote after defeat, under Flavian patronage, and in defense of his reputation.
| Source | Use | Reliability note |
|---|---|---|
| Josephus, The Jewish War | War narrative, Galilee, Jotapata, Jerusalem, Vespasian and Titus. | Primary source but self-justifying and politically charged. |
| Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews | Jewish history, Jesus/James/John passages. | Essential for Christian origins discussions; Testimonium wording disputed. |
| Josephus, Life | Autobiographical claims and rivalry in Galilee. | Defensive autobiography; compare with War. |
| Josephus, Against Apion | Jewish apologetic and identity in Greco-Roman debate. | Important for Josephus' later intellectual mission. |
| Encyclopaedia Britannica; Livius; University of Chicago LacusCurtius/Whiston text | Chronology, context, accessible reference and public-domain translations. | Used as starting points, not substitutes for critical scholarship. |
| Early Christian Writings: Testimonium survey | Arguments around authenticity/interpolation. | Helpful survey; should be supplemented by academic monographs in development. |
| Box Office Mojo: Avatar and The Passion of the Christ | Comparable positioning and box office figures. | Commercial database; figures should be updated during financing. |
Image credits
- josephus.jpg — Flavius Josephus portrait, published 1884, Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
- jerusalem-model.jpg — Arch of Titus triumph relief, photo by Jebulon, Wikimedia Commons, CC0.
- second-temple-model.jpg — Tel Yodfat / Jotapata, photo by Shuki, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5.
- siege-map.svg — Judaea Roman Province map, DEGA MD, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- vespasian.jpg — Ballista at ancient Yodfat, Tombah, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- titus.jpg — Bust of Titus, British Museum, photo by Yair Haklai, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Reference URLs
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josephus
- https://www.britannica.com/biography/Flavius-Josephus
- https://penelope.uchicago.edu/josephus/
- https://www.earlychristianwritings.com/testimonium.html
- https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0499549/
- https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0335345/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar_(2009_film)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Passion_of_the_Christ