Alternative Genealogy

[Jerry Russell]

I'm reminded of a "listicle" begun on "Five Possible Identities for the Real Jesus." That could easily be a series, but I wonder if it really helps push the conversation in a productive direction. If I don't put out at least one, though, then I'm afraid I do an offense to my volunteer editors.

Hi Marcilla, you've lost me here. Where was the "listicle" begun? Who are your volunteer editors?

Five possible identities? Here's my list: Homer's Odysseus, Julius Caesar, Augustus (Octavian), Titus, Vespasian, Josephus, Judas the Galilean, James the Just's brother, The Egyptian, and Izates Manu IV. That's ten. Did I miss anybody? Not counting posthumous pretenders such as all the Popes.

I'd love to see a chart - maybe even interactive - that has all the roots and how they are proposed to come together - by timeline - into the Jesus of the Gospels that we know today. I don't suppose anything like that exists, though?

Richard had always been hoping I'd put something together. The closest I ever came, is a "Composite Gospel" spreadsheet based on Semantic Bible's pericope browser, which I mapped onto parallel incidents in Josephus identified by Joe Atwill, and incidents in Homer identified by Dennis MacDonald. This could be extended to include the other eight candidates, or more.

Also, our esteemed forum member Gilius once posted a spreadsheet comparing the gospels and Josephus, in this thread.

 

[Marcilla Smith]

Actually, Karl was the grandnephew of Franz Joseph. The son of Franz Joseph was the tragic Crown Prince Rudolf, of the Mayerling mystery.

TY, yes! Interesting story I hadn't heard yet!

And to think that us chicks think that we get sucked into royal-watching

Hi Marcilla, you've lost me here. Where was the "listicle" begun? Who are your volunteer editors?

You and our dear, departed King Richard were kind enough to volunteer to add some thoughts, as you now have consolidated some interesting tables. Thanks!

I want to say that I started this ~mid 2018, but then got sidetracked on some car repairs, career-changing, and then having thought more of it, I think I decided that my work was fundamentally flawed in failing to give adequate consideration to my audience. I was thinking too much in terms of how I think, and not in terms of a more casual audience.

But that's more about "memeology," and less about genealogy

 

[Seeker]

And to think that us chicks think that we get sucked into royal-watching

I love it, as I have an "official" connection to the Habsburgs. A very distant cousin married the nephew of the Blessed Karl of Austria, the last Habsburg Emperor, who lost his throne at the end of WWI. The daughter of my distant cousin married, in turn, a second cousin, twice removed, of the nobleman who married the only legitimate daughter of Crown Prince Rudolf.