Drusilla

views updated May 23 2018

DRUSILLA

DRUSILLA (b. 38 c.e.), daughter of *Agrippa i and *Cypros. Drusilla had been promised in marriage by her father to Epiphanes, son of King Antiochus of Commagene. The agreement was canceled, however, when Epiphanes refused to convert to Judaism, after originally agreeing to do so. Drusilla was later married by her brother *Agrippa ii to Azizus, king of Emesa, who had consented to be circumcised. Shortly afterward, a Jewish magician from Cyprus persuaded Drusilla to leave her husband and marry his friend *Felix, the procurator of Judea. Out of this marriage a son was born, named Agrippa. Josephus alludes to the disappearance of this son and his wife during the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 c.e.

bibliography:

Jos., Wars, 2:220; Jos., Ant., 18:132; 19:354–5; 20:139–44; Acts 24:24; Schuerer, Hist, 573.

[Isaiah Gafni]