Murphysboro Centuries, 1st secular

Vespasian, 69-79 AD was proclaimed emperor by troops in the east. He was of 'humble origins'. He destroyed most of Nero's “Golden House” and began building the Coliseum on its site. He endowed the first public “chairs” of Greek and Latin literature/rhetoric at Rome. He had been the commanding general charged with putting down the Jewish revolt. In 70 AD, Jerusalem was captured by the Romans under his son, Titus, and the Temple was destroyed.