The Galileans Author:Frank G. Slaughter Mary is first seen dancing for coins in the streets of Tiberias, a slender girl with dark glowing eyes and a sinuous grace of movement that is seductive through its beauty, not through its intent. She is seen there by Joseph of Galilee, a young physician studying Greek at the University of Herod Antipas, and by Gaius Flaccus, a Roman officer who... more » is kinsman of Pontius Pilate. Soon a haughty messenger arrives at Mary's home in Magdala with a command for her to dance for the Roman nobles at Pilate's court. There Flaccus rapes her and plans to hold her prisoner, but with Joseph's assistance she escapes. Mary Magdalene becomes a follower of Jesus at the time when the tides of fear and anger on the part of both Romans and Jews are rising. The story of Christ's raising the daughter of Jairus from the dead, of His feeding the multitude with loaves and fishes, of His cryptic utterances which have a magnetic effect upon the common people--all these lead inevitably to the betrayal by Judas, the accusal of Caiaphas, the judgement by pilate, and the Crucifiction itself.« less