10 11 12 First Encounters with Hellenism Jews vs Greeks in Cultural Clash EG Hasmonean Revolt against Hellenistic Empire Authorities OVERSIMPLIFICATION The relationship between the Jews and Greeks was for the most part very solid The Hasmonean revolt is somewhat of an anomaly it does not follow the standard harmonious positive interactions EXAMPLES Exagoge 3rd 1st Century BCE Greek Period Written by Jew named Ezekiel in Greek language Greek tragedy of Exodus from Egypt conforms to technical aspect of traditional Greek AKA Exodus tragedies does not necessarily have a sad ending just sad parts included Opening lines monologue delivered by Moses review of familiar bits of biblical history Content comes from Genesis Exodus Depiction of defeat of Egyptians at Sea of Reeds o Lone Egyptian soldier survives and relates story to audience Reflects effort to use elements of Greek culture for greater glory of Jewish Biblical past Alexander the Great born in 356 BCE o By age 30 defeats Persian Empire Darius III in 331 BCE Until then Near East Judah included dominated by succession of indigenous empires for o Form Greek o Content Jewish HISTORY of GREEK EMPIRE centuries o Assyrians o Babylonians o Persians Now control of land is in hands of authorities outside the territory Greek influence had infiltrated previously but now those influences are strengthened and familiarized o Trade o Military outposts Hellenistic Age The Era of Greek Culture and or Domination o 330 1st Century BCE 200 years of reign by Alexander and successors Rome asserts itself as dominant power around Mediterranean base o Hellenistic culture continues right up until 650 BCE rise of Islam Alexander dies in 323 BCE controlling enormous area spans Egypt Greece Iran India o Generals fight for control of his territory civil war ensues for 20 years until o 300 4 empires now replace what Alexander had created 1 General Ptolemy establishes empire based in Egypt Cleopatra last Ptolemaic ruler 2 Seleucus establishes empire based in Iraq and Syria Seleucid Empire succumbs to Romans in 1st Century Judah caught in middle of these two warring dynasties and therefore becomes important piece in geopolitical setting of Greek Empire o Initially 300 200 Judah controlled by Ptolemaic Empire Ptolemaic Empire wants to be good local ruler incorporating both Greek and Egyptian culture into their empire o As result of conflict 200 Judah controlled by Seleucid Empire During this period Hasmonean revolt takes place Hellenistic Empires continue previous traditions of supporting local self governments hands off policy when it comes to the Jews EXAMPLE Tobiads Family Tobias Toviah Reference to family in Ezra Description of family in Josephus Documents o Zenon Papyri Information provided by archaeology family compound palace o Family lived in Jordan excavations reveal the house Zenon Ptolemaic official worked for finance minister job to survey taxable land in Ptolemaic realm Description Family very proud of their Jewish identity Interested in marrying Jews Story of brother tricking brother into sleeping with his daughter instead of Egyptian woman Tobiads are tough tax collectors when it comes to non Jewish populations in Palestine Judah Lenient when it comes to Jewish communities secular nationalism Identify themselves as Jews basic commitment use their power see below to advantage of Jews Not rigorously committed to Jewish law they re living in Egypt speak Greek family success through Greek empire etc Represent new power element new class in Judah not connected to old bases of power not within priestly lineage like in Persian Empire Easy connection with Greek culture BUT Ptolemaic Period Greek Culture permeates as result of Alexander s conquest Disinterested in totally assimilating into Greek culture o Language o Architecture Polis city Libraries Gymnasiums Agora central courtyard Urban space design o Taste o Art Statues Beauty Aesthetics o Education Reading Writing Associations References to Literature and Ideas Nothing so far points to significant conflict between Jews and Greeks Biggest theme so far is co existence Book of Jubilees based on Genesis Exodus Written in 2nd 1st Century Written in Hebrew Popular Jewish text presented as counterbalance to Exagoge both written within Greek infused environment E embraced it J rejected it o Avoiding suspicious of rejects contact with Greek o Sharpens message of anti assimilation staying away from outsiders Claims to be communication between angel to Moses Uses Biblical Jubilee system to date chronology of events beginning with Creation o Method derived from Greek culture historical writing o Despite its efforts of rejections it indirectly unconsciously adopts Greek mode of thinking and influence in its form o The Jews now have a great history book just like the Greeks ironically enough written by those Jews who attempted to reject Greek life The need to reject something which was not previously rejected the need to focus on something which was never a source of anxiety before is also a form of influence Influence can be attraction OR rejection Both Exagoge and Jubilees are documents produced from living in Greek influenced life but Exagoge was an encouragement of that influence VS Jubilees was a firm rejection of it Hasmoneans free from Hellenistic influence But that s not really true because as seen by the above two documents there s no such thing as not being influenced by Greek culture Greek Version of Esther part of Septuagint Substantially longer than Hebrew version added at various points in narrative Added scene o Prayer of Esther before meeting with Ahasuerus o Greek Esther inserts G d s Name Hebrew Esther never mentions Name of G d o Greek Esther seems more like a good Jewish girl eg prayer and gives explanation as to how she has been keeping halacha in the Persian court Hebrew Esther Jewish girl married to Persian king Greek version shows Jewish population very integrated into Greek culture BUT Greek Esther turns out to be a more religiously focused book than the Hebrew version