GREEK INFLUENCE

A tetradrachma showing the head of Ptolemy I

When Alexander the Great died in 323, his vast empire split into a number of separate Hellenistic kingdoms ruled by his Macedonian generals. Three dynasties sprang up, one of which was the Ptolemies, who ruled Egypt and certain eastern Mediterranean coast lands and hinterlands - including Judaea.

The Ptolemies did not interfere too much with local affairs, but  allowed the High Priest at the time to act as a sort of client monarch, under their control.

But they did introduce Greek culture to Judaea.

The modern world admires Greek culture but the people of Jerusalem, particularly the lower classes, regarded it with deep suspicion.

For example

• the Greek idea of a polis was alien to Jews; it was secular and kept government separate from religion. This was not the Jewish way.
• Jews believed in a single spirit, Yahweh, as the original source of Creation; the Greeks believed in many gods
• Greeks wanted to spread their ideas throughout the known world, regardless of race or country; Jews believed their Jewishness derived from their Jewish descent, and were suspicious of Jewish converts - as in the case of King Herod the Great, never accepted by his people because he was only half Jewish, and did not have a long Jewish pedigree
• Greek ideas were disseminated through Greek philosophy and drama; for Jews, the Torah and sacred writings were the source of all wisdom and learning
• Greeks had what seemed like a free and easy attitude to the body and nakedness; Jews believed in physical modesty for both men and women.

The list of differences between the two cultures is long.

Some people were attracted by Greek culture, and began to see themselves as citizens of the world, rather than as the Chosen People. But conservative Jews gravitated towards the priests, the guardians of Torah and Temple. They wanted to maintain the old traditions, the old ways of being Jewish.

   Go back to  JERUSALEM - REBUILDING THE CITY