The Hellenization of Jerusalem and Its Effects

Week 6 Lecture 2 (2/10/11):

After Alexander the Great's death in 323 BCE, his enormous kingdom became divided, two of them being the Ptolemies and Seleicides. The Ptolemies conquered Jerusalem, also known as Palestine during the time, in 320 BCE and ruled for about 100 years. Under the Ptolemies, the Jews were not allowed to elect a king, but they still were able to choose a high priest of their own. In 201 BCE, the Seleicides conquered the Ptolemies and immediately began aggressively trying to Hellenize the Jews. Greek traditions such as going to the gym in the nude and going to theaters were imposed onto the Jews forcibly. Antiochus III's attempt to Hellenize the Jews was very successful. We see archaeological evidence in the Tomb of Absolom, a Jewish burial with inscriptions written in Greek, and in the Sepphoris Mosaic, found in the dining room of a Jewish House. The Bible was also translated into Greek, and Greek became the most spoken language in the city. These proofs show that Greek traditions, religion, literature, and many other aspects were well incorporated into Jerusalem.

While some people adapted to this forced conversion very well, conservative Jews did not. This sparked the Maccabean Revolt led by Judas Maccabaeus. In about 165 BCE, these revolts resulted in the Jews regaining control of Jerusalem and of the Temple. The holiday of Hanakkah was then established to commemorate the Jew's triumph in gaining self-rule. However, conditions soon changed when the Hasmonean leaders became corrupt and secular. The kings claimed the high priesthood for themselves, were insensitive to their fellow Jews, executed and forcibly converted foreigners, and expanded the territory for political purposes. This appears to be a very hypocritical situation because the Hasmineans were doing unto others what they had revolted against. Although Jerusalem was ruled under a tyranny, the city grew greatly in size and population, becoming a center of commerce and religion. Hasmonean Jerusalem lasted only until 63 BCE, when Pompey from the Roman Empire took control of Jerusalem.