"Hellenism in Palestine 323-129 B.C. with special reference to the causes op the Macca Bean rebellion

Abstract

It is the purpose of this thesis to set the Maccabean Revolt: in the widest possible relevant framework, namely that of the Hellenistic world of its day, and also of the post-exilic national history of the Jewish people. The practice of labelling the Maccabean Revolt as a 'struggle against Hellenism' or some such phrase appears to make assumptions about both Hellenism and Judaism which, on a closer examination of the internal social condition of Judaea at the time, are by no means necessarily true. My aim is to find out if possible what was the complex of causes which touched off this revolt; and in order to do this I believe one has to look at both the Hellenistic:, and Judaistic contexts of this rebellion at the same time. With this in mind I have briefly sketched Jewish history from the Exile to 323 B.C. before dealing with the body of the work. The Art and Architecture of the Hellenistic period has been briefly examined to discover what proportion of Greek ceramics, sculpture and architecture actually reached and affected Palestine, and how much native art. and architecture reflected this during the Hellenistic period. This section is illustrated by appropriate photographs. The relation of Rome to the Middle-Eastern powers surrounding Palestine (Coele-Syria) has been traced during the late third and early second centuries B.C. and it has been concluded that this threat from Rome put pressure upon Antiochus IV to unite his: realm by means of religious reform. This was the last hope of strengthening his empire to withstand the pressure- of. Rome via. Pergamum and Egypt. In this international context the religious reforms demanded by Antiochus IV seem to be not. so much evil as regrettable. And it, is also concluded that they were only- partly responsible for the Rebellion, social causes inter alia having played a major part.