Corpus Papyrorum Judaicarum, Volume 1: The Ptolemaic Period

CORPUS PAPYRORUM JUDAICARUM VOLUME I CORPUS PAPYRORUM JUDAICARUM VOLUME I EDITED B Y V I C T O R A. TCHERIKOVER PRO...

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CORPUS PAPYRORUM JUDAICARUM VOLUME I

CORPUS PAPYRORUM JUDAICARUM VOLUME I

EDITED

B Y

V I C T O R A. TCHERIKOVER PROFESSOR HEBREW

IN

OF A N C I E N T H I S T O R Y UNIVERSITY,

IN

THE

JERUSALEM

C O L L A B O R A T I O N

W I T H

ALEXANDER FUKS L E C T U R E R IN A N C I E N T HEBREW

PUBLISHED

THE

HISTORY

UNIVERSITY,

IN

THE

JERUSALEM

FOR

MAGNES PRESS, THE H E B R E W

UNIVERSITY

H A R V A R D U N I V E R S I T Y PRESS CAMBRIDGE,

M A S S A C H U S E T T S

1957

T h e Corpus Papyrorum

Judaicarum

has been printed b y the generosity of the Lucius N . Littauer Foundation

©

1957

BY THE

THE HEBREW

MAGNES

ALL RIGHTS

DISTRIBUTED OXFORD

PRESS

UNIVERSITY

RESERVED

IN GREAT

UNIVERSITY

BRITAIN

PRESS,

PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN

BY

LONDON

PREFACE N E A R L Y t w e n t y y e a r s h a v e p a s s e d since p r e l i m i n a r y w o r k o n t h i s c o l l e c t i o n of d o c u m e n t s b e g a n ; t h e d e t a i l e d w o r k o n t h e e s t a b l i s h e d p l a n h a s o c c u p i e d t h e l a s t t e n . A f e w w o r d s o n i t s p u r p o s e are a d u t y ; t h e a c k n o w l e d g e m e n t of t h e h e l p a n d k i n d n e s s w e h a v e r e c e i v e d in p r e p a r i n g it is a p l e a s u r e . F r o m t h e o u t s e t i t h a s b e e n considered t h e p r i m a r y o b j e c t of t h e Corpus t o e s t a b l i s h t h e correct t e x t s of all t h e d o c u m e n t s i n c l u d e d in it. O f course, d o c u m e n t s p u b l i s h e d in t h e l a s t few d e c a d e s b y o u t s t a n d i n g p a p y r o l o g i s t s h a v e n o t r e q u i r e d further s c r u t i n y . Y e t s o m e of t h e J e w i s h p a p y r i w e r e p u b l i s h e d a t t h e t i m e w h e n p a p y r o l o g y w a s still i n i t s i n f a n c y a n d their t e x t s , as first p u b l i s h e d , w e r e often incorrect o r i n c o m p l e t e . I n order t o establish t h e correct r e a d i n g of d u b i o u s p a s s a g e s , w e h a v e b e e n in c o m m u n i c a t i o n w i t h a n u m b e r of p a p y r o l o g i s t s in v a r i o u s c o u n t r i e s , w h o h a v e b e e n k i n d e n o u g h t o s e n d u s p h o t o s t a t s of s e v e r a l p a p y r i o r t o r e - e x a m i n e c e r t a i n t e x t s for u s . A s a second o b j e c t w e h a v e considered t h e w r i t i n g of c o m m e n t a r i e s t o i n d i v i d u a l p a p y r i , a n d t o g r o u p s of p a p y r i a n d o s t r a k a . I n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e g e n e r a l a i m of t h e Corpus, w e h a v e a l l o t t e d m u c h s p a c e in t h e c o m m e n t a r i e s t o m a t t e r s d i r e c t l y r e l a t e d t o J e w s a n d J u d a i s m . A s t o m a t t e r s of g e n e r a l interest w e h a v e referred t h e reader t o t h e literature o n the s u b j e c t , t h o u g h in certain cases w e h a d t o discuss in s o m e d e t a i l p a p y r o l o g i c a l p r o b l e m s of a general c h a r a c t e r . T h i r d l y , one of o u r a i m s w a s t o g i v e b i b l i o g r a p h i c a l lists for a l l t h e p a p y r i i n c l u d e d in t h e Corpus. O u r original a i m h a d b e e n t o list e v e r y t h i n g t h a t h a s been written on a n y Jewish papyrus. Y e t , we h a v e been compelled to abandon t h e p l a n of g i v i n g full bibliographies, as t h e r e l e v a n t l i t e r a t u r e is t o o diversified a n d s c a t t e r e d ; n o r w a s it a l w a y s of m u c h v a l u e m e r e l y t o refer t o one or t w o lines w h i c h h a p p e n t o m e n t i o n a certain p a p y r u s . N e v e r t h e l e s s , w e h o p e t h a t little of i m p o r t a n c e (especially in E n g l i s h ) h a s e s c a p e d o u r search. T h e a c h i e v e m e n t of t h e a b o v e t h r e e o b j e c t s m a y , it is h o p e d , s e r v e t h e interests of p a p y r o l o g i c a l research. B u t t h e Corpus s h o u l d also b e of service t o t h e n o n specialized reader. W i t h t h a t e n d in v i e w a general i n t r o d u c t i o n (the Prolego mena) is offered c o n t a i n i n g a s u r v e y of J e w i s h life in E g y p t in the Hellenistic, R o m a n , a n d B y z a n t i n e periods. W e h a v e a d o p t e d t h e title, Corpus Papyrorum Judaicarum (C.P.Jud.), a l t h o u g h w e are a w a r e of its i n a c c u r a c y , since i t m a y g i v e t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t t h e d o c u m e n t s i n c l u d e d w e r e w r i t t e n b y J e w s , w h e r e a s m o s t of t h e m are n o t of J e w i s h a u t h o r s h i p , b u t r e l a t e t o J e w s a n d J e w i s h affairs. T h e Corpus w i l l consist of t h r e e v o l u m e s . T h e first c o n t a i n s t h e Prolegomena a n d t h e d o c u m e n t s of t h e P t o l e m a i c p e r i o d ; t h e s e c o n d is i n t e n d e d t o c o v e r t h e E a r l y R o m a n period, a n d t h e t h i r d , b e s i d e s t h e d o c u m e n t s of t h e L a t e R o m a n a n d B y z a n t i n e period, w i l l h a v e c e r t a i n a p p e n d i x e s , a n d p l a t e s i l l u s t r a t i n g s e l e c t e d d o c u m e n t s . W e h o p e t h a t t h e s e c o n d a n d t h i r d v o l u m e s w i l l follow t h e first a t s h o r t i n t e r v a l s . I n t h e p r e s e n t v o l u m e , t h e Prolegomena, t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n s t o a l l sections, a n d m o s t of t h e c o m m e n t a r i e s are t h e w o r k of V . T c h e r i k o v e r . T h o s e w r i t t e n b y

vi

PREFACE

A . F u k s are s i g n e d A . F . ; t h e c o m m e n t a r y t o N o . 1 3 8 is b y M r . M . S t e r n . E a c h of u s t a k e s full r e s p o n s i b i l i t y for t h e o p i n i o n s e x p r e s s e d in his p a r t s of t h e work. W e h a v e been greatly helped b y papyrologists in m a n y countries. Mr. T . C. S k e a t ( L o n d o n ) , M r . C . H . R o b e r t s ( O x f o r d ) , P r o f e s s o r A . C a l d e r i n i (Milan), M . O . G u e r a u d (Cairo), P r o f e s s o r H . C . Y o u t i e ( A n n A r b o r , M i c h i g a n ) , P r o f e s s o r H . B a t a i l l e (Paris), P r o f e s s o r E . G . T u r n e r ( L o n d o n ) , M r . J. H . R e i d , P r o f e s s o r H . G e r s t i n g e r ( G r a z ) , M r . T . R e e k m a n s ( L o u v a i n ) , t h e l a t e P r o f e s s o r J. M a n teuffel, a n d t h e l a t e P r o f e s s o r J. G . S m y l y p a t i e n t l y a n s w e r e d o u r n u m e r o u s questions a b o u t doubtful readings and revised several documents in their e n t i r e t y . O u r friends a n d c o l l e a g u e s of t h e H e b r e w U n i v e r s i t y , P r o f e s s o r J. P o l o t z k y , the late Professor M . S c h w a b e , the late D r . H . L e w y , and the late M r . G . A l o n also g e n e r o u s l y p l a c e d t h e i r l e a r n i n g a t o u r disposal. M r . T . C . S k e a t , M . J. S c h w a r t z ( S t r a s b o u r g ) , P r o f e s s o r E . K i e s s l i n g (Berlin), D r . S c h a w e (Giessen), a n d t h e l a t e P r o f e s s o r K . K a l b f l e i s c h (Giessen) g e n e r o u s l y g a v e u s p e r m i s s i o n t o p r i n t u n p u b l i s h e d d o c u m e n t s i n t h e i r c a r e . D r . S. A p p l e b a u m (Oxford) g a v e u s m u c h h e l p w i t h t h e s t y l i s t i c r e v i s i o n of o u r t e x t , a n d M r . H . H . N e a r (Oxford) p r o v i d e d E n g l i s h t r a n s l a t i o n s for a g r e a t m a n y of t h e d o c u m e n t s . M r . D . M . L e w i s (Oxford) a s s i s t e d u s i n t h e final s t a g e s of p u b l i c a t i o n . T o all these w e express our w a r m e s t thanks.. S p e c i a l t h a n k s are d u e t o M r s . T c h e r i k o v e r , w h o t r a n s c r i b e d a l m o s t a l l t h e p a p y r o l o g i c a l t e x t s , a n d w h o s e n e v e r - a b a t i n g i n t e r e s t i n t h e p r o g r e s s of t h e Corpus h a s b e e n a s t e a d y s u p p o r t t h r o u g h o u t t h e w h o l e t i m e of p r e p a r a t i o n . F i n a l l y , w e m u s t r e c o r d o u r d e e p a p p r e c i a t i o n of t h e a s s i s t a n c e g i v e n b y t h e T r u s t e e s of t h e L u c i u s N . L i t t a u e r F o u n d a t i o n , w h o s e g e n e r o u s g r a n t m a d e this publication possible, and particularly b y its Director, Mr. H . Starr, a n d b y P r o f e s s o r H . A . W o l f s o n ( H a r v a r d ) . O u r i n d e b t e d n e s s m u s t also b e r e c o r d e d t o t h e M i n i s t r y of E d u c a t i o n a n d C u l t u r e of t h e S t a t e of Israel, a s w e l l a s t o t h e I n s t i t u t e of J e w i s h S t u d i e s of t h e H e b r e w U n i v e r s i t y a n d its f o r m e r C h a i r m a n , Professor B . D i n u r , w h o s e i n i t i a l g r a n t s e n a b l e d t h e w o r k t o b e g i n . W e are e s p e c i a l l y c o n s c i o u s of o u r i n d e b t e d n e s s t o M r . E . P o z n a n s k i , A c a d e m i c S e c r e t a r y of t h e H e b r e w U n i v e r s i t y , w i t h o u t w h o s e h e l p a n d c o u n s e l t h e Corpus c o u l d n o t h a v e p r o g r e s s e d so far. V. T. A. F.

CONTENTS PREFACE

v

LIST OF A B B R E V I A T I O N S

xi

INTRODUCTION

xvii

PROLEGOMENA 1. T H E P T O L E M A I C 2. T H E E A R L Y 3.

THE LATE

i - m

P E R I O D (323-30 B . C . )

ROMAN ROMAN

I

P E R I O D (30 B.C . - A . D . 1 1 7 )

AND THE BYZANTINE

P E R I O D (A.D. 117-641)

DOCUMENTS OF T H E P T O L E M A I C P E R I O D S E C T I O N I: J E W S O F P A L E S T I N E I N T H E Z E N O N P A P Y R I

48 93

113-256 115-30

1. Sale of a slave girl

118

2. Fragments from Palestinian Lists

121

3. A list of Greeks and Semites in Palestine

124

4. L e t t e r from Toubias to Apollonios

125

5. L e t t e r from Toubias t o Apollonios

128

6. L e t t e r from Alexandros to Oryas

129

SECTION II: J E W S OF T H E F A Y t M IN T H E Z E N O N P A P Y R I

131-46

7. F r o m an account of lamp-oil

132

8. A fragment of an account

133

9. Pasis the J e w

134

10. A c c o u n t of bricks

136

1 1 . F r o m an account of barley

137

12. L e t t e r from Somoelis t o Zenon

138

13. A memorandum to Zenon

140

14. A declaration to a police-officer

141

15. Drafts of letters from Zenon

143

16. F r a g m e n t of a petition

145

17. F r a g m e n t of an account

146

SECTION III: JEWISH S O L D I E R S A N D M I L I T A R Y S E T T L E R S I N T H E T H I R D A N D S E C O N D C E N T U R I E S B.C. 147-78 18. D e e d of renunciation

148

19. A trial before the Court of T e n

151

20. A deed of loan

156

21. Notification of a robbery

157

22. Cession of a quarter

158

23. L o a n on mortgage

162

24. R e n e w a l of a loan

164

viii

C O N T E N T S

25- Contract of a loan 26. Contract of a loan 27. A Jewish c a v a l r y officer

167 168 170 171

28. A list of sheep and goats 29. A list of military settlers

173

30. A list of Jews and Macedonians 3i- A list of military settlers

175 176

32. F r o m an account of land and crops

177

SECTION

IV:

J E W I S H

P E A S A N T S ,

S H E P H E R D S , A N D

.NS I N T H E F A Y t T M

A R T I -

179-93 179

33- Jews and Greeks in Psenyris 34- A fragment from a census-paper

180 181

35- Distribution of seeds 36. A fragment of a property-declaration

181

37- A petition concerning a contract of lease 38. A petition concerning a purchase of wool 39- A list of livestock

185 187

40. A fragment of an account

187

182

A c c o u n t of receipts of wine

187

42. A fragment from an account 43- Petition of a Jewish peasant

188

44- A fragment of a register 45. F r o m an account of p a y m e n t s in kind 46. A n agreement about the joint use of a pottery 47- Jewish land-holders in the Arsinoite nome

189

188 190 190 192

SECTION V: J E W I S H TAX-COLLECTORS, GOVERNMENT O F F I C I A L S , A N D P E A S A N T S IN U P P E R E G Y P T 194-226 48-72. Receipts issued b y the banks 203 73-96. Receipts issued b y the granaries 211 9 7 - 1 0 3 . Receipts for the delivery of chaff 219 1 0 4 - 1 1 1 . Receipts issued b y tax-collectors

221

1 1 2 - 1 2 4 . Ostraka of various contents

223.

SECTION VI: VARIOUS PERIOD

DOCUMENTS

OF

THE

PTOLEMAIC 227-56

125. A n account of p a y m e n t s

227

126. A Greek testament

227

127. Dositheos son of Drimylos

230

128. A plaint of a wife against her husband

236

129. A complaint concerning the theft of a mantle

239

130. Petition concerning crops

241

131. A police-report

243

132. Letter from Herodes to Onias

244

CONTENTS

ix

133. A complaint of assault

246

134. L a n d - s u r v e y at Arsinoe

247

135. A letter from Menon t o Hermokrates

249

136. Summons before a tribunal

251

137. A Prostagma of the king and queen

251

138. Resolution of a Jewish Association

252

139. Jewish dining-club at Apollinopolis Magna

254

140. F r o m a list of names

255

1 4 1 . A letter from Herakles to P t o l e m y

256

INDEXES

257-294

INDEX TO THE PROLEGOMENA I N D E X TO T H E

DOCUMENTS

1. A l e x a n d e r the Great and the royal family of the Ptolemies 2. Personal names 3. Geographical names and 4. Technical terms I N D E X OF

259

SOURCES

279 280

IQVIKO.

287 289

LIST OF A B B R E V I A T I O N S I.

PAPYRI,

AND

bour au Musee

OSTRAKA,

INSCRIPTIONS

A d l e r P a p y r i = E . N . Adler, J . G. T a i t , F . M . H e i c h e l h e i m , The Adler Papyri; the Greek texts. 1 9 3 9 . B G U = Aegyptische Urkunden aus den staatlichen Museen zu Berlin: Griechische Urkunden. 1895-. BL = F . P r e i s i g k e a n d F . B i l a b e l , Berichtigungsliste der griechischen Papyrusurhunden

aus Agypten.

I933CIG = A . ptionum CI J =

Boeckh

et

Graecarum.

Corpus

1 9 1 3 , 1922, 1931, al.,

Corpus

Inscri-

B e r l i n , 1828—77.

Inscriptionum

Judaicarum,

ed. J. B . Frey, 1936, 1952. Dikaiomata Gesetzen geben

= Ausziige und

von

aus

Verordnungen

der

Graeca

alexandrinischen . . .

Halensis.

de Brooklyn.

N e w York,

I935-

herausgeBerlin,

1913G o o d s p e e d a n d C o lw e l l = E . J . G o o d s p e e d a n d E . C. C o l w e l l , A Greek Papyrus Reader. 1935. IG = I n s c r i p t i o n e s G r a e c a e . K n u d t z o n , Bakchiastexte = E . J. K n u d t z o n , Bakchiastexte und andere Papyri der Lunder Papyrussammlung. L u n d , 1946. M . Chr. = L . M i t t e i s a n d U . W i l c k e n , Grundziige und Chrestomathie der Papyruskunde, ii. 2. L e i p z i g - B e r l i n . T e u b n e r , 1 9 1 2 . M e y e r , Jur. Pap. = P . M e y e r , Griechische Texte aus Agypten. Berlin-Leipzig, 1916. O. A s h m . , O. B o d l . , O. C a m b . , O. F l i n d . P e t . = J . G. T a i t , Greek Ostraka in the Bodleian Library at Oxford and Various other Collections. 1930. O . B o d l . , see O . A s h m . O . C a m b r . , see O . A s h m . O G I S = W . D i t t e n b e r g e r , Orientis Graeci Inscriptiones selectae. L i p s i a e , 1 9 0 3 - 5 . O l s s o n = B . O l s s o n , Papyrusbriefe aus der fruhesten Romerzeit. Uppsala, 1925. O . P e t r i e , see O . A s h m . O . S t r a s s b . = P . V i e r e c k , Griechische und griechisch-demotische Ostraka der Universitdts- und Landesbibliothek zu Strassburg. B e r l i n , 1 9 2 3 . O . T h e b . = Theban Ostraka, edited b y J. G. Milne. L o n d o n , 1 9 1 3 . Ost. Wilb. Brkl. = P r e a u x , C , Les Ostraca grecs de la collection Charles-Edwin Wil-

P . A l e x a n d r i n . = M a h a f f y , i n BCH xviii, 1894, p p . 1 4 5 - 5 4 . P . A m h . = B . P . Grenfell a n d A . S. H u n t , The Amherst Papyri. L o n d o n , 1900, 1901. P . Cairo M a s p . = J. Maspero, Papyrus grecs d'epoque byzantine. Cairo, 1 9 1 1 - 1 6 . P C Z = C. C. E d g a r , Catalogue general des antiquites egyptiennes du Musee du Caire: Zenon Papyri. P . Col. Z e n . = W . L . W e s t e r m a n n , E . S. Hasenoehrl, C. W . Keyes, and H. L i e b e s n y , Zenon Papyri. N e w York, 1934-40. P . C o r n e l l = W . L . W e s t e r m a n n a n d C. J . K r a e m e r , j r . : Greek Papyri in the Library of Cornell University. N e w York, 1926. P . E d g . = C. C. E d g a r i n Ann. d. Serv. xviii-xxiv, 1918-24. P . E l e p h . = O. R u b e n s o h n , ElephantinePapyri. Berlin, 1907.

P.

E n t . = O.

Gueraud,

ENTEYSEIZ.

Cairo, 1 9 3 1 - 2 . P . F a y . = B . P . Grenfell, A . S. H u n t , D . G. H o g a r t h , Fayum Towns and their Papyri. L o n d o n , 1900. P . F l o r . = G. V i t e l l i a n d D . C o m p a r e t t i , Papiri greco-egizii: Papiri Fiorentini. Milano, 1905-15. P . F r a n k f . = H . L e w a l d , Sitzungsber. der Heidelberger A kademie der Wissenschaften, Phil.-hist. K l . 1920, A b h . 1 4 . P . Freib. = W . A l y , M. Gelzer, J. Partsch, a n d U . W i l c k e n , Mitteilungen aus der Freiburger Papyrussammlung. Heidel berg, 1914-27. P.

Giss. = O. Eser, E . K o r n e m a n n , a n d P . M . M e y e r , Griechische Papyri im Mu seum des oberhessischen Geschichtsvereins zu Giessen. L e i p z i g - B e r l i n , 1 9 1 0 - 1 2 .

P.

G r a d e n w i t z = G. P l a u m a n n , Sitzungs ber. der Heidelberger A kademie der Wissen schaften, P h i l . - h i s t . K l . 1 9 1 4 , A b h . 1 5 . P . G r e n f . = B . P . G r e n f e l l , An Alexandrian Erotic Fragment, etc. Oxford, 1896. B . P . Grenfell a n d A . S. H u n t , New Classical Fragments. Oxford, 1897. P.

G u r o b = J . G . S m y l y , Greek from Gurob. D u b l i n , 1 9 2 1 .

P . H a l . , see

Dikaiomata.

Papyri

xii P.

LIST

OF

ABBREVIATIONS

H a m b . = P. M. Meyer, Griechische Papyrusurkunden der Hamburger Staatsund Universitdtsbibliothek. Leipzig-Ber lin, 1 9 1 1 - 2 4 .

P.

H a u n . = T . L a r s e n , Papyri Graecae Haunienses, fasc. 1. Copenhagen, 1942. P . H i b . = B . P . Grenfell, A . S. H u n t , E . G . T u r n e r , a n d M . - T h . L e n g e r , The Hibeh Papyri. London, 1906-55.

P.

l a n d . = K . Kalbfleisch (ed.), Papyri Iandanae. Leipzig, 1912. P . L i l l e = P . J o u g u e t ( e d . ) , Papyrus grecs (Institut Papyrologique de l'Universite de Lille). 1907-28. P . L i p s . = L . M i t t e i s , Griechische Urkunden der Papyrussammlung zu Leipzig, 1 . L e i p zig, 1906. P . L o n d . = F . G. K e n y o n a n d H . I . B e l l , Greek Papyri in the British Museum. London, 1893-1917. P. Magd. = P . Lille I I dola). P. Merton = H . I. Bell Catalogue of the Greek lection of W. Merton. P. Mich. =

Michigan

(Papyri from Maga n d C. H . R o b e r t s , Papyri in the Col London, 1948-.

Papyri.

A n n Arbor,

1931-.

der Wurzburger Papyrussammlung. Ber lin, 1934. Rev. Laws — B . P . G r e n f e l l , Revenue Laws of Ptolemy Philadelphus. Oxford, 1896. S a y c e = A . H . S a y c e , Proc. Soc. Bibl. Arch., v i i (1884), p p . 1 1 ff., 1 9 5 ff. S B = F. Preisigke a n d F. Bilabel, Sammelbuch griechischer Urkunden aus Agypten. Vols. 1 - 2 : Strassburg-Berlin, 1913-22; Vol. 3: Berlin, 1926-7; Vols. 4-5: Heidelberg, 1931-8. S c h u b a r t , Pap. Graec. Berol. = W . S c h u b a r t , Papyri Graecae Berolinenses. Bonn, 1911. SEG = Supplementum Epigraphicum Graecum. Leyden, 1923-. Syll. = W . D i t t e n b e r g e r , Sylloge Inscriptionum Graecarum, editio tertia. Leipzig, 1915-27. S P = A . S . H u n t a n d C. C. E d g a r , Select Papyri. London, 1932-4. U P Z = U . W i l c k e n , Urkunden der Ptolemaerzeit. Berlin u n d Leipzig, 1922-. W . Chr. = L . M i t t e i s a n d U . W i l c k e n , Grundzuge und Chrestomathie der Papyruskunde, i. 2. L e i p z i g - B e r l i n , T e u b n e r , 1912. W i t k o w s k i , Epist. Priv. Graecae = S. W i t k o w s k i , Epistulae privatae Graecae quae in papyris aetatis Lagidarum servantur, editio altera. Leipzig, 1 9 1 1 . 2

P. Mich. Zen. = C. C. E d g a r , Zenon papyri in the University of Michigan Collection. A n n Arbor, 1931. P . O x y . = The Oxyrhynchus Papyri. Lon don, 1898-. P . P a r . = W . B r u n e t d e P r e s l e , Notices et extraits des papyrus grecs du Musee du Louvre, x v i i i (2). P a r i s , 1 8 6 5 . P . P e t r . = J . P . M a h a f f y a n d J . G. S m y l y , The Flinders Petrie Papyri, i-iii. D u b l i n , 1891-1905. P . P r i n c e t . = Papyri in the Princeton Uni versity Collections. Baltimore, 1931-. P . R e i n e E l i s a b . = M . H o m b e r t , C. P r e a u x , Chr. d'Egypte, x v i i , 1942, p p . 287 s q q . P . R y l . = Catalogue of the Greek Papyri in the John Rylands Library, Manchester. Manchester, 1 9 1 1 - . P S I = G. V i t e l l i a n d o t h e r s , Pubblicazioni della Societa italiana per la Ricerca dei Papiri greci e latini in Egitto: Papiri greci e latini. Firenze, 1912-. P. Strassb. — F. Preisigke, Griechische Papyrus der Kaiserlichen Universitdtsund Landesbibliothek zu Strassburg. 190620. P . T e b t . = The Tebtunis Papyri. London, 1902-38. P . W i i r z b . = U . W i l c k e n , Mitteilungen aus

W O = U . W i l c k e n , Griechische Ostraka aus Agypten und Nubien, v o l . ii. L e i p z i g Berlin, 1899.

2.

PERIODICALS

Aeg. = Aegyptus: Rivista italiana di egittologia e di papirologia. M i l a n , 1920—. AJPh = American Journal of Philology. Baltimore, 1880-. Amer. Journ. Arch., AJA = American Journal of Archaeology, 1885-. Ann. d. Serv. — Annates du Service des Antiquites de I'Egypte. Cairo, 1 8 9 9 - . Arch. = Archiv fur Papyrusforschung. Leipzig, 1900-. BASOR — Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research. N e w Haven, 1919-. BCH = Bulletin de correspondance helUnique. P a r i s , 1 8 7 7 - . Berl. Phil. Woch. = Berliner philologische Wochenschrift. Leipzig, 1881-1920. BIFAO — Bulletin de I'Institut francais d'Archdologie

orientale.

Cairo, 1 9 0 1 - .

LIST

OF

ABBREVIATIONS

BSAA = Bulletin de la Sociiti archdologique d'Alexandrie. Alexandria, 1904-. Byz.-Neugr. Jahrb. = Byzantinisch-Neugriechische Jahrbucher. Berlin, 1920-. Chr. d'£g.

=

Chronique

d'£gypte.

Brussels,

1925-Class. Philol. = Classical Philology. Chi cago, 1906-. Etudes de Papyrologie = Etudes de Papyrologie, L e C a i r e , 1 9 3 2 - . GGA = Gottingische gelehrte Anzeigen. Gottingen, 1739-. HTR = The Harvard Theological Review. Cambridge, Mass., 1908-. JBL = Journal of Biblical Literature. 1890-. JEA — Journal of Egyptian Archaeology. London, 1914-. Jew. Soc. Stud. = Jewish Social Studies. N e w York, 1939-. Jur. Pap. = Journal of Juristic Papyrology. N e w Y o r k , 1 9 4 6 ; W a r s a w , 1 9 4 7 - . Journ. Jew. Stud. = The Journal of Jewish Studies. London, 1948/9-. JPOS — Journal of the Palestine Oriental Society. Jerusalem, 1920-48. JQR — Jewish Quarterly Review. Phila delphia, 1888-. JRS = Journal of Roman Studies. London, 1911-. JTS — Journal of Theological Studies. London, 1899-. MGWJ — Monatsschrift fur Geschichte und Wissenschaft

des

Judentums.

Breslau,

1852-1939OLZ — Orientalistische Literaturzeitung. Berlin, 1898-. Proc. Soc. Bibl. = Proceedings of the Society of Biblical Archaeology. London, 1879-. QDAP = Quarterly of the Department of Antiquities in Palestine. London, RAO = C l e r m o n t - G a n n e a u , Recueil

1931-. d'Ar-

cheologie orientate, i - v i i i , 1 8 8 8 - 1 9 2 4 . RB — Revue biblique. Paris, 1892-. REG — Revue des Etudes grecques. Paris, 1888-. REJ = Revue des £tudes juives. 1880-. Rev. Arch. — Revue Archeologique. 1844-. Rev. d. Philol. = Revue de Philologie. 1877-. Riv.

d. Filol.

= Rivista

di

filologia.

Paris, Paris, Paris, Turin,

1873-. Sav. Ztschr. = Zeitschrift der Savigny-Stiftungfur Rechtsgeschichte. Weimar, 1880-.

xiii

Stud. Pal. = C. W e s s e l y , Studien zur Paldographie und Papyruskunde, i-xxii, 1902-22. TAP A = Transactions of the American Philological Association. 1869-. YCS — Yale Classical Studies. 1928-. ZATW = Zeitschrift fur die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft. Giessen, 1881-. ZDPV — Zeitschrift des Deutschen Paldstinavereins. Leipzig, 1878-1948. ZNTW = Zeitschrift fur die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft.

3.

BOOKS

Giessen, 1900-.

A N D OTHER

P U B L I C A T I O N S Abbot and Johnson = Abbot and Johnson, Municipal Administration in the Roman Empire, 1926. Actes du 5* Congrhs = Actes du 5* Congres de Papyrologie, 1938. B a r o n , SRH = S . W . B a r o n , A Social and Religious History of the Jews, 2 n d e d i t i o n . i-ii. 1952. B e v a n = E . B e v a n , A History of Egypt under the Ptolemaic Dynasty, 1 9 2 7 . Bludau = Bludau, Juden und Judenverfolgungen im alten Alexandrien, 1906. Bouche-Leclercq = Bouch6-Leclercq, Histoire des Lagides, i - i v , 1 9 0 3 - 7 . CAH = Cambridge Ancient History. C. J u s t . = C o d e x J u s t i n i a n u s . C o w l e y = C o w l e y , Aramaic Papyri of the Fifth Century B.C., 1 9 2 3 . C. T h e o d . , C. T h . = C o d e x T h e o d o s i a n u s . F u c h s = L . F u c h s , Die Juden Agyptens in ptolemdischer und romischer Zeit, 1 9 2 4 . H a t c h — R e d p a t h = A Concordance to the Septuagint, i-iii, 1897-1906. J a s t r o w = M . J a s t r o w , A Dictionary of the Targumim, the Talmud Babli and Yerushalmi, and the Midrashic Literature, 1 9 2 6 . J o h n s o n = A . C. J o h n s o n , Roman Egypt, 1936. J u s t e r = J . J u s t e r , Les Juifs dans I'Empire romain, 1 9 1 4 . L a u n e y = M . L a u n e y , Recherches sur les Armees hellenistiques, i - i i , 1949—50. L e s q u i e r = L e s q u i e r , Les Institutions militaires de I'Egypte sous les Lagides, 1 9 1 1 . Lidzbarski, Ephem. = L i d z b a r s k i , Ephemeris fur semitische Epigraphik, i-iii, 1902-15. L S J = Greek-English Lexicon, e d . Liddell— Scott-Jones. Oxford, 1925-40.

xiv

LIST

O F A B BR E V I A T I O N S

M a y s e r == E . Mayser, Grammatik der griechischen Papyri, ed. i, vols, i-ii, 1 9 0 6 - 3 4 ; e d . 2, v o l . i, 1 9 3 6 - 8 . M i l n e = J . G . M i l n e , A History of Egypt under Roman Rule, 3 r d e d i t i o n , 1 9 2 4 . NB = P r e i s i g k e , Namenbuch enthaltend alle Menschennamen, soweit sie in griechischen Urkunden Agyptens sich vorfinden, 1 9 2 2 . Nov. The. = Novellae Theodosii. Pape—Benseler = W . Pape-E. Benseler, Wdrterbuch der griechischen Eigennamen, 3 Aufl. I - I I , 1863-70. PG = Patrologia Graeca. PL = Patrologia Latina. P r e a u x = CI. P r e a u x , L'Economie royale des Lagides, 1 9 3 9 . RE=Pauly-Wissowa, Real-Encyklopddie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft, 1894-. Reinach, Textes = T . Reinach, Textes d'auteurs grecs et romains relatifs au Judaisme, 1895. Rostovtzeff, SEHHW = M. Rostovtzeff, Social and Economic History of the Hellen istic World, I - I I I , 1 9 4 1 . Rostovtzeff, SEHRE = M. Rostovtzeff, Social and Economic Empire, 1926.

History

of the

Roman

R o t h = J . M . R o t h , Greek Papyri Jewish History, 1924. S c h i i r e r = E . S c h i i r e r , Geschichte

Lights des

on judi-

schen Volkes im Zeitalter Jesu Christi, i - i i i , 1901-9. T a u b e n s c h l a g = R . T a u b e n s c h l a g , The Law of Greco-Roman Egypt in the Light of the Papyri, 1944. T r a m o n t a n o = R . T r a m o n t a n o , La Lettera di Aristea a Filocrate, 1 9 3 1 . Wallace = Wallace, Taxation in Egypt from Augustus to Diocletian, 1938. WB = F . P r e i s i g k e u n d E . Kiessling, Wdrterbuch der griechischen Papyrusurkunden. 1925-. W . G r u n d z . = U . W i l c k e n , Grundziige und Chrestomathie der Papyruskunde, i. 1 (Historischer Teil, Grundziige), 1 9 1 2 . W i l c k e n , Ant. = U . W i l c k e n , Zum alexandrinischen Antisemitismus, Abh. d. Sachs. Ges. d. Wiss. 2 7 , 1 9 0 9 , p p . 788 s q q . W i l c k e n , Ostr. = U . W i l c k e n , Griechische Ostraka aus Agypten und Nubien, v . i, 1899. Wuthnow = Wuthnow, Die semitischen Menschennamen in griechischen Inschriften und Papyri, 1930.

EXPLANATORY NOTE Square brackets [ ] indicate a lacuna, round brackets ( ) the r e s o l u t i o n of a s y m b o l o r a b b r e v i a t i o n , a n g u l a r b r a c k e t s < > a m i s t a k e n o m i s s i o n i n t h e o r i g i n a l , b r a c e s { } a superflous l e t t e r o r l e t t e r s , d o u b l e s q u a r e b r a c k e t s I ]] a d e l e t i o n .

INTRODUCTION T H E Corpus Papyrorum Judaicarum is t h e first a t t e m p t t o collect all p u b l i s h e d p a p y r i and ostraka from E g y p t t h a t concern J e w s or Judaism. T h e publication of i s o l a t e d p a p y r i , t h o u g h i m p o r t a n t for t h e s t u d y of t h e h i s t o r y of t h e J e w s i n E g y p t , is s o m e t i m e s b o u n d t o g i v e a n incorrect impression, a n d o n l y a s y s t e m a t i c collection of a l l t h e a v a i l a b l e m a t e r i a l c a n p r o v i d e a d e t a i l e d p i c t u r e of t h e life of t h e J e w s i n E g y p t i n Hellenistic, R o m a n , a n d B y z a n t i n e t i m e s . T h e Corpus p u r p o r t s t o c o n t a i n all ' J e w i s h p a p y r i ' , i.e. p a p y r i r e l a t i n g t o J e w s a n d J u d a i s m . B u t h o w are w e t o distinguish b e t w e e n a ' J e w i s h ' a n d a ' n o n - J e w i s h ' p a p y r u s ? I n t h e c o m p i l a t i o n of t h e C.P.Jud. the following criteria h a v e b e e n adopted: A s ' J e w i s h ' are considered 1. P a p y r i in w h i c h t h e w o r d 'IovSaTos, o r 'Efipaios, a p p e a r s . 2. P a p y r i w h i c h m e n t i o n e v e n t s or t e c h n i c a l t e r m s t h a t p o i n t t o J e w s or J u d a i s m (for i n s t a n c e , a p a p y r u s in w h i c h t h e w o r d s -npoaevxf) or odfiPaOa a p p e a r is considered as ' J e w i s h ' , a s are p a p y r i m e n t i o n i n g the J e w i s h r e v o l t under Trajan). 3. D o c u m e n t s o r i g i n a t i n g from w h a t are k n o w n t o h a v e b e e n p l a c e s of e x c l u s i v e l y J e w i s h s e t t l e m e n t , e.g. t h e o s t r a k a from t h e J e w i s h q u a r t e r of E d f u . 4. P a p y r i c o n t a i n i n g J e w i s h n a m e s . T h i s l a s t - n a m e d criterion requires further e l a b o r a t i o n . I n t h e Hellenistic a n d R o m a n periods J e w s b o r e H e b r e w , c o m m o n S e m i t i c , G r e e k , E g y p t i a n , a n d R o m a n names. I t goes without saying that only a H e b r e w name can provide unquestion a b l e e v i d e n c e for t h e J e w i s h origin of its bearer. F o r t u n a t e l y for u s n o H e b r e w n a m e , e x c e p t S a m b a t h i o n , w a s e v e r u s e d b y n o n - J e w s in the P t o l e m a i c a n d R o m a n a g e s . I n t h e B y z a n t i n e period a H e b r e w n a m e ceases t o b e a sign of J e w i s h origin, since Christians c o m m o n l y a d o p t e d B i b l i c a l n a m e s . I t is difficult t o e s t a b l i s h e x a c t l y a t w h a t period Christians b e g a n t o c a l l t h e m s e l v e s b y B i b l i c a l n a m e s . A s far a s I c a n see, t h e use of such n a m e s a m o n g t h e Christians is a t t e s t e d as e a r l y a s t h e t h i r d c e n t u r y ; a t first w e find n a m e s d e r i v e d from the N e w T e s t a m e n t (Petrus, Paulus, Johannes), Old Testament names being later gradually introduced. Y e t t h e first C h r i s t i a n s u s i n g B i b l i c a l n a m e s (in t h e t h i r d a s w e l l as i n t h e f o u r t h c e n t u r y ) w e r e a l m o s t e x c l u s i v e l y ecclesiastics. A s t o t h e l a i t y , I a m n o t sure w h e t h e r w e h a v e a n y e v i d e n c e t h a t t h e y b o r e B i b l i c a l n a m e s in t h e t h i r d or e v e n 1

2

3

1

J. M. R o t h , Greek Papyri Lights on Jewish History ( N e w York, 1924), included in his collec tion only t w e n t y - s i x Jewish papyri. This c a n n o t , of course, be regarded as an a t t e m p t t o give a corpus of Jewish papyri. 2

Some v e r y rare cases w h e n persons bearing Hebrew n a m e s are recorded as members of h e a t h e n religious associations, such as H e l k i a s at Hermoupolis m a g n a in 78 B.C. (Zucker, Abh. Preuss. Ak. 1937, Phil.-Hist. Kl. N o . 6, p . 4, 1- 93)} A b r a m at P t o l e m a i s in 138/7 B.C. ( S B 0

1

6184), m a y be accounted for b y the assumption t h a t the persons in question were of Jewish origin. I a m indebted t o Prof. Kilpatrick of Queen's College, Oxford, for his kind advice o n this ques tion. For the use of the Biblical n a m e s b y Chris tians in the third and fourth centuries cf. Harnack, The Expansion of Christianity (London, 1905), ii. 35 ff.; Dictionnaire d'Arche'ol. Chre't., s.v. ' N o m s propres' (xii. 1511 s q q . ) ; Patrutn Nicaenorum nomina, Bibl. T e u b . 1898. 3

INTRODUCTION

xviii

i n t h e first h a l f of t h e f o u r t h c e n t u r y ; w e , i n f a c t , c a n h a r d l y e x p e c t t o find l a y m e n c a l l i n g t h e m s e l v e s b y B i b l i c a l n a m e s before t h e final v i c t o r y of t h e C h u r c h ; I t h i n k , t h e r e f o r e , w e s h a l l n o t b e m i s t a k e n if w e d r a w t h e line of d e m a r c a t i o n a t a b o u t t h e d e a t h of C o n s t a n t i n e ( A . D . 337). I h a v e c o n s i d e r e d all n o n - e c c l e s i a s t i c s c a l l e d b y B i b l i c a l n a m e s i n t h e p a p y r o l o g i c a l d o c u m e n t s before t h a t d a t e a s J e w s , after it, m o r e p r o b a b l y , a s C h r i s t i a n s . S o m e i s o l a t e d c a s e s i n t h e s e c o n d h a l f of t h e f o u r t h c e n t u r y r e m a i n , of c o u r s e , d o u b t f u l . T h e H e b r e w n a m e s Simon and S a m b a t h a i o s claim special attention. Simon is a H e l l e n i z e d f o r m of t h e B i b l i c a l S h i m e ' o n , a n d c o n s e q u e n t l y a J e w i s h n a m e ; y e t Simon w a s a Greek n a m e as well. W e h a v e therefore no right to regard e v e r y S i m o n in t h e d o c u m e n t s a s a J e w . F o r S a m b a t h a i o s (in t h e R o m a n p e r i o d S a m b a thion) see b e l o w , p p . 94 s q q . , a n d I n t r o d u c t i o n t o S e c t i o n X I I I . S o m e t i m e s a superficial l i k e n e s s b e t w e e n a n a m e in t h e p a p y r u s a n d a H e b r e w n a m e h a s i n d u c e d s c h o l a r s t o c o n s i d e r it as J e w i s h . Y e t a closer e x a m i n a t i o n m a y e a s i l y s h o w t h a t t h e r e a l r o o t of t h e n a m e is E g y p t i a n , G r e e k , c o m m o n S e m i t i c , o r e v e n R o m a n . A l l p e r s o n s b e a r i n g s u c h n a m e s are e x c l u d e d f r o m t h e C.P.Jud. 4

5

6

4

Scholars were n o t a l w a y s cautious enough in distinguishing b e t w e e n J e w s and Christians in the B y z a n t i n e age, especially in the years w h e n papyrological studies were still in their infancy. Cf., e.g., P . L o n d . i. 113. 6(c), p . 215, where t w o persons called b y Biblical n a m e s were described b y the editor (Kenyon) as J e w s , t h o u g h the papyrus, composed in the s i x t h or s e v e n t h cen tury, opens w i t h ocorrjpos ij/xwv and ends w i t h a sign of a cross. T h e same mistake w a s repeated b y T h . Reinach (REJ x x x v i i , 1898, 224 sq.) and N e p p i Modona (Aeg. iii. 33). Another instance is P . O x y . 131 (again a document of the s i x t h or s e v e n t h century), where Jewish descent w a s claimed b y Grenfell and H u n t for the author of the d o c u m e n t , partly because of the Biblical n a m e s mentioned in it, partly because of 'a decidedly Hebraistic turn' of the style (which w a s , indeed, influenced b y the style of the Greek Bible, a p h e n o m e n o n rather usual in Christian documents). It is curious to note that in quite recent articles (Rees, JEA x x x v i , 1950, 98; Modrzejewski, / . Jur. Pap. v i . 1952, 244) this alleged Jewish descent of the author of P . O x y . 131 reappears, though m a n y hundreds of docu m e n t s of the s i x t h and s e v e n t h centuries, p u b lished since the appearance of the first v o l u m e of P . O x y . , could easily prove that a H e b r e w n a m e in the B y z a n t i n e age cannot serve as a criterion of the Jewish origin of a person. s

T h e n a m e derives from atfios, s n u b - n o s e d ; cf. P a p e - B e n s e l e r , Worterb. d. griech. Eigennamen, 3. AufL, s.v. ZificDv, w h o quote m a n y instances from various Greek authors of the classical period (Aristophanes, X e n o p h o n , L y s i a s , etc.). For papyrological evidence cf. Arch. ii. 538

(Simon, a priest of Arsinoe-Aphrodite in the third century B.C.); ib. vi. 177 (Leonidas, son of Simon, a citizen of Antinoopolis in the second century A.D.). 6

Here are some instances. 'Ovijs is an E g y p tian n a m e (demotic Hwn) and n o t the Hebrew ' O v i ' a ? (V31J1) (cf. P . dem. Berlin 3116, Aeg., x x x i i , 1952, p . 15, col. 2, 1. 24; ib., p . 30). T h e n a m e Apcov, sometimes mentioned in t h e R o m a n period, is n o t the Biblical Upcuv QYinN) but the hypocoristic form of an E g y p t i a n n a m e such as Apovva><j>pts or Apowrjats (the sub stitution of CD for o is rather c o m m o n in the transcription of E g y p t i a n names, cf. 'Owa>^>pis and 'Ow6pis). Since the Hebrew n a m e L e v i (AeveC, Aetv, and the like) is never recorded as a Jewish n a m e in the papyri, I do n o t think t h a t the n a m e IlaXems {pa being a Coptic prefix indicating 'belonging to') has a n y connexion w i t h J e w s either (cf. Chr. d'£gypte, xiii, 1938, 404), especially since the n a m e is quoted in purely E g y p t i a n c o n t e x t s (e.g. O E 413, 425, 430, 431, 434» 435> 44 > 45°) • W e m u s t be very cautious as t o the n a m e s beginning w i t h Ioi or HXt: these are n o t the Hebrew names Isaiah ( r P S W ) and Elias (IJT'VX), never used b y J e w s in the papyri, b u t n a m e s derived from Isis and Helios. T h e n a m e s M a A ^ o s , MdXtx°s, 2d\p.ojv, ZaXa/iojv, and the like, occurring frequently in the papyri, are c o m m o n Semitic, and n o t specifically Hebrew (though, of course, J e w s t o o could b e called b y these n a m e s , as b y a n y other Semitic n a m e ) . T h e n a m e M j S c A in the pre-Byzantine age is probably the c o m m o n Semitic *?N3N rather t h a n t h e Biblical b$7\, never used b y J e w s . EvSds is n o t a curious spelling for 'IovSas ( P . H i b . , intro2

INTRODUCTION

xix

A s t o Greek names, w e m a y note that theophoric names, such as Dositheos, T h e o p h i l o s , D o r o t h e o s , etc., w e r e w i d e l y diffused a m o n g t h e J e w s ; y e t i t w o u l d b e w r o n g t o consider e v e r y m a n n a m e d , s a y , T h e o p h i l o s , t o h a v e b e e n a J e w . D o s i t h e o s is t h e o n l y t h e o p h o r i c n a m e w h i c h s e e m s t o h a v e b e e n u s e d i n t h e Hellenistic period a l m o s t e x c l u s i v e l y b y J e w s . A c e r t a i n g r a d a t i o n of preference b y J e w s i n t h e use of t h e o p h o r i c n a m e s m a y b e e s t a b l i s h e d . A m o n g G r e e k n a m e s t h e following w e r e e s p e c i a l l y f a v o u r e d b y t h e m : A l e x a n d e r , P t o l e m y , A n t i p a t r o s , T r y p h o n , D o s a r i o n , P h i l o n , P t o l l a s . N a t u r a l l y these n a m e s w e r e b y n o m e a n s confined t o t h e J e w s , a n d c a n n o t s e r v e t o distinguish J e w s i n d o c u m e n t s . I t is therefore o b v i o u s t h a t i n d e a l i n g w i t h t h e o p h o r i c a n d o t h e r n a m e s w h i c h m a y , b u t n e e d n o t , b e J e w i s h w e h a v e t o b e v e r y c a u t i o u s . I n these cases w e h a v e t o l o o k for a d d i t i o n a l proofs, a n d i t m a y b e r i g h t t o decide i n f a v o u r of t h e J e w i s h origin of t h e b e a r e r i n t h e following c a s e s : (a) W h e n father a n d s o n b e a r n a m e s t h a t may b e J e w i s h . (b) W h e n s u c h u n c e r t a i n n a m e s are m e n t i o n e d i n a d o c u m e n t c o n t a i n i n g a t least t w o o r t h r e e m o r e n a m e s of t h e s a m e n a t u r e . (c) W h e n t h e p a p y r u s c o n t a i n i n g a n u n c e r t a i n n a m e c o m e s from a p l a c e k n o w n a s a n i m p o r t a n t c e n t r e of J e w i s h s e t t l e m e n t . (d) W h e n t h e d o c u m e n t c o n t a i n i n g t h e n a m e i n q u e s t i o n b e l o n g s t o a period w h e n J e w s preferred t h a t p a r t i c u l a r n a m e t o others. T h e s e rules m a y s e e m t o b e s o m e w h a t rigorous, a n d i t i s o b v i o u s t h a t , w h e n s t r i c t l y applied, t h e y m a y e x c l u d e m a n y d o c u m e n t s referring t o J e w s from t h e C.P.Jud. I t is i n d e e d a m a t t e r of c o n t r o v e r s y w h e t h e r s o m e o f t h e T h e o p h i l o i T h e o d o r o i , w h o m I h a v e e x c l u d e d from t h e C.P.Jud., w e r e o r w e r e n o t of J e w i s h origin. Y e t , i n m y opinion, it is m u c h b e t t e r t o restrict t h e n u m b e r of p a p y r i i n t h e C.P.Jud. e v e n a t t h e risk of losing s o m e g e n u i n e ' J e w i s h ' p a p y r i , t h a n t o t h r o w o p e n t h e d o o r for a large n u m b e r of d o c u m e n t s w h o s e c o n n e x i o n with Jews a n d Judaism cannot be completely established. A s t o t h e a r r a n g e m e n t of t h e d o c u m e n t s i n t h e C.P.Jud., t h e p u b l i c a t i o n of t h e t e x t s i n a s t r i c t l y c h r o n o l o g i c a l o r d e r w o u l d n o t g i v e a correct p i c t u r e . T h e 7

8

duction, p . 4 ; cf. Juster i. 480, n . 3), b u t a h y p o coristic form for Evhaiynov. The name Maplwv i n t h e R o m a n period i s , probably, n o t a Semitic n a m e derived from Mar (*W), dominus, b u t a Hellenized form of t h e R o m a n Marius (cf. e.g. S B 4360). Many other R o m a n n a m e s underwent the s a m e process of H e l l e n i z a t i o n : cf. Mapicltov ( S B 4604, 6124),

Awiwv

( S B 4374), rai(ov

(SB

7354), 0 « 5 a A € p t a > v ( W 0 2 7 1 ; Arch. v . 175, N o . 21). 7

Dositheos c a n be considered almost a s a Jewish n a m e : it w a s practically u n k n o w n in t h e pre-Hellenistic period, a n d i t seems t h a t J e w s almost monopolized i t from t h e v e r y begin ning of t h e Hellenistic a g e ; cf. n o . 127. T h e n e x t place m u s t be given t o Theophilos (or TcfyiXos, a s frequently spelled in t h e p a p y r i ) : t h o u g h t h e n a m e w a s in u s e in classical Greece (see P a p e - B e n s e l e r , s.v.), in Hellenistic E g y p t it w a s almost confined t o J e w s . Dorotheos,

Theodoros, a n d T h e o d o t o s , t h o u g h frequently borne b y J e w s , were never monopolized b y t h e m , and w e h a v e various instances of n o n - J e w s calling themselves b y these n a m e s in t h e Helle nistic period (cf. e.g. P . Grenf. i. 1 2 ; Letter of Arist. 182). I n t h e R o m a n period all theophoric n a m e s are i n c o m m o n u s e b y t h e non-Jewish population of E g y p t . 8

T h e article of Segr6, ' N o t e sullo Status Civitatis degli ebrei nell' E g i t t o tolemaico e imperiale', BSAA x x v i i i , 1933, 143 sqq., m a y serve a s a n example of h o w dangerous this i s , w h e n n o strict principles a s regards Jewish n a m e s are followed. T h e author considers as J e w s n o t only all persons called b y theophoric n a m e s , b u t also those bearing the names H e l e n o s , L e o n , T r y p h o n , a n d others. Cf. p p . 145 sqq., a n d especially p . 157, note 3, where a list of c. 50 Alexandrian 'Jews' is g i v e n .

XX

INTRODUCTION

m a t e r i a l itself n a t u r a l l y falls i n t o c e r t a i n divisions. G r o u p s s u c h a s ' T h e J e w s of t h e F a y u m a c c o r d i n g t o t h e Z e n o n P a p y r i ' , ' T h e J e w s of A l e x a n d r i a u n d e r A u g u s t u s ' (according t o B G U i v ) , ' T h e J e w s of A p o l l i n o p o l i s M a g n a (Edfu) in t h e years A . D . 70-116', ' T h e Jewish R e v o l t under Trajan', and the like, constitute s e p a r a t e u n i t s of d o c u m e n t s h a v i n g a n o r g a n i c inner c o n n e x i o n . T h o s e d o c u m e n t s w h i c h c o u l d n o t b e i n c l u d e d in t h e a b o v e g r o u p s h a v e b e e n c o l l e c t e d in sections c a l l e d ' V a r i o u s D o c u m e n t s ' . I t g o e s w i t h o u t s a y i n g t h a t t h e sections p r e s e r v e t h e g e n e r a l c h r o n o l o g i c a l order, a n d t h e d o c u m e n t s h a v e also b e e n a r r a n g e d c h r o n o l o g i c a l l y w i t h i n e a c h section. N o l i t e r a r y p a p y r i (e.g. B i b l i c a l t e x t s ) h a v e b e e n i n c l u d e d in C.P.Jud., and only the last Section ( X V ) gives some semi-literary p a p y r i (such a s m a g i c a l t e x t s ) , w h o s e i m p o r t a n c e for t h e p r o b l e m of J e w i s h influence o n r e l i g i o u s life i n E g y p t is considerable. J e w i s h h i s t o r y in E g y p t h a d a d e v e l o p m e n t of i t s o w n , a n d i t s v a r i o u s periods d o n o t a l w a y s c o r r e s p o n d t o periods c o m m o n l y a c c e p t e d in A n c i e n t H i s t o r y . T h e transition f r o m t h e P t o l e m a i c t o t h e R o m a n p e r i o d constitutes, of course, a n i m p o r t a n t t u r n i n g - p o i n t in t h e h i s t o r y of t h e J e w s of E g y p t a s w e l l . B u t t h e transition f r o m t h e R o m a n t o t h e B y z a n t i n e p e r i o d — w h e t h e r w e place i t in t h e r e i g n of C o n s t a n t i n e t h e G r e a t or i n t h e y e a r A . D . 284 a s is u s u a l l y d o n e b y p a p y r o l o g i s t s — i s of little i m p o r t a n c e for t h e internal h i s t o r y of t h e J e w s in E g y p t . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e g r e a t J e w i s h r e v o l t a t t h e close of the reign of T r a j a n ( A . D . I 1 5 - 1 7 ) — a n e v e n t of n o f u n d a m e n t a l i m p o r t a n c e in the h i s t o r y of t h e R o m a n E m p i r e — c o n s t i t u t e d a d e c i s i v e crisis for J e w i s h life in E g y p t f r o m w h i c h i t e m e r g e d in a n a t t e n u a t e d f o r m . T h e w r e t c h e d J e w i s h c o m m u n i t i e s w h i c h s u r v i v e d t h e disaster h a d t o o r g a n i z e t h e i r life o n a n a l m o s t e n t i r e l y n e w basis. T h e m a t e r i a l of t h e C.P.Jud. is c o n s e q u e n t l y d i v i d e d i n t o t h e following p e r i o d s : 1. T h e P t o l e m a i c p e r i o d (Sections I - V I ) . 2. T h e E a r l y R o m a n period (until A . D . 117) (Sections V I I - X I ) . 3. T h e L a t e R o m a n a n d t h e B y z a n t i n e p e r i o d (Sections X I I - X V ) . W o r k o n t h e Prolegomena finished a t t h e e n d of 1952; w o r k o n S e c t i o n s I - V I a t t h e e n d of 1954. W h i l e t h i s v o l u m e h a s b e e n in t h e press, w e h a v e n o t f o u n d i t possible t o use m o r e r e c e n t p u b l i c a t i o n s . S u c h p u b l i c a t i o n s w i l l b e d e a l t w i t h i n t h e Addenda t o b e p r i n t e d i n V o l . I I I . V.T.

PROLEGOMENA By

V.

T C H E R I K O V E R

T H E p u r p o s e of t h e P r o l e g o m e n a is t o p r e s e n t a g e n e r a l s u r v e y of t h e h i s t o r i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e J e w i s h p e o p l e i n E g y p t d u r i n g t h e H e l l e n i s t i c - R o m a n B y z a n t i n e a g e . If i t b e a s k e d w h e t h e r t h e t e r m ' h i s t o r i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t ' m a y j u s t l y b e a p p l i e d t o a s e c t i o n of a p e o p l e l i v i n g o u t s i d e t h e b o u n d a r i e s of i t s s t a t e a n d d e p r i v e d of t h e c o m m o n e s t o r g a n s of p o l i t i c a l a c t i v i t y , s u c h a s a n i n d e p e n d e n t g o v e r n m e n t a n d a n a r m y of i t s o w n , it is h o p e d t h a t t h e m a t e r i a l p r e s e n t e d w i l l b e sufficient t o g i v e a p o s i t i v e a n s w e r . I t w i l l b e s h o w n t h a t , i n t h e period under consideration, E g y p t i a n J e w r y w a s not a passive b o d y only cap a b l e of r e c e i v i n g o r d e r s f r o m o u t s i d e , b u t w a s o n t h e c o n t r a r y a n a c t i v e s o c i a l o r g a n i s m e n d e a v o u r i n g t o a p p l y i t s forces a n d a b i l i t i e s t o e v e r y field of e c o n o m i c a c t i v i t y . I t w a s e v e n s t r o n g e n o u g h t o p l a y a p a r t i n p o l i t i c a l a n d m i l i t a r y life. T h o u g h i t w a s o n l y o n e s e c t i o n of t h e w h o l e p e o p l e , a n d firmly a t t a c h e d t o t h e p o l i t i c a l , n a t i o n a l , a n d r e l i g i o u s c e n t r e in J e r u s a l e m , E g y p t i a n J e w r y h a d i t s o w n c h a r a c t e r , differing in m a n y d e t a i l s f r o m t h a t of t h e P a l e s t i n i a n J e w s . T h i s c h a r a c t e r a l t e r e d in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e p o l i t i c a l v i c i s s i t u d e s of E g y p t a n d w i t h v a r i o u s influences e m a n a t i n g f r o m t h e G r e e k , R o m a n , a n d J e w i s h w o r l d s . L i k e e v e r y o r g a n i c e n t i t y , E g y p t i a n J e w r y h a d a d e v e l o p m e n t of i t s o w n , a n d w e c a n e a s i l y d i s t i n g u i s h b e t w e e n v a r i o u s p e r i o d s of t h i s d e v e l o p m e n t . I n t h e s e P r o l e g o m e n a t h e w h o l e h i s t o r y of t h e E g y p t i a n J e w s , d u r i n g t h e a b o v e - m e n t i o n e d a g e , is d i v i d e d i n t o t h r e e m a i n p e r i o d s a c c o r d i n g t o t h e g e n e r a l d i v i s i o n a d o p t e d for t h e d o c u m e n t s in C . P . J u d . : (i) t h e P t o l e m a i c , (2) t h e E a r l y R o m a n , a n d (3) t h e L a t e R o m a n a n d B y z a n t i n e . D u r i n g t h e p e r i o d of n e a r l y a t h o u s a n d y e a r s f r o m A l e x a n d e r t h e G r e a t till the A r a b conquest, E g y p t i a n J e w r y underwent a long development, rich in p o l i t i c a l successes a n d s p i r i t u a l a c h i e v e m e n t s a s w e l l a s i n m a n i f o l d d e f e a t s a n d d i s a p p o i n t m e n t s . I n t h e f o l l o w i n g e x p o s i t i o n w e s h a l l a t t e m p t t o use a l l t h e s o u r c e s a t o u r d i s p o s a l in o r d e r t o d e p i c t t h e m a i n f e a t u r e s of t h i s d e v e l o p m e n t . T h e s o u r c e s i n c l u d e t h e r i c h A l e x a n d r i a n l i t e r a t u r e of t h e J e w s , b u t i t is t h e p a p y r i w h i c h w i l l f o r m o u r p r i n c i p a l s o u r c e of i n f o r m a t i o n , p a r t i c u l a r l y w i t h r e g a r d t o t h e s o c i a l a n d e c o n o m i c life of t h e J e w i s h p e o p l e in E g y p t . 1 . T H E P T O L E M A I C P E R I O D (323-30 B . C . ) T h e e m i g r a t i o n of J e w s f r o m P a l e s t i n e i n t o E g y p t c a n b e s t u d i e d f r o m t h e s i x t h c e n t u r y B . C . o n w a r d . I t w a s p r o b a b l y t h e g r e a t n a t i o n a l c a t a s t r o p h e of 586 B . C . t h a t f o r c e d t h e J e w s t o l e a v e t h e i r m o t h e r c o u n t r y in s e a r c h of n e w h a b i t a t i o n s . T h i s first w a v e of J e w i s h i m m i g r a t i o n i n t o E g y p t is a t t e s t e d b y t h e p r o p h e t J e r e m i a h a n d b y t h e a u t h o r of t h e ' L e t t e r of A r i s t e a s ' , a s w e l l a s b y t h e well-known A r a m a i c p a p y r i from Elephantine. In the Hellenistic age emigra1

1

Jer. 44. 1 ; 46. 14; Arist. 1 3 ; cf. 35. For the papyri of Elephantine cf. Cowley, Aramaic

1953. F r a g m e n t s of Aramaic papyri of t h e fifth century from Memphis record s o m e Hebrew

Papyri of the Fifth Century B.C., 1923; E . G. Kraeling, The Brooklyn Museum Aramaic Papyri,

n a m e s ; cf. Aim^-Giron, Textes arameenscTlLgypte, 1931, N o s . 1, 33, 78.

B 2909

B

PROLEGOMENA

2

tion started, perhaps, under A l e x a n d e r ; y e t the scanty evidence given b y J o s e p h u s is s o m e w h a t s u s p e c t , i m b u e d a s it is w i t h a n o b v i o u s l y a p o l o g e t i c t e n d e n c y , a n d it w o u l d b e safer t o d i s r e g a r d i t . W e are b e t t e r i n f o r m e d w i t h r e g a r d t o P t o l e m y I S o t e r , t h e first k i n g of t h e P t o l e m a i c d y n a s t y . P t o l e m y I c o n q u e r e d P a l e s t i n e for t h e first t i m e i n 320 B . C . ; h e c o n q u e r e d it a g a i n i n 312 a n d 302, a n d finally i n 301. I t is n o t s u r p r i s i n g t h a t in t h e c o u r s e of so m a n y w a r s n u m e r o u s J e w i s h prisoners s h o u l d b e t a k e n i n t o E g y p t , a s w e are t o l d b y A r i s t e a s ( 1 2 - 1 4 ) . F o r a s l o n g a p e r i o d a s a h u n d r e d y e a r s (301-198) P a l e s t i n e r e m a i n e d i n t h e h a n d s of t h e P t o l e m i e s . F r e q u e n t i n t e r c o u r s e b e t w e e n t h e t w o c o u n t r i e s f o l l o w e d t h e c o n q u e s t . T h e p a p y r i of Z e n o n , t h e i m p o r t a n c e of w h i c h for t h e s t u d y of P t o l e m a i c S y r i a c a n n o t b e o v e r - e s t i m a t e d , p r e s e n t a v i v i d p i c t u r e of c o m m e r c i a l r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n E g y p t a n d P a l e s t i n e ; t h e t r a d e i n s l a v e s w a s a m o s t i m p o r t a n t i t e m . A f a c t of n o m i n o r i m p o r t a n c e w a s t h e p a r t i c i p a t i o n of S y r i a n n a t i v e s i n t h e g a r r i s o n s e s t a b l i s h e d b y t h e P t o l e m i e s a t t h e s t r a t e g i c a l p o i n t s of s o u t h e r n S y r i a ( N o . 1 ) , a s w e l l a s t h e i r e n g a g e m e n t i n v a r i o u s w o r k s c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e p r e s e n c e i n P a l e s t i n e of a g r e a t n u m b e r of E g y p t i a n officials, m e r c h a n t s , a n d m i l i t a r y c o m m a n d e r s . T h u s p o l i t i c a l a n d economic links were forged b e t w e e n Syrians and their new masters, and it m a y be supposed t h a t a considerable emigration from S y r i a into E g y p t resulted. I n 198 B . C . P a l e s t i n e w a s c o n q u e r e d b y A n t i o c h o s I I I , a n d f r o m t h i s y e a r o n there w a s no further administrative u n i t y b e t w e e n southern Syria and E g y p t . I t is l i k e l y t h a t c o m m e r c i a l i n t e r c o u r s e , t o o , w a s s u p p r e s s e d , or, a t a n y r a t e , temporarily suspended. Y e t Jewish immigration did not cease; on the contrary, after a s h o r t t i m e , it c o n t i n u e d w i t h r e n e w e d v i g o u r . T h e r e a s o n for t h i s a d d i t i o n a l s t r e a m of i m m i g r a n t s f r o m P a l e s t i n e w a s t h e n e w p o l i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n i n J u d a e a c r e a t e d b y t h e r e v o l t of J u d a s M a c c a b a e u s a n d b y t h e f o u n d a t i o n of t h e J e w i s h s t a t e of t h e H a s m o n a e a n s . V a r i o u s e l e m e n t s , p u s h e d o u t a s a r e s u l t of t h e n a t i o n a l u p r i s i n g , s o u g h t a n e w c o u n t r y w h e r e t h e y c o u l d s e t t l e in p e a c e a n d b e g i n a n e w life. S o m e of t h e s e e x i l e s w e r e m e n of a r i s t o c r a t i c origin, e . g . O n i a s I V , t h e s o n of t h e h i g h p r i e s t O n i a s I I I . T h e f a m i l y of t h e O n i a d s , w h i c h h a d h e l d t h e s e a t of t h e h i g h p r i e s t s i n h e r e d i t a r y possession for a p r o l o n g e d p e r i o d , w a s d e p r i v e d of i t s office b y t h e J e w i s h h e l l e n i z e r s ; O n i a s I I I h a d b e e n a s s a s s i n a t e d , a n d h i s son, p e r h a p s f e a r i n g t h e s a m e f a t e , fled i n t o E g y p t . A c c o r d i n g t o J e r o m e , h e d i d n o t a r r i v e a l o n e b u t f o l l o w e d b y 'infinita e x a m i n a J u d a e o r u m ' ('infinite s w a r m s of J e w s ' ) , a n d , e v e n t a k i n g i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n t h e u s u a l t e n d e n c y of a n c i e n t a u t h o r s t o e x a g g e r a t e n u m b e r s , f r o m t h i s s e n t e n c e w e m a y infer t h a t t h e n u m b e r of n e w i m m i g r a n t s f r o m J u d a e a w a s c e r t a i n l y c o n s i d e r a b l e . T h e i m p o r t a n t role p l a y e d b y O n i a s i n E g y p t (see b e l o w , p p . 20 sq.) p r e s u p p o s e s , t o o , a g r o u p of f o l l o w e r s r e a d y t o s u p p o r t h i m . F u r t h e r e v i d e n c e of p o l i t i c a l i m m i g r a n t s , t h i s t i m e fleeing f r o m t h e p e r s e c u t i o n s of t h e H a s m o n 2

3

4

2

J o s . bell. 2. 487; c. Ap. 2. 35; ib. 42. For t h e apologetic t e n d e n c y of J o s e p h u s see b e l o w , p . 62. For t h e literature o n the Papyri of Zenon cf. the Introduction t o Section I. On the trade bet w e e n E g y p t and Palestine see Tscherikower, Mizraim, i v - v . 15 s q q . ; G. McLean Harper, Am. 3

Journ.

Phil,

x l i x , 1928, 1 s q q . ; CI. P r e a u x , Les

Grecs en £gypte d'apres les archives de Zenon, 1947, 57 sqq. Hieron. in Daniel n . 13-14, PL x x v . 562: 'Onias sacerdos, assumptis Judaeorum plurimis, fugit in A e g y p t u m ' ; ib. 563: 'sub occasione ergo Oniae pontificis, infinita examina Judaeorum A e g y p t u m confugerunt'. 4

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3

a e a n s , is p r e s e n t e d b y a l e t t e r f r o m a R o m a n c o n s u l (142 or 139 B . C . ) t o P t o l e m y V I I I Euergetes II, mentioning among other questions the extradition to the h i g h p r i e s t S i m o n of p o l i t i c a l c r i m i n a l s (Aot/W) w h o h a d fled i n t o E g y p t . T h e T a l m u d , t o o , h a s p r e s e r v e d a t a l e c o n c e r n i n g o n e of t h e l e a d e r s of t h e P h a r i s e e s fleeing i n t o E g y p t f r o m t h e p e r s e c u t i o n of a S a d d u c e a n k i n g . N o e v i d e n c e o f J e w i s h i m m i g r a t i o n d u r i n g t h e l a s t h u n d r e d y e a r s of P t o l e m a i c r u l e h a s been preserved, b u t w e m a y suppose t h a t it continued on m u c h the same scale, since t h e p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c c o n d i t i o n s of life i n t h e first c e n t u r y B . C . i n P a l e s t i n e w e r e r a p i d l y d e t e r i o r a t i n g . E g y p t , t h e r i c h e s t of all t h e c o n t i g u o u s c o u n t r i e s , p r e s e n t e d m a n i f o l d o p p o r t u n i t i e s t o n e w - c o m e r s , a n d so a t t r a c t e d t h e p o p u l a t i o n of P a l e s t i n e . 5

6

T h e s e t t l e m e n t s of t h e J e w s w e r e s c a t t e r e d a l l o v e r t h e c o u n t r y . F i r s t of all A l e x a n d r i a a t t r a c t e d t h e m . W e h a v e n o m e a n s of f i x i n g t h e e x a c t d a t e of t h e i r a r r i v a l t h e r e . J o s e p h u s , i t is t r u e , a s s e r t s t h a t i t w a s A l e x a n d e r h i m s e l f w h o s e t t l e d J e w s in A l e x a n d r i a ; b u t here, o n c e a g a i n , o n e m u s t b e c a u t i o u s . T h e first a u t h e n t i c e v i d e n c e of t h e p r e s e n c e of J e w s in A l e x a n d r i a is g i v e n b y G r e e k a n d A r a m a i c i n s c r i p t i o n s f r o m t h e n e c r o p o l i s of I b r a h i m i y a i n t h e e n v i r o n s of t h e t o w n , p r o b a b l y of t h e r e i g n of P t o l e m y I or I I . T h e J e w i s h p o p u l a t i o n i n t h e t o w n h a d s t e a d i l y i n c r e a s e d so t h a t a t t h e b e g i n n i n g of t h e R o m a n p e r i o d t w o q u a r t e r s o u t of five w e r e i n h a b i t e d b y J e w s ( P h i l o , Flacc. 55). T h e s e t t l e m e n t of J e w s i n v a r i o u s p l a c e s in L o w e r E g y p t is a t t e s t e d b y i n s c r i p t i o n s ; w e m a y a d d some further places inhabited b y J e w s as early as the pre-Hellenistic p e r i o d (such a s M i g d a l a n d D a p h n a i ) . A J e w i s h m i l i t a r y c o l o n y i n L e o n t o p o l i s , near Memphis, w a s founded b y Onias I V ; the inscriptions attest to the existence of t h e c o l o n y u p t o t h e b e g i n n i n g of t h e R o m a n p e r i o d . N u m e r o u s p a p y r i , of t h e m i d d l e of t h e t h i r d c e n t u r y a n d l a t e r , g i v e e v i d e n c e of J e w i s h p o p u l a t i o n i n v a r i o u s v i l l a g e s a n d s m a l l t o w n s of t h e F a y u m , a n d t h e o s t r a k a t e s t i f y t o t h e p r e s e n c e of J e w s in U p p e r E g y p t (especially T h e b e s ) i n t h e s e c o n d c e n t u r y . T o s u m u p : during the Ptolemaic period the Jews established their homes through o u t t h e e n t i r e c o u n t r y of E g y p t , f r o m t h e sea-shore in t h e n o r t h t o E l e p h a n t i n e 7

8

5

1 Mace. 15. 16 sqq. For the chronological question cf. Schiirer, Gesch. d. Jiid. Volk. i. 250 s q q . ; Bickerman, Gnomon, v i , 1930, 357 sqq. N u m e r o u s copies of this letter were sent from R o m e t o various kings and cities (1 Mace. 15. 2223), b u t t h e original letter w a s addressed t o P t o l e m y (ib. 16), which m a y serve as evidence t h a t E g y p t was the a s y l u m preferred b y political refugees fleeing from Palestine. It is worth noting t h a t as early as the beginning of the s i x t h century B.C. E g y p t offered a s y l u m t o Palestinian refugees; cf. Torczyner, TheLachish Letters, 1938, Letter I I I (pp. 51 s q q . ) ; cf. Jer. 26. 21 sqq. 6

T h e king is either J o h n H y r k a n o s or A l e x ander Jannai, and t h e Pharisaic scholar is either R. Joshu'a b. Perahiah or R . J u d a b . Tabbai. Cf. Stourdze, RE J l x x x i i , 1926,133 sqq. 7

See note 2. W e are told b y Josephus, quoting the edict of the Emperor Claudius (ant. 19. 281),

t h a t J e w s were settled in Alexandria 'from t h e v e r y beginning' of the c i t y (rots irpwrois evBvs Kaipots), but these are n o t the actual words of Claudius; see below, p . 70, n o t e 45. T h e E m peror's actual words occur in his letter, where t h e settlement of the J e w s i n Alexandria is referred t o in v a g u e terms as being 'one of old t i m e s ' (IK ITOXXWV xpovwv). Cf. N o . 153, n o t e t o 1. 34. 8

Cf. Breccia, BSAA i x , 1907, 65. T h e t o m b s of the necropolis belong t o the third century B.C., probably t o its first half. I n his p a m p h l e t , 'Juifs et Chretiens d e l'ancienne Alexandria', 1927, 6, Breccia speaks more precisely of the reign of P t o l e m y I I Philadelphos. Cf. ClermontGanneau, RAO viii, 1924,59 sqq. Further excava tions uncovered more Jewish t o m b s , apparently belonging t o the s a m e p e r i o d ; cf. Breccia, BSAA x x v , 1930,108,

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in t h e s o u t h , or, t o q u o t e P h i l o (Flacc. 43), ' f r o m t h e slope i n t o L i b y a t o t h e b o u n d a r i e s of E t h i o p i a ' . T h e i r e x a c t n u m b e r c a n n o t b e s t a t e d . A r i s t e a s (12-14) s p e a k s of 100,000 J e w s b r o u g h t f r o m P a l e s t i n e i n t o E g y p t a s prisoners of w a r b y P t o l e m y I, a n d P h i l o (Flacc. 43) g i v e s t h e figure of o n e m i l l i o n for t h e J e w i s h p o p u l a t i o n of E g y p t i n h i s t i m e . T h e first figure is, n o d o u b t , g r e a t l y e x a g g e r a t e d : t h e J e w i s h p o p u l a t i o n of J u d a e a a t t h e e n d of t h e f o u r t h c e n t u r y w a s n o t so n u m e r o u s t h a t 100,000 p e r s o n s c o u l d h a v e b e e n w i t h d r a w n f r o m it w i t h o u t affecting i n a v e r y serious w a y t h e life of t h e w h o l e n a t i o n ; a n d i n s u c h a case one w o u l d e x p e c t t o find t r a c e s i n s o u r c e s , s i m i l a r t o t h e r e a c t i o n t o t h e e x p u l s i o n of t h e i r forefathers i n t o B a b y l o n i n 586 B . C . A s t o t h e figure g i v e n b y P h i l o , w e h a v e n o m e a n s of v e r i f y i n g it, b u t it is n o t v e r y l i k e l y t h a t J e w s f o r m e d a l m o s t t h e s e v e n t h p a r t of t h e e n t i r e p o p u l a t i o n of E g y p t . I t m u s t b e r e m e m b e r e d t h a t n o s p e c i a l e n u m e r a t i o n of J e w s w a s a v a i l a b l e till A . D . 7 1 / 2 , w h e n t h e ' J e w i s h t a x ' w a s i n t r o d u c e d , so t h a t n o e x a c t n u m b e r s c o u l d b e o b t a i n e d b y P h i l o . I t w a s his p u r p o s e , n o d o u b t , t o i m p r e s s h i s r e a d e r s b y l a r g e n u m b e r s a n d t h e s e , if c o n s i d e r e d as h i s t o r i c a l e v i d e n c e , m u s t b e t r e a t e d w i t h g r e a t c a u t i o n . T h i s also a p p l i e s t o figures g i v e n for A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s . T h e r e is n o t sufficient r e a s o n for s u g g e s t i n g (as m a n y s c h o l a r s do) t h a t J e w s f o r m e d two-fifths of t h e p o p u l a t i o n of A l e x a n d r i a (because t h e y d w e l t i n t w o q u a r t e r s o u t of five): t h e r e is n o e v i d e n c e t h a t t h e y alone inhabited the t w o quarters. N o satisfactory information on this point seems to be available. 9

1 0

11

T h e J e w i s h i m m i g r a t i o n i n t o E g y p t w a s a p a r t of a c o n s i d e r a b l e i m m i g r a t i o n of S y r i a n s . N u m e r o u s ' S y r i a n v i l l a g e s ' , s c a t t e r e d all o v e r t h e c o u n t r y , a s w e l l a s v i l l a g e s c a l l e d b y S e m i t i c n a m e s , b e a r w i t n e s s t o t h e n u m b e r s of S y r i a n s i n E g y p t d u r i n g t h e P t o l e m a i c p e r i o d . S y r i a n , i.e. A r a m a i c , p r o p e r n a m e s are 12

9

A list of all t o w n s and villages in E g y p t in habited b y J e w s will be g i v e n in A p p e n d i x I at t h e e n d of the third v o l u m e of C.P.Jud. 1 0

T h a t the estimate of 100,000 Jewish captives is exaggerated m a y be inferred from a comparison of this number w i t h t h e numbers of J e w i s h cap t i v e s in t h e fateful years of Jewish history. T h e n u m b e r of Israelites captured b y Sargon in 722 is fixed b y the Assyrian king himself at 27,290 (see Pritchard, Ancient Near-Eastern Texts relat ing to the Old Test., 1950, 284 sq.). A l t h o u g h Sennacherib (701) claims t h e capture of 200,150 prisoners in J u d a e a (ib. 288), he does n o t s a y t h a t these prisoners were carried off o u t of J u d a e a and transported into another land. ' E s handelt sich nicht u m Wegfuhrung, sondern u m eine D e m o n stration zur Anerkennung der assyrischen Herr schaft' ( K i t t e l , Gesch. d. Volkes Israel, 6. Aufl. 1925, ii. 389 n. 4). T h e numbers given b y the author of 2 R e g . and Jeremiah for Jewish captives taken during t h e reign of Nebuchadnezzar are v e r y small (2 R e g . 24. 1 4 : 10,000; ib. 24. 1 6 : 8,000; Jer. 52. 30: 4,600); modern scholars estimate the total n u m b e r of J e w i s h displaced persons a t the

t i m e of Nebuchadnezzar in 597 B.C. ('the exile of Jehoiakhin') as approximately 30,000-40,000, whereas the numbers of the final exile in 586 ('the exile of Zedekiah') cannot be stated e x a c t l y , b u t are certainly far smaller. Cf. K i t t e l , o p . cit. (1927) iii. 1. 53 s q q . ; Klausner, A History of the Second Commonwealth, i. 1949, 33 sq., 50 (in H e b r e w ) ; Malamat, 'The Last Wars of the K i n g d o m of J u d a h ' , Journ. of Near Eastern Studies, i x , 1950, 223. 1 1

Cf. Segre, BSAA xxviii, 1933, 143. For 'Syrian villages' cf. H e n n e , Actes du 5* Congress, 151 (according to H e n n e , there were 8 or 9 villages in E g y p t called 2Jvpa>v *eoD/*/xaTo in other countries see Schiirer, op. cit. Hi. 72 n. 4. 1 7

CIG 5361; cf. Schiirer, iii. 79 n. 20. CIG 5362; cf. REG lxii, 1949, 281 sqq.

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a c k n o w l e d g e d a s s u c h o n l y b y t h e g o o d w i l l a n d t h e p e r m i s s i o n of t h e k i n g . I t is obvious that Jews were no exception to the rule: t h e y had to receive permission f r o m t h e k i n g (in r e a l i t y , p r o b a b l y , f r o m s o m e office of t h e g o v e r n m e n t ) t o f o r m a c o m m u n i t y in a certain place enjoying certain rights. U n f o r t u n a t e l y no such 'charters' h a v e been p r e s e r v e d ; b u t the fact t h a t t h e y were in existence m a y b e inferred f r o m a s t o r y t o l d b y H e k a t a i o s a n d q u o t e d b y J o s e p h u s . We can easily guess the fundamental right granted to Jewish communities b y the k i n g : i t w a s , n o d o u b t , t h e r i g h t ' t o l i v e a c c o r d i n g t o t h e i r a n c e s t r a l l a w s ' (rots 7TarpCois vofjiois -xpf\od

T
2r3sqq., 223, 227, 235, 242, 246, 258, 260 sq., 263; 1 6 . 1 6 3 , 1 7 1 , 1 7 2 ; 19.283 sqq., 290, e t c . E . g . t h e 'koinon' of the L y k i a n s (Abbott and J o h n s o n , Municipal Administration in the Roman Empire, N o . 15c), Termessos (ib., N o . 19), Chios (ib., N o . 40), R h o d e s (ib., N o . 52), LaginaStratonikeia (ib., N o . 67), T a b a i (OGIS 442), Stratonikeia (ib. 44T, 11. 45 sqq.), P e r g a m o n (ib. 449), and others. 2 0

2 1

aytayrj

T h e Jewish c o m m u n i t y here is called o w and

n o t iroXlrevfia.

For

the

use of

avvayoiyq

applied t o J e w i s h c o m m u n i t i e s see Schiirer, iii. 74 sq. Cf. the c o m m e n t a r y t o N o . 4 7 3 , 1 . 7. In an epigram from E g y p t ( S B 5765) a certain A b r a m o s is mentioned a s h a v i n g been a leader of t w o c o m munities (hiaaatv yap re rorrutv itoXirapx&v)Ac cording to L . R o b e r t , Hellenica, i. 18 sqq., Abra m o s w a s a J e w w h o lived in the early R o m a n period, and the communities in question are t h e J e w i s h •troXlrevp.a in Leontopolis and s o m e other in its vicinity.

PROLEGOMENA

8

ized Jewish community. T h o u g h the synagogue w a s a post-Biblical institution, i t s e x i s t e n c e w a s t h e m o s t e s s e n t i a l f e a t u r e of t h e ' a n c e s t r a l l a w s ' . A s y n a g o g u e w a s a p l a c e of m e e t i n g s a n d d e l i b e r a t i o n s a s w e l l a s of p r a y e r a n d s t u d y of t h e T o r a h ; i t w a s i n s o m e sense e v e n a h o s t e l r y , since s p e c i a l r o o m s for s t r a n g e r s were a t t a c h e d to i t . In small t o w n s and villages the s y n a g o g u e p r o b a b l y also a c c o m m o d a t e d a l l t h e p u b l i c i n s t i t u t i o n s of t h e c o m m u n i t y (such a s t h e c o u r t o r t h e n o t a r y ' s office). I n E g y p t a s y n a g o g u e w a s c a l l e d proseuche (rrpoaevxq), a p l a c e of p r a y e r ; o n c e t h e t e r m eucheion, evxetov ( w h i c h h a s t h e s a m e m e a n i n g ) is u s e d ( N o . 432). A n i n s c r i p t i o n ( O G I S 129) a t t e s t s t h a t P t o l e m a i c k i n g s g r a n t e d t o s o m e s y n a g o g u e s t h e s a m e r i g h t of a s y l u m a s w a s c o m m o n l y g r a n t e d t o E g y p t i a n t e m p l e s . S u c h a c t s of b e n e v o l e n c e m u s t h a v e g a i n e d t h e s y m p a t h i e s of t h e J e w s , a n d n u m e r o u s i n s t a n c e s s h o w J e w s d e d i c a t i n g t h e i r s y n a g o g u e s t o t h e k i n g a n d his f a m i l y , t h u s d e m o n s t r a t i n g t h e i r l o y a l feelings t o w a r d s t h e S t a t e and its head. Sometimes the s y n a g o g u e s were built b y the entire c o m m u n i t y , c a l l i n g itself i n s u c h c a s e s ' J e w s of t h e p l a c e X ' , s o m e t i m e s b y t h e c o m m u n i t y in co-operation w i t h a private person, and sometimes b y p r i v a t e persons alone. I n t w o cases some additional buildings attached to the s y n a g o g u e are r e c o r d e d , t h e exhedra a n d t h e pylon. O u r s o u r c e s a t t e s t t h e e x i s t e n c e of s y n a g o g u e s i n t e n p l a c e s ( t o w n s a n d v i l l a g e s ) , b u t of c o u r s e t h e i r n u m b e r m u s t h a v e been far greater. 2 2

23

T h e f o l l o w i n g list r e c o r d s all p l a c e s w h e r e s y n a g o g u e s are so far m e n t i o n e d (I h a v e i n c l u d e d i n t h e list t h e r a r e i n s t a n c e s of t h e R o m a n p e r i o d a s w e l l ) : 1. Alexandria. I n A l e x a n d r i a there were m a n y synagogues scattered all o v e r t h e t o w n ( P h i l o , leg. 132). T h e b e a u t i f u l b u i l d i n g of t h e p r i n c i p a l s y n a g o g u e is m e n t i o n e d i n t h e T a l m u d ( T h o s e f t h a S u k k a h 4. 6 ; b . S u k k a h 5 1 6 ; j e r . S u k k a h 5. 55a). T w i c e s y n a g o g u e s are referred t o i n i n s c r i p t i o n s : S B 589 (second c e n t u r y B . C . ) a n d O G I S 742 (36 B . C . ) . 2. Schedia, n e a r A l e x a n d r i a : O G I S 726 (3rd c e n t . B . C . ) . 3. Xenephyris, L o w e r E g y p t : S B 5862 (2nd c e n t . B . C . ) . 4. Athribis, L o w e r E g y p t : O G I S 96 a n d 101 (3rd o r 2nd c e n t . B . C . ) . 5. Nitriai, L o w e r E g y p t : S B 7454 (2nd c e n t . B . C . ) . 6. Krokodilopolis-Arsinoe, t h e F a y f i m : S B 8939 (3rd c e n t . B . C . ) , N o . 134 (2nd c e n t , B . C ) , a n d N o . 432 (2nd c e n t . A . D . ) . T h e r e w a s a s p e c i a l s y n a g o g u e for J e w s f r o m T h e b a i s i n R o m a n t i m e s , a n d a ' h o u s e of p r a y e r ' , t h e s o c a l l e d evxetov ( N o . 432). 7. Alexandrou-Nesos, t h e F a y f i m : N o . 129 (3rd c e n t . B . C ) . 8. An unknown place: N o . 138 (the e n d of t h e P t o l e m a i c p e r i o d ) . 9. An unknown place in Upper Egypt: O G I S 129 (3rd c e n t . B . C . ) . 10. An unknown place: S B 6832 (1st o r 2nd c e n t . A . D . ) . 2 2

Cf. t h e inscription of T h e o d o t o s in a s y n a gogue in Jerusalem, Clermont-Ganneau, Syria, i, 1920, 190 s q q . ; Sukenik, Ancient Synagogues, 70; K l e i n , MGWJ Ixxvi, 1932,545 sqq., 603 s q . ; l x x v i i , 1933,81 s q q . ; CIJ 1404; cf. also t h e synagogue in D u r a - E u r o p o s , Rostovtzeff and B a u r , The Excav. at Dura-Europos, Sixth Season, 309 s q q . ; Comte D u Mesnil d u B u i s s o n , Syria, x x , 1939, 23 sqq.

For t h e u s e of s y n a g o g u e s as prayer-houses, places of public meetings, tribunals, schools, hostels, e t c . , see S. Krauss, Synagogale Alterturner, 1922, 182 s q q . ; Baron, The Jewish Com munity, i. 87 sqq. 2 3

Cf. t h e following inscriptions referring t o the dedication of t h e s y n a g o g u e s : OGIS 96, 101, 726, 742; S B 5862, 6832, 7454, 8939.

THE PTOLEMAIC PERIOD

9

There were villages a n d military settlements with Jewish population, b u t w e h a v e n o m e a n s of e s t a b l i s h i n g w h e t h e r t h e s e p o p u l a t i o n s w e r e l a r g e e n o u g h t o f o r m c o m m u n i t i e s . I n m i l i t a r y s e t t l e m e n t s , for e x a m p l e , i t i s n o t v e r y l i k e l y . N e v e r t h e l e s s , w e m a y a s s u m e t h a t i n s o m e v i l l a g e s of t h e F a y u m t h e J e w s w e r e o r g a n i z e d i n c o m m u n i t i e s . T h i s f a c t i s d i r e c t l y a t t e s t e d for A l e x a n d r o u - N e s o s , w h e r e a s y n a g o g u e i s r e c o r d e d ( N o . 129), a n d t h e s a m e m a y b e a s s u m e d o f Psenyris, where the whole non-Egyptian population w a s divided into Greeks a n d J e w s ( N o . 33). S m a l l t o w n s , l i k e P h i l a d e l p h e i a , a n d b i g v i l l a g e s w i t h a large oriental population, such as Samareia a n d Magdola, probably h a d Jewish c o m m u n i t i e s of t h e i r o w n , f o r m i n g c e n t r e s for J e w s i n t h e n e i g h b o u r h o o d . T h e sole c o m m u n i t y of w h i c h t h e h i s t o r y i s m o r e o r less k n o w n i s t h a t o f A l e x a n d r i a . T h e J e w i s h politeuma here i s r e c o r d e d b y A r i s t e a s (310). T h e s a m e author mentions t h e 'leaders' of t h e Jewish population, a n d w e m a y wonder w h e t h e r i n t h e m i d d l e of t h e s e c o n d c e n t u r y B . C . , w h e n t h e ' L e t t e r of A r i s t e a s ' w a s w r i t t e n , t h e s e ' l e a d e r s ' w e r e a l r e a d y o r g a n i z e d i n t o a c o u n c i l of elders (gerousia) a s t h e y w e r e l a t e r i n R o m a n t i m e s . W e m a y f u r t h e r a s k w h e t h e r t h e 'leaders' were elected b y the whole Jewish population, according t o t h e demo c r a t i c p r i n c i p l e s of a G r e e k c i t y , o r s e l f - a p p o i n t e d f r o m a m o n g t h e w e a l t h i e s t a n d m o s t p o w e r f u l p e r s o n s of t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y . T h e l a t t e r m e t h o d w o u l d 2 4

2 4

T h e answer depends u p o n t h e interpreta tion of a s o m e w h a t complicated passage of Aris teas. Speaking of those present a t t h e solemn first public recitation of t h e Greek version of t h e B i b l e , Aristeas enumerates t h e following g r o u p s : ol diro

Upets

Kal TCOV eppvqveoiv

rov iroXirev[iaros

ol irpeofjvrepot.

oi re yyovfievoi

Kal rov

rGxv

irXrjdovs

(310). Schiirer (iii. 72), W e n d l a n d (ap. K a u t z s c h , Apokr. und Pseud., ii. 30), and F u c h s (89) connect o l irpeaflvTepoi. n o t only w i t h t h e preceding r & v ep(it]vea)v b u t w i t h t h e following r&v diro rov iToXirevnaros a s well, and translate, 'the elders of t h e translators a n d the elders of those of t h e politeuma'. According t o this interpretation, a council of 'elders', i.e. a gerousia, w a s already i n existence in t h e d a y s of Aristeas. F r o m t h e point of v i e w of grammar a n d style I d o u b t whether t h a t interpretation c a n b e correct; besides, a s pointed o u t b y T r a m o n t a n o (Lettera di Aristea, p . 243), if this were t h e case, w e m u s t suppose t h a t Aristeas uses t h e word 'elders' in t w o senses, (1) i n i t s literal sense of 'old m e n ' a n d (2) a s a political t e r m , w i t h o u t drawing t h e reader's a t t e n t i o n t o t h e change of meaning. T r a m o n t a n o h i m s e l f t r a n s l a t e s t h e ra>v

diro

rov

iroXirevftaros

a s 'some m e m b e r s of t h e c o m m u n i t y ' ('alcuni membri ancora della c o m u n i t a ' ) ; h e emphasizes also t h a t this group differs from the rjyovpevot, rov irXrjdovs m e n t i o n e d after it. Y e t w h y should s o m e m e m b e r s of t h e c o m m u n i t y b e present, a n d n o t t h e leaders? A n d w h a t distinction c a n b e m a d e b e t w e e n t h e noXlrevfia and t h e irXijdos? N o such distinction w a s m a d e b y J o s e p h u s , w h o , para

phrasing t h e t e x t of Aristeas, suppresses t h e rrXrjdos and renders the' passage a s f o l l o w s : 5 0' lepevs

Kal r&v eppvqvewv

ol wpeofivrepoi

Kal rov

iroXi-

(ant. 12. 108). According t o this t e x t of J o s e p h u s , W i l a m o w i t z (quoted b y Schiirer, I.e., a n d T r a m o n t a n o , I.e.) suggested deleting t h e re before rjyovnevoi; i n this case o i •qyovpevoi rov irX'qBovs would serve a s a more pre cise definition of r&v diro rov iroXirevfiaros l 'and t h e m e n (i.e. representatives) of the c o m m u n i t y , those w h o were t h e leaders of t h e people.' Wilam o w i t z ' s suggestion h a s n o t been generally a c c e p t e d : i t is argued t h a t t h e r e is present in all e x t a n t manuscripts a n d t h a t t h e paraphrase of J o s e p h u s i s t o o free t o justify changing t h e t e x t of t h e 'Letter of Aristeas'. Y e t , in m y opinion, W i l a m o w i t z ' s suggestion i s t h e only o n e which m a k e s sense of t h e whole passage. H i s arbitrary excision of t h e r e m a y e v e n be unnecessary. T h e papyri s o m e t i m e s use r e , n o t i n i t s original sense of 'and', b u t as a meaningless particle which c a n b e o m i t t e d in translation, and d o c u m e n t s of t h e P t o l e m a i c a g e furnish u s w i t h s o m e striking e x a m p l e s of this kind (see n o t e t o N o . 6 , 1 . 2). I f this interpretation of t h e t e x t i s a c c e p t e d , t h e phrase 'elders of t h e c o m m u n i t y ' i s eliminated, revfiaros

and

oi npoeorTjKores

t h e ^yovfievot,

(OX t h e irpoearrjKores

of J o s e -

phus) are t h e only leaders mentioned. If this b e s o , t h e existence of a 'council of elders' (gerousia) of t h e Jewish politeuma i n Alexandria under t h e P t o l e m i e s , t h o u g h n o t improbable, i s n o t sup ported b y a n y literary evidence (cf. J o u g u e t , La Vie municipale, 38 sq.).

PROLEGOMENA

10

b e t t e r fit t h e a r i s t o c r a t i c c h a r a c t e r of t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t i e s of t h e H e l l e n i s t i c R o m a n w o r l d . A t t h e e n d of t h e P t o l e m a i c p e r i o d a n d a t t h e b e g i n n i n g of t h e R o m a n t h e powerful personality of t h e ethnarch overshadowed a l l other leaders'. Strabo, w h o visited Alexandria under Augustus, speaks of the eth n a r c h a s of a m a n r u l i n g t h e c o m m u n i t y ' l i k e t h e h e a d of a n i n d e p e n d e n t s t a t e ' . H i s f u n c t i o n s , a c c o r d i n g t o S t r a b o , w e r e t o a d m i n i s t e r t h e p e o p l e ' s affairs, t o p r e s i d e o v e r t h e c o u r t , a n d t o t a k e c a r e of d o c u m e n t s of p r i v a t e a n d p u b l i c l a w . H e w a s c o n s e q u e n t l y t h e h e a d of t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , of t h e c o u r t , a n d of t h e n o t a r y ' s office. Y e t t h e r e are n o t sufficient g r o u n d s t o s p e a k of a n a u t o c r a t i c rule r e p l a c i n g t h e a r i s t o c r a t i c o n e . T h e p o w e r of t h e e t h n a r c h d i d n o t o p p o s e t h e influence of t h e g r e a t f a m i l i e s w h i c h f o r m e d t h e s o c i a l b a s i s of a r i s t o c r a t i c rule in t h e c o m m u n i t y , since t h e e t h n a r c h h i m s e l f w a s c e r t a i n t o b e a m e m b e r of o n e of t h o s e families. T h e c r e a t i o n of a c e n t r a l i z e d p o w e r i n t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n a t t e s t s p e r h a p s t h e p o l i t i c a l w i s d o m of t h e J e w i s h a r i s t o c r a c y i n A l e x a n d r i a , w h i c h preferred t o r e n o u n c e t h e p e t t y q u a r r e l s a m o n g i t s families i n o r d e r t o c r e a t e a s t r o n g rule of t h e p r i v i l e g e d c l a s s o v e r t h e w h o l e c o m m u n i t y . S u c h a rule w a s n e e d e d a s a m e a n s of defence a g a i n s t t h e u n r u l y l o w e r o r d e r s of t h e J e w i s h p o p u l a t i o n of t h e c i t y (cf. b e l o w , p p . 50 s q q . ) . 2 5

2 6

Of t h e v a r i o u s i n s t i t u t i o n s a n d officials of t h e c o m m u n i t y , m e n t i o n is m a d e i n t h e P t o l e m a i c p e r i o d of a neokoros (hazzari) of a s y n a g o g u e . S u c h o t h e r references as exist occur m o s t l y in R o m a n times. T h e i m p o r t a n t A l e x a n d r i a n c o m m u n i t y h a d a n o t a r y ' s office a n d a c o u r t . A m o n g t h e officials, t h e a r c h o n s (dpxovres) p l a y e d the principal p a r t i n all J e w i s h communities of the R o m a n E m p i r e . I n E g y p t i a n d o c u m e n t s t h e y are m e n t i o n e d o n l y o n c e : t h e a r c h o n s of t h e J e w s f r o m T h e b a i s i n t h e c o m m u n i t y of A r s i n o e ( N o . 432). A p a r t f r o m t h e m , irpoardrai a n d , p e r h a p s , a povnarris are m e n t i o n e d . T h i s is all t h e m a t e r i a l w h i c h c a n b e g a t h e r e d f r o m o u r s o u r c e s w i t h reference t o t h e officials a n d t h e i n s t i t u t i o n s of t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t i e s i n E g y p t . 2 7

28

W e are f a r b e t t e r i n f o r m e d a b o u t t h e e c o n o m i c c o n d i t i o n s o f t h e life o f E g y p t i a n J e w s u n d e r t h e P t o l e m i e s . H e r e t h e g r e a t c o n t r i b u t i o n of t h e p a p y r i must be emphasized. Earlier scholars, taking their evidence almost exclusively 2 5

T h e terms pxXXdpxoiv or dpxtov vtjmos h a v e a meaning only i n a n aristocratic society, where

mentioned in N o . 129,1. 7; cf. T h o s . Sukkah 4 . 6 ; b. Sukkah 51b.

every w e a l t h y family is a n x i o u s t o secure a seat in the council of t h e c o m m u n i t y . T h e terms Trarrjp and firjrrjp tt]s owaya>yrjs can also serve t o exemplify t h e rule of aristocratic families over t h e c o m m u n i t y . Cf. for t h e use of these terms Schiirer, iii. 87 sqq. Strabo a p . J o s . ant. 14. 1 1 7 : Kadlorarai Be

For the dpxovres and officials of Jewish c o m m u n i t i e s i n general cf. Schiirer, i i i . 84 s q q . ; Juster, Les Juifs dans Vempire romain, i. 443 s q q . ; B a r o n , The Jewish Community, i. 95 s q q . ; F r e y , CI J, p p . l x x x i i s q q . Jewish - n p o o r d r a i are m e n tioned in an inscription from X e n e p h y r i s of the P t o l e m a i c period (SB 5862: 01 dno 3evevpeos

2 6

Kal

idvapxys

KpLoets

avrutv

Kal ovfipohalcov

tcdv s Kal

nal enl

Since the garrison in Elephan tine w a s c o m p o s e d , a t a n y rate partly, of J e w s , it i s possible t h a t t h e J e w s in D a p h n a i (OrHSnri) recorded b y Jeremiah (2. 1 6 ; 43. 7 ; 44. 1 ; 46. 14) were also military settlers a n d h a d been settled there w i t h t h e s a m e purpose of protecting t h e frontiers. Wafiivr]rlxov

ffoav).

3 4

S e e , for e x a m p l e , W . Chr. 334; P . E n t . 5 4 ; P . T e b t . 793, col. V I ; cf. P . T e b t . 853 introd., 1001, 1003. 3 5

J o s e p h u s is a n x i o u s t o emphasize t h a t t h e Hellenistic rulers trusted J e w s because of their extraordinary constancy i n keeping oaths a n d p l e d g e s : ant. n . 318; 12. 8. T h a t i s , of course, a typical feature of Josephus' apologetic tendency.


13

n a t e d b y t h e n a m e s of t h e i r chiefs. A m o n g t h e h i p p a r c h i e s w e m a y n o t e t h o s e of T h r a c i a n s , T h e s s a l i a n s , M y s i a n s , a n d P e r s i a n s , all o r g a n i z e d a s e a r l y a s t h e t h i r d c e n t u r y . T h e s e t t l e m e n t of foreign soldiers o n E g y p t i a n soil w a s c a r r i e d o u t b y s p e c i a l officials ( s o m e t i m e s c a l l e d ol irpos rfj ovvrdgei), w h o s e d u t y i t w a s t o d i v i d e l a n d i n t o p l o t s t o b e a l l o t t e d t o t h e settlers. Officers, e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e of t h e c a v a l r y , o b t a i n e d t h e l a r g e s t p l o t s of 80 o r 100 a r o u r a i ; s m a l l e r p l o t s , f r o m 24 t o 60 a r o u r a i , w e r e a l l o t t e d t o t h e less i m p o r t a n t m e m b e r s of t h e a r m y . S o l d i e r s , s e t t l e d i n cleruchies (or KCLTOIKCCU, as t h e y were called in the second century), t o o k w i v e s f r o m a m o n g t h e n a t i v e s , a n d so a y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n , h a v i n g a military tradition from its v e r y birth, grew u p in the settlements. T h i s y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n w a s c a l l e d t h e E p i g o n e (imyovrj). S i n c e t h e E p i g o n e s e r v e d a s a p e r m a n e n t s o u r c e of n e w e n l i s t m e n t s , t h e t e r m a c q u i r e d t h e significance of a n ' a r m y of r e s e r v e s ' . E v e r y soldier, w h e n g i v i n g his n a m e for a n y official p u r p o s e , w a s o b l i g e d t o r e c o r d his o r i g i n ( M a c e d o n i a n , T h r a c i a n , etc.) a n d s t a t e w h e t h e r h e w a s a r e g u l a r soldier ( w i t h d e t a i l s of d e t a c h m e n t , h i p p a r c h y a n d t h e like) o r b e l o n g e d t o t h e E p i g o n e . S u c h w a s t h e l a r g e a n d c o m p l i c a t e d s t r u c t u r e of t h e E g y p t i a n a r m y c r e a t e d b y t h e P t o l e m i e s (especially b y P t o l e m y P h i l a d e l p h o s ) in the third century B . C . 3 6

I t is o b v i o u s t h a t t h e r e w a s r o o m e n o u g h i n t h i s a r m y for J e w s t o o . J e w s , i t is t r u e , w e r e n o t k n o w n in t h e H e l l e n i s t i c w o r l d a s a p e o p l e of s p e c i a l m i l i t a r y capacity, as were the Macedonians, Thracians, or G a l a t i a n s ; consequently t h e y d i d n o t f o r m s e p a r a t e u n i t s , a t a n y r a t e n o t in t h e t h i r d c e n t u r y . Y e t t h e y w e r e c a p a b l e of s e r v i n g a s soldiers a n d officers in t h e r e g u l a r a r m y ; t h e y w e r e m e m b e r s of t h e E p i g o n e , a n d , a s a c o n s e q u e n c e of t h e i r s e r v i c e , h a d t h e r i g h t t o b e s e t t l e d in fortresses a n d m i l i t a r y c l e r u c h i e s . S o m e t i m e s t h e y a t t a i n e d h i g h m i l i t a r y r a n k , a s , for e x a m p l e , T o u b i a s , t h e h e a d of a m i l i t a r y c l e r u c h y i n T r a n s j o r d a n in t h e t h i r d c e n t u r y ( N o s . 1, 2, 4, 5), a n d t h e h i g h p r i e s t O n i a s I V a n d his s o n s in t h e s e c o n d c e n t u r y (see b e l o w , p p . 20, 24). P a p y r o l o g i c a l d o c u m e n t s i n S e c t i o n I I I g i v e v e r y v a l u a b l e e v i d e n c e c o n c e r n i n g t h e life of J e w i s h soldiers in t h e F a y u m , w h o s e r v e d in v a r i o u s m i l i t a r y u n i t s or b e l o n g e d t o t h e E p i g o n e . T h e r e a d e r w i l l find in t h e I n t r o d u c t i o n t o t h i s s e c t i o n s o m e f u r t h e r d e t a i l s b e a r i n g o n t h i s q u e s t i o n ; here a p r o b l e m of w i d e r i m p o r t a n c e w i l l b e discussed. I t h a s a l r e a d y b e e n e m p h a s i z e d t h a t a p a r t of t h e P t o l e m a i c a r m y w a s o r g a n i z e d in s e p a r a t e e t h n i c u n i t s , s u c h a s t h e h i p p a r c h i e s of T h r a c i a n s , T h e s s a l i a n s , a n d so o n . W h e n t h e P t o l e m a i c a r m y w a s still i n t h e p r o c e s s of f o r m a t i o n , t h e s e e t h n i c u n i t s w e r e , a s t h e i r n a m e s i m p l y , u n i t s of p e r s o n s a l l b e l o n g i n g t o a c e r t a i n n a t i o n . Y e t in t h e c o u r s e of t i m e p e r s o n s of different o r i g i n w e r e a d m i t t e d i n t o these u n i t s , a n d t h e n a m e s of T h r a c i a n s , T h e s s a l i a n s , a n d t h e l i k e c e a s e d t o d e s i g n a t e p e r s o n s of a c e r t a i n o r i g i n , b u t w e r e a p p l i e d t o soldiers b e l o n g i n g t o a c e r t a i n m i l i t a r y u n i t w i t h n o reference t o t h e i r n a t i o n a l p r o v e n a n c e . M a n y i n s t a n c e s i n t h e p a p y r i s h o w t h e c h a n g e of t h e n a t i o n a l d e s i g n a t i o n of a soldier a s a c o n s e q u e n c e of his r e m o v a l f r o m o n e u n i t t o a n o t h e r . J e w s 37

3 6

For the Ptolemaic army see J. Lesquier, Les Institutions militaires de VE\gypte sous les Lagides, 1 9 1 1 ; Bouche-Leclercq, Histoire des Lagides, iv. 1 s q q . ; B e v a n , 165 sqq.

3 7

P . F a y . 1 1 , 12: a person, styled IlcpoTjs rrjs emyovrjs, is recorded about ten years afterwards as a Mysian of the fourth h i p p a r c h y ; W . Chr. 448: a Macedonian policeman is incorporated in a

14

PROLEGOMENA

w e r e n o e x c e p t i o n t o t h e rule. T h e y s t y l e d t h e m s e l v e s ' P e r s i a n s ' a n d ' M a c e donians' w h e n serving in units bearing these names. Sometimes they even omitted their usual designation 'Jews', so that a Hebrew name only, or some c h a n c e , m a y r e v e a l t h e i r J e w i s h o r i g i n ( N o s . i , n o t e t o 1. 6 ; 142, 143). I n o t h e r cases t h e y preserved their previous designation a n d styled themselves b y b o t h n a m e s . U n f o r t u n a t e l y o n l y o n e i n s t a n c e , t h a t of ' J e w s , P e r s i a n s of t h e E p i g o n e ' , is k n o w n f r o m t h e p a p y r i ( N o . 4 1 7 ) , a n d t h i s p a r t i c u l a r case c a n n o t s e r v e a s t h e b a s i s for t h e f o r m u l a t i o n of a g e n e r a l rule r e g a r d i n g soldiers, since ' P e r s i a n s of t h e E p i g o n e ' , e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e of R o m a n p e r i o d , c a n n o t b e c o n s i d e r e d a s soldiers (see b e l o w , p . 5 1 , n o t e 10). T h e e x i s t e n c e of J e w s s e r v i n g i n v a r i o u s n a t i o n a l u n i t s e n a b l e s u s t o s o l v e a difficulty a r i s i n g f r o m J o s e p h u s , w h o s t a t e s t h r e e t i m e s t h a t t h e A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s were allowed t o style themselves ' M a c e d o n i a n s ' . Various far-reaching theories h a v e been p u t forward in commenting upon this s t a t e m e n t ; it h a s been s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h e M a c e d o n i a n s w e r e t h e h i g h a r i s t o c r a c y of A l e x a n d r i a n s o c i e t y , a n d t h e e v i d e n c e of J o s e p h u s h a s b e e n u s e d t o p r o v e t h a t J e w s w e r e a m o n g t h o s e c i t i z e n s of A l e x a n d r i a w h o h a d full r i g h t s a n d p r i v i l e g e s . T h e p a p y r i , o n c e a g a i n , s h o w u s t h e w a y t o a c o r r e c t i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of t h e l i t e r a r y s o u r c e s . I n a n A l e x a n d r i a n p a p y r u s of t h e t i m e of A u g u s t u s t h e r e a p p e a r t w o b r o t h e r s s t y l i n g t h e m s e l v e s ' M a c e d o n i a n s ' ( N o . 142), a n d i n a n o t h e r p a p y r u s o n e of t h e s e b r o t h e r s i s r e c o r d e d a s d r a w i n g u p h i s w i l l i n t h e J e w i s h n o t a r y ' s office ( N o . 143). A M a c e d o n i a n w o u l d n o t a p p l y t o a J e w i s h office i n o r d e r t o d r a w u p his w i l l , a n d s o i t m a y b e inferred t h a t t h e s e ' M a c e d o n i a n s ' w e r e J e w s . T h u s t h e e v i d e n c e of J o s e p h u s a s t o t h e p r e s e n c e of J e w s i n R o m a n A l e x a n d r i a w h o called themselves 'Macedonians' is confirmed b y the papyri. B u t t h e inter p r e t a t i o n of t h i s f a c t a s g i v e n b y J o s e p h u s (and b y m o d e r n s c h o l a r s f o l l o w i n g him) cannot b e accepted as a correct one. Josephus w a s deceived b y t h e double m e a n i n g of t h e t e r m ' M a c e d o n i a n ' . T h i s t e r m (just l i k e T h r a c i a n , T h e s s a l i a n , etc.) c o u l d h a v e b e e n a p p l i e d t o a n a t i o n or, i n a m o r e n a r r o w a n d specific sense, t o a m i l i t a r y u n i t . J o s e p h u s u s e d t h e t e r m i n i t s f o r m e r s e n s e ; a n d since t h e M a c e d o n i a n s , a s a n a t i o n , r u l e d o v e r E g y p t , t h e k i n g himself b e i n g one of t h e m , t h e r e c o u l d b e n o d o u b t a s t o t h e i r v e r y h i g h s o c i a l r a n k . Y e t i n t h e c a s e of t h e ' M a c e d o n i a n J e w s ' of A l e x a n d r i a t h e t r u e m e a n i n g i s t h a t of a m i l i t a r y u n i t : 38

39

'politeuma' of t h e K r e t a n s ; P . A m h . ii. 36: a person, k n o w n from another papyrus ( P . Grenf. 1.12) as a citizen of P t o l e m a i s , is styled a K r e t a n . Cf. also P . Petr. iii. 112 f. I t i s worth noting t h a t t h e hipparchy of t h e Thessalians w a s officially called 'the hipparchy of Thessalians and other Greeks' ( P . Freib. iii. 36-37; P . E n t . 15). 3 8

Bell. 2. 487 s q . : Alexander granted J e w s permission t o settle in A l e x a n d r i a ; this w a s con firmed b y his successors, w h o also permitted J e w s t o b e styled Macedonians (KO.1 xPVH- ^ erpeif/ev MaKe86vas); ant. 12. 8: P t o l e m y Soter assigned m a n y J e w s t o his garrisons and granted those in Alexandria equal civic rights w i t h t h e Macedonians (KO.1 rots MaxeSooiv eV AXe£avopeia ar

irorfoas

laonoXiras);

c. Ap.

tv

2. 35 s q . : A l e x a n d e r

settled J e w s in Alexandria, where t h e y were granted t h e same rights a s the Macedonians ( / c a t 1(717? irapd

rots

Ma/ceSoai

Tip.ijs

CWTVXOV) ;

'and

d o w n t o t h e present time their tribe h a s been called M a c e d o n i a n s ' (KO.1 fie%pi v€v avrcov T17V irpoaTjyopiav 3 9

eiê

-r) vXr)

MaKeSoves).

Schiirer, iii. 122 sq. ( t h e Macedonians are 'die alexandrinischen Vollbiirger'); Juster, ii. 7 ('egaux e n droit a la classe possedant les droits politiques les plus £tendus, c'est a dire a c e u x qu'on n o m m a i t Macedoniens'). Schubart (Arch. v . i n ) w a s t h e first t o draw from papyrological evidence t h e conclusion t h a t t h e 'Macedonians' had nothing t o d o w i t h Alexandrian citizenship. Cf. F u c h s , 88; Engers in Klio, xviii, 1923, 89; W i l c k e n , Grundziige 63.

THE

PTOLEMAIC PERIOD

15

w h e n a J e w s t y l e s h i m s e l f in a d o c u m e n t ' M a c e d o n i a n ' , it s h o w s o n l y t h a t t h i s J e w (or o n e of h i s forefathers) s e r v e d a s soldier i n a M a c e d o n i a n u n i t . The e x i s t e n c e of a J e w i s h <j>v\ri ('tribe'), w h o s e m e m b e r s c a l l e d t h e m s e l v e s ' M a c e d o n i a n s ' i n t h e t i m e of J o s e p h u s (see n o t e 38), s h o w s o n l y t h a t a c e r t a i n g r o u p of J e w i s h soldiers h a d in t h e p a s t b e e n i n c o r p o r a t e d i n a d e t a c h m e n t of t h e M a c e d o n i a n a r m y h a v i n g its s t a n d i n g q u a r t e r s i n A l e x a n d r i a . I t w a s , of c o u r s e , a g r e a t h o n o u r t o b e r e c k o n e d a m o n g t h e m e m b e r s of t h e M a c e d o n i a n g a r r i s o n of t h e c a p i t a l ; y e t , n e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e y w e r e n o m o r e t h a n soldiers, a n d , a t a n y rate, h a d no claim to Alexandrian citizenship. W e t u r n t o f a r m e r s . T h e e x i s t e n c e of a r u r a l p o p u l a t i o n of J e w s i n E g y p t is a t t e s t e d for all t h r e e p e r i o d s a l i k e . I n t h e P t o l e m a i c p e r i o d w e find J e w s e n g a g e d i n a g r i c u l t u r e a s m i l i t a r y settlers, l e a s e - h o l d e r s , ' k i n g ' s p e a s a n t s ' (jSaoxXLKOI yecopyol), field-hands, v i n e - d r e s s e r s , s h e p h e r d s , a n d so o n . T h e p a p y r i g i v e e v i d e n c e of a l a r g e a n d v a r i e d r u r a l p o p u l a t i o n of J e w s in t h e F a y u m i n t h e t h i r d a n d s e c o n d c e n t u r i e s B . C . , w h i l e t h e o s t r a k a t e l l u s of J e w i s h p e a s a n t s i n U p p e r E g y p t in the second c e n t u r y B . C . T h e J e w s were an agricultural people i n t h e i r m o t h e r c o u n t r y , a n d t h e r i c h a n d fertile soil of E g y p t offered m a n y o p p o r t u n i t i e s for p e o p l e t o e a r n t h e i r l i v i n g b y f a r m i n g . M i l i t a r y s e r v i c e , t o o . w a s c o n n e c t e d w i t h a g r i c u l t u r e . I t h a s a l r e a d y b e e n stressed t h a t e v e r y foreign soldier s e r v i n g i n t h e P t o l e m a i c a r m y r e c e i v e d a n a l l o t m e n t of a c o n s i d e r a b l e a r e a , a m o u n t i n g s o m e t i m e s t o 80 or 100 a r o u r a i . T h e s e a l l o t m e n t s w e r e o r i g i n ally considered as holdings g i v e n b y the k i n g and a l w a y s liable to be w i t h d r a w n a n d r e s t o r e d t o t h e k i n g ' s possession. Y e t i n t h e p r o c e s s of t i m e t h e s e p l o t s of l a n d b e c a m e m o r e a n d m o r e t h e p r o p e r t y of t h e l e a s e h o l d e r a n d his f a m i l y , so t h a t a t l a s t t h e y b e g a n t o b e b e q u e a t h e d f r o m f a t h e r t o s o n . T h o u g h t h e r i g h t s of p r i v a t e l a n d o w n e r s h i p c o n t r a d i c t e d t h e ' t o t a l i t a r i a n ' p r i n c i p l e s of t h e P t o l e m a i c S t a t e , t h e g o v e r n m e n t d i d n o t (or c o u l d n o t ) o p p o s e t h e n a t u r a l i n c l i n a t i o n of t h e soldier t o l o o k u p o n h i m s e l f a s m a s t e r of h i s o w n l a n d . T h e g o v e r n m e n t f a v o u r e d t h e m i l i t a r y s e t t l e r s a s r e g a r d s p a y m e n t of t a x e s , t o o : w h e r e a s a ' k i n g ' s p e a s a n t ' p a i d r e n t (e/côpioj/) a t a r a t e of 4 o r 5 a r t a b a i pro a r o u r a , t h e r a t e for a m i l i t a r y s e t t l e r w a s 1 o r 2 a r t a b a i o n l y . F u r t h e r m o r e , t h e m i l i t a r y s e t t l e r s w e r e n o t c o m p e l l e d t o till t h e soil w i t h t h e i r o w n h a n d s ; a s a r u l e t h e y f a r m e d o u t t h e i r e s t a t e s t o n a t i v e fellahin. T h e a i m of t h e g o v e r n m e n t w a s n o t t o c r e a t e a c l a s s of n e w tillers of t h e soil, b u t t o p r o v i d e t h e m e m b e r s of t h e a r m y w i t h a fixed i n c o m e . N o w o n d e r , t h e n , t h a t t h e m i l i t a r y s e t t l e r s r e g a r d e d t h e m selves as landowners rather t h a n as farm-labourers. T h e Jews were no exception. I n S e c t i o n I I I t h e r e a d e r w i l l find m a n y i n s t a n c e s of J e w s w h o i n t h e i r c a p a c i t y a s soldiers o w n e d p l o t s of l a n d . I t is sufficient t o m e n t i o n h e r e t h e t w o m e m b e r s of t h e first h i p p a r c h y i n N o . 24, o w n i n g 80 a r o u r a i e a c h a n d b e i n g , c o n s e q u e n t l y , r i c h a n d influential p e r s o n s . I t is w o r t h n o t i n g t h a t S e c t i o n I I I , d e a l i n g w i t h m i l i t a r y settlers, c o n t a i n s m a n y d o c u m e n t s of l e g a l c h a r a c t e r , s u c h a s d e e d s of l o a n , of b u s i n e s s p a r t n e r s h i p , of m o r t g a g e , a n d t h e like. W e m a y d r a w the conclusion t h a t these Jewish military settlers were w e a l t h y enough t o 40

41

4 0

T h e national designation (idvixov) w a s transJLar

e

v

u s e c

m i t t e d from father t o son. For xPVf ^ '» a s technical term ('to style o n e s e l f ) cf. Preisigke, WB, s . v . ; Bickerman, HTR xiii, 1949, i n sq.

4 1

Wilcken, Grundz. 282 s q . ; W . Chr. 334, 335,

336; P . T e b t . 956; R o s t o w z e w , Studien zur Gesch. des romisch. Kolonats, 1910, 11 s q . ; Kiessling, Actes du 5* Congres, 216 sqq.

PROLEGOMENA

i6

e n g a g e i n v a r i o u s affairs i n n o w a y c o n n e c t e d w i t h m i l i t a r y s e r v i c e or w i t h agriculture. W e h a v e n o d e t a i l e d i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e s o c i a l s t a n d i n g of t h e o t h e r J e w i s h f a r m e r s referred t o i n t h e d o c u m e n t s . W h o w e r e t h e p e a s a n t s i n U p p e r E g y p t w i t h t h e H e b r e w a n d o t h e r S e m i t i c n a m e s w h i c h a p p e a r so often in t h e o s t r a k a ? W e r e t h e y w e a l t h y landowners, or humble tenants, tilling the king's l a n d ? P r o b a b l y t h e y i n c l u d e d p e r s o n s of b o t h c a t e g o r i e s (see I n t r o d u c t i o n t o S e c t i o n V ) . J e w i s h n a m e s a p p e a r i n v a r i o u s lists, a c c o u n t s , c e n s u s - r e t u r n s , p r o p e r t y d e c l a r a t i o n s , a n d so o n ( S e c t i o n I V ) ; all t h e s e J e w s w e r e m e m b e r s of t h e r u r a l p o p u l a t i o n , b u t i n a l m o s t a l l c a s e s w e are u n a b l e t o d e c i d e u p o n t h e i r p r e c i s e social p o s i t i o n . F i e l d - h a n d s w o r k i n g for p a y (yecopyol fxiadax) are m e n t i o n e d in N o . 3 6 ; t h e r e w e r e p r o b a b l y m o r e J e w s of t h i s k i n d a m o n g ' S y r i a n s ' w o r k i n g o n t h e fields (cf., for e x a m p l e , P C Z 59292, 11. 52 s q q . , 464 s q q . ) . J e w i s h v i n e dressers are r e c o r d e d o n l y o n c e : S a m u e l a n d A l e x a n d e r , w h o f a r m e d f r o m Z e n o n a v i n e y a r d of 60 a r o u r a i ( N o s . 14, 15). J e w i s h s h e p h e r d s are m e n t i o n e d far m o r e f r e q u e n t l y i n t h e p a p y r i ( N o s . 9, 38, 39, 412). S h e p h e r d s i n E g y p t w e r e o f t e n s h e e p - o w n e r s a n d d e a l e r s in w o o l t o o , a n d t h e c o m m e r c e in w h i c h t h e y w e r e e n g a g e d s o m e t i m e s l e d t h e m i n t o a c t i o n s of a d u b i o u s n a t u r e (No. 38, cf. P . E n t . 3). I t is w o r t h n o t i n g t h a t J e w i s h s h e p h e r d s w e r e f r e q u e n t l y c a l l e d b y E g y p t i a n n a m e s ( N o s . 9, 38). 42

W e h a v e n o e v i d e n c e in t h e p a p y r i of J e w i s h m e r c h a n t s a n d m o n e y - l e n d e r s i n t h e H e l l e n i s t i c p e r i o d . T h e r e are t w o r e a s o n s for t h i s : (1) t h e r e are n o P t o l e m a i c p a p y r i f r o m A l e x a n d r i a , a n d it is c l e a r f r o m P h i l o a n d J o s e p h u s t h a t rich J e w s h a d t h e i r d o m i c i l e s p r i n c i p a l l y i n t h e c a p i t a l ; (2) t h e P t o l e m a i c p r i n c i p l e s of g o v e r n m e n t d i d n o t f a v o u r p r i v a t e e n t e r p r i s e or c o m m e r c e , so t h a t under the Ptolemies there were few merchants even among the Greeks. A s to m o n e y - l e n d i n g , t h e P t o l e m a i c b a n k s (Tpa7re£ai) w e r e a g o v e r n m e n t m o n o p o l y , a n d t h e b a n k e r s w e r e officials of t h e S t a t e ; here, t o o , p r i v a t e e n t e r p r i s e w a s n o t favoured. T h a t does not m e a n t h a t there were no Jewish business men under the P t o l e m i e s ; A r i o n , t h e chief r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of t h e rich t a x - f a r m e r , J o s e p h t h e T o b i a d , in E g y p t (ant. 12. 200 sqq.) w a s p r o b a b l y o n e of t h e m ; b u t w e k n o w n e x t t o n o t h i n g a b o u t t h e m . A l l o u r k n o w l e d g e of J e w s e n g a g e d i n t r a d e a n d m o n e y - l e n d i n g d e r i v e s f r o m t h e R o m a n p e r i o d ; i t w o u l d b e b e t t e r , therefore, t o defer t h e discussion of t h e p r o b l e m of J e w i s h b u s i n e s s m e n t o t h e n e x t c h a p t e r . 43

W e are n o b e t t e r off a s r e g a r d s J e w i s h a r t i s a n s ; t h e y t o o are i g n o r e d b y t h e p a p y r i in t h e P t o l e m a i c a n d R o m a n a g e s a l i k e . N o sufficient r e a s o n s c a n b e p u t f o r w a r d t o e x p l a i n t h i s silence. W e are t o l d b y t h e T a l m u d t h a t t h e r e w e r e s t r o n g professional o r g a n i z a t i o n s of J e w i s h a r t i s a n s i n A l e x a n d r i a , a n d i t is w e l l k n o w n t h a t J e w i s h R a b b i s i n P a l e s t i n e h a d a s p e c i a l affection for t h e a r t s a n d c r a f t s . P h i l o , t o o , confirms t h e e x i s t e n c e of J e w i s h a r t i s a n s in A l e x a n d r i a 44

4 2

J e w s , of course, were n o t the only military settlers w h o were engaged in b u s i n e s s ; w e h a v e m a n y instances of Greek and other soldiers making similar contracts (cf., e.g., the numerous

the grounds of their being engaged in b u s i n e s s ; their principal occupation, apart from military service, w a s agriculture and not trade or m o n e y lending.

instances in P . T e b t . 815). W e cannot consider the military settlers in Section I I I as merchants and bankers solely o n

Cf. Krauss, Talmudische Archdologie, ii. 249 sqq. On the collegia of Jewish artisans in Alexandria see below, p . 50.

4 3

4 4

THE PTOLEMAIC

PERIOD

17

(Flacc. 56). T h e P t o l e m a i c s y s t e m of S t a t e c o n t r o l d i d n o t affect t h e free l a b o u r of a r t i s a n s , J e w i s h o r n o n - J e w i s h . T h u s t h e s c a r c i t y of t h e p a p y r o l o g i c a l e v i d e n c e o n t h i s q u e s t i o n m a y b e r e g a r d e d a s m e r e c h a n c e . H e r e is t h e m e a g r e s u m of o u r k n o w l e d g e : a f a m i l y of J e w i s h p o t t e r s i n a ' S y r i a n v i l l a g e ' i n t h e F a y u m ( N o . 4 6 ) ; a J e w i s h w e a v e r i n U p p e r E g y p t i n t h e s e c o n d c e n t u r y B.C. (No. 95); a flute-player, p r o b a b l y a professional musician, in the military s e t t l e m e n t of S a m a r e i a i n t h e s e c o n d c e n t u r y B.C. ( N o . 28). F a r more abundant is our information about J e w s in the king's service. Here again w e h a v e a varied and multicoloured picture, beginning w i t h influential m e n of t h e c o u r t a n d h i g h a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , a n d e n d i n g w i t h p e t t y officials a n d p o l i c e m e n i n t h e v i l l a g e s . T h e p a p y r i r e c o r d t w o i n s t a n c e s of J e w i s h c o u r t i e r s a n d h i g h officials: D o s i t h e o s , s o n of D r i m y l o s , w h o w a s a n e p o n y m o u s p r i e s t of A l e x a n d e r a n d of t h e deified P t o l e m i e s in t h e y e a r 222 B . C . , a n d w h o s e n a m e is m e n t i o n e d b y t h e a u t h o r of t h e T h i r d B o o k of M a c c a b e e s ( N o . 127), a n d O n i a s , p r o b a b l y a s t r a t e g o s of a n o m e ( p e r h a p s of H e l i o p o l i s ) , w h o s e i d e n t i t y w i t h t h e h i g h p r i e s t O n i a s , t h e b u i l d e r of t h e t e m p l e i n L e o n t o p o l i s , m a y o r m a y n o t b e a d m i t t e d ( N o . 132). A t h i r d i n s t a n c e , k n o w n f r o m a n inscription, is H e l k i a s , w h o w a s , it s e e m s , a s t r a t e g o s of t h e H e l i o p o l i t e d i s t r i c t . W e r e w e b e t t e r i n f o r m e d a s t o t h e life o f A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s , i n a l l p r o b a b i l i t y t h i s list c o u l d b e c o n s i d e r a b l y lengthened. 45

I n t h e chora t h e r e w e r e J e w s o c c u p y i n g v a r i o u s p o s t s in t h e p o l i c e a n d t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , e s p e c i a l l y i n t a x - g a t h e r i n g . A chief of police (ema-rar^? TWV v\a.KiTii>v) i n A t h r i b i s ( L o w e r E g y p t ) is m e n t i o n e d i n a n i n s c r i p t i o n d e d i c a t i n g , in co-operation w i t h the local Jewish c o m m u n i t y , a s y n a g o g u e to the Supreme G o d . I n t h e d o c u m e n t s w e h a v e t o differentiate b e t w e e n p o l i c e m e n , c a l l e d v\aKiTai ( N o . 25), a n d w a t c h m e n (^yAa/cej) ( N o . 1 2 ) ; o n l y t h e f o r m e r w e r e g o v e r n m e n t officials, t h e l a t t e r b e i n g e n g a g e d i n p r i v a t e s e r v i c e . J e w s w e r e w e l c o m e d i n t o t h e p o l i c e force for t h e s a m e r e a s o n s t h a t t h e y w e r e w e l c o m e d i n t o the a r m y : the Ptolemaic government did not trust the natives and tried to keep t h e m o u t of b o t h a r m y a n d p o l i c e . T h a t is w h y foreigners ( e s p e c i a l l y A r a b s ) w e r e so n u m e r o u s i n t h e p o l i c e f o r c e . A s for J e w s e n g a g e d in l o c a l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , t h e r e is o n l y o n e i n s t a n c e i n t h e p a p y r i : a J e w i s h s e c r e t a r y (ypapixarevs), p r o b a b l y i n t h e n o m e of H e r a k l e o p o l i s ( N o . 137). T h e r e are s o m e i n s t a n c e s of J e w s e m p l o y e d i n t h e financial a d m i n i s t r a t i o n a s m a n a g e r s of t h e r o y a l b a n k s (rpan^lrai) o r a s officials in t h e chaff-stores ( N o s . 65, 69, 97, 99-103, 105). 4 6

47

4 5

T h e inscription is in a v e r y bad s t a t e of preservation, and it cannot be stated w i t h cert a i n t y whether t h e arparr]y6s here m e n t i o n e d w a s H e l k i a s himself (the general of Kleopatra I I I ) or his s o n . Cf. Willrich, Arch. i. 48; Strack, ib. ii. 554; R e i n a c h , RE J x l , 1900, 50; J u s t e r , ii. 267;

a proselyte is no more probable t h a n the simple supposition t h a t he w a s a J e w . I n the third century B.C. A r a b policemen are so frequent t h a t the term "Apatfi is u s e d s o m e t i m e s t o m e a n a policeman. See Arab policemen in t h e papyri of Z e n o n : PCZ 59230; 59296, 11. 8, 23;

Schiirer, iii. 132; F u c h s , 16. O G I S 9 6 . 1 see no reason for questioning the J e w i s h origin of this imardrrfs r&v vXaKtr
T h e r e l a t i o n of t h e s e J e w i s h t a x - g a t h e r e r s t o t h e g o v e r n m e n t is n o t q u i t e clear. S o m e of t h e m s e e m t o h a v e b e e n p r i v a t e p e r s o n s h a v i n g a s t e a d y i n c o m e (one of t h e m w a s a w e a l t h y l a n d o w n e r , see N o . 90 a n d I n t r o d u c t i o n t o S e c t i o n V ) , w h o d e c i d e d , for s o m e r e a s o n , t o a c t a s t a x - c o l l e c t o r a s w e l l . W e m a y a s k w h y J e w s w e r e i n t e r e s t e d in p l a y i n g so g r e a t a p a r t i n t h i s p a r t i c u l a r b r a n c h of financial a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , since it is w e l l k n o w n t h a t t a x - c o l l e c t o r s w e r e h a t e d b y t h e p o p u l a t i o n . T h e s i m p l e a n s w e r s e e m s t o b e t h a t t h e office of t a x - c o l l e c t o r w a s p r o f i t a b l e . Y e t i t m a y b e d o u b t e d w h e t h e r t h e profits a m o u n t e d t o l a r g e s u m s : t h e g e n e r a l s t r u c t u r e of t h e P t o l e m a i c S t a t e d i d n o t e n a b l e g o v e r n m e n t officials, o r p r i v a t e p e r s o n s , t o e n r i c h t h e m s e l v e s b y l e g a l m e a n s ; a n d illegal means were v e r y dangerous. Of course, persons like Joseph, son of T o u b i a s , a t t a i n e d t o g r e a t w e a l t h b y t a x - f a r m i n g , b u t h e f a r m e d t a x e s 4 9

50

4 8

Rostovtzeff, SEHHW i. 328; cf. Aegyptus, x i v , 1934, 49 sqq., 269 sqq.

Harper,

4 9

Philo represents tax-collectors as persons of low standing, rude and cruel, j S a p j S a p o i rds f- ib. 1. 143; 2. 96). Many other instances are t o be found in his writings. J

5 0

c

Schubart, Einfilhrung in die Papyruskunde, 1918,253: 'die Mehrzahl der Steuern wurde . . . a n Unternehmer verpachtet, allerdings unter so genauer Aufsicht d e s S t a a t e s , dass ein unrecht-

massiger Gewinn der Steuerpachter k a u m moglich erscheint.' P r e a u x , UEconomie royale des Lagides, 454 s q . : 'Le financier d ' E g y p t e devait vivre d a n s la continuelle anxi^te de la s a i s i e . . . . L e fermier apparait s o u v e n t sous l'aspect d'un d^biteur traque. . . . L e salaire promis a u x fermiers dans U P Z 112, col. V , 1. 3 . . . atteste que les fermes d'impdt n'^taient pas des affaires tres lucrat i v e s . . . . ' Cf. for tax-farming in general W i l c k e n , Ostr. i. 513 s q q . ; Bouche-Leclercq, iii. 342; W i l c k e n , Grundz. 182 s q q . ; Prdaux, 450 sqq.


19

f r o m t h e w h o l e of S y r i a a n d P h o e n i c i a , w h e r e a s t h e J e w i s h f a r m e r s of U p p e r E g y p t e a c h f a r m e d one p a r t i c u l a r l o c a l t a x , so t h a t n o g r e a t profits c o u l d b e e x p e c t e d . I t is m o r e l i k e l y t h a t J e w s c h o s e t h i s u n p l e a s a n t t a s k n o t o n l y i n o r d e r t o h a v e s o m e a d d i t i o n a l i n c o m e b u t also b e c a u s e a g o v e r n m e n t office w a s , i n a sense, a m a r k of d i s t i n c t i o n , e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e chora. O f c o u r s e , o t h e r a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p o s t s , for e x a m p l e , t h a t of h e a d or s e c r e t a r y of a t o p a r c h y , t o s a y n o t h i n g of t h e h i g h office of s t r a t e g o s , w e r e far m o r e i m p o r t a n t , y e t a l l t h e s e d e s i r a b l e offices h a d l o n g b e e n o c c u p i e d b y G r e e k s , a n d J e w s w e r e n o t s t r o n g e n o u g h t o c o m p e t e w i t h t h e m , w h e r e a s t h e u n p l e a s a n t j o b of a t a x - f a r m e r w a s o p e n t o a n y o n e w h o w a s w e a l t h y e n o u g h t o g u a r a n t e e w i t h his p r o p e r t y t h e r e g u l a r e x e c u t i o n of t h e t a s k a l l o t t e d t o h i m b y t h e g o v e r n m e n t . W e m a y s u m u p t h e v a r i e d m a t e r i a l b e a r i n g o n t h e e c o n o m i c c o n d i t i o n s of E g y p t i a n J e w s . T h e p i c t u r e is b y n o m e a n s t h a t of t h e p e t t y a n d o n e - s i d e d i n t e r e s t s of g h e t t o life. J e w s s e r v e d a n d w o r k e d e v e r y w h e r e , i n e v e r y b r a n c h of t h e e c o n o m i c life of t h e c o u n t r y , a s soldiers a n d p o l i c e m e n , t a x - f a r m e r s a n d S t a t e officials, a s tillers of t h e soil, a r t i s a n s , a n d m e r c h a n t s . T h e r e w e r e , of c o u r s e , r i c h J e w s , i n A l e x a n d r i a a s w e l l a s in t h e chora, b u t t h e g e n e r a l i m p r e s sion r e s u l t i n g from a s t u d y of t h e d o c u m e n t s is t h a t of a h a r d - w o r k i n g p e o p l e e a r n i n g i t s l i v i n g b y t e n a c i o u s l a b o u r . T h e l i m i t s of t h i s a c t i v i t y w e r e d e t e r m i n e d n o t b y t h e J e w s t h e m s e l v e s b u t b y t h e g e n e r a l c o n d i t i o n s of t h e P t o l e m a i c S t a t e : the ' t o t a l i t a r i a n ' s y s t e m , h o s t i l e t o a l l p r i v a t e i n i t i a t i v e ; t h e n u m e r i c a l l y s t r o n g n a t i v e p o p u l a t i o n , h o l d i n g in i t s h a n d s f r o m t i m e i m m e m o r i a l t h e p r i n c i p a l s o u r c e s of e c o n o m i c w e a l t h , s u c h a s a g r i c u l t u r e , t h e a r t s , a n d c r a f t s ; a v e r y a c t i v e a n d influential e l e m e n t of G r e e k i m m i g r a n t s , o c c u p y i n g k e y - p o s i t i o n s in t h e a r m y , a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , a n d c i v i c life. U n d e r s u c h c o m p l i c a t e d c o n d i t i o n s it w a s i n d e e d h a r d for J e w s t o m a i n t a i n t h e m s e l v e s , a n d t h o u g h t h e difficulties w e r e , p e r h a p s , n o t p e r c e i v e d f r o m t h e b e g i n n i n g , in t h e c o u r s e of t i m e t h e y b e c a m e m o r e a n d m o r e a c u t e . O u r s u r v e y of t h e e c o n o m i c a c t i v i t y of E g y p t i a n J e w r y i n v o l v e s m a n y q u e s t i o n s o u t s i d e t h e l i m i t s of e c o n o m i c life. D i d t h e P t o l e m a i c g o v e r n m e n t r e c o g n i z e t h e v a l u e of t h e w o r k p e r f o r m e d b y J e w s , d i d it f a v o u r o r h a m p e r it ? W h a t w a s t h e a t t i t u d e of t h e E g y p t i a n a n d G r e e k p o p u l a t i o n s t o J e w s ? H o w d i d t h e J e w s t h e m s e l v e s r e a c t t o t h e different influences t o w h i c h t h e y w e r e e x p o s e d ? A l l t h e s e q u e s t i o n s l e a d u s f r o m t h e e c o n o m i c p r o b l e m t o t h e b r o a d e r q u e s t i o n of t h e p o l i t i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t of E g y p t i a n J e w r y under the Ptolemies. T h e p o l i t i c a l h i s t o r y of t h e E g y p t i a n J e w s u n d e r t h e P t o l e m i e s is c l e a r l y d i v i d e d i n t o t w o p e r i o d s , t h e r e i g n of P t o l e m y V I P h i l o m e t o r (181-145 B . C . ) s e r v i n g a s a line of d e m a r c a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e t w o . W e k n o w n e x t t o n o t h i n g a b o u t t h e first p e r i o d . W e h a v e seen t h a t t h e first J e w i s h i m m i g r a n t s i n E g y p t w e r e prisoners of w a r a n d t h a t a c e r t a i n n u m b e r of t h e m w a s s e t t l e d i n for tresses. I t is u n l i k e l y t h a t prisoners of w a r , e v e n after t h e y h a d b e e n s e t free b y P t o l e m y P h i l a d e l p h o s , c o u l d e x e r t a n y influence o n t h e p o l i t i c a l life of t h e c o u n t r y . T h e e n t i r e p e r i o d b e t w e e n P t o l e m y I a n d P t o l e m y V I is t h a t of a s l o w establishment in a n e w place. J e w s spread all o v e r the country, established t h e m s e l v e s i n v a r i o u s o c c u p a t i o n s , a n d set u p t h e i r c o m m u n i t i e s ; m o r e t h a n a h u n d r e d y e a r s , w e r e s p e n t in t h i s a l m o s t i m p e r c e p t i b l e p r o c e s s . I n t h e reign

PROLEGOMENA

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of P t o l e m y V I P h i l o m e t o r t h e c o i n c i d e n c e of t w o d i s t i n c t c a u s e s s t i m u l a t e d t h e i n a u g u r a t i o n of a n e w e p o c h . T h e s e c a u s e s w e r e : t h e ' p h i l o - S e m i t i s m ' of t h e k i n g , a n d t h e flow of a n e w s t r e a m of J e w i s h i m m i g r a n t s f r o m P a l e s t i n e . W e are t o l d b y J o s e p h u s (c. Ap. 2. 49) t h a t P h i l o m e t o r a n d K l e o p a t r a , his w i f e , ' e n t r u s t e d t h e w h o l e of t h e i r r e a l m t o J e w s ' , a n d e v e n p l a c e d t h e i r e n t i r e a r m y u n d e r t h e c o m m a n d of O n i a s a n d D o s i t h e o s . T h a t is, of c o u r s e , a n e x a g g e r a t i o n , n o less false t h a n t h e a s s e r t i o n of a n o t h e r J e w i s h a u t h o r t h a t a J e w i s h p h i l o s o p h e r , A r i s t o b o u l o s , w a s ' t h e t e a c h e r ' (SiSaa/caAo?) of P h i l o m e t o r (2 M a c e . 1. 10). Y e t t h e r e a r e f a c t s c l e a r l y a t t e s t i n g P h i l o m e t o r ' s s y m p a t h y w i t h J e w s : a s e p a r a t e J e w i s h m i l i t a r y u n i t w a s c r e a t e d a n d p l a c e d u n d e r t h e c o m m a n d of a J e w i s h g e n e r a l , O n i a s ; p e r m i s s i o n w a s g i v e n t o O n i a s t o settle his soldiers o n t h e soil a n d t o b u i l d a t e m p l e t o t h e G o d of t h e J e w s ; J e w s w e r e a d m i t t e d t o t h e financial a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of t h e S t a t e , a s t a x - f a r m e r s a n d officials, a t a n y r a t e i n U p p e r E g y p t ; t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of t h e J e w i s h i n t e l l i g e n t s i a , for i n stance the above-mentioned philosopher Aristoboulos, were admitted to the court and allowed to inform the king on matters connected with the Jewish f a i t h ; a n d , if w e m a y t r u s t J o s e p h u s (ant. 1 3 . 74 s q q . ) , J e w s a n d S a m a r i t a n s disputed on religious m a t t e r s before the king, and Philometor declared in f a v o u r of t h e J e w s . I t w o u l d b e e r r o n e o u s t o a s s u m e t h a t t h e y o u n g k i n g f a v o u r e d J e w s o n a c c o u n t of t h e i r r e l i g i o n ; t h e r e w e r e r e a s o n s of a m a t e r i a l k i n d w h i c h c o u l d h a v e a c c o u n t e d for h i s ' p h i l o - S e m i t i c ' p o l i c y . T h e r e i g n of P h i l o m e t o r w a s b y n o m e a n s q u i e t . W h e n h i s f a t h e r d i e d , h e w a s a c h i l d of five o r s i x , a n d w a s o n l y fifteen y e a r s o l d w h e n p r o c l a i m e d r u l e r o v e r E g y p t . F o r a l o n g t i m e t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of t h e r e a l m w a s i n t h e h a n d s of c o u r t i e r s of m e a n o r i g i n a n d of n o t o r i o u s w i c k e d n e s s . A d e e p h a t r e d b e t w e e n P h i l o m e t o r a n d his y o u n g e r b r o t h e r , a f t e r w a r d s k n o w n a s E u e r g e t e s I I , s o m e t i m e s r e s u l t e d i n o u t b r e a k s of o p e n e n m i t y , t o t h e d e t r i m e n t of t h e w h o l e r e a l m ; a n d , l a s t b u t n o t l e a s t , E g y p t w a s t w i c e i n v a d e d b y A n t i o c h o s I V , k i n g of S y r i a , w h o c o n q u e r e d t h e w h o l e c o u n t r y a n d e v e n p r o c l a i m e d h i m s e l f k i n g of E g y p t ( P . T e b t . 698). I t w a s t h e i n t e r v e n t i o n of R o m e , o r d e r i n g A n t i o c h o s t o l e a v e t h e c o n q u e r e d c o u n t r y i m m e d i a t e l y , w h i c h s a v e d t h e P t o l e m a i c d y n a s t y . I n s u c h difficult t i m e s it w a s o n l y n a t u r a l t h a t t h e y o u n g k i n g s h o u l d b e i n s e a r c h of s t r o n g a n d t r u s t w o r t h y allies. N e i t h e r t h e G r e e k polls of A l e x a n d r i a n o r t h e n a t i v e p o p u l a t i o n of E g y p t c o u l d s y m p a t h i z e w i t h t h e w i s h e s of t h e k i n g , t h e f o r m e r b e i n g i n v o l v e d in the domestic struggle b e t w e e n the t w o brothers, the latter showing an open e n m i t y t o all foreigners, e s p e c i a l l y t o G r e e k s a n d M a c e d o n i a n s . T h e J e w s w e r e t h e t h i r d e l e m e n t i n t h e r e a l m a n d , b e i n g w e a k in c o m p a r i s o n w i t h t h e G r e e k s a n d E g y p t i a n s , w e r e n a t u r a l l y i n t e r e s t e d in a s t r o n g c e n t r a l g o v e r n m e n t . J u s t a t t h a t t i m e t h e J e w i s h e l e m e n t w a s s t r e n g t h e n e d b y a g r e a t m a s s of n e w i m m i g r a n t s , a m o n g t h e m O n i a s a n d h i s f o l l o w e r s (see a b o v e , p . 2). T h e s e n e w c o m e r s w e r e e s p e c i a l l y fitted t o f o r m a g r o u p of p e r s o n s d e v o t e d t o t h e k i n g : 5 1

5 1

T h e Jewish philosopher Aristoboulos dedicated his exegetical work o n the Torah t o P t o l e m y Philometor and recited s o m e passages of the book before the king ( E u s e b . Praep. Evang. viii. 9. 38; 1 0 . 1 ; i x . 6. 6). I see n o reason t o quest i o n this evidence, just a s there is n o reason for

d e n y i n g the existence of Aristoboulos. See against these hypercritical views Schiirer, iii. 516 s q q . ; E d . Stein, Die allegorische Exegese des Philo aus Alex., 1929, 7 sqq. Aristoboulos w a s certainly n o t t h e oiodo-KoXos of the king, b u t he could h a v e been his adviser o n Jewish affairs.

THE PTOLEMAIC

PERIOD

21

t h e y w e r e s t r a n g e r s , a n d , a s s u c h , n o t m e m b e r s of a n y f a c t i o n inside t h e P t o l e maic k i n g d o m ; t h e y were seeking shelter a n d protection and consequently were w h o l l y d e p e n d e n t u p o n t h e k i n g . I t is l i k e l y t h a t O n i a s w a s a g e n e r a l of g r e a t a b i l i t y a n d t h a t t h i s h a d s o m e influence o n t h e k i n g ' s d e c i s i o n . T h u s s o m e t h i n g like a p a c t w a s concluded between Philometor and the Jews. T h e separate m i l i t a r y u n i t w h i c h O n i a s w a s a l l o w e d t o f o r m p r o b a b l y c o n s i s t e d of p e r s o n s w h o h a d followed him from Judaea, a n d w a s possibly enlarged b y E g y p t i a n J e w s . S o m e l a n d i n t h e n o m e of H e l i o p o l i s w a s p u t i n t o h i s h a n d s , t h a t h e m i g h t settle this new Jewish a r m y on i t ; this land w a s n a m e d (probably b y the s e t t l e r s t h e m s e l v e s ) ' t h e L a n d of O n i a s ' , a n d r e m a i n e d for g e n e r a t i o n s i n J e w i s h h a n d s . F o r his p a r t O n i a s w a s r e a d y t o a p p e a r a t t h e h e a d of his t r o o p s t o p r o t e c t t h e k i n g a g a i n s t his e n e m i e s . D u r i n g t h e lifetime of t h e k i n g h e d o e s n o t a p p e a r t o h a v e b e e n n e e d e d , b u t after t h e d e a t h of P h i l o m e t o r (145), w h e n h i s w i d o w K l e o p a t r a w a s i n v o l v e d i n a serious conflict w i t h t h e A l e x a n d r i a n s b a c k e d b y E u e r g e t e s , O n i a s a p p e a r e d i n t h e c a p i t a l a t t h e h e a d of a n a r m y ( p r o b a b l y t h e s e t t l e r s f r o m t h e ' L a n d of O n i a s ' ) t o s u p p o r t t h e q u e e n ' s c a s e (c. Ap. 2. 50). I t w a s m o r e a m a t t e r of l o y a l t y t h a n of p o l i t i c a l d e l i b e r a t i o n , a n d r e s u l t e d i n u n p l e a s a n t c o n s e q u e n c e s for t h e A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s . 5 2

W e h a v e n o o t h e r d e t a i l s i n d i c a t i v e of P h i l o m e t o r ' s a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s t h e J e w s ; b u t it m a y b e s u g g e s t e d t h a t his s y m p a t h i e s w e r e r e v e a l e d o n v a r i o u s occasions. It has already been mentioned t h a t certain A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s were a l l o w e d t o s t y l e t h e m s e l v e s ' M a c e d o n i a n s ' , t h a t is t o s a y , t h a t t h e y w e r e i n c o r p o r a t e d in t h e M a c e d o n i a n g a r r i s o n of t h e c a p i t a l . W h a t t i m e b e t t e r fits t h i s m i l i t a r y m e a s u r e t h a n t h a t of P h i l o m e t o r , w h e n a s e p a r a t e J e w i s h a r m y , u n d e r J e w i s h g e n e r a l s , w a s o r g a n i z e d ? J o s e p h u s r e c o r d s t h e n a m e of D o s i t h e o s , a n o t h e r J e w i s h g e n e r a l of P h i l o m e t o r ' s t i m e (c. Ap. 2. 49). W a s h e , p e r h a p s , t h e h e a d of t h e ' M a c e d o n i a n J e w s ' w h o f o r m e d a k i n d of b o d y g u a r d for t h e k i n g , l i k e t h e G e r m a n s of H e r o d a n d C a l i g u l a ? S u c h a s u p p o s i t i o n m a y a c c o u n t for t h e s t r a n g e e x a g g e r a t i o n of J o s e p h u s in s p e a k i n g of t h e ' w h o l e r e a l m ' a s e n t r u s t e d t o J e w s b y P h i l o m e t o r : t h e p u b l i c a p p e a r a n c e of t h e k i n g f o l l o w e d b y h i s J e w i s h g u a r d s c o u l d e a s i l y p r e s e n t t h e a p p e a r a n c e of s o m e t h i n g l i k e J e w i s h rule over E g y p t . Repercussions were inevitable. T h e victorious new king Euergetes II (Physcon) c o u l d n o t r e a d i l y f o r g i v e t h e u n e x p e c t e d i n t e r v e n t i o n of a J e w i s h m i l i t a r y u n i t i n S t a t e affairs. T h e first a t t e m p t a t p e r s e c u t i o n of J e w s i n H e l l e n i s t i c R o m a n E g y p t is c o n n e c t e d w i t h his n a m e . W e are t o l d b y J o s e p h u s (c. Ap. 2. 53-55) t h a t E u e r g e t e s , w h e n p r e p a r i n g t o a t t a c k O n i a s , o r d e r e d a l l A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s , together w i t h their w i v e s and children, t o be t h r o w n before elephants which had been m a d e drunk beforehand. Y e t the beasts did not a t t a c k the J e w s 5 3

5 2

F o r the reign of Philometor see BouchdLeclercq, ii. 1 s q q . ; B e v a n , 282 s q q . ; W . O t t o , Zur Geschichte d. Zeit des 6. Ptolemders, 1934 (Abh. B a y r . A k a d . , ph.-hist. A b t . , N.F., Heft x i ) ; cf. JEA x x i , 1935, 262. 5 3

T h e t e x t runs a s f o l l o w s : 'nam F y s c o n P t o l o m a e u s c u m adversum exercitum quidem Oniae pugnare praesumeret . . .' R e i n a c h in serted non before praesumeret, and Thackeray

translates accordingly: 'For P t o l e m y P h y s c o n , t h o u g h <not> daring t o face t h e a r m y of Onias . . .' W h y should h e not dare t o face t h e a r m y of Onias, which w a s , of course, v e r y small in c o m parison w i t h t h e military force of t h e whole k i n g d o m ? I see n o reason for accepting Reinach's conjecture since t h e t e x t , a s it s t a n d s , m a k e s sense.

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22

b u t t u r n e d a g a i n s t t h e friends of E u e r g e t e s , so t h a t m a n y of t h e m w e r e t r a m p l e d t o d e a t h . E u e r g e t e s , d e e p l y i m p r e s s e d b y t h i s s c e n e , y i e l d e d t o t h e p r a y e r s of his c o n c u b i n e , I t h a k a o r E i r e n e , a n d s t o p p e d t h e p e r s e c u t i o n . T h e J e w s of A l e x a n d r i a k e p t t h e m e m o r y of t h a t d a y b y r e g u l a r l y c e l e b r a t i n g its a n n i v e r s a r y . T h e s t o r y of J o s e p h u s is n o m o r e t h a n a fiction, c o m p o s e d i n t h e u s u a l m a n n e r of l i t e r a r y p r o d u c t i o n s of t h e H e l l e n i s t i c a g e . T h e s a m e s t o r y , e n o r m o u s l y e x a g g e r a t e d a n d a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e r e i g n of P t o l e m y I V P h i l o p a t o r , is r e p e a t e d in t h e T h i r d B o o k of M a c c a b e e s , a n d w e s h a l l h a v e a f u r t h e r o p p o r t u n i t y of d e a l i n g w i t h t h i s s t r a n g e a n d s o m e w h a t e n i g m a t i c p a m p h l e t . Y e t t h e feast, c e l e b r a t e d a n n u a l l y b y A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s o n a fixed d a y , s h o w s c l e a r l y t h a t s o m e h i s t o r i c a l e v e n t u n d e r l a y t h e fiction, a n d t h e n a m e s of E u e r g e t e s I I a n d O n i a s e x c e l l e n t l y fit t h e h i s t o r i c a l s i t u a t i o n . S o m e h i s t o r i c a l f e a t u r e s s e e m t o b e p r e s e r v e d in t h e s t o r y , e v e n in i t s e x a g g e r a t e d f o r m in 3 M a c e . W e are t o l d b y Josephus t h a t the persecution w a s aimed only at Alexandrian Jewry, and this is c o n f i r m e d b y s o m e p a s s a g e s in 3 M a c e . O t h e r p a s s a g e s in t h e s a m e b o o k c o n v e y t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t t h e conflict b e t w e e n E u e r g e t e s a n d t h e J e w s w a s essentially a clash between the Macedonian and the Jewish armies, a v e r y likely p o s s i b i l i t y i n v i e w of t h e m i l i t a r y i n t e r v e n t i o n of O n i a s a l r e a d y referred t o . T h a t the persecution w a s not carried out, b u t ceased abruptly, m a y be deduced f r o m t h e v e r y f a c t of t h e feast, c e l e b r a t i n g s o m e u n e x p e c t e d ' m i r a c l e ' . S o w e m a y s u g g e s t t h a t t h e s e q u e n c e of e v e n t s w a s s o m e w h a t a s follows. E u e r g e t e s , after e n t e r i n g t h e c a p i t a l , p r e p a r e d t o p u n i s h t h e J e w s for h a v i n g s u p p o r t e d K l e o p a t r a . S o m e of t h e A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s s e e m t o h a v e b e e n a r r e s t e d , a n d p e r h a p s s e n t e n c e d t o d e a t h . T h e a r m y of O n i a s p r o b a b l y left t h e c a p i t a l before t h e k i n g e n t e r e d i t , a n d r e t i r e d t o t h e ' L a n d of O n i a s ' , p r e p a r i n g t h e m s e l v e s t o f a c e t h e v e n g e a n c e of t h e k i n g . E g y p t i a n J e w r y w a s in distress, f e a r i n g t h e i n a u g u r a t i o n of a l o n g p e r s e c u t i o n . A n d s u d d e n l y s o m e t h i n g h a p p e n e d : t h e a r r e s t e d J e w s i n A l e x a n d r i a w e r e set free, a n d n o p u n i s h m e n t w a s inflicted u p o n t h e soldiers of O n i a s . E v e n t h e g r o u p of ' M a c e d o n i a n J e w s ' in A l e x a n d r i a w a s n o t d i s b a n d e d , t h o u g h t h e y w e r e p r o b a b l y d e p r i v e d of t h e i r p r i v i l e g e s if t h e y h a d a n y . T h e r e a s o n for s u c h a n u n e x p e c t e d t u r n of affairs is n o t h a r d t o s e e k . E u e r g e t e s , a s h o r t t i m e after h e h a d c o n q u e r e d A l e x a n d r i a , m a d e p e a c e w i t h K l e o p a t r a a n d m a r r i e d her. If he c o u l d reconcile h i m s e l f t o m a r r i a g e w i t h his chief e n e m y , w h y s h o u l d h e p e r s e c u t e h e r s u p p o r t e r s , w h o w e r e n o l o n g e r dangerous to him ? Possibly on the wedding-day a general amnesty w a s granted t o a l l K l e o p a t r a ' s p r e v i o u s allies. S u c h a n a m n e s t y , w i t h t h e r e s u l t i n g u n e x p e c t e d c h a n g e i n t h e fate of t h e J e w s , m i g h t c r e a t e t h e i m p r e s s i o n of a 5 4

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fiapvrepws

i£exd\i)oev 8iopyl£eo0at ivavTia>6i)vai.

It can be inferred from this passage t h a t till then t h e J e w s of Alexandria were the sole target of t h e king's wrath. I b . iii. 8-10: the Greeks of Alexandria p i t y the misfortune of the J e w s w h o are their neighbours. These passages m a y serve a s evidence t h a t the original story, underlying t h e long and elaborate fiction of 3 M a c e , dealt w i t h Alexandrian J e w s only. On t h e composition

of 3 Mace, see Tcherikover, ' I I I Mace, a s a n Historical Source of Augustus' Age', Zion, x , 1 sqq. (Hebrew). 5 5

Willrich, Hermes, x x x i x , 1904, 246, quotes t h e following passages showing the connexion b e t w e e n the J e w s in the story and the Ptolemaic a r m y : 3. 7; 4. 1 1 ; 3. 2 1 ; 6. 25; 3. 24; 5. 41. W e m a y add further passages attesting the active part t a k e n b y the king's army in the persecution of the J e w s : 3. 1 2 ; 5. 3 ; 6. 16.

THE PTOLEMAIC

PERIOD

23

m i r a c l e : G o d himself h a d intervened and protected His people against appar ently unavoidable calamity. S o t h e n e w r e i g n ( 1 4 5 - 1 1 6 B . C . ) , n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g serious conflict w i t h t h e J e w i s h a r m y a t its b e g i n n i n g , w a s n o t n e c e s s a r i l y h o s t i l e t o t h e J e w s . O n t h e c o n t r a r y , s o m e f a c t s m a y w e l l b e i n t e r p r e t e d a s a sign of g o o d feeling b e t w e e n t h e m a n d t h e k i n g . T h e g e n e r a l c o n d i t i o n s in E g y p t u n d e r E u e r g e t e s o n c e a g a i n f a v o u r e d t h e J e w s : t h e c o u n t r y w a s suffering v e r y m u c h u n d e r t h e n u m e r o u s r e v o l t s of t h e n a t i v e p o p u l a t i o n , s t r o n g l y i m b u e d w i t h n a t i o n a l i s t feeling, w h e r e a s t h e G r e e k p o p u l a t i o n i n A l e x a n d r i a w a s b y n o m e a n s d e v o t e d t o t h e k i n g . T h e m a i n f e a t u r e s of t h e p o l i c y of E u e r g e t e s w e r e : t h e s u p p r e s s i o n , b y c r u e l m e t h o d s , of a n y m a n i f e s t a t i o n of a r e b e l l i o u s spirit i n A l e x a n d r i a , a n d a t t e m p t s t o find s o m e m e a n s of r e c o n c i l i a t i o n w i t h t h e E g y p t i a n s . J e w s , again, as the third and neutral element, could o n l y be w e l c o m e d b y the k i n g as his allies, e s p e c i a l l y i n his s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e G r e e k p o p u l a t i o n of A l e x a n d r i a . G r e e k s a n d J e w s i n A l e x a n d r i a w e r e n e v e r r e a l l y friends, a n d t h e fierce h a t r e d b e t w e e n the t w o nations in the R o m a n period m u s t h a v e h a d its preliminary h i s t o r y u n d e r t h e P t o l e m i e s . T h e s t r o n g , a n d e v e n c r u e l , p o l i c y of E u e r g e t e s t o w a r d s t h e G r e e k s of A l e x a n d r i a p r o b a b l y m a d e a f a v o u r a b l e i m p r e s s i o n o n A l e x a n d r i a n J e w r y . I t m a y also b e t h a t t h e k i n g g r a n t e d m a n y J e w s c i v i c r i g h t s i n A l e x a n d r i a in o r d e r t o w e a k e n t h e G r e e k e l e m e n t in t h e polish 5 6

5 7

5 6

It w a s Willrich, Juden und Griechen, 150, w h o for the first time brought forward evidence in favour of the supposition t h a t Euergetes I I w a s b y no means hostile t o J e w s . Cf. Breccia, BSAA x x i v , 1929, 61 sq. The strongest argument of these scholars is the fact t h a t J e w s dedicated their n e w l y erected synagogues t o the k i n g : S B 5862, 7454. 5 7

See for the reign of Euergetes and his home policy Bouche-Leclercq, ii. 55 s q q . ; B e v a n , 306 s q q . ; CI. Preaux, 'La Signification de l'epoque d'Euergete I F , Actes du 5 ' Congres, 345 s q q . ; W . O t t o , Zur Geschichte des Niederganges des Ptolemderreiches, A b h . B a y r . A k a d . , N.F., Heft x v i i , 1938. 5 8

According t o Valerius Maximus 9. 2. 5, Euergetes 'frequens i u v e n t u t e g y m n a s i u m armis e t igni circumdedit omnesque, qui in eo erant, partim ferro, partim flamma necavit'. It m a y be recalled t h a t g y m n a s i u m education w a s normally the prerequisite for obtaining civic rights in a polis, so t h a t every blow struck a t the Greek inventus in a g y m n a s i u m w a s a t the same time a persecution of the Greek polis as a whole. The evidence of Valerius Maximus gained a new sig nificance after the publication of P. T e b t . 700 a t t e s t i n g t h a t in 124 B.C. Euergetes took strong measures against rd iv AXeâvSpela yvfivdaia [*coi 21 letters Kal TroXiTevp-ajra Kal ovvooovs

(11. 37 sq.).

(The restoration noXiTevixa]ra is s u r e ; cf. 1. 43, where this term is repeated.) This w a s probably n o t t h e first time t h a t the Alexandrians had suf-

fered at the hands of E u e r g e t e s : w e are told b y J u s t i n (38. 8. 7) t h a t at the beginning of his reign Euergetes increased the ranks of the Alexandrian citizens b y foreigners ('edicto peregrinos sollicitat'), and modern scholars discuss whether these foreigners were Greeks, or Greeks and E g y p t i a n s (cf. D e s s a u , Gesch. d. romisch. Kaiserzeit, ii. 2.660; L u m b r o s o , Arch. iii. 350). Were J e w s also a m o n g these n e w l y created citizens? T h e early years of the reign of Euergetes would not h a v e been favourable to a philo-Semitic policy since t h e e v e n t s of 145 B.C. were still fresh in the king's m e m o r y . T h e great value of t h e evidence of J u s t i n lies in the fact t h a t the Ptolemaic king could create new citizens in Alexandria of his o w n free will, and t h a t Euergetes, m a k i n g use of this right, chose his new candidates n o t from a m o n g the sons of the Alexandrians b u t from a m o n g the foreigners (peregrini). J e w s in A l e x andria were regarded b y the R o m a n prefect Flaccus and b y the Emperor Claudius as foreigners (see below, p p . 66,74), and such t h e y were, probably, in the e y e s of the Ptolemaic kings as well. Euergetes' hatred of the Greeks could very well h a v e in fluenced him, in the choice of n e w candidates for citizenship, t o prefer E g y p t i a n s and J e w s . D i d the strong measures (confiscation of property and the like) taken b y the king against g y m n a s i a , clubs, and communities in Alexandria strike a t the Jewish c o m m u n i t y as well? W e h a v e n o m e a n s of answering this question. A letter from Palestinian J e w s t o their brothers in E g y p t , sent

PROLEGOMENA

24

T h u s t h e g e n e r a l h i g h s t a n d i n g of E g y p t i a n J e w s w a s b y n o m e a n s l o w e r e d b y E u e r g e t e s , a n d a s h o r t t i m e after h i s d e a t h w e h e a r a g a i n of a c o n s i d e r a b l e r o l e p l a y e d b y t h e m i n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of p o l i t i c a l e v e n t s in E g y p t . T h e w i d o w of Euergetes, K l e o p a t r a I I I (116-101), w a s i n v o l v e d in a long struggle against her son, P t o l e m y I X L a t h y r o s . A c c o r d i n g t o t h e v e r y i m p o r t a n t e v i d e n c e of S t r a b o , q u o t e d b y J o s e p h u s , t h e g r e a t e r p a r t of t h e q u e e n ' s t r o o p s s e n t a g a i n s t L a t h y r o s b e t r a y e d the queen and w e n t over to the other side; the Jews, how e v e r , k n o w n a s ' t h o s e f r o m t h e L a n d of O n i a s ' , r e m a i n e d l o y a l , b e c a u s e t h e i r l e a d e r s H e l k i a s a n d A n a n i a s ' w e r e h i g h l y e s t e e m e d b y t h e queen'.s9 J o s e p h u s s a y s (ant. 1 3 . 285) t h a t t h e s e t w o J e w i s h g e n e r a l s w e r e sons of O n i a s . T h u s i t seems t h a t Onias founded something like a p e t t y d y n a s t y , h a v i n g its stronghold i n ' t h e L a n d of O n i a s ' a n d e n t r u s t e d f r o m t i m e t o t i m e w i t h i m p o r t a n t m i l i t a r y t a s k s . I t is l i k e l y t h a t t h e p a r t i c i p a t i o n of H e l k i a s a n d A n a n i a s i n t h e w a r against Lathyros w a s important, though Josephus exaggerates again when he s a y s t h a t K l e o p a t r a p u t t h e t w o J e w i s h g e n e r a l s ' a t t h e h e a d of t h e w h o l e a r m y ' . O n e of t h e t w o , H e l k i a s , m e t his d e a t h w h e n p u r s u i n g t h e e n e m y i n C o e l e - S y r i a . T h e o t h e r , A n a n i a s , h a d t h e o p p o r t u n i t y of e x e r t i n g his influence o n t h e g e n e r a l c o n d u c t of t h e w a r in P a l e s t i n e . S o m e of t h e q u e e n ' s friends, s e e i n g w i t h d i s p l e a s u r e t h e g r o w i n g p o w e r of t h e H a s m o n a e a n s , a d v i s e d t h e q u e e n t o t a k e possession of t h e r e a l m of t h e y o u n g k i n g A l e x a n d e r J a n n a i . A n a n i a s o p p o s e d t h i s s u g g e s t i o n , w a r n i n g t h e q u e e n t h a t in t h e e v e n t of a n unjustified a t t a c k o n A l e x a n d e r a l l t h e J e w s of E g y p t w o u l d b e c o m e h e r e n e m i e s (ant. 13. 354). T h i s t h r e a t w a s effective, a n d so, a s a r e s u l t of t h e b o l d i n t e r v e n t i o n of a J e w i s h g e n e r a l , t h e a d v i c e of c o u r t i e r s a i m i n g a t t h e a n n i h i l a t i o n of t h e J e w i s h S t a t e i n P a l e s t i n e w a s r e j e c t e d . 6 0

I t is u n l i k e l y t h a t G r e e k s of i m p o r t a n c e w o u l d s t a n d m e e k l y b y a n d w a t c h J e w s e x e r t g r e a t influence, e x t e n d i n g e v e n i n t o t h e field of i n t e r n a t i o n a l p o l i t i c s . T h e r e w a s s t r o n g o p p o s i t i o n t o J e w i s h influence a t c o u r t , in t h e a r m y , a m o n g s t t h e g o v e r n m e n t officials, a n d — l a s t b u t n o t l e a s t — a m o n g t h e G r e e k c i t i z e n s of A l e x a n d r i a . I t is n o t b y c h a n c e t h a t i n t h e G r e e k t r a n s l a t i o n of t h e B o o k of E s t h e r t h e a n t i - S e m i t i c m i n i s t e r H a m a n is t e r m e d a M a c e d o n i a n , a n d t h a t t h e c l a s h b e t w e e n h i m a n d M o r d e c a i is d e s c r i b e d a s a conflict b e t w e e n t w o m i n i s t e r s , o n e a J e w a n d t h e o t h e r a M a c e d o n i a n , i n t h e m a t t e r of t h e i r l o y a l t y t o t h e S t a t e . A n t i - S e m i t i s m w a s not a n e w phenomenon in E g y p t . A s early as in the 6 1

in 124 B.C., alludes to 'hard times' (2 Mace. 1. 5 ; cf. O t t o , o p . cit. 66; Bickermann, ZNTW xxxii, 1933, 251 sq.). Y e t we cannot be sure t h a t this K

j?3K), B

a

b

a

M

e

w a s prohibited b y the j. . . . z

a

s

I

;

s

7

;

s

9

J

Thoseftha, ib. 6 . 1 0 ; cf. E . C o h n , ' D e r Wucher im T a i m u d ^ z ^ ^ y . ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ t o z W ^ ,

r e c o m m e n d e d the principle of T Q rTYOD 7 3

xviii,

i W J D "J^fc; cf. b. J e b a m o t h 7 7 a ; b. Megillah

hot bei den Juden

14b. Y e t it w a s more a pium desiderium than a s t a t e m e n t of fact based on actual conditions. In reality the Jewish w o m a n in Palestine enjoyed a considerable degree of freedom. 'Das jiidische Madchen genoss viel mehr Freiheit als seine Genossinnen i m heutigen Orient. E s durfte sich ohne Scheu vor Mannern z e i g e n ; es ging z u m B r u n n e n . . . und auf den Markt in der S t a d t , sass i m L a d e n , iibte einiges Gewerbe aus und

Recht, 1924. Adler and Heichelheim, The Adler Papyri, Introduction, p . 5 ; cf. the report of Adler in Actes du 5 Congres, 12. The publication of the Adler Papyri led t o a discussion b e t w e e n Heichelheim and myself on whether these d o c u m e n t s show a n y Jewish religious influence. See b o t h our articles in HTR x x x v , 1942, 25 sqq., 35 sqq. 9 3

e

I 9

o , 37 q q . ; I m m . Bernfeld, Das 5

S

nach

Zinsver-

talmudisch-rabbinischem

PROLEGOMENA

36

l i k e l y t h a t s u c h l o a n s w e r e c o m m o n l y m a d e b y m a n y a g r i c u l t u r a l p e o p l e s in t h e a n c i e n t O r i e n t . S o i t is l o g i c a l t o a s s u m e t h a t s u c h l o a n s w i t h o u t i n t e r e s t a s are r e c o r d e d i n t h e p a p y r i are a relic of s o m e a n c i e n t o r i e n t a l c u s t o m . I t is w o r t h noting t h a t sometimes loans 'without interest' weighed more h e a v i l y on t h e d e b t o r t h a n d i d t h e u s u a l o n e s , since s u c h l o a n s w e r e u s u a l l y g r a n t e d for a v e r y short period and h e a v y penalties were p a y a b l e to the lender in cases where repayment did not take place within the stipulated period. T h u s it m a y b e inferred t h a t i n t h e i r b u s i n e s s affairs a s i n m a t t e r s of f a m i l y l a w E g y p t i a n J e w s f o l l o w e d t h e c o m m o n j u r i d i c a l p r a c t i c e of t h e P t o l e m a i c k i n g d o m , i n c o m p l e t e a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e w e l l - k n o w n p r i n c i p l e of T a l m u d i c l a w , definitively formulated in the third c e n t u r y A . D . b y the B a b y l o n i a n A m o r a , M a r S a m u e l : K T H K m ^ f c T K T H ('the l a w of t h e [ g o v e r n i n g ] s t a t e is t h e law'). 9 4

95

9 6

I t is n o t i n t e n d e d t o d e n y t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s of a u t o n o m o u s J e w i s h l a w i n t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t i e s i n E g y p t . T h e r e w e r e J e w i s h c o u r t s in E g y p t , a t a n y r a t e i n A l e x a n d r i a , a n d t h e T o r a h w a s t h e officially r e c o g n i z e d l e g a l b a s i s of J e w i s h c o m m u n i t i e s . B u t o u r t a s k h e r e is t o c o m m e n t o n t h e p a p y r i , a n d it is a m a t t e r of f a c t t h a t t h e s e , a p a r t f r o m t h e m e n t i o n of a J e w i s h n o t a r y ' s office in N o . 143 a n d t h e p o s s i b l e h i n t of s o m e ' p o l i t i c a l l a w ' of J e w s in N o . 128, n e v e r refer t o J e w i s h l a w . S i n c e t h e s y m b i o s i s of J e w i s h a n d n o n - J e w i s h l a w f r e q u e n t l y o c c u r s in J e w i s h h i s t o r y (the l a t e s t a n d m o s t s t r i k i n g i n s t a n c e is t h e s y m b i o s i s of R a b b i n i c a l a n d t h e s o - c a l l e d ' P a l e s t i n i a n ' l a w in P a l e s t i n e u n d e r t h e B r i t i s h M a n d a t e , a n d its s u r v i v a l i n m o d e r n Israel), w e m u s t n o t c o n s i d e r its a p p e a r a n c e i n E g y p t a s s t r a n g e , b u t r a t h e r a s t h e l o g i c a l result of t w o c o n t r a d i c t o r y t e n d e n c i e s in E g y p t i a n J e w r y : t h e desire t o f o l l o w o l d n a t i o n a l a n d religious t r a d i t i o n , a n d t h e desire t o p a r t i c i p a t e v i g o r o u s l y i n all a s p e c t s of H e l l e n i s t i c life. W e m a y a s s u m e t h a t w h e n a J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y , as a w h o l e , w a s affected, t h e first t e n d e n c y w a s p r e d o m i n a n t ; b u t i n d i v i d u a l J e w s , w h e n f a c e d w i t h t h e i n n u m e r a b l e p e t t y p r o b l e m s of e v e r y d a y life, w e r e m o r e d i s p o s e d t o f o l l o w the second. N e e d l e s s t o s a y , it w a s A l e x a n d r i a w h i c h w a s t h e c e n t r e of h e l l e n i z a t i o n . T h e g r e a t e s t c i t y i n t h e M e d i t e r r a n e a n u n t i l it w a s o v e r s h a d o w e d b y R o m e , A l e x andria w a s a business and administrative as well as a cultural centre. It attracted 9 4

L o a n s w i t h o u t interest are k n o w n from Assyria and B a b y l o n i a in the second and first millennium B.C. Cf. L u t z , Legal and Economic Documents from Ashjdly, 1931 (20th c e n t u r y , Assyria). Of 47 loans q u o t e d there, 37 were g i v e n w i t h o u t interest, 34 of t h e m being loans in grain and 3 in silver; see p p . 67-75. Cf. 5 s q . : 'These grain-loan transactions w i t h o u t interest charges c a n be understood only o n t h e basis t h a t Uushunasir [the creditor] was a feudal lord w h o ad v a n c e d the grain loans t o his retainers of various feudal ranks.' See further San-Nicol6 u n d U n g n a d , Neubabylonische Rechts- und Verwaltungsurkunden, B d . i, Hefte 1 - 5 , 1 9 3 5 - 7 : 'Die Schuld ist sehr oft verzinslich, zinsfreie Beitrage w e r d e n gelegentlich ausdriicklich als hubuttutu, zinsloses

Darlehen, bezeichnet' (p. 195); cf. N o s . 160, 162, 168, 184, 290 (loans in silver), 231, 234, 238, 239, 243, 267, 756 (loans in k i n d ) : it is likely that loans such as in N o . 248 are also without interest. Cf. Kohler und U n g n a d , Assyrische Rechtsurkunden, 1913, passim; Schorr, Urkunden d. altbabylon. Zivil- und Prozessrechts, 1913, p . 67. Cf. also J . Rabinowitz, H TR x x x v i i , 1944, 54 n. 14. 9 5

Cf. Schnabel, Aeg. xiii, 1933, 34. Cf. m y above-mentioned article in HTR, p p . 29 sq. 9 6

For this saying of Mar Samuel see Is. Herzog, The Main Institutions of Jewish Law, i, 1936, 24 sqq. The instances quoted b y R a b b i Herzog are b. Gittin 10b, b. Nedarim 28a, b. B a b a K a m m a 113a and b ; b. B a b a Bathra 55a.

THE PTOLEMAIC

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37

people from m a n y countries, especially from Greece. In A l e x a n d r i a there were s p l e n d i d f e s t i v a l s i n h o n o u r of G r e e k d e i t i e s a n d deified k i n g s , t h e r e w a s t h e M o u s e i o n (in m o d e r n t e r m s , a n a c a d e m y for science a n d arts), a n d t h e g r e a t L i b r a r y in w h i c h so m a n y t r e a s u r e s of G r e e k c l a s s i c a l l i t e r a t u r e w e r e p r e s e r v e d . T h e J e w s of A l e x a n d r i a n a t u r a l l y c a m e u n d e r t h e influence of G r e e k life a n d t h o u g h t . A s e a r l y as t h e t h i r d c e n t u r y B . C . w e h e a r of a J e w w h o a b a n d o n e d t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y , r e n o u n c e d t h e J e w i s h faith, a n d p u r s u e d a successful c a r e e r a t t h e c o u r t of t h e P t o l e m i e s . T h i s J e w w a s D o s i t h e o s , s o n of D r i m y l o s , w h o s e a p o s t a s y w a s r e c o r d e d b y t h e a u t h o r of t h e T h i r d B o o k of M a c c a b e e s ( 1 . 3 ) , a n d w h o s e c a r e e r a t t h e c o u r t is a t t e s t e d b y t h e p a p y r i ( N o . 127). W e d o n o t k n o w h o w m a n y J e w s f o l l o w e d in his s t e p s , b u t a p o s t a s y w a s n o t t h e d o m i n a n t fea t u r e of J e w i s h life i n A l e x a n d r i a , a n d h a s n e v e r b e e n so in J e w i s h h i s t o r y . A J e w h a d o t h e r o p p o r t u n i t i e s of d e m o n s t r a t i n g his l o v e of H e l l e n i s m : h e c o u l d d o so b y s e e k i n g G r e e k c u l t u r e . H e c o u l d d o m o r e : h e c o u l d c o l l a b o r a t e w i t h G r e e k s i n t h e c r e a t i o n of n e w c u l t u r a l v a l u e s in t h e G r e e k l a n g u a g e . T h e S e p t u a g i n t l a i d t h e f o u n d a t i o n s for t h e s t r u c t u r e of H e l l e n i s t i c l i t e r a t u r e , written b y Jews, and especially b y Alexandrian Jews. In the third century a J e w , D e m e t r i o s , w r o t e s o m e t h i n g l i k e a h i s t o r y of t h e forefathers of t h e J e w i s h p e o p l e , a n d it is t o t h e s e c o n d a n d t o t h e first h a l f of t h e first c e n t u r i e s t h a t t h e w r i t i n g s of A r i s t e a s , A r t a p a n o s , P h i l o t h e p o e t , E z e k i e l t h e d r a m a t i s t , a n d o t h e r s m a y b e a s s i g n e d . T h e J e w i s h p h i l o s o p h e r A r i s t o b o u l o s , a s w e h a v e seen a b o v e (p. 20), l i v e d in t h e t i m e of P t o l e m y V I P h i l o m e t o r ; he d e d i c a t e d his b o o k t o t h e k i n g . T h e s e b e g i n n i n g s of J e w i s h - H e l l e n i s t i c l i t e r a t u r e are far f r o m b e i n g p e r f e c t ; t h e y are e v e n in s o m e sense d i s a p p o i n t i n g , since n o c o n s i d e r a b l e l i t e r a r y w o r k , a p a r t f r o m t h e ' L e t t e r of A r i s t e a s ' , w a s c o m p o s e d . H o w e v e r , o u r i n t e r e s t lies n o t in t h e s t a n d a r d of l i t e r a r y a c h i e v e m e n t of t h e A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s b u t i n t h e i r h e l l e n i z a t i o n , a n d f r o m t h i s p o i n t of v i e w t h e i r l i t e r a r y p r o d u c t i o n s are r e m a r k a b l e . P h i l o t h e p o e t w r o t e his epic o n J e r u s a l e m in h e x a meters, obviously aiming—unsuccessfully—to become a Jewish H o m e r ; E z e k i e l ' s Exodus is m e r e l y a n i m i t a t i o n of E u r i p i d e s ; A r i s t o b o u l o s is s u p p o s e d t o h a v e b e e n a ' p e r i p a t e t i c ' p h i l o s o p h e r , a f o l l o w e r of t h e s c h o o l of A r i s t o t l e . T h e H e l l e n i s t i c s t y l e , a l r e a d y u s e d b y L X X , is p r e d o m i n a n t i n s u c h h i s t o r i c a l w o r k s a s t h e S e c o n d a n d T h i r d B o o k s of t h e M a c c a b e e s ; m o r e t h a n a t h i r d of t h e ' L e t t e r of A r i s t e a s ' is d e v o t e d t o t h e d e s c r i p t i o n of a s y m p o s i u m , a l i t e r a r y f o r m m u c h favoured b y Greek writers from P l a t o and X e n o p h o n onwards. In all branches of J e w i s h - H e l l e n i s t i c l i t e r a t u r e , G r e e k influence is p r e d o m i n a n t , p r i n c i p a l l y in f o r m , b u t i n s o m e m e a s u r e in c o n t e n t t o o . G r e e k l i t e r a t u r e a n d p h i l o s o p h y were, no doubt, carefully studied b y Alexandrian Jews. Such s t u d y could h a r d l y b e a c h i e v e d w i t h o u t a solid k n o w l e d g e of t h e b a s i c e l e m e n t s of G r e e k c u l t u r e , a n d so t h e q u e s t i o n arises, W h a t k i n d of e d u c a t i o n d i d A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s give to their children? 9 7

9 7

S o , for e x a m p l e , the contents of the discussion of the Jewish 'elders' a t the S y m p o s i u m in t h e 'Letter of Aristeas' (187-307) is merely a reiteration of the current political wisdom displayed by the Greeks of the Hellenistic age in numerous p a m p h l e t s 'on monarchy' (irepl fiaoiXdas). Cf. on

these p a m p h l e t s Goodenough, 'The Political P h i l o s o p h y of Hellenistic Kingship', YCS i, 1928, 55 sqq., passim. On the literary form of a 'symp o s i u m ' see Hirzel, Der Dialog, 1895, especially i. 274, 355; ii. 137 sqq.

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T h e q u e s t i o n is n o t a n idle o n e . A t t h e b e g i n n i n g of t h e R o m a n p e r i o d t h e r i g h t of J e w s t o g i v e t h e i r c h i l d r e n a r e g u l a r e d u c a t i o n in G r e e k e d u c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s w a s h o t l y c o n t e s t e d b y G r e e k s a n d finally p r o h i b i t e d b y t h e R o m a n a u t h o r i t i e s . I t is i m p o r t a n t for u s t o s t u d y t h e origin of t h i s p r o h i b i t i o n . G r e e k e d u c a t i o n w a s e d u c a t i o n in a g y m n a s i u m , w h e r e G r e e k b o y s w e r e t r a i n e d in g y m n a s t i c e x e r c i s e s a n d g a i n e d t h e n e c e s s a r y k n o w l e d g e of G r e e k l i t e r a t u r e a n d culture. W e r e J e w s under the Ptolemies allowed to send their b o y s to the g y m n a s i a ? W e h a v e n o d i r e c t e v i d e n c e of t h e i r h a v i n g d o n e so, b u t w e m a y find an answer to the question b y considering some arguments bearing indirectly on t h e s u b j e c t . F i r s t l y , a t t h e b e g i n n i n g of R o m a n rule, t h e A l e x a n d r i a n G r e e k s v i o l e n t l y o p p o s e d all t h e e n d e a v o u r s of n o n - G r e e k s (i.e. E g y p t i a n s a n d J e w s ) t o e n r o l t h e i r sons a m o n g t h e epheboi ( N o . 150). T h i s p r o p a g a n d a w a s s a n c t i o n e d b y C l a u d i u s , w h o p r o h i b i t e d J e w s from t a k i n g p a r t in g y m n a s t i c g a m e s , i.e. e x p e l l e d t h e m f r o m t h e g y m n a s i a ( N o . 153). A r g u i n g from t h i s e v i d e n c e , w e m a y infer t h a t in t h e p r e v i o u s e p o c h J e w s e n t e r e d g y m n a s i a w i t h o u t m u c h difficulty. S e c o n d l y , i n t h e P t o l e m a i c p e r i o d , t h e g y m n a s i a w e r e i n p r i v a t e h a n d s , a n d , as far a s w e c a n l e a r n f r o m o u r d o c u m e n t a r y sources, n o s p e c i a l qualifications were needed to enter a g y m n a s i u m . Furthermore, J e w s t h e m s e l v e s w e r e v e r y m u c h i n t e r e s t e d i n g y m n a s i u m e d u c a t i o n , since o n l y t h o s e w h o h a d r e c e i v e d it c o u l d o b t a i n c i v i c r i g h t s in a c i t y l i k e A l e x a n d r i a . M o r e o v e r , s u c h a n e d u c a t i o n p a v e d t h e w a y for e n t r y i n t o G r e e k s o c i e t y . I t is t r u e t h a t J e w i s h t r a d i t i o n d i d n o t f a v o u r g y m n a s t i c c o n t e s t s , e s p e c i a l l y as g y m n a s i u m e d u c a t i o n w a s c l o s e l y c o n n e c t e d w i t h G r e e k religion a n d c u s t o m s . B u t t h e r i g i d p r i n c i p l e s of t h e t r a d i t i o n w e r e b y n o m e a n s p r e d o m i n a n t in A l e x a n d r i a a n d , as a m a t t e r of f a c t , t h e J e w s of t h e d i a s p o r a d i d n o t a b h o r e i t h e r g y m n a s i u m e d u c a t i o n or p u b l i c c o n t e s t s a n d g a m e s , a s is a t t e s t e d b y m a n y i n s t a n c e s ; a n d w e o u g h t n o t t o f o r g e t t h a t in 175 B . C . a g y m n a s i u m a n d a n e p h e b e i o n w e r e e r e c t e d 9 8

9 8

In Samareia the g y m n a s i u m w a s erected and dedicated t o the king o n the initiative of a private person, w h o was holder of a KXrjpos in the v i l l a g e ; the g y m n a s i u m w a s regarded b y the authorities as his private property and after his d e a t h was inherited b y his legal heir ( P . E n t . 8). I n the village Psenamosis the decision t o build a g y m n a s i u m is t a k e n b y the owaycuyr) ru>v avyyewpycbv, i.e. b y the village c o m m u n i t y (BSAA x x i v , 1929, 66 sqq.). It is possible that all village g y m n a s i a , so numerous in the Ptolemaic period, were erected in these w a y s , i.e. on the initiative of private persons or b y the communities of the villages. T h e village g y m n a s i a in the Ptolemaic period are mentioned in various p l a c e s : see S B 1106 ( S e b e n n y t o s ) ; ib. 7245 (Samareia); ib. 6157 (Theadelphia); BSAA x x i v . 66 (Psena m o s i s ) ; P S I 391, B G U 1256 (Philadelphia); Melanges Maspero, ii. 33 (Aphroditopolis); Arch. v . 410 ( O m b o i ) ; ib. 414 n. 5 (Elephantine). Cf. L a u n e y , Recherches, ii. 836 sqq., where a long list of g y m n a s i a of Hellenistic E g y p t is g i v e n . T w o g y m n a s i a in the district of Herakleopolis are re

corded at the beginning of the R o m a n period ( B G U 1189, 1201). On the question of village g y m n a s i a in general see Jones, The Cities of the Eastern Roman Provinces, 309; Zucker, Aeg. xi. 485; H e n n e , BIFAO, xxii, 1923, 1 9 1 ; R o s t o v tzeff, SEHHW 1394 n. i 2 i . T h e existence of village gymnasia serves t o show that in the P t o l e m a i c age the g y m n a s i a were open not exclu sively t o the sons of citizens—there were no 'citizens' in villages—but for every person con sidering himself a 'Greek', or anxious to obtain an education of the Greek t y p e . A n d , indeed, w e k n o w of m e n of non-Greek origin, such as Thracians ( S B 6157-8), Persians (ib. 7246), and e v e n Arabs (ib. 3460), filling the offices of g y m nasiarchoi. The last instance is the m o s t striking, since Thracians and Persians were 'pseudoethnic' groups (see a b o v e , p . 13), but 'Arabs' were on all c o u n t s non-Greeks; nevertheless t h e y could a t t a i n the highest office connected w i t h a g y m n a s i u m . W h y should we suppose t h a t J e w s were forbidden g y m n a s i u m education w h e n Arabs were allowed i t ?

THE

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i n J e r u s a l e m , in t h e v e r y h e a r t of t r a d i t i o n a l J u d a i s m . " F i n a l l y , it m a y b e a r g u e d t h a t so d e e p a p e n e t r a t i o n i n t o t h e f o r m s a n d c o n t e n t of G r e e k t h o u g h t a s w a s a c h i e v e d , for e x a m p l e , b y P h i l o t h e p h i l o s o p h e r w a s i m p o s s i b l e w i t h o u t b e i n g i m b u e d w i t h t h e G r e e k classical spirit, a n d t h i s spirit c o u l d h a r d l y b e c u l t i v a t e d w i t h o u t t h e p a r t i c i p a t i o n of s o m e g e n e r a t i o n s of J e w i s h families in g y m n a s i u m education. T h e p r o b l e m of g y m n a s i u m e d u c a t i o n l e a d s u s t o a n o t h e r q u e s t i o n of a w i d e r c h a r a c t e r : w e r e J e w s a l l o w e d t o b e c o m e c i t i z e n s of A l e x a n d r i a ? T h i s q u e s t i o n h a s b e e n f r e q u e n t l y discussed in m o d e r n r e s e a r c h . W e shall h a v e t h e o p p o r t u n i t y of d e a l i n g w i t h t h i s m a t t e r w h e n s p e a k i n g of A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s a t t h e b e g i n n i n g of R o m a n rule. A s t o t h e s t a t e of affairs u n d e r t h e P t o l e m i e s , s o m e g e n e r a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n s m a y b e p u t f o r w a r d . I t is o b v i o u s t h a t b e l o n g i n g t o t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y of A l e x a n d r i a d i d n o t i n v o l v e b e l o n g i n g t o the G r e e k polis of A l e x a n d r i a , since a c o m m u n i t y a n d a polis w e r e , c o n s i d e r e d j u r i d i c a l l y , t w o d i s tinct political bodies. W e m a y suppose that e v e r y Jewish immigrant reaching A l e x a n d r i a from P a l e s t i n e or from t h e E g y p t i a n chora b e c a m e sooner o r l a t e r a m e m b e r of t h e A l e x a n d r i a n J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y ; b u t it w o u l d b e nonsense t o s u p p o s e t h a t s u c h a J e w w o u l d a u t o m a t i c a l l y e n t e r t h e r a n k s of G r e e k c i t i z e n s of A l e x a n d r i a . S i n c e t h e J e w i s h i m m i g r a t i o n from P a l e s t i n e t o E g y p t , a n d especially to Alexandria, never ceased throughout the Hellenistic period, and since, a s w e m a y s u p p o s e , A l e x a n d r i a also a t t r a c t e d m a n y J e w s f r o m t h e E g y p t i a n chora, it m a y b e inferred t h a t t h e g r e a t m a j o r i t y of J e w i s h i n h a b i t a n t s of A l e x a n d r i a h a d in f a c t n o c i v i c r i g h t s . Y e t t h e e x i s t e n c e of J e w i s h c i t i z e n s i n A l e x a n d r i a c a n n o t b e d e n i e d (for t h e R o m a n p e r i o d w e h a v e e v e n d o c u 100

9 9

It is generally held b y modern scholars t h a t J e w s abhorred the g y m n a s t i c contests and all the c u s t o m s and habits connected with t h e m : cf., for e x a m p l e , F u c h s , 79. This opinion is based chiefly on Talmudic authorities. W e shall see below that this v i e w is erroneous, e v e n for the time of the T a l m u d (see p . 109, note 56); it is entirely false for Alexandria in the Ptolemaic period. Philo speaks of the g y m n a s t i c contests, g y m n a s i u m education, etc., as of e v e r y d a y interests. There is no sug gestion t h a t these Greek habits in a n y w a y affected his religious scruples as a faithful J e w : cf., for e x a m p l e , de spec. leg. 2. 229 s q . ; ib. 2. 246; de opif. mundi 78; de Jos. 81, etc. See for this question Goodenough, The Jurisp. of the Jewish Courts in Egypt, 2 s q . ; id. An Introd. to Philo, 8 sq. Cf. the Hebrew article of Marcus o n the educational teachings of Philo in the Touroff Anniversary Volume, 223 sqq. It is probable t h a t J e w s were no less anxious t o participate in g y m n a s i u m education in other Jewish centres of the diaspora t h a n t h e y were in Alexandria. In Iasos (Asia Minor) a list of the epheboi of the early R o m a n age contains such n a m e s as J u d a s , Theophilos, T h e u d a s , Dositheos, T r y p h o n , so it m a y be sug gested t h a t at least some individual members, and more probably the entire group, were J e w s

(see Robert, REJ ci, 1937, 73 s q q . ; cf. id. Hel lenica, iii. 100). In H y p a i p a (near Sardeis) a group of y o u n g J e w s called themselves 'IovSatot veibrepoi, according t o the usual divisions of the Greek epheboi into ved>repoi, p.iaoi, and •npeoPvTepoi (S. Reinach, REJ x , 1885, 74; Oehler, MGWJ liii, 1909, p . 294, N o . 58). In Miletos a special place in the theatre w a s reserved for Jewish members of the audience (Schiirer, iii. 16). For the connexion between g y m n a s i u m edu cation and civic rights see the inscription of 104 B . C . from a Greek city in E g y p t (probably P t o l e m a i s ) : elaa\yayeodax 8' els TO yvp.va.010v /ecu iroXiToyparjoat 1 0 0

( S B 8031

= SEG

viii.

641).

Scholars maintaining that the Alexandrian J e w s enjoyed full civic rights are Schiirer, iii. 121 s q q . ; Juster, ii. 1 s q q . ; D e Sanctis, Riv. d. Filol. Hi, 1924, 473 s q q . ; cf. also Momigliano, Claudius, 1934, 96 n. 25; the n e g a t i v e stand point is n o w accepted b y a large majority of scholars: see Willrich, 'Caligula', Klio, iii, 1903, 403 s q q . ; B l u d a u , Juden und Judenverfolg. 1 7 ; F u c h s , 79 s q q . ; Schubart, Arch. v . 108 s q q . ; Wilcken, Antis. 786 s q q . ; Engers, Klio, xviii. 83 s q q . ; J o u g u e t , La Vie municipale, 18 s q q . ; Bell, Jews and Christians, 12 s q q . ; and m a n y others.

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m e n t a r y e v i d e n c e ) , a n d it is i m p o r t a n t t o k n o w h o w a J e w c o u l d b e c o m e a n A l e x a n d r i a n c i t i z e n . T h e o b t a i n i n g of c i v i c r i g h t s i n a G r e e k c i t y w a s a l w a y s a v e r y complicated procedure. In general, civic rights were bestowed on indivi d u a l s b y a s p e c i a l decision of t h e c o u n c i l a n d t h e demos a s a r e w a r d for s o m e s e r v i c e r e n d e r e d t o t h e c i t y ; t h e g r a n t i n g of c i v i c r i g h t s t o e n t i r e g r o u p s w a s exceedingly rare. I n A l e x a n d r i a , h o w e v e r , t h e s i t u a t i o n w a s in s o m e w a y s e x c e p t i o n a l . A l e x a n d r i a , t h o u g h t h e o r e t i c a l l y a free a n d a u t o n o m o u s G r e e k polis, w a s i n r e a l i t y n e i t h e r free n o r a u t o n o m o u s , since it w a s t h e c a p i t a l of E g y p t a n d t h e r e s i d e n c e of t h e k i n g a n d his c o u r t . T h e P t o l e m a i c g o v e r n m e n t w a t c h e d c a r e f u l l y o v e r t h e c i t y . W e c a n h a r d l y i m a g i n e t h a t a n y t h i n g so i m p o r t a n t a s a n increase in t h e n u m b e r of A l e x a n d r i a n c i t i z e n s c o u l d fail t o a t t r a c t t h e a t t e n t i o n of t h e g o v e r n m e n t a n d t o e v o k e m e a s u r e s of c o n t r o l . I n R o m a n t i m e s t h e E m p e r o r c o n t r o l l e d t h e e n t r a n c e of t h e A l e x a n d r i a n epheboi i n t o t h e r a n k s of c i t i z e n s ( N o . 153). I t is r e a s o n a b l e t o s u p p o s e t h a t t h e P t o l e m a i c k i n g , w h o w a s far m o r e i n t e r e s t e d in A l e x a n d r i a n affairs t h a n w a s t h e R o m a n E m p e r o r , m a d e use of t h e s a m e r i g h t . M o r e o v e r , w e h a v e a l r e a d y s e e n ( a b o v e , p . 23, n. 58) t h a t P t o l e m y V I I I E u e r g e t e s I I g r a n t e d c i v i c r i g h t s i n A l e x a n d r i a to 'strangers'. It m a y be asked whether there were Jews a m o n g them, a n d if s o , w h e t h e r t h e ' p h i l o - S e m i t i c ' k i n g P h i l o m e t o r m a y n o t h a v e a c t e d s i m i l a r l y . F i n a l l y , i t m a y b e r e c a l l e d t h a t t h e sons of c i t i z e n s o b t a i n e d t h e i r e d u c a t i o n in t h e g y m n a s i a , a n d t h a t g y m n a s i u m e d u c a t i o n w a s n o r m a l l y a prerequisite to citizenship. Doubtless m a n y J e w s were anxious to give their sons G r e e k e d u c a t i o n so t h a t t h e y m i g h t o b t a i n c i v i c r i g h t s . T h e l a s t c e n t u r y of P t o l e m a i c rule w a s m u c h c o n f u s e d , e s p e c i a l l y in A l e x a n d r i a , a n d p r o b a b l y t h e long e n m i t y b e t w e e n the P t o l e m a i c g o v e r n m e n t and A l e x a n d r i a resulted in a d m i n i s t r a t i v e c h a o s , v e r y f a v o u r a b l e for t h o s e w h o s e desires c o u l d n o t b e fulfilled i n s t r i c t a c c o r d a n c e w i t h l a w . T o s u m u p : a n A l e x a n d r i a n J e w c o u l d o b t a i n c i v i c r i g h t s i n t h r e e w a y s : t h e g r a n t of r i g h t s t o i n d i v i d u a l s b y t h e polis, 101

1 0 1

Instances of t h e granting of honorary citizenship (the so-called proxeniai) to indivi duals are n u m e r o u s ; cf. Tarn, Hellenistic Civilisa tion, 3rd ed., 84. T h e 'isopolity', i.e. the grant of real citizenship t o all citizens of another c i t y , is n o t usual in classical Greece (the best k n o w n e x a m p l e is the grant of A t h e n i a n citizenship t o S a m i a n s in

405

B.C.:

Zap.iovs

AOrjvaiovs

etvai;

cf.

M. N . T o d , A Selection of Greek Historical Inscrip tions, 2nd ed., 1946, i, N o . 96), b u t is more fre quent in Hellenistic t i m e s ; cf. Tarn, o p . cit. 79 sqq. These, h o w e v e r , are grants of citizenship t o Greeks; and, in numerous cases, to members of the same koinon; cf. S c h w a h n , 'Das Biirgerrecht der sympolitischen B u n d e s s t a a t e n bei den Griechen', Hermes, l x v i , 1931, 97 sqq. I t w a s another matter for organized groups of non-Greeks t o be g i v e n permission t o enter the ranks of citizens. Such grants of citizenship were g i v e n only in extraordinary cases, w h e n great danger w a s im m i n e n t , or w h e n the city w a s a b o u t t o b e c o m e subject to foreign rule. Cf., for e x a m p l e , the de

cision of the citizens of Pergamon to grant citizen ship t o irdpoiKoi, soldiers, Macedonians, Mysians, and other g r o u p s : this grant was made in 133 B.C., after the d e a t h of the last Attalid king and o n t h e e v e of the establishment of R o m a n rule in Asia (OGIS 338). There is no instance, as far as I k n o w , of the granting of 'sympolity' to a non-Greek 7roXiT€Vfia b y a Greek TTOXIS. In the light of this evidence the opinion of some scholars, such as Schiirer (iii. 122 sqq.) or Dessau (Gesch. d. rom. Kaiserzeit ii. 2. 727), t h a t J e w s enjoyed a n 'isopolity' w i t h Greeks in Greek cities in general, and in Alexandria in particular, is scarcely ten able. Such an opinion is evidently based on t h e v a g u e assertions of Josephus concerning the 'isot i m y ' between J e w s and Greeks (bell. 2. 487; c. Ap. 2. 35), or on the forged passage in the edict of Claudius about an lor) iroXirela b e t w e e n the Alexandrians and the J e w s (ant. 19. 281). See o n the apologetic tendency of Josephus infra, p . 62, and on the edict of Claudius infra, p . 70, note 45.

THE PTOLEMAIC

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n o m i n a t i o n b y t h e k i n g , a n d p e n e t r a t i o n (legally o r illegally) i n t o t h e r a n k s of the citizens through the g y m n a s i a . I n R o m a n t i m e s , t o o b t a i n c i v i c r i g h t s i n A l e x a n d r i a w a s a m a t t e r of v e r y g r e a t i m p o r t a n c e (see b e l o w , p p . 61 sq.). I n t h e P t o l e m a i c p e r i o d n o i m p o r t a n t rights or privileges were associated w i t h Alexandrian citizenship. Alexandrian c i t i z e n s h a d a c o d e of l a w s of t h e i r o w n , o n t h e p a t t e r n of A t h e n i a n l a w s ; t h e y w e r e n o t s c o u r g e d w h e n g u i l t y of a c r i m e , b u t b e a t e n w i t h b l a d e s a n d b y s p e c i a l b l a d e - b e a r e r s ; t h e y c o u l d n o t b e c o m p e l l e d t o fill a l i t u r g i c a l office o r t o p e r f o r m s o r d i d t a s k s s u c h a s t h o s e d e m a n d e d of E g y p t i a n f e l l a h i n . F o r Jews, w h o e n j o y e d t h e i r o w n j u r i s d i c t i o n , m o s t of t h e s e p r i v i l e g e s w e r e of n o g r e a t i m p o r t a n c e , a n d i n a n y c a s e i n t h e c o u r s e of t i m e s o m e p r i v i l e g e s of t h e A l e x a n d r i a n s , b y t h e t a c i t c o n s e n t of t h e g o v e r n m e n t , w e r e b e s t o w e d o n J e w s a s w e l l . T o b e a c i t i z e n of A l e x a n d r i a w a s m o r e a q u e s t i o n of p r i d e t h a n of m a t e r i a l benefit. T h e J e w w a s p r o u d of b e i n g o n t h e s a m e l e v e l a s t h e A l e x a n d r i a n G r e e k , of h a v i n g his sons e d u c a t e d in a g y m n a s i u m , of a t t e n d i n g G r e e k feasts a n d g a m e s , of s p e a k i n g a n d w r i t i n g i n G r e e k . T h e a c q u i s i t i o n of c i v i c r i g h t s w a s t h e e x p r e s sion o f t h e J e w i s h t e n d e n c y t o w a r d s e m a n c i p a t i o n (to use a n i n e t e e n t h - c e n t u r y t e r m ) . T h i s t e n d e n c y is c l e a r l y a t t e s t e d b y t h e l i t e r a r y o u t p u t o f A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s i n t h e s e c o n d c e n t u r y B.C. T h e s a l i e n t p u r p o s e of t h i s l i t e r a t u r e w a s t o draw nearer t o Greeks, t o create a synthesis between Hellenism a n d Judaism, to show that Judaism embodied a true philosophy, open alike t o J e w s a n d Greeks. T h e S e p t u a g i n t itself m a d e t h e first s t e p t o w a r d s b r o t h e r h o o d w i t h 1 0 2

103

1 0 4

1 0 5

1 0 2

T h e papyrological d o c u m e n t s reveal t h a t there were various groups of citizens i n A l e x andria : (1) those w h o were enlisted in tribes and d e m e s ; (2) those w h o were called dorot; (3) those w h o were called simply AXegavopets. In addition, i n s o m e documents of the third century B . C . from t h e F a y u m , Alexandrians, 'not y e t enlisted in the d e m e X ' (ratv ovira) €Try]yp.4vaiv els 8rjp.ov rov SeTva), are recorded. W h a t w a s t h e legal s t a t u s of each of th,ese groups? Were the enigmatic dorot iden tical w i t h the first group? Were persons, not y e t enlisted, called simply Alexandrians? All these questions h a v e been disputed in recent t i m e s b y various scholars. Cf. Schubart, Arch. v . 102 s q q . ; B i c k e r m a n n , Rev. d. Philol., 3 Serie, i, 1927, 362 s q q . ; Segre, BSAA, N . S . , viii, N o . 28, 1933, 179 s q q . ; Uxkull-Gyllenband, Gnomon des Idios Logos, K o m m e n t a r , 1934, 22 s q q . ; Arangio-Ruiz, Rev. Int. d. Droits de V Antiquite, i v , 1950, 7 sqq. I t is n o t m y intention t o discuss this problem here a t full length. I t seems t o m e t o be probable t h a t t h e term AXe£av8peis w a s applied t o t h e whole b o d y of Alexandrian citizens, whereas t h e dorot were only those of the citizens w h o were registered in tribes and demes. I t is further prob able t h a t the latter group w a s the m o s t privileged (though w e d o n o t k n o w w h a t special privileges t h e y enjoyed), whereas t h e 'Alexandrians' were simple citizens. I t is c o m m o n l y held b y modern e

scholars t h a t J e w s , u p o n entering t h e ranks of Alexandrian citizens, became 'Alexandrians', since belonging t o tribes and d e m e s w a s probably connected w i t h certain religious observances. This opinion m i g h t be sound, though it cannot be proved b y a n y papyrological or other evidence. 1 0 3

A t h e n i a n laws adopted in A l e x a n d r i a : Dikaiomata, p p . 64 s q q . ; P . O x y . 2177, F r . 1, col. I . T h e privilege of Alexandrians n o t t o b e s c o u r g e d : Philo, Flacc. 78. The e x e m p t i o n of t h e Alexandrians from liturgical offices a n d munera sordida: OGIS 669, 11. 32 s q q . ; cf. W i l c k e n , Grundz. 331, 340. 1 0 4

A s t h e privilege n o t t o b e scourged, b u t b e a t e n b y Alexandrian blade-bearers: T O edos rovro KOV

Kal em TCDV rjnerepoiv Kal

0XaKKOS

avros

8ierrjpr]oav rovs

ol irpo

irpojrovs

&XaK-

XpoVot/ff

(Flacc. 79). Cf. B o x , In Flaccum, c o m m e n t a r y ad loc. Modern scholars c o m m o n l y characterize t h e entire Jewish Alexandrian literature a s 'apolo getic'. I should use this term preferably for such literary productions as h a d t h e direct a i m of defending J e w s and Judaism against the attacks of anti-Semites, a n d which were composed for non-Jewish readers, such a s Philo's Apology or Josephus' Contra Apionem. This literature arose at the time when anti-Semitism w a s a t its height, i.e. i n the early R o m a n age. A s for Jewish litera1 0 5

PROLEGOMENA

42

G r e e k s b y t r a n s l a t i n g E x o d . 22. 27, ' T h o u s h a l t n o t r e v i l e the gods', i n t e n t i o n a l l y e m p h a s i z i n g t h e H e b r e w p l u r a l in ' E l o h i m ' , as if it w e r e i n t e n d e d t o refer t o h e a t h e n deities. S i n c e t h e T o r a h w a s r e a d b y E g y p t i a n J e w s o n l y in G r e e k , it is p r o b a b l e t h a t t h e t r u e m e a n i n g of t h i s v e r s e w a s u n k n o w n t o t h e m , a n d t h a t t h e y s i n c e r e l y b e l i e v e d in M o s e s ' t o l e r a n t a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s the h e a t h e n g o d s . A further s t e p w a s t a k e n b y t h e a u t h o r of t h e ' L e t t e r of A r i s t e a s ' , w h o p r o c l a i m e d t h a t G r e e k s a n d J e w s w o r s h i p p e d one a n d t h e s a m e g o d , a n d t h a t t h e o n l y difference l a y in t h e n a m e . Still another step w a s taken b y A r t a p a n o s , w h o a t t r i b u t e d t o M o s e s t h e f o u n d a t i o n of p a g a n c u l t s in E g y p t , i n c l u d i n g t h e c u l t of s a c r e d a n i m a l s . T h e ' L e t t e r of A r i s t e a s ' m a y also s e r v e as the b e s t e v i d e n c e of t h e t e n d e n c y t o b r i n g J u d a i s m a n d H e l l e n i s m n e a r e r t o e a c h o t h e r . I t m a y b e r e g a r d e d a s a t r u e p r o c l a m a t i o n of t h e p r o - G r e e k g r o u p in t h e A l e x a n d r i a n J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y . G r e e k s , i.e. the k i n g a n d his c o u r t , are s h o w n here as t r u e friends of t h e J e w s a n d as g r e a t r e s p e c t e r s of t h e T o r a h . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e s e v e n t y - t w o J e w i s h elders, t r a n s l a t o r s of t h e S e p t u a g i n t , are n o t o n l y v e r s e d in J e w i s h l i t e r a t u r e b u t h a v e a g o o d G r e e k e d u c a t i o n as w e l l (Arist. 121), a n d A r i s t e a s e m p h a s i z e s t h a t t h e y ' r e l e a s e d t h e m s e l v e s from t h e h a r s h a n d b a r b a r i a n t r a i t s of c h a r a c t e r ' (ib. 122), w h i c h are (as w e are i n v i t e d t o b e l i e v e ) f o u n d i n p e r s o n s d e n i e d a G r e e k e d u c a t i o n . T h e k i n g i n v i t e s t h e elders t o a s y m p o s i u m , a n d t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n r e v e a l s t h e d e e p w i s d o m of t h e J e w s , far e x c e e d i n g t h a t of t h e G r e e k p h i l o s o p h e r s (ib. 235). Y e t it is w orth n o t i n g t h a t t h e entire w i s d o m of t h e J e w i s h elders as r e p o r t e d b y A r i s t e a s is n o m o r e t h a n c u r r e n t o p i n i o n t a k e n f r o m s o m e c o m p e n d i u m of G r e e k e t h i c s a n d p o l i t i c s , w i t h t h e a d d i t i o n of t h e J e w i s h belief in o n e G o d . A r i s t e a s ' f u n d a m e n t a l i d e a is t h e s o m e w h a t sur p r i s i n g r e v e l a t i o n t h a t J u d a i s m is n o t h i n g m o r e t h a n t r u e H e l l e n i s m e n r i c h e d b y t h e i d e a of t h e u n i t y of G o d . T h e k e y t o t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g of this o r i g i n a l i d e a of A r i s t e a s is g i v e n b y his c o n c e p t i o n of t h e T o r a h a n d of its t r a n s l a t i o n in G r e e k . A r i s t e a s is a g r e a t a d m i r e r of t h e T o r a h , b u t it is v e r y i m p o r t a n t t o e m p h a s i z e t h a t it is t h e G r e e k T o r a h w h i c h he a d m i r e s . A r i s t e a s p r o v e s t h e p e r f e c t i o n of t h e t r a n s l a t i o n of t h e s e v e n t y - t w o elders b y all possible e v i d e n c e : b y t h e a p p r o v a l of t h e k i n g , b y t h e s a n c t i o n of t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y in A l e x a n d r i a , a n d e v e n b y a s p e c i a l p r o t e c t i o n of G o d (Arist. 3 1 1 ) . H e p r o c l a i m e d i t t o b e a b s o l u t e l y c o r r e c t , e v e n in s o m e senses m o r e c o r r e c t t h a n t h e H e b r e w o r i g i n a l (Arist. 30). T h i s e x u l t a t i o n of A r i s t e a s ' w a s s h a r e d b y t h e w h o l e A l e x a n d r i a n c o m m u n i t y : w e h a v e a l r e a d y seen (p. 32) t h a t t h e a l l e g e d d a y of t h e t r a n s l a t i o n w a s a n n u a l l y c e l e b r a t e d in A l e x a n d r i a . W h a t w a s t h e r e a s o n for so g r e a t a r e j o i c i n g ? A f t e r all, it w a s o n l y a t r a n s l a t i o n , a n d w e are a c c u s t o m e d t o t h i n k t h a t n o n e w s p i r i t u a l v a l u e s are c r e a t e d b y t r a n s l a t i o n s . Y e t it is o b v i o u s t h a t for A r i s t e a s , a n d for J e w s l i k e h i m , it w a s n o t m e r e l y a t r a n s l a t i o n , b u t , in s o m e sense, a s e c o n d c r e a t i o n of t h e B i b l e . A n d w e c a n g u e s s t h e r e a s o n . W e h a v e 1 0 6

107

r

ture of the Ptolemaic period, it w a s intended for Jewish readers, and its various tendencies reflect

riam Iohannis Lewy, 1949, 139-60. Arist. 1 6 : TOVydpirdvTOiv iironTriv

the various trends in the Alexandrian c o m m u n i t y . T h e longing for emancipation w a s one such tendency. I h a v e dealt w i t h this question in m y article (in Hebrew) 'Some Principles concerning the s t u d y of the Jewish Alexandrian literature', Commentationes ludaico-Hellenisticae in memo-

6e6v

1 0 6

odroi

(sc.

i j j u e f ? S e , fiaoiXev,

01 'Iov8aioi)

oifiovrai,

•npoaovop.dt,ovres

KO.1

worr/v

6V Kal

iravres,

irepws

Zfjva

/cat

A L a . Cf. T r a m o n t a n o , c o m m e n t a r y ad loc. Freudenthal, Alexander Polyhistor, 143 s q q . , 231 s q q . ; Schiirer, iii. 477 sqq. 1 0 7

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43

seen a b o v e (p. 31) t h a t t h e T o r a h u n d e r w e n t a c h a n g e w h e n t r a n s l a t e d i n t o G r e e k . I t w a s n o t o n l y t h e B i b l e in G r e e k , it w a s a G r e e k B i b l e in i t s t h o u g h t and expression. This Greek Bible could be read b y everyone, and everyone c o u l d c o n v i n c e himself of t h e d e p t h a n d t r u t h of t h e religious a n d m o r a l i d e a s of t h e J e w i s h l a w - g i v e r M o s e s , a n d of the i m p o r t a n c e of t h e p e o p l e t o w h o m s u c h p r e c e p t s h a d b e e n g i v e n . T h e ' i n f e r i o r i t y c o m p l e x ' , d e e p l y r o o t e d in t h e s o u l of e v e r y ' e m a n c i p a t e d ' J e w in t h e d i a s p o r a w h o is in t o u c h w i t h p e o p l e s of h i g h cultures, w a s largely r e m o v e d b y the fact that the Bible ceased to be a 'barbarian' b o o k s e a l e d w i t h s e v e n seals, b u t b e c a m e o p e n t o the e n t i r e c i v i l i z e d w o r l d . A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s c o u l d p r o u d l y e n t e r t h e G r e e k w o r l d a s m e n of h i g h s t a n d i n g , n o t a s a r a b b l e of v a n q u i s h e d b a r b a r i a n s . T h a t is t h e r e a s o n w h y A r i s t e a s e m p h a s i z e s so s t r o n g l y t h e n e c e s s i t y for J e w s t o r e m a i n faithful t o t h e p r e c e p t s of t h e T o r a h ( A r i s t . 139). T h e w a y t o t h e c u l t u r a l e m a n c i p a t i o n of t h e J e w s l e d t h r o u g h t h e G r e e k B i b l e , t h r o u g h s t u d y i n g a n d c o m m e n t i n g u p o n it, n o t t h r o u g h n e g l e c t of its p r e c e p t s . W h e t h e r G r e e k s w e r e d i s p o s e d t o w e l c o m e t h e J e w s is a n o t h e r m a t t e r (we shall see t h a t t h e y w e r e n o t ) ; b u t t h e J e w s m a d e all t h e n e c e s s a r y p r e p a r a t i o n s t o ensure t h a t b o t h n a t i o n s s h o u l d m e e t o n a friendly f o o t i n g . T h i s e x p l a i n s t h e d e e p p u r p o s e of A r i s t e a s ' e n d e a v o u r s t o s h o w t h a t t h e G r e e k s w e r e i n t e r e s t e d in t h e t r a n s l a t i o n of t h e B i b l e , a n d t h a t t h e w h o l e i d e a of t h e t r a n s l a t i o n w a s d u e t o l e a r n e d c o u r t i e r s of P h i l a d e l p h o s a n d t o t h e k i n g h i m self. O n l y w i t h t h e c o n s e n t of t h e G r e e k s c o u l d t h e T o r a h s e r v e as a c o n n e c t i n g l i n k b e t w e e n t h e t w o different w o r l d s , J u d a i s m a n d H e l l e n i s m . S u c h w a s t h e final s u m m a r y of A r i s t e a s ' p r o p a g a n d a . T h e u p p e r classes of the J e w i s h p o p u l a t i o n of A l e x a n d r i a r e m a i n e d faithful t o his p r o g r a m m e u n t i l t h e m i l i t a n t a n t i S e m i t i s m of t h e A l e x a n d r i a n s m a d e it r i d i c u l o u s . 108

A c o n s i d e r a t i o n of t h e J e w i s h m a n n e r of life in A l e x a n d r i a inclines u s t o a s k w h e t h e r J e w i s h e m a n c i p a t i o n e l s e w h e r e in E g y p t f o l l o w e d t h e s a m e m a i n lines. T h e a n s w e r is in t h e n e g a t i v e : J e w s of t h e chora b e h a v e d q u i t e differently. O n l y A l e x a n d r i a n Jews, and a m o n g t h e m particularly the intelligentsia, needed such a s o p h i s t i c a t e d j u s t i f i c a t i o n a s t h a t g i v e n b y A r i s t e a s for t h e i r a t t i t u d e t o t h e G r e e k s . T h e social a n d i n t e l l e c t u a l l e v e l of t h e J e w i s h p o p u l a t i o n of t h e chora w a s definitely l o w e r . T h e p a p y r i g i v e e v i d e n c e of a different p r o c e s s of J e w i s h a s s i m i l a t i o n , t h a t of J e w i s h v i l l a g e r s a m o n g t h e E g y p t i a n p o p u l a t i o n . G r e e k c u l t u r e w a s n o t e q u a l l y s t r o n g e v e r y w h e r e i n t h e c o u n t r y ; it w a s , after all, a foreign p l a n t . E g y p t i a n c u l t u r e , o n t h e c o n t r a r y , w a s d e e p l y r o o t e d in t h e life of t h e l a n d , a n d G r e e k settlers t h e m s e l v e s w e r e e v e n t u a l l y influenced t o a cer t a i n e x t e n t b y their E g y p t i a n e n v i r o n m e n t . T h u s w e find J e w s i n t h e p a p y r i calling themselves b y E g y p t i a n names. These Jews were shepherds, peasants, a r t i s a n s , all l i v i n g in v i l l a g e s a n d in close c o n t a c t w i t h t h e i r E g y p t i a n n e i g h bours. M a n y d o c u m e n t s , e s p e c i a l l y from t h e T h e b a i d , r e v e a l t h e i g n o r a n c e of t h e n a t i v e s of t h e c o u n t r y : m a n y c o u l d n o t s i g n t h e i r n a m e s in G r e e k ; n o w o n d e r , t h e n , t h a t t h e r e w e r e also J e w s w h o c o u l d n o t s i g n in G r e e k ( N o s . 46, 107). 1 0 9

1 0 8

I h a v e dealt in detail with the 'Letter of

Aristeas' in m y article (in Hebrew) 'The Ideo logical

I949» 1 0 9

Platform

of

Aristeas', Sefer

Dinaburg,

83-101.

Cf. e.g. N u » . y, 3s, 44,99,417. The close con

nexion with E g y p t i a n neighbours in business affairs is well illustrated b y N o . 46 concerning the c o m m o n use of a pottery in a 'Syrian village' b y a Jewish and an E g y p t i a n family.

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Did they k n o w a n y other language ? N o t Hebrew, at a n y rate: Hebrew w a s no l o n g e r n e e d e d , since t h e G r e e k B i b l e w a s r e a d i n t h e c o u n t r y n o less t h a n i n A l e x a n d r i a . I t is u n l i k e l y t h a t t h e m o t h e r t o n g u e of J e w s l i k e S i m o n , s o n of J a ' e z e r ( N o . 107), or t h e p o t t e r s of t h e S y r i a n v i l l a g e of N o . 46, w a s A r a m a i c , since i n t h e s e c o n d a n d first c e n t u r i e s B . C . A r a m a i c s e e m s t o h a v e b e e n u s e d o n l y b y n e w l y a r r i v e d i m m i g r a n t s (see a b o v e , p . 30). M o s t p r o b a b l y , therefore, t h e i r l a n g u a g e w a s E g y p t i a n , a s w a s t h e g e n e r a l l a n g u a g e of t h e entire c o u n t r y a r o u n d them. J e w s of t h i s s o r t c o u l d h a r d l y e v a d e t h e o v e r w h e l m i n g influence of t h e i r e n v i r o n m e n t . T h o s e w h o n e v e r t h e l e s s m a n a g e d t o r e m a i n J e w s c o u l d d o so o n l y b e c a u s e of t h e i r s t u b b o r n f a i t h f u l n e s s t o t h e i r n a t i o n a l o r i g i n a n d r e l i g i o n . T h e y o b s e r v e d t h e c o m m a n d m e n t s of t h e T o r a h for t h e s i m p l e r e a s o n t h a t t h e y w e r e w r i t t e n in t h e T o r a h . T h e o b s e r v a n c e of S a b b a t h s e e m s t o h a v e b e e n s p e c i a l l y i m p o r t a n t t o t h e m . W e r e a d i n N o . 10 t h a t a m a n o n t h e e s t a t e of A p o l l o n i o s i n P h i l a d e l p h i a , p r o b a b l y a m a n a g e r of b u i l d i n g w o r k s , d i d n o t w o r k o n t h e S a b b a t h . W e s h o u l d r e c a l l t h e v a s t a m o u n t of w o r k c a r r i e d o u t b y t h e n e w s e t t l e r s i n P h i l a d e l p h i a , t h e t e m p o of t h e w o r k , a n d t h e s e v e r i t y of s u c h t a s k m a s t e r s a s A p o l l o n i o s o r Z e n o n , t o a p p r e c i a t e t h e s t e a d f a s t n e s s of a J e w o b s e r v ing t h e S a b b a t h u n d e r s u c h c o n d i t i o n s . 1 1 0

1 1 1

112

N a t u r a l l y e n o u g h , n a t i o n a l feeling w a s d i r e c t e d t o w a r d s P a l e s t i n e . I t h a s b e e n s h o w n (p. 26) t h a t t h e influence of P a l e s t i n e i n t h e first y e a r s of t h e P t o l e m a i c p e r i o d w a s b y n o m e a n s ' n a t i o n a l ' . T h e s a m e spirit r e m a i n e d in v o g u e d u r i n g t h e r e i g n of P t o l e m y P h i l o m e t o r . O n i a s I V , t h e s o n of t h e h i g h p r i e s t , w h o fled i n t o E g y p t w i t h a c r o w d of h i s followers, w a s n o t a n a d h e r e n t of J u d a s M a c c a b a e u s ; o t h e r w i s e , i n s t e a d of l e a v i n g h i s m o t h e r c o u n t r y a n d s e e k i n g shelter abroad, he w o u l d h a v e associated himself w i t h the resistance m o v e m e n t . H e w a s , p r o b a b l y , n o t a n e n e m y of t h e G r e e k s ; h e c o u l d e v e n h a v e b e e n a h e l l e n i z e r , t h o u g h , of c o u r s e , h e w a s s t r o n g l y o p p o s e d t o t h e l e a d e r s of t h e H e l l e n i s t i c p a r t y i n J e r u s a l e m , w h o h a d b e e n g u i l t y of t h e m u r d e r of h i s f a t h e r . T h i s m a y a c c o u n t for t h e p r i n c i p a l a c h i e v e m e n t of h i s l i f e : t h e b u i l d i n g of a J e w i s h t e m p l e i n L e o n t o p o l i s . T h i s e r e c t i o n of a n e w r e l i g i o u s c e n t r e , in o b v i o u s c o n t r a d i c t i o n of t h e B i b l i c a l p r e c e p t t h a t G o d s h o u l d b e w o r s h i p p e d in one place chosen b y G o d Himself, could h a v e been carried out o n l y b y a J e w w h o d i d n o t feel o b l i g e d t o o b s e r v e i n d e t a i l t h e p r e c e p t s of t h e T o r a h . M o d e r n s c h o l a r s h a v e s u g g e s t e d t w o p o s s i b l e r e a s o n s for t h i s a c t i o n of h i s : h i s desire t o p r o v i d e E g y p t i a n J e w r y w i t h a r e l i g i o u s c e n t r e of i t s o w n , a n d t o b u i l d a t r u e 1 1 0

Cf. P . R y l . 458 ( = C. H . R o b e r t s , Two Biblical Papyri in the John Rylands Library, 1936): a fragment of the Greek Bible ( D e u t . 2328) of the second century B.C. from the F a y u m . 1 1 1

It is worth n o t i n g t h a t Greeks as well as J e w s were strongly influenced b y their E g y p t i a n e n v i r o n m e n t : t h e y called t h e m s e l v e s b y E g y p t i a n n a m e s , spoke E g y p t i a n , and worshipped E g y p t i a n g o d s . Cf., for e x a m p l e , W . Chr. 50, 51, 136. E v e n certain priestesses of the deified P t o l e m a i c queens, chosen as t h e y were from t h e m o s t aristocratic Greek families, were called b y pure E g y p t i a n n a m e s ; cf. Wilcken, Arch. xiii. 136.

1 1 2

T h e swiftness and urgency of the works in Philadelphia were encouraged b y the great minis ter Apollonios himself; cf. his letter t o Zenon ( P S I 514) where the latter w a s told t o e x e c u t e some order at the highest s p e e d : VVKTCL . . . r)(iepav notov/xevos. N o t everyone could bear such a m a d dening rush, and some of the workers (including slaves) were ready t o collapse from e x h a u s t i o n or run a w a y ( d v a x c o p e i v ) ; cf. P S I 602,667. For t h e works in Philadelphia in general see Viereck, Philadelphia, 30 s q q . ; Edgar, Introduction to P. Mich. Zen., p p . 13, 27 sqq.

THE

PTOLEMAIC

PERIOD

45

t e m p l e i n s t e a d of t h a t of J e r u s a l e m , p o l l u t e d b y t h e hellenizers. T h e first r e a s o n d o e s n o t a c c o u n t for t h e e r e c t i o n of t h e t e m p l e in L e o n t o p o l i s : t h e c e n t r e of E g y p t i a n J e w r y w a s A l e x a n d r i a , and not an u n k n o w n place in a rural area. B e s i d e s , O n i a s w o u l d h a v e b u i l t a c e n t r e for t h e E g y p t i a n J e w s , o n l y if t h o s e J e w s t h e m s e l v e s h a d desired h i m t o d o s o ; y e t w e s h a l l see t h a t E g y p t i a n J e w r y p a i d n o a t t e n t i o n t o t h e t e m p l e of O n i a s . A s t o t h e s e c o n d reason, i t is v a l i d o n l y if w e s u p p o s e t h a t t h e t e m p l e w a s b u i l t before 164 B . C . , b e c a u s e after t h a t d a t e t h e T e m p l e of J e r u s a l e m c o u l d n o l o n g e r h a v e b e e n c o n s i d e r e d a s p o l l u t e d . W e d o n o t k n o w t h e y e a r in w h i c h t h e t e m p l e of O n i a s w a s b u i l t , b u t it is l i k e l y t h a t it w a s n e a r e r t o t h e e n d of his c a r e e r t h a n t o i t s b e g i n n i n g . T h e true reason for t h e e r e c t i o n of t h e t e m p l e w a s p r o b a b l y s o m e p o l i t i c a l p l a n o n t h e p a r t of t h e P t o l e m a i c g o v e r n m e n t c o m b i n e d w i t h t h e v a n i t y of t h e a d v e n t u r e r , O n i a s , w h o desired t o p a r a d e in t h e s o l e m n dress of a h i g h p r i e s t . O n i a s c o u l d n e v e r f o r g e t t h a t t h e office of t h e h i g h priest, i.e. t h e p o l i t i c a l l e a d e r s h i p of t h e J e w i s h p e o p l e , w a s his d u e , n o t t h a t of t h e u s u r p e r s in J e r u s a l e m . T h e s e a s p i r a t i o n s of O n i a s c o u l d o n l y b e w e l c o m e d b y t h e P t o l e m a i c g o v e r n m e n t , w h i c h c o u l d use t h e e x i s t e n c e of t h e t e m p l e of L e o n t o p o l i s a s a m e a n s of a n t i - S e l e u c i d p r o p a g a n d a a m o n g t h e J e w s of P a l e s t i n e . Y e t w e are c o n c e r n e d here n o t w i t h P t o l e m a i c p o l i t i c s b u t w i t h E g y p t i a n J e w r y . I t is a m a t t e r of f a c t t h a t n o w h e r e i n t h e w h o l e of A l e x a n d r i a n l i t e r a t u r e is t h e r e a n y m e n t i o n of t h e t e m p l e of O n i a s . T h e t e m p l e of J e r u s a l e m , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , w a s a l w a y s h i g h l y e s t e e m e d b y E g y p t i a n J e w s , a n d e v e n s u c h h e l l e n i z e d J e w s a s t h e a u t h o r of t h e ' L e t t e r of A r i s t e a s ' s h o w e d t h e i r p r o f o u n d a d m i r a t i o n a n d r e v e r e n c e for t h e J e r u s a l e m temple. T h e p i l g r i m a g e t o J e r u s a l e m a n d t h e c o l l e c t i o n of m o n e y for t h e t e m p l e , f r e q u e n t l y a t t e s t e d in t h e e a r l y R o m a n period, n o d o u b t also t o o k p l a c e in P t o l e m a i c t i m e s . T h u s w e m a y c o n s i d e r t h e b u i l d i n g of t h e t e m p l e of O n i a s 113

1 1 4

1 1 5

1 1 6

1 1 3

According to Josephus, the flight of Onias took place in the year 162. If this is regarded as true, the temple at Leontopolis could not h a v e been built before this latter date. Y e t , e v e n supposing an error on the part of Josephus (see N o . 132), such a n early date for the erection of the temple is not very likely. It is obvious t h a t , as regards the building of the temple and the settlement of a Jewish military unit in the 'Land of Onias', the latter event is chronologically the earlier: a temple could h a v e been built anywhere, and would probably h a v e been built in Alexandria or in its environs, but for the fact that Onias w a s already settled in a certain place, Leontopolis, where his little army w a s encamped. The settlem e n t of the Jewish soldiers, on the other h a n d , could h a v e taken place only after a period of military service, w h e n Onias' military capacity had m e t w i t h the king's appreciation. 1 1 4

S o m e scholars believe t h a t the temple of Onias is mentioned in Sibyll. 5. 50T, 507 (ed. Geffcken, p . 128); but see the refutation of this v i e w b y Geffcken, Komposition und Entstehungszeit der Oracuta Sibyllina, 1903, 26. " s Aristeas devotes t w e n t y - o n e

paragraphs

(84-104) t o a detailed description of the t e m p l e , its exterior, the altar, the divine service, t h e dignified appearance of the high priest, etc. It is curious t o note that he puts Jerusalem in the middle of Judaea and the temple on the s u m m i t of a mountain (83 sq.), t w o inexactitudes, both aiming a t creating the impression of t h e Jerusalem temple as the central point of the H o l y L a n d . See T r a m o n t a n o , ad loc. Cf. Vincent, 'Jerusalem d'apres la lettre d'Aristee', RB, N.S., v , 1908, 520 s q q . ; vi, 1909, 555 sqq. 1 1 6

According t o Vincent, o p . cit. vi. 575, t h e description of Palestine and Jerusalem in the 'Letter of Aristeas' is based on personal observations of the author w h o visited the H o l y L a n d as a pilgrim. For R o m a n t i m e s , visits t o the H o l y L a n d b y Jewish pilgrims from the diaspora are frequently attested (cf. for example, Philo, de spec. leg. 1. 69). Philo w a s one of these pilgrims; see de provid. 2. 64, a p . E u s e b . Praep. Evang. 8. Cf. Baron, SRH i . 213. For t h e collecting m o n e y o n behalf of the temple in Jerusalem Cic. pro Flacco 67; Philo, leg. 156. Cf. Schiirer, 148 s q . ; Juster, i. 377 sqq. 2

14. of see iii.

4

PROLEGOMENA

6

n o t a s a d e m o n s t r a t i o n b y E g y p t i a n J e w r y of feelings i n i m i c a l t o J e r u s a l e m b u t a s a n a c t of a n a d v e n t u r e r , a n a c t w i t h n o religious o r n a t i o n a l s i g n i f i c a n c e . O n i a s ' failure t o i m p r e s s t h e E g y p t i a n J e w s w a s t o b e e x p e c t e d , since t h e i r g e n e r a l s e n t i m e n t s of s y m p a t h y t o t h e n e w J e w i s h s t a t e of t h e H a s m o n a e a n s c l e a r l y s h o w t h e i r feelings. T h o u g h t h e i m m i g r a n t s c o m i n g from P a l e s t i n e i n t o E g y p t w e r e u s u a l l y o p p o n e n t s of t h e n e w r u l e r s (see a b o v e , p p . 2 s q . ) , t h e i r influence w a s n e g l i g i b l e . W e h a v e a l r e a d y seen t h a t s u c h s e n t i m e n t s of s y m p a t h y h a d even a political repercussion, as shown b y the part p l a y e d b y the J e w i s h g e n e r a l of K l e o p a t r a I I I d u r i n g h e r w a r in P a l e s t i n e ( a b o v e , p . 24). I t w a s o n l y n a t u r a l for t h e H a s m o n a e a n g o v e r n m e n t t o e n c o u r a g e t h e g r o w t h of t h e s e sympathies. T w i c e a n a t t e m p t w a s m a d e to induce the E g y p t i a n J e w s to cele b r a t e t h e n e w feast i n a u g u r a t e d b y t h e H a s m o n a e a n s — H a n u k k a h . I t is l i k e l y , t o o , t h a t t h e c e l e b r a t i o n of Purim in E g y p t w a s also p a r t of t h e H a s m o n aean political p r o p a g a n d a . T h e n e w H e b r e w l i t e r a t u r e , e v e n if n o t c o n c e r n e d w i t h t h e H a s m o n a e a n s , c o n t r i b u t e d also t o t h e p o p u l a r i t y of P a l e s t i n e a m o n g t h e E g y p t i a n J e w s , a s , for e x a m p l e , t h e b o o k of J e s u s S i r a c h o r t h e s t o r y of Judith. E v e n t h e n e w o p p o n e n t s of t h e H a s m o n a e a n s , t h e P h a r i s e e s , fleeing

117

118

1 1 9

1 2 0

1 1 7

T h e literature o n t h e temple of Onias is

a b u n d a n t ; see the list of articles (till 1906) b y Schiirer, iii. 146 n. 35. Cf. from

the

recent

works B e c k , 'Relations entre Jerusalem e t la diaspora e'gyptienne a u 2 Oudlestamentische

e

Studien,

Seeligmann, The Septuagint

siecle a v a n t J . - C , ii,

1943, 123 s q q . ;

Version

of

Isaiah,

1948, 91 sqq. 1 , 8

These t w o a t t e m p t s — o f

the years 143/2

and 124 B.C.—are mentioned in the letter of t h e Palestinian J e w s t o their brothers in E g y p t a t t h e beginning of the Second B o o k of the Maccabees (2 Mace. 1. 1-9); cf. B i c k e r m a n n , ' E i n jiid. Festbrief v o m J . 124 v . Chr.', ZNTW

x x x i i , 1933,

233 sqq. "» T h e Greek t e x t of t h e B o o k of Esther is fol lowed b y a brief supplement telling us t h a t a certain D o s i t h e o s , a priest a n d a L e v i t e , a n d his son P t o l e m y , 'has brought' (elorjveyKev)—ob viously into Alexandria—the B o o k of Esther (here called 'the Letter of Purim', imoroXr) rwv 0povpat) 'in t h e fourth year of P t o l e m y and Kleopatra'. There are three joint reigns of a P t o l e m y w i t h a Kleopatra, and the corresponding dates are 114/13, 78/7, 49/8; each of t h e three is regarded b y modern scholars as a possible d a t e of t h e introduction of the 'Letter of Purim' into E g y p t (114/13: Ryssel, Stein, Torrey, Pfeiffer, and o t h e r s ; 78/7: Cohen, Bickermann, Marcus; 49/8 : Willrich, Schiirer, Motzo). Cf. Ryssel, a p . K a u t z s c h , Apokr. u. Pseudoep. i. 212; Stein, REJ x c i x , 1935, 109 s q q . ; Bickermann, JBL lxiii, 1944, 339 s q q . ; Cohen, Judaica et Aegyptiaca, 28 s q q . ; Willrich, Judaica, 1900, 4; Schiirer, iii. 449 s q q . ; Torrey, HTR x x x v i i , 1944, 25 s q q . ;

Pfeiffer, Hist, of N. T. Times, 1949, 304 s q q . ; Marcus, JBL lxiv, 1945, 269 s q q . ; Motzo, Saggi di storia e letteratura giudeo-ellenistica, 293 s q . Bickermann bases his reasons in favour of the year 78/7 o n formal evidence only (the formula of d a t i n g according t o the years of the reign of t h e royal p a i r ) ; y e t a literary product is n o t a n official document, and the author of the 'colo phon' w h o w a s , according t o Bickermann (345 sq.) probably t h e librarian of a J e w i s h library, i.e. a private person and n o t a government official, could easily h a v e written fiaoiXevovros instead of fiaoiXevovriov and introduced t h e n a m e of t h e king before t h a t of the queen. T h u s the date of 114/13 remains t h e m o s t probable. T h e term clorjvcyice a t t e s t s t h a t the 'bringing' of t h e book into Alexandria h a d some general importance (all books of the Bible might be said t o h a v e been 'brought' into E g y p t , b u t in n o other case w a s such a note inserted), and Bickermann is right w h e n h e asserts 'that the B o o k of Esther . . . w a s regarded in Alexandria . . . as a festal letter requiring c o m m o n acceptance of Purim "from India t o E t h i o p i a " ' (350). Y e t , if s o , t h e sending of t h e book into E g y p t could hardly h a v e been the result of private initiative o n t h e part of some group of u n k n o w n persons (so Bickermann, 359 sq.), b u t w a s probably inspired b y official circles a t t h e H a s m o n a e a n court. T h e B o o k of Esther, which stresses so sharply the antagonism between J e w s and n o n - J e w s , and e v o k e s t h e national feeling of Jewish readers, w a s excellently suited t o fulfil t h e aims of H a s m o n a e a n propa g a n d a abroad. Jesus Sirach, though a m a n of great experi1 2 0

THE

PTOLEMAIC

PERIOD

47

i n t o E g y p t f r o m t h e p e r s e c u t i o n s of t h e ' S a d d u c a e a n ' k i n g s (see a b o v e , n o t e 6), c o u l d b u t d e e p e n the i m p r e s s i o n t h a t P a l e s t i n e h a d b e c o m e t h e scene of a g r e a t n a t i o n a l r e g e n e r a t i o n . T h i s influence of P a l e s t i n e h a d i t s r e p e r c u s s i o n s o n A l e x a n d r i a n literature as well. Writers like Aristeas had no s y m p a t h y w i t h the H a s m o n a e a n s ; it is e v e n h i g h l y p r o b a b l e t h a t he h a d in m i n d t h i s n e w t y p e of P a l e s t i n i a n J e w w h e n s p e a k i n g a b o u t t h e ' h a r s h a n d b a r b a r i a n t r a i t s ' of J e w i s h c h a r a c t e r . Y e t a l m o s t a t t h e s a m e t i m e a s t h e p u b l i c a t i o n of A r i s t e a s ' p a m p h l e t , p r e a c h i n g a n entente cordiale b e t w e e n G r e e k s a n d J e w s , a n o t h e r J e w i s h w r i t e r of t h e dispersion, J a s o n of C y r e n e , w r o t e a h i s t o r y in five b o o k s o n t h e n a t i o n a l m o v e m e n t in Palestine, w a r m l y praising its leader J u d a s M a c c a b a e u s and d e p i c t i n g t h e G r e e k s a n d t h e i r J e w i s h followers a s c r u e l t y r a n t s a n d w i c k e d t r a i t o r s . T h i s h i s t o r y of J a s o n ' s w a s s u m m a r i z e d b y a n E g y p t i a n J e w , a n d t h i s s u m m a r y is k n o w n as t h e S e c o n d B o o k of M a c c a b e e s . T h e s a m e h a t r e d of t h e G r e e k s filled t h e h e a r t of t h e u n k n o w n A l e x a n d r i a n w r i t e r w h o i n s e r t e d f r a g m e n t s of his o w n i n t o t h e G r e e k v e r s i o n of t h e B o o k of E s t h e r , t r a n s p l a n t i n g t h e s t o r y f r o m its P e r s i a n s e t t i n g i n t o t h e s u r r o u n d i n g s of a H e l l e n i s t i c c o u r t a n d s t a m p i n g H a m a n a s a M a c e d o n i a n (see a b o v e , p . 24). I t w a s t h e i n a u g u r a t i o n of a n e w t r e n d in A l e x a n d r i a n l i t e r a t u r e , a t r e n d f u n d a m e n t a l l y o p p o s e d t o t h a t of t h e philhellenic t e n d e n c y of A r i s t e a s a n d s i m i l a r w r i t e r s . I n a s h o r t t i m e , a t t h e v e r y b e g i n n i n g of t h e R o m a n rule, t h i s t r e n d w a s t o c u l m i n a t e in s u c h l i t e r a r y p r o d u c t i o n s as t h e T h i r d B o o k of M a c c a b e e s or t h e W i s d o m of S o l o m o n . T h i s h a t r e d for t h e G r e e k s , fostered b y t h e spirit of n a t i o n a l r e g e n e r a t i o n in P a l e s t i n e , c l a s h e d w i t h t h e c o r r e s p o n d i n g h a t r e d of G r e e k s for J e w s , a n d t h i s conflict d r e w its v i g o u r from t h e r a p i d l y d e t e r i o r a t i n g p o l i t i c a l c o n d i t i o n s of t h e P t o l e m a i c S t a t e a n d f r o m t h e f e r v e n t p a t r i o t i s m of t h e A l e x a n d r i a n s . T h e r e s e e m e d i n d e e d little h o p e t h a t t h e c o m i n g p e r i o d w o u l d offer p e a c e a n d s e c u r i t y for t h e J e w s in E g y p t . 1 2 1

ence in worldly matters and, it would appear, in political questions too (e.g. 51. 2 - 5 ; 31. 9 - 1 3 ; 39. 4; 51. 13), was strongly opposed t o paganism and was always ready to teach his disciples h o w t o fight it. H e warns his pupils of the dangers of free inquiry into the mysteries of the universe, so typical of Greek thinkers (3. 21 s q q . ) ; he insists that real wisdom is the fear of God (19. 20; 19. 24); a m a n fearing God is greater t h a n the leading persons of a State (10. 24); that wisdom has its seat in Zion, and that the Torah of Moses is its only true revelation (24. 8 s q q . ) ; J e w s w h o h a v e left the good path of religion are wicked persons, and Sirach cannot curse t h e m enough (41. 8 s q . ; 4 2 . 1 - 2 ; 10. 19). For the general ideas of Sirach cf. Schiirer, iii. 212 s q q . ; Smend, Die Weisheit des Jesus Sirach, 1906, pp. x i v s q q . ; Segal, Sefer Ben-Sira ha-shalem, 1953 (in H e b r e w ) ; Torrey, The Apocryphal Literature, 1945, 93 s q q . ; Pfeiffer, History of N.T. Times, 364 sqq. The B o o k of J u d i t h is imbued with national senti m e n t to an even greater e x t e n t than the Book

of Esther. It was probably composed under the H a s m o n a e a n s , though old historical reminis cences were used in its composition. 'The a t m o sphere of the book is decidedly t h a t of the Maccabean period' (Pfeiffer, op. cit. 294). Cf. Schiirer, iii. 234; Torrey, op. cit. 92 sq. 1 2 1

T h e picture of Antiochos E p i p h a n e s , per sonally presiding over the scene of the martyrdom of the mother and her s e v e n sons, m a y serve t o indicate the opinions held b y Jason of Cyrene (or the author of 2 Mace.) about the Greek rulers. A s for Jewish apostates, the author of 2 Mace, calls t h e m blasphemers, scoundrels, murderers, and the like. In our case, the complicated ques tion whether all the details of the story recounted b y the author of the Second Book of Maccabees might be ascribed t o Jason (2 Mace. 2. 23) is irrevelant, since the author of 2 Mace, was at a n y rate an E g y p t i a n J e w , and we are concerned here precisely w i t h the ideology of E g y p t i a n J e w r y . For Jason of Cyrene and 2 Mace, see Schiirer, iii. 482; Pfeiffer, 499 s q q . ; Torrey, o p . cit. 76 sqq.

4

PROLEGOMENA

8

2 . T H E E A R L Y R O M A N P E R I O D (30 B . C . - A . D . 1 1 7 ) T h e R o m a n conquest inaugurated a new epoch in E g y p t , politically as well as economically. Greeks, Egyptians, and Jews h a d to accommodate themselves to n e w c o n d i t i o n s . T h e G r e e k s , a p a r t f r o m a s m a l l g r o u p of h o t - h e a d e d A l e x a n d r i a n p a t r i o t s , w e r e r e a d i l y c o n v i n c e d t h a t t h e y h a d n o t h i n g t o lose a n d a l l t o gain, a n d in a v e r y short time t h e y made peace w i t h the conqueror. T h e E g y p t i a n s , after s o m e u n s u c c e s s f u l a t t e m p t s t o o p p o s e t h e n e w r e g i m e , b o w e d their heads a n d resigned themselves t o endure the h e a v y burdens reimposed upon them. T h e J e w s entered upon a long a n d exhausting struggle, a n d were totally routed. 1

T h e m a i n i n t e r e s t of t h e h i s t o r y of t h e J e w s i n E g y p t i n t h e e a r l y R o m a n p e r i o d lies i n p o l i t i c a l e v e n t s a n d t h e i r influence o n t h e social a n d c u l t u r a l a s p e c t s of J e w i s h life. T h i s s u r v e y w i l l , h o w e v e r , o p e n w i t h a r e p o r t o n e c o n o m i c conditions, according t o the plan adopted in the previous chapter. I n t h e P t o l e m a i c p e r i o d w e h e a r d l i t t l e a b o u t J e w i s h life i n A l e x a n d r i a . I n t h e R o m a n p e r i o d , f o r t h e first t i m e , t h e r e is v a l u a b l e m a t e r i a l for t h e s t u d y of t h e v a r i o u s s o c i a l classes i n t h e A l e x a n d r i a n c o m m u n i t y . P h i l o , J o s e p h u s , a n d t h e p a p y r i from A b u s i r el-meleq (see S e c t i o n V I I ) a r e o u r p r i n c i p a l s o u r c e s ; m i n o r p r o d u c t s of A l e x a n d r i a n l i t e r a t u r e , a n d t h e T a l m u d , c o n t r i b u t e s o m e i m p o r t a n t e v i d e n c e . T h u s a n a t t e m p t m a y b e m a d e t o d e p i c t t h e m a i n f e a t u r e s of t h e e c o n o m i c c o n d i t i o n s of A l e x a n d r i a n J e w r y . S p e a k i n g a b o u t t h e c e s s a t i o n of b u s i n e s s c a u s e d b y t h e p o g r o m of A . D . 38, P h i l o s a y s : ' T h e c a p i t a l i s t s lost t h e i r d e p o s i t s , a n d n o o n e w a s a l l o w e d , w h e t h e r f a r m e r , s h i p p e r , m e r c h a n t , o r a r t i s a n , t o p r a c t i s e h i s u s u a l b u s i n e s s / H e r e five s o c i a l classes a r e m e n t i o n e d , t h r e e of t h e m b e l o n g i n g , n o d o u b t , t o t h e h i g h e s t J e w i s h circles i n A l e x a n d r i a . T h e c a p i t a l i s t s (Tropiorai) are recorded a p a r t from m e r c h a n t s (iW/cA^poi a n d epnopoi); w e m a y infer t h a t t h e y p a r t i c i p a t e d i n b u s i n e s s affairs o n l y b y i n v e s t i n g t h e i r m o n e y , a n d n o t d i r e c t l y b y b u y i n g a n d s e l l i n g . T h e i r w e a l t h c o n s i s t e d of m o n e y w h i c h t h e y l e n t a t i n t e r e s t t o m e r c h a n t s or p r i v a t e p e r s o n s . T h e e v i d e n c e g i v e n b y P h i l o i s a t t e s t e d b y o t h e r s o u r c e s . 2

3

1

T h e revolt in Heroonpolis a n d t h e riots in the T h e b a i s : Strabo 1 7 . 8 1 9 ; the inscription of the R o m a n prefect C. Cornelius Gallus, Dessau 8995; cf. Milne, A History of Egypt, 5. 2

FlaCC.

fSapvrepov, TTopiorwv, vaVKXrjpov,

T

S

57 • V rds

nrjSevos fir)

8' dprrayrjs

fiev

r) aiTpa£ta KO.K6V T)V

evQ-qtcas Sc

e/xiropov,

diroXtoXeKOTCnv TCUV

eco/ievov, fir)

p/r) yeojpyov,

TC^VITOU,

rd

fir)

avvrjdrj

T h e passage concerning the iropiOTCU is rendered variously by the translators: 'the tradespeople h a d lost their stocks' (Colson); 'the provision merchants had lost their stores' ( B o x ) . Y e t ivdrjKcu has the meaning of 'deposit', and t h e turn of t h e phrase indicates t h a t Philo h a d in tended t o draw a distinction between the Tropiaral and all other classes of the population, including merchants (vavKX-qpoi and efinopot). Thus the iropiarat are n o t persons engaged in o n e parti TTpayp.aT€veoQat.

cular profession, but are 'men of business' in g e n e r a l : the strict meaning of nopiarai is 'men of g a i n ' , 'of profit'. T h e modern term 'capitalist' seems t o m e t o be a good rendering of the Greek word. 3

Many parallel instances from Greece a n d R o m e m a y be quoted a s evidence of the existence of such 'capitalists' a m o n g Greeks a n d R o m a n s . See, for example, for t h e end of t h e classical period in Greece the 34th oration of D e m o s t h e n e s (against Phormion), especially 50 sq,, where t h e great role of the Baveioral in Athenian sea-trade is emphasized. Cf. Knorringa, Emporos, 1926, 92 sqq. I n R o m e t h e censor Cato m a y serve as an instance (Plutarch, Cato maior 21). Cf. also the participation of the publicani in the economic life of the R o m a n Republic as depicted b y P o l y bios (6. 17. 4).

THE EARLY

ROMAN PERIOD

49

A c c o r d i n g t o J o s e p h u s (ant. 18. 1 5 9 ; cf. bell. 5. 205), P h i l o ' s b r o t h e r A l e x a n d e r l e n t m o n e y t o t h e J e w i s h k i n g , A g r i p p a I, p a r t l y i n c a s h in A l e x a n d r i a a n d p a r t l y , it w o u l d a p p e a r , b y g i v i n g l e t t e r s of c r e d i t t o his r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s i n I t a l y . P r e s u m a b l y A l e x a n d e r w a s a r i c h b a n k e r , a n d A g r i p p a w a s n o t his o n l y c l i e n t . A l e t t e r , w r i t t e n b y a G r e e k m e r c h a n t t o a friend in A l e x a n d r i a , i n A . D . 41 ( N o . 152), c o n t a i n s a w a r n i n g t o a v o i d J e w i s h c r e d i t o r s : 'like e v e r y b o d y else, y o u t o o , b e w a r e of t h e J e w s . ' S i n c e t h e l e t t e r w a s w r i t t e n a t a t i m e of g r e a t t e n s i o n b e t w e e n G r e e k s a n d J e w s in A l e x a n d r i a , t h e c o n t e n t s m a y b e i n t e r preted as a warning not to visit the Jewish quarter, b u t at a n y rate the existence of J e w i s h m o n e y - l e n d e r s is here c l e a r l y a t t e s t e d . P h i l o s p e a k s w i t h g r e a t i n d i g n a t i o n of m o n e y - l e n d e r s e x a c t i n g e x t r a v a g a n t i n t e r e s t , o r l e n d i n g f o o d a t i n t e r e s t t o t h e p o o r (de spec. leg. 2. 7 5 ; de virtut. 82 sq.), b u t t h e r e c a n b e n o c e r t a i n t y w h e t h e r h e h a d i n m i n d s o m e p a r t i c u l a r m e m b e r s of t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y of A l e x a n d r i a , or w a s m a k i n g a g e n e r a l c r i t i c i s m o n a f a m i l i a r m o r a l t h e m e . 4

T h e s e c o n d a n d t h i r d classes of r i c h m e n , m e n t i o n e d b y P h i l o , are t h e naukleroi (vavKXrjpoi) a n d t h e emporoi (efiiropoi). B o t h t e r m s h a d a l o n g h i s t o r y d u r i n g t h e c l a s s i c a l p e r i o d , a n d t h i s is n o t t h e p l a c e t o i n v e s t i g a t e t h e m ; i t is sufficient t o s a y t h a t i n H e l l e n i s t i c - R o m a n t i m e s a naukleros w a s a shipowner trans p o r t i n g g o o d s o n b o a r d his o w n ships, w h e r e a s a n emporos w a s a m e r c h a n t i n t h e w i d e r sense of t h e w o r d . I n a m a r i t i m e t o w n , s u c h a s A l e x a n d r i a , c o m m e r c i a l life c e n t r e d a r o u n d t h e h a r b o u r , a n d t h e naukleroi w e r e far m o r e i m p o r t a n t t h a n m e r e m e r c h a n t s . T h e p r i n c i p a l t r a d e of A l e x a n d r i a w a s in c o r n , e s p e c i a l l y i n R o m a n t i m e s w h e n E g y p t i a n c o r n w a s o n e of t h e f u n d a m e n t a l s o u r c e s of t h e I m p e r i a l annona t h a t furnished t h e e n o r m o u s q u a n t i t i e s of f o o d n e e d e d b y t h e a r m y a n d t h e u r b a n p o p u l a t i o n . T h e R o m a n c o n q u e s t of E g y p t p u t a n e n d t o t h e ' t o t a l i t a r i a n ' p r i n c i p l e s of P t o l e m a i c e c o n o m i c s a n d o p e n e d t h e w a y t o p r i v a t e i n i t i a t i v e . S m a l l w o n d e r , t h e n , if t h e J e w i s h i n h a b i t a n t s of A l e x a n d r i a m a d e t h e m o s t of t h e i r n e w e c o n o m i c o p p o r t u n i t i e s . T h e T h i r d B o o k of M a c c a b e e s s p e a k s of G r e e k b u s i n e s s m e n a c t i n g i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h J e w s (3. 1 0 : avvirpayparevoixevoi), a v a l u a b l e e v i d e n c e of a v i g o r o u s b u s i n e s s life t r i u m p h i n g e v e n o v e r fierce n a t i o n a l h a t r e d . T h e J e w i s h naukleroi w e r e , p r o b a b l y , t h e 5

6

7

4

J o s . ant. 18. 160. Alexander is called b y Josephus 'alabarch' (ant. 18. 159, 259; 19. 276; 20. 100) and t h e s a m e term is applied b y h i m t o another rich and notable Alexandrian J e w , D e m e t r i o s (ant 20. 147). A s y e t no satisfactory explanation of the enigmatic term 'alabarch' has been found. The m o s t plausible suggestion is t h a t of Wilcken, Dittenberger, and others, interpret ing aXapdpxrjs as dpafSapx-qs, i.e. as an inspectorin-chief of the customs duties collected on the eastern (i.e. Arab) side of the Nile. In this sense t h e term occurs in the inscription OGIS 674. Cf. for t h e various interpretations of t h e term Wilcken, Ostraka, i. 350; Dittenberger, OGIS 570 n. 3 ; Schiirer, iii. 132 n. 42; Rostovtzeff, YCS ii. 49 s q . ; Lesquier, Rev. Arch. Ixxi, 1917, 95 sqq. T h e term is used in various places and in various epochs. A t a n y rate it appears t h a t the alabarchs B 2909

were high officials dealing w i t h finance and t h a t in the early R o m a n period such an office w a s some times bestowed on w e a l t h y Alexandrian J e w s . 5

Cf. Hasebroek, Staat und Handel im alien Griechenland, 1928, 3 s q q . ; Knorringa, Emporos, 96 s q . and passim. 6

On the trade of Alexandria see Leider, Der Handel von Alexandreia, 1933. For the E g y p t i a n contribution t o the R o m a n annona cf. H o h l w e i n , 'Le ble d'figypte', Etudes de Pap. iv. 103 sqq. 7

The spirit of profit-making and attention t o business was a characteristic feature of all the inhabitants of Alexandria. In a letter ascribed t o Hadrian we find the following description of the A l e x a n d r i a n s : 'Unus illis deus n u m m u s est. H u n c Christiani, hunc Iudaei, hunc o m n e s v e n e rantur et gentes' (Hist. A u g . , Saturn. 8. 7).

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a r i s t o c r a c y a m o n g t h e J e w i s h m e r c h a n t s , w h e r e a s t h e emporoi f o r m e d t h e l a r g e m a j o r i t y of t h e J e w i s h m i d d l e c l a s s . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , o u r s o u r c e s y i e l d n o infor m a t i o n o n w h a t g o o d s , a p a r t f r o m c o r n , w e r e t h e p r i n c i p a l i t e m s of J e w i s h trade in Alexandria. T h e f o u r t h c l a s s r e f e r r e d t o b y P h i l o is t h a t of a r t i s a n s (rexvirai). M a n y of t h e s e m a y b e r e g a r d e d a s m e m b e r s of t h e m i d d l e class. I t m a y b e r e c a l l e d t h a t in a n c i e n t t i m e s a s w e l l a s i n t h e M i d d l e A g e s a r t i s a n s w e r e also m e r c h a n t s , selling t h e p r o d u c t s of t h e i r i n d u s t r y i n t h e i r w o r k s h o p s . A m o n g t h e m m a y h a v e b e e n w e a l t h y m e n , t h o u g h , of c o u r s e , m a n y o t h e r s h a d t o d o h a r d w o r k t o e a r n a l i v i n g . I t s e e m s t h a t t h e J e w i s h a r t i s a n s of A l e x a n d r i a w e r e h i g h l y s k i l l e d , s o t h a t t h e y w e r e k n o w n e v e n a b r o a d , a n d t h e J e w s of P a l e s t i n e a p p l i e d t o t h e m w h e n a n y e s p e c i a l l y fine w o r k w a s n e e d e d . I n t h e w e l l - k n o w n p a s s a g e in t h e T a l m u d different g r o u p s of A l e x a n d r i a n a r t i s a n s a r e r e c o r d e d , s u c h a s g o l d smiths, silversmiths, blacksmiths, w e a v e r s , a n d wool-dressers, a n d e v e r y group h a d i t s o w n fixed p l a c e in t h e g r e a t s y n a g o g u e o f A l e x a n d r i a . I t is s t r a n g e t h a t the whole passage describing the great synagogue mentions no people other t h a n artisans, as t h o u g h only artisans attended it. T h o u g h the T a l m u d i c de s c r i p t i o n of t h e g r e a t s y n a g o g u e o f A l e x a n d r i a is t o o u n r e l i a b l e t o b e t a k e n a s h i s t o r i c a l e v i d e n c e , t h e e m p h a s i s l a i d o n t h e c l a s s of a r t i s a n s i s s o m e proof, a t a n y r a t e , of t h e i m p o r t a n t role p l a y e d b y t h e m i n t h e s o c i a l life o f J e w i s h Alexandria. 8

9

A m o n g t h e s o c i a l classes referred t o b y P h i l o , t h e r e a r e also p e a s a n t s (yewpyoi), a n d one w o n d e r s w h a t p a r t t h e y c o u l d h a v e p l a y e d i n A l e x a n d r i a . P e r h a p s P h i l o h a d i n m i n d f a r m e r s o w n i n g l a n d i n t h e e n v i r o n s of A l e x a n d r i a (such a s a r e m e n t i o n e d i n N o s . 142 a n d 145). T h e s e f a r m e r s , w e m a y s u p p o s e , sold t h e i r c o r n i n t h e m a r k e t s of A l e x a n d r i a : P h i l o , s p e a k i n g i n leg. 129 of J e w s b r i n g i n g c a r g o e s b y b o a t f r o m t h e c o u n t r y i n t o t h e t o w n , is p e r h a p s t h i n k i n g of t h e s e J e w i s h f a r m e r s , a n d t h e c a r g o e s in q u e s t i o n w e r e p r o b a b l y c o r n b r o u g h t i n t o A l e x a n d r i a f o r sale. If so, t h i s c l a s s , t o o , p e r h a p s b e l o n g s t o t h e w e l l - t o - d o m e m b e r s of t h e A l e x a n d r i a n c o m m u n i t y . Of c o u r s e , t h e r e w e r e n o t o n l y r i c h J e w s i n A l e x a n d r i a , a n d w e m a y e v e n s u p p o s e t h a t t h e p o o r o n e s c o n s t i t u t e d t h e m a j o r i t y of t h e J e w i s h p o p u l a t i o n , since o t h e r w i s e s o m e e s s e n t i a l p o i n t s of t h e p o l i t i c a l a c t i v i t y of t h e A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s w i l l r e m a i n o b s c u r e . B u t P h i l o w a s n o t l i k e l y t o tell u s a b o u t t h e m . H e w a s a m e m b e r of a w e a l t h y a n d a r i s t o c r a t i c f a m i l y , a b r o t h e r of t h e r i c h b a n k e r A l e x a n d e r , a n d h a d no interest in poor people. I t will b e shown t h a t Philo, in his c a p a c i t y of a p o l i t i c a l l e a d e r of A l e x a n d r i a n J e w r y , s t o o d i n o p p o s i t i o n t o a p o l i t i c a l f a c t i o n s u p p o r t e d b y t h e m a s s e s ; h i s silence a b o u t t h e m is b y n o m e a n s surprising. H e r e a g a i n t h e p a p y r i s u p p o r t f a c t s h i t h e r t o g l o s s e d o v e r i n A l e x a n d r i a n l i t e r a t u r e . T h e m a t e r i a l is n o t r i c h , b u t i s n o n e t h e less i m p o r t a n t : t h e r e a d e r w i l l find it in S e c t i o n V I I . A l l t h e p a p y r i g a t h e r e d i n t h i s s e c t i o n are d a t e d i n t h e r e i g n of A u g u s t u s ; t h e y f o r m p a r t of a g r e a t c o l l e c t i o n of l e g a l a n d b u s i 8

Thoseftha Y o m a 2. 5-6 ; b . 'Arachin 10b; b .

Y o m a 38a. 'Thoseftha "•IM p O D I

"WlODX HTTP

rmsv i n o n s

Sukkah 4. 6: p t P V m xVl 2 D 2 D^HT K ?** , p M T I » » S

1

, p S S 7 ^SIl D " t n B l

nrvn nwix\ ^ n u a w ? 1

^DtrDi Cf. the parallel texts in b . Sukkah 516, j . Sukkah 5. 55a.

THE EARLY

ROMAN

PERIOD

5i

n e s s d o c u m e n t s of A l e x a n d r i a , t h e g r e a t e s t c o l l e c t i o n , i n d e e d , t h a t h a s r e a c h e d u s f r o m t h e c a p i t a l of E g y p t . W e h a v e a l r e a d y m a d e use of t h e m a b o v e (p. 34) w h e n s p e a k i n g of t h e influence of H e l l e n i s t i c l a w o n J e w s ; t h e y are n o less i m p o r t a n t i n r e g a r d t o t h e e c o n o m i c c i r c u m s t a n c e s of A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s . S o m e of t h e J e w s referred t o i n t h e s e d o c u m e n t s are s t y l e d ' P e r s i a n s of t h e E p i g o n e ' ( N o s . 1 4 6 , 1 4 9 ) ; t h e s e ' P e r s i a n s ' w e r e , as a rule, i n d i g e n t p e o p l e , g r a n t e d l o a n s o n r a t h e r h a r s h a n d , t o s o m e e x t e n t , d e g r a d i n g t e r m s . A c t u a l l y t h e s u m s referred t o i n t h e d o c u m e n t s of S e c t i o n V I I are a l w a y s s m a l l , w h e t h e r g i v e n a s d o w r i e s o r b e q u e a t h e d a s l e g a c i e s o r l o a n e d . I n N o . 149 J e w i s h d e b t o r s a c c e p t a n o b l i g a t i o n t o p a y 10 drachmai e v e r y m o n t h i n o r d e r t o l i q u i d a t e a d e b t of 140 dr. d u e b y t h e m t o a relief f u n d (epavos). T h e J e w H e r m o g e n e s a c c e p t e d f r o m h i s p a r e n t s - i n - l a w a s u m of 60 dr. as a d o w r y ( N o . 144), a n d t h e J e w e s s D i o n y s i a r e c e i v e d a n i n h e r i t a n c e of 200 dr. p a i d o u t t o h e r in i n s t a l m e n t s ( N o . 143). T h e s e s m a l l s u m s i m p l y p o o r c i r c u m s t a n c e s , a n d w e m a y infer t h a t t h e s e p e o p l e 10

1 0

T h e question of the 'Persians of the Epi g o n e ' (IJepaai rrjs einyovijs) is one of the most complicated in papyrology. T h e literature o n this question is e x t e n s i v e ; see the principal w o r k s : v . W o e s s , Das Asylwesen Aegyptens, 1923,62 s q q . ; Heichelheim, Die auswdrtige Bevolkerung, 76 s q q . ; Pringsheim, Sav. Ztsch. x l i v , 1924, 396 s q q . ; Schonbauer, ib. xlix. 359 s q q . ; Tait, Arch. vii. 175 s q q . ; N e p p i Modona, Aeg. xiii. 472 s q q . ; Zucker, RE x x x v i i . 910 s q q . ; Wenger, Arch. xiii. 310 sqq. (here a complete bibliography). In the beginning of the Ptolemaic rule the 'Persians' were organized into an ethnic hipparchy, b u t as early as the third century the 'Persians' had become a 'pseudo-ethnic' group (see a b o v e , p . 1 3 ; cf. N o . 1. 1 . 6, n o t e ; Zucker, o p . cit.). In the second century B . C . the ranks of the 'Persians' were thrown open t o E g y p t i a n s , as is indicated b y t h e v e r y large number of genuine E g y p t i a n n a m e s a m o n g the 'Persians' (Heichelheim, o p . cit. n o sqq.). W e do n o t k n o w the reason for this 'Egyptianization' of the 'Persians': all other pseudo-ethnic groups, like Thracians, Thessalians, e t c . , preserved their foreign character till the end of the P t o l e m a i c rule. This penetration of the E g y p t i a n s into the ranks of the 'Persians' radic ally changed the character of the group. It is likely t h a t the Ptolemies were not interested in preserving the military character of a group so strongly imbued w i t h n a t i v e elements. T h a t is perhaps the reason w h y the 'Persians', at the end of the Ptolemaic rule, became not only a 'pseudoethnic' but also a 'pseudo-military' group, and instead of being occupied in military service, engaged themselves in various business affairs. A t the same time the government distinguished between 'Persians of the Epigone' and the rest of the population b y imposing upon the former the ' dywyi/xos-clause': this clause deprived the

'Persians of the Epigone' of the traditional right of every E g y p t i a n to seek shelter in a temple (P. O x y . 1639; B G U 1142). In the early R o m a n time the term IJepoat TJ)S emyovijs occurs frequently in t h e contracts, and it has n o mean ing other t h a n that of marking a person subject t o the dywyi/ios-clause. It seems t h a t the obliga tion of being styled 'Persian of the Epigone' w a s imposed o n the debtor only. Schonbauer, and after h i m Zucker, p u t forward a strange theory interpreting the dya>yt/tios-clause n o t as curtailing t h e rights of the 'Persian' b u t , on the contrary, a s a means of improving his credit ('eine E r h o h u n g der Kreditfahigkeit'), so t h a t this clause should be regarded as granting a privilege t o the Persians, in accord w i t h their o w n wish. This theory a p pears t o be influenced b y modern financial n o t i o n s , when the debtor is regarded, n o t as a little m a n w h o needs m o n e y for his household, but as a rich business m a n seeking fresh capital in order t o e x t e n d his financial operations. T h e ancient world, in spite of such well-known ex amples as Catilina, Julius Caesar, and other rich and influential persons swamped in debts and seeking credit, c o m m o n l y regarded the debtors as poor people. 'It is obvious', s a y s Philo, 'that one does not seek a loan w h e n one is living in p l e n t y , but w h e n one is short of m o n e y ' (de spec. leg. 2. 74). T h e evidence of the papyri con firms Philo's o p i n i o n : all IJepaai rrjs imyovijs mentioned in the contracts are little m e n . T h e aycoyifios-clause is interpreted in the best w a y b y Wenger (op. cit., p . 312): 'Der Grund, w a r u m sich . . . ein . . . Perserepigone als aydiyipos haften zu wollen bereit erklarte, m a g einfach darin gesucht werden, dass er andernfalls vielleicht keinen zur Kreditgewahrung oder iiberh a u p t z u m Kontraktsabschluss bereiten Glaubiger gefunden hatte.'

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w h o s e life w a s d e p e n d e n t u p o n s u m s so s m a l l w e r e e a r n i n g a l i v i n g b y ' t h e s w e a t of t h e i r b r o w ' . T w o d o c u m e n t s ( N o s . 146-7) confirm t h i s v i e w : here t w o J e w i s h w e t - n u r s e s are r e c o r d e d , o n e of t h e m e n g a g i n g herself for t h e s a l a r y of 8 dr. a month. I n a n o t h e r d o c u m e n t ( N o . 148) a ' p a t r o n ' (Trarpcov) of a J e w e s s is referred t o ; it m a y b e s u p p o s e d t h a t t h i s J e w e s s w a s o r i g i n a l l y a s e r v i n g m a i d w h o l a t e r r e c e i v e d h e r f r e e d o m . A l l t h e s e f o r m e d t h e l o w e r s t r a t u m of t h e J e w i s h p o p u l a t i o n of A l e x a n d r i a . S u c h p e o p l e d i d n o t a l w a y s b e h a v e q u i e t l y a n d d o c i l e l y , a n d t h e r e are n o d o u b t s a b o u t t h e g r e a t p a r t t h e y p l a y e d d u r i n g t h e t u r b u l e n t t i m e s of r i o t s a n d s e d i t i o n . W e t u r n t o t h e d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e e c o n o m i c c o n d i t i o n s of J e w s l i v i n g in t h e chora. H e r e t w o i m p o r t a n t c h a n g e s w e r e b r o u g h t a b o u t b y t h e R o m a n c o n q u e s t : t h e a b o l i t i o n of t h e P t o l e m a i c a r m y a n d t h e s u p p l a n t i n g of t a x - c o l l e c t o r s b y g o v e r n m e n t officials. B o t h r e f o r m s h a d t h e i r r e p e r c u s s i o n s o n J e w i s h life. T h e a b o l i t i o n of t h e P t o l e m a i c a r m y c a u s e d t h e t o t a l d i s a p p e a r a n c e of J e w i s h sol diers a n d m i l i t a r y settlers, a c l a s s w h i c h h a d p l a y e d a v e r y i m p o r t a n t p a r t i n t h e e c o n o m i c life of t h e J e w s of t h e c o u n t r y . T h e J e w i s h a r m y , s e t t l e d o n t h e ' L a n d of O n i a s ' , b e i n g a p a r t of t h e P t o l e m a i c a r m y , w a s a b o l i s h e d a s w e l l , t h o u g h t h e d e s c e n d a n t s of p r e v i o u s soldiers c o n t i n u e d t o l i v e t h e r e ; p o s s i b l y t h e l a s t v e s t i g e s of t h e c o l o n y w e r e effaced i n A . D . 73, w h e n , b y o r d e r of t h e R o m a n g o v e r n m e n t , t h e t e m p l e of O n i a s w a s c l o s e d a n d d e m o l i s h e d (Jos. bell. 7. 420 sq., 433 sqq-)- I n s t e a d of t h e P t o l e m a i c a r m y , R o m a n l e g i o n s t o o k o v e r t h e d u t y of m a i n t a i n i n g l a w a n d o r d e r i n t h e c o u n t r y . T i l l t h e b e g i n n i n g of t h e fifth c e n t u r y t h e r e w a s n o l a w f o r b i d d i n g J e w s t o e n t e r t h e R o m a n a r m y , a n d t h e r e are c a s e s of J e w s s e r v i n g in v a r i o u s p r o v i n c e s ; b u t w e h a v e n o e v i d e n c e of t h e i r m i l i t a r y s e r v i c e i n R o m a n E g y p t , s a v e N o . 229, w h e r e a J e w i s h centurio is r e c o r d e d . T h i s l a c k of e v i d e n c e reflects t h e t r u e s t a t e of a f f a i r s : R o m e w a s n o t i n t e r e s t e d in e n g a g i n g J e w s for m i l i t a r y s e r v i c e , since t h r o u g h o u t t h e O r i e n t J e w s w e r e k n o w n a s a s e d i t i o u s p e o p l e . A s for J e w i s h t a x - g a t h e r e r s , t h e y v a n i s h e d a s a r e s u l t of a g e n e r a l r e f o r m p u t t i n g t a x - g a t h e r i n g i n t o t h e h a n d s of s p e c i a l e m p l o y e e s , t h e ' p r a k t o r s ' (irpaKropes); i n t h e c o u r s e of t i m e t h i s office, a s a l m o s t a l l o t h e r s in R o m a n E g y p t , c a m e t o b e a leitourgia, i.e. i m p o s e d b y force o n w e a l t h y m e m b e r s of u r b a n o r r u r a l s o c i e t y . T h e R o m a n g o v e r n m e n t , a s w e s h a l l see 1 1

12

13

1 1

T h a t was approximately the normal salary of a wet-nurse in Alexandria in A u g u s t u s ' reign; cf. B G U 1106-12. For nursing contracts in general see J o h n s o n , Roman Egypt, 286 sqq. 1 2

Juster (ii. 273 sq.) put forward three reasons for assuming the liability to military service of J e w s of E g y p t under the R o m a n s : (1) the fluminis custodia w a s entrusted t o t h e m ; (2) t h e abolition of the Jewish army would h a v e caused great perturbation in E g y p t , and it was unlikely, therefore, t h a t A u g u s t u s would h a v e taken such a dangerous m e a s u r e ; (3) t h e papyrus O x y . 735 of A.D. 205 refers t o the service of J e w s in the R o m a n army. T h e first reason is dealt w i t h in note 14. The second reason can easily be dis proved, since A u g u s t u s had no scruples a b o u t dismissing the entire P t o l e m a i c army. This w a s a

measure far more dangerous t h a n the disbandm e n t of a comparatively small Jewish army. A s for the third reason, the soldiers in P . O x y . 735 do not bear specifically Hebrew, but c o m m o n Semitic n a m e s , and there are grounds for the supposition t h a t all the soldiers mentioned there are Palmyrenes (cf. Fraenkel, Arch. iv. 1 7 1 ; Lidzbarski, Ephem. ii. 341). E v e n if we assume t h a t one of the soldiers, Barichius, w a s a J e w he was probably a native of P a l m y r a like all his comrades (see N o . 465). A t any rate, a d o c u m e n t of A.D. 205 cannot serve as evidence of t h e state of affairs in the early R o m a n period.

(*]m),

1 3

For the liturgy in R o m a n E g y p t see Oertel, Die Liturgie, 1917; Wilcken, Grundz. 339 s q q . ; W . Chr., N o s . 392 s q q . ; Johnson, 609 sqq. For the honores and munera in the R o m a n Empire in

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b e l o w , preferred G r e e k s for t h e c i v i l s e r v i c e . I t is h a r d l y surprising, t h e r e f o r e , t h a t t h e r e i s v e r y l i t t l e e v i d e n c e of J e w i s h officials i n t h e e a r l y R o m a n p e r i o d . I t w o u l d a p p e a r t h a t s o m e financial a n d p o l i c e offices w e r e e n t r u s t e d t o J e w s , b u t h e r e J o s e p h u s is o u r sole s o u r c e , a n d h i s s t a t e m e n t s are far f r o m c l e a r . S o m e t a x - c o l l e c t o r s in E d f u , e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e c o l l e c t i n g t h e ' J e w i s h t a x ' , m i g h t h a v e b e e n J e w s , b u t w e h a v e o n l y o n e definite i n s t a n c e ( N o . 240). A d o c u m e n t of s o m e i m p o r t a n c e is N o . 428, a list of sitologoi, s i x of w h o m a t l e a s t w e r e J e w s ; b y t h i s t i m e ( A . D . 101/2) t h e office of sitologos h a d a l r e a d y a ' l i t u r g i c a l ' c h a r a c t e r . A s for p o s t s in t h e R o m a n a d m i n i s t r a t i o n i n t h e p r o p e r sense, t h e r e w a s , i n t h e o r y , n o o b s t a c l e t o a J e w e n t e r i n g u p o n t h e c a r e e r of a R o m a n official a n d r e a c h i n g e v e n t h e h i g h e s t r a n k s . Y e t in p r a c t i c e t h i s w a s o p e n o n l y t o t h o s e who were ready to renounce the Jewish faith and to sever a n y links w i t h the Jewish community. Such a break with Jewish tradition w a s not easy and the n u m b e r of J e w i s h r e n e g a d e s a p p e a r s t o h a v e b e e n v e r y s m a l l . O n l y one of t h e m is w e l l k n o w n , T i b e r i u s J u l i u s A l e x a n d e r , t h e s o n of t h e A l e x a n d r i a n b a n k e r A l e x a n d e r a n d t h e n e p h e w of P h i l o . H e a t t a i n e d t h e r a n k of a R o m a n eques a n d w e n t t h r o u g h t h e v a r i o u s s t a g e s of a p u b l i c career, finally a t t a i n i n g t h e h i g h e s t p o s t of a R o m a n official in E g y p t , t h a t of praefedus Aegypti ( N o . 418). B u t , of c o u r s e , his c a r e e r w a s in e v e r y sense e x t r a o r d i n a r y

14

15

A p a r t f r o m soldiers a n d g o v e r n m e n t officials, J e w s are r e c o r d e d a l m o s t in e v e r y b r a n c h of e c o n o m i c life, t h o u g h t h e e v i d e n c e is n o t so r i c h a s i n t h e P t o l e m a i c a g e . W e h a v e a l r e a d y m e n t i o n e d J e w s o w n i n g l a n d in t h e v i c i n i t y of A l e x a n d r i a ( N o s . 142, 145). T h e r e are i n s t a n c e s of J e w i s h l a n d o w n e r s i n o t h e r d i s t r i c t s t o o , a s i n t h e n o m e s of H e r a k l e o p o l i s , K y n o p o l i s , a n d O x y r h y n c h o s (No. 445), a s w e l l a s i n t h a t of A t h r i b i s i n t h e D e l t a ( N o . 448): i n a l l t h e s e n o m e s J e w i s h l a n d w a s c o n f i s c a t e d b y t h e g o v e r n m e n t after t h e J e w i s h r e v o l t of 1 1 5 - 1 7 h a d b e e n q u e l l e d . O f t h e n u m e r o u s i n h a b i t a n t s of t h e J e w i s h q u a r t e r i n Apollinopolis M a g n a (Section I X ) t w o at least were engaged in agriculture (Nos. 234, 238, 247, 260, 272, 3 7 3 ; 241, 294). A J e w i s h p e a s a n t , or p e r h a p s a v i n e general cf. A b b o t t and Johnson, Municip. 84 sqq. 1 4

Admin.

For the office of 'alabarch' see a b o v e , n o t e 4. Josephus does n o t give a n y details of this office. According t o Josephus, the R o m a n Emperors allowed t h e J e w s t o retain t h e 'charge of t h e river', entrusted t o t h e m b y the Ptolemies (c. Ap. 2. 64: ' m a x i m a m vero eis fidem olim a regibus d a t a m conservaverunt, id est fluminis custod i a m . . . .' T h e continuation of the t e x t is cor rupt). S o m e scholars interpret t h e fluminis custo dies as an allusion t o the J e w i s h garrison in charge of the Pelusiac m o u t h of the N i l e : such a garrison is recorded b y Josephus in 55 B.C. (bell. 1. 175). Y e t the Jewish garrisons were part of the P t o l e maic a r m y , a n d it m a y b e d o u b t e d whether A u g u s t u s , after h a v i n g dismissed the entire army, retained t h e m . Besides, Josephus in c. Ap. 2. 64 speaks specifically of Alexandrian J e w s , and the garrison of Pelousion had nothing t o do w i t h Alexandria. I t is more likely t h a t Josephus h a d

in mind the police service o n the Nile which w a s also called 'the charge of the river'

(iroTaiio^vXa-

x l a ) : in this sense the term occurs frequently in the ostraka ( 0 . T h e b . 36,93; W O 507; 0 . A s h m . 4 1 ; cf. W i l c k e n , Ostr. i. 282 s q q . ; id. Grundz. 392, 396). It m a y be suggested t h a t the

norafio^vXaKia

w a s connected w i t h t h e e x a c t i o n of

customs

duties o n the river, referred t o b y Strabo (14. 800); cf. Bouch^-Leclercq, iii. 323. If so, was it the alabarch w h o carried o u t the d u t y of inspectorin-chief of the c u s t o m s duties, t o w h o m the whole institution of t h e irora/jLo^vXaKla

w a s subjected ?

This supposition would account for the great i m portance ascribed b y Josephus, I.e., t o the flu minis

custodia,

entrusted

to the

J e w s . For the potamophylakia

Alexandrian

cf. also Juster, ii.

257. 1 5

Wilcken, Grundz. 1 6 1 ; J o h n s o n , 490; W a l lace, Taxation in Egypt, 36 s q q . ; Kranzlein, / . Jur. Pap. v i , 1952, 215 sqq.

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dresser, is m e n t i o n e d i n a list t h e p u r p o s e of w h i c h is n o w u n k n o w n ( N o . 434). N o . 431, d a t e d c. A . D . n o , i s v e r y i n t e r e s t i n g : h e r e a J e w , T h e o p h i l o s , is referred t o a s p l a n n i n g t o e s c a p e t h e h a r d s h i p s of w o r k o n a n I m p e r i a l d e m e s n e a n d t r y i n g t o find w o r k o n t h e e s t a t e of a r i c h l a n d o w n e r . T h i s d o c u m e n t g i v e s s o m e i n d i c a t i o n of t h e b u r d e n i m p o s e d o n t h e v i l l a g e p o p u l a t i o n of E g y p t ; i t s h o w s , t o o , t h e g r o w i n g p o w e r of r i c h l a n d o w n e r s , t h e forerunners of t h e future f e u d a l l o r d s . A s r e g a r d s J e w i s h h i s t o r y , i t m a y s e r v e a s a proof t h a t t h e J e w i s h r u r a l p o p u l a t i o n s h a r e d t h e c o m m o n f a t e of t h e E g y p t i a n fellahin. J e w i s h s h e p h e r d s a n d o w n e r s of h e r d s a r e m e n t i o n e d i n t h e O x y r h y n c h i t e n o m e ( N o . 412), a n d i n A p o l l i n o p o l i s M a g n a ( N o s . 268, 284, 377, 383, 391). I n R o m a n t i m e s J e w s w e r e frequently engaged in transportation. A n ostrakon from Apollinopolis M a g n a ( N o . 404) g i v e s e v i d e n c e of t w o J e w s w h o o w n e d b o a t s l o a d e d w i t h m i s c e l l a n e o u s c a r g o e s , a n d i n N o . 422 t h r e e ' c a p t a i n s of a c a r g o - b o a t ' (KVfSepvrjrai TTXOLOV vavXcoalfjiov) e n g a g e d i n t r a n s p o r t i n g c o r n a r e m e n t i o n e d , a t l e a s t o n e of t h e m b e i n g a J e w . A p a r t from r i v e r - t r a n s p o r t , J e w s o c c u p i e d t h e m s e l v e s w i t h o v e r l a n d t r a n s p o r t ( N o s . 282, 362). P e r s o n s t h u s e n g a g e d w e r e f r e q u e n t l y t r a d e r s a s w e l l . F o r t h o s e w h o w e r e e x c l u s i v e l y m e r c h a n t s a n d a r t i s a n s , t h e references are v e r y r a r e : a w e a v e r is r e c o r d e d i n A p o l l i n o p o l i s M a g n a ( N o . 405), a n d i n A r s i n o e t w o persons, o n e of w h o m w a s c e r t a i n l y a J e w , a r e referred t o a s h a v i n g sold s o m e w o o d e n t o o l s t o t h e m u n i c i p a l a u t h o r i t i e s ; t h e y w e r e , c o n s e q u e n t l y , e i t h e r r e t a i l t r a d e r s o r a r t i s a n s ( N o . 432). T h e r e is e v e n less e v i d e n c e of J e w i s h m o n e y l e n d e r s . I n N o . 414, f r o m O x y r h y n c h o s , a l o a n of 300 dr. b y a J e w t o a n E g y p t i a n c a r p e t - w e a v e r is r e c o r d e d , b u t i t is n o t c l e a r w h e t h e r t h i s J e w w a s a professional m o n e y - l e n d e r o r w h e t h e r t h e l o a n w a s g i v e n b y h i m f o r s o m e p a r t i c u l a r r e a s o n , a s w e r e , for e x a m p l e , all t h e l o a n s , for w h i c h w e h a v e e v i d e n c e , g i v e n o r t a k e n b y J e w i s h soldiers a n d m i l i t a r y s e t t l e r s i n t h e P t o l e m a i c p e r i o d (see S e c t i o n I I I ) . 1 6

T h e g e n e r a l i m p r e s s i o n of t h e e c o n o m i c c o n d i t i o n of E g y p t i a n J e w s i n t h e e a r l y R o m a n p e r i o d is t h a t of s l o w d e c l i n e . T h i s decline m a y h a v e b e e n d u e t o t h e c h a n g e of p o l i t i c a l rule i n E g y p t a s w e l l a s t o t h e e c o n o m i c d e t e r i o r a t i o n o f E g y p t ; t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y a t t i t u d e of t h e J e w s t o w a r d s R o m e m u s t also b e t a k e n i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n . A s w e h a v e a l r e a d y seen, t h e c h a n g e of p o l i t i c a l rule c a u s e d t h e d i s a p p e a r a n c e of t w o i m p o r t a n t classes of J e w i s h s o c i e t y i n t h e chora. I t is t r u e t h a t J e w s c o u l d profit from t h e e c o n o m i c f r e e d o m i n a u g u r a t e d b y R o m a n s a n d t h e a b r o g a t i o n of t h e ' t o t a l i t a r i a n ' p r i n c i p l e s of t h e P t o l e m i e s ; b u t t h e progress made b y A l e x a n d r i a n traders a n d money-lenders w a s counterbalanced b y the v e r y considerable damage done to Jews b y their exclusion from military s e r v i c e a n d g o v e r n m e n t offices. T h e g e n e r a l d e t e r i o r a t i o n of e c o n o m i c c o n d i tions, c a u s e d e s p e c i a l l y b y R o m a n fiscal p o l i c y , u n d e r m i n e d t h e p r o g r e s s of 1 6

I t is worth noting t h a t in t h e long list of E g y p t i a n bankers, drawn u p b y Calderini ('Censimento topografico delle banche dell' E g i t t o greco-romano', A e g . x v i i i , 1938, 244 sqq.), n o Jewish n a m e s occur. T h e majority of t h e n a m e s are Greek, s o m e are E g y p t i a n , a n d a few are R o m a n . A m o n g t h e Greek, s o m e theophoric n a m e s occur, such a s D o s i t h e o s , D i o d o t o s , and T h e o d o r o s ; b u t in the R o m a n period these n a m e s

are n o more characteristic of J e w s only. A s t o t h e Ptolemaic period, it must be remembered t h a t bankers were n o t private moneylenders b u t government officials managing t h e king's rpdw e £ a i . The name Mapiwv (a banker in Alexandria under A u g u s t u s , see N o . 142) is R o m a n rather t h a n S e m i t i c ; cf. above, Introduction, n o t e 6. Biblical names of t h e B y z a n t i n e period belong, of course, t o Christians, n o t t o J e w s .

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PERIOD

55

a g r i c u l t u r a l w o r k , since i t r e d u c e d t h e p e a s a n t s ' s t a n d a r d of l i v i n g , a n d J e w s , of c o u r s e , h a d t o s h a r e t h e c o m m o n f a t e . F i n a l l y , t h e n e w p o l i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n , c r e a t e d b y t h e l o n g - l a s t i n g e n m i t y b e t w e e n G r e e k s a n d J e w s in A l e x a n d r i a , b y t h e p r o g r e s s of a n t i - S e m i t i s m , a n d e s p e c i a l l y b y t h e d e f e a t of t h e J e w s i n t h e i r s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t R o m e , also h a d i t s r e p e r c u s s i o n s o n e c o n o m i c life. T h e J e w b e c a m e m o r e a n d m o r e h a t e d b y his n e i g h b o u r s , G r e e k s a n d E g y p t i a n s a l i k e , and hatred does not create an atmosphere likely to lead to economic progress. W e h a v e n o w t o s h o w t h e p r i n c i p a l r e a s o n for t h i s h a t r e d , a n d e x p l a i n w h y t h e R o m a n c o n q u e s t c r e a t e d n e w a n d e x t r a o r d i n a r y c o n d i t i o n s of p o l i t i c a l life for Egyptian Jewry. I t is c o m m o n l y h e l d b y m o d e r n s c h o l a r s t h a t f r o m t h e v e r y b e g i n n i n g of R o m a n rule u n t i l A . D . 66 t h e J e w s in E g y p t w e r e o n v e r y g o o d t e r m s w i t h t h e i r rulers, a n d t h a t t h e y b e t r a y e d t h e P t o l e m i e s b y s u p p o r t i n g t h e R o m a n s in t h e i r endeavours to conquer E g y p t . This generally accepted picture requires cor r e c t i o n . T h e last h u n d r e d y e a r s of t h e P t o l e m a i c rule w e r e full of i n t e r n a l s t r u g g l e s b e t w e e n v a r i o u s p r e t e n d e r s t o t h e t h r o n e , a n d s e v e r a l p o l i t i c a l forces, including the A l e x a n d r i a n s and the R o m a n s , t o o k part in this struggle in sup p o r t of one or o t h e r of t h e p r e t e n d e r s . S u c h s u p p o r t c a n n o t b e c o n s i d e r e d a s a b e t r a y a l of t h e P t o l e m i e s , since e v e r y p r e t e n d e r w a s a P t o l e m y . B e f o r e A u g u s t u s t h e R o m a n s h a d n e v e r m a d e a n y serious a t t e m p t t o c o n q u e r E g y p t a n d t o t u r n it i n t o a p r o v i n c e , t h o u g h a m b i t i o u s p o l i t i c i a n s h a d f r e q u e n t l y p u t f o r w a r d s u c h a p l a n ; the Senate invariably showed strong opposition to such aspirations. I t is t r u e t h a t t h e J e w s s u p p o r t e d R o m a n g e n e r a l s ( t h e y l e n t h e l p t o G a b i n i u s i n his a t t e m p t t o re-establish P t o l e m y X I I I A u l e t e s o n t h e t h r o n e in 55 B . C . a n d t o J u l i u s C a e s a r ' s similar a c t i o n o n b e h a l f of K l e o p a t r a ) , b u t i n d o i n g so t h e y did n o t b e t r a y t h e P t o l e m i e s , a s s o m e m o d e r n s c h o l a r s h o l d . Y e t it is t r u e t h a t t h e y b e t r a y e d t h e n a t i o n a l c a u s e of E g y p t , if w e c o n s i d e r A l e x a n d r i a a s t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of t h i s n a t i o n a l c a u s e . A l e x a n d r i a h a d m a n y r e a s o n s for o p p o s i n g R o m e , j u s t a s she h a d for o p p o s i n g t h e P t o l e m i e s . N o s t r o n g rule, e i t h e r l o c a l (Ptolemies) or foreign ( R o m e ) , c o u l d s y m p a t h i z e w i t h t h e h a u g h t y a s p i r a t i o n s of t h e g r e a t e s t G r e e k c i t y in t h e w o r l d for full f r e e d o m a n d a u t o n o m y in i n t e r n a l affairs, a n d for a m i g h t y c o m m e r c i a l d e v e l o p m e n t i n t h e M e d i t e r 1 7

18

1 9

1 7

Cf., for example, F u c h s , 1 6 : 'Wie m i t einem deutlichen Gefuhl fur die bevorstehende U m g e s t a l t u n g der Verhaltnisse handelten die J u d e n , als sie die auf ihrem Throne wankende Ptolemaerdynastie verlassend, sich an die R o m e r . . . anschlossen'; ib. 1 7 : ' N o c h ein drittes Mai verrieten sie die Sache der stiirzenden Ptolemaerdynastie . . . .' B o x , in his edition of In Flaccum, p . x i x : 'The J e w s fell a w a y from the Ptolemies as soon as t h e y realized t h a t the fortunes of the d y n a s t y were on the wane.' More cautious is Wilcken, Zum alexandrinischen Antisemitismus, 1909, 786 sq. 1 8

Bouche-Leclercq, ii. 129 sqq., 152 s q q . ; B e v a n , 351. '9 Besides the 'treason' of the J e w s in 55 and

47 B.C., m o d e m scholars quote a third e v e n t of the same character: the Alexandrian J e w s de serted Kleopatra for Octavianus. T h a t , indeed, would h a v e been t r e a s o n ; but the fact is nowhere a t t e s t e d . It is true t h a t Josephus (c. Ap. 2. 57 sqq.) speaks c o n t e m p t u o u s l y of the last K l e o patra and of her ill treatment of the J e w s ; it is also true t h a t Josephus a t t e m p t s t o give the impression that J e w s had a l w a y s been d e v o t e d t o the R o m a n cause, and speaks of the senatus consulta and the letters of A u g u s t u s 'quibus nostra merita comprobantur' (c. Ap. 2. 61). B u t nostra merita is t o o v a g u e a term, and had Josephus really k n o w n a n y t h i n g about Jewish action in favour of Octavianus, he would surely h a v e spoken of it in plain words.

56

PROLEGOMENA

ranean. Of the t w o political enemies R o m e w a s the stronger, because the P t o l e m i e s t h r e a t e n e d o n l y t h e p o l i t i c a l a u t o n o m y of A l e x a n d r i a , w h e r e a s R o m e w a s also d a n g e r o u s as a c o m m e r c i a l r i v a l . F o r t h i s r e a s o n A l e x a n d r i a o p p o s e d all c a n d i d a t e s t o t h e t h r o n e w h o w e r e s u p p o r t e d b y R o m e a n d , i n d e e d , t o o k e v e r y o p p o r t u n i t y of fighting t h e R o m a n s t h e m s e l v e s . T h e J e w s ' s t a n d p o i n t w a s q u i t e different. T h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t i e s i n E g y p t (and A l e x a n d r i a w a s n o e x c e p t i o n t o t h e rule) w e r e d e p e n d e n t u p o n t h e c e n t r a l g o v e r n m e n t , a n d t h e s t r o n g e r t h i s g o v e r n m e n t w a s , t h e b e t t e r it w a s for t h e J e w s . I t w o u l d h a v e b e e n a c a l a m i t y for t h e J e w i s h politeuma of A l e x a n d r i a h a d it b e e n d e p e n d e n t u p o n t h e decisions of t h e G r e e k polis, a n d n o t on t h e m o r e or less i m p a r t i a l o r d e r s of the central government. W h e n the J e w s had to choose b e t w e e n A l e x a n d r i a and R o m e , t h e y chose R o m e . T h u s , a t first, r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e E g y p t i a n J e w s a n d R o m e w e r e f a v o u r a b l e to the Jews. A u g u s t u s w a s probably impressed b y the great s y m p a t h y with P a l e s t i n i a n J e w s s h o w n b y J u l i u s C a e s a r . T h i s m a y a c c o u n t for his e a r l y a c t of b e n e v o l e n c e t o A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s a s h o r t t i m e after t h e c o n q u e s t of t h e t o w n : h e c o n f i r m e d all t h e i r p r i v i l e g e s , a n d t h i s ' c h a r t e r of l i b e r t y ' w a s e n g r a v e d o n a ' s l a b ' (arriXrj) a n d e r e c t e d in A l e x a n d r i a . T h e c o n t e n t s of t h i s ' c h a r t e r ' are n o t k n o w n , b u t c a n b e g u e s s e d a t . C l a u d i u s , in his e d i c t in f a v o u r of t h e A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s (ant. 19. 280 s q q . ) , r e c a l l s t h e m e m o r y of A u g u s t u s , w h o s e w i s h it w a s ' t h a t everyone should continue to practise his o w n customs a n d not be forced to v i o l a t e t h e f a i t h of his f o r e f a t h e r s ' (eKaarovs ififidvovras rots 18101? edeai Kal /xrj TrapafiaLveiv o\vayKat,op,4vovs rrjv irdrpiov OprjoKeLav). T h i s m a y also b e inferred from P h i l o , Flacc. 50, w h e r e A u g u s t u s is s a i d t o h a v e confirmed ' t h e l a w s ' of t h e J e w s . S o it s e e m s c l e a r t h a t A u g u s t u s confirmed t h e u s u a l n a t i o n a l a n d religious r i g h t s of t h e A l e x a n d r i a n politeuma in t h e s a m e f o r m a s o r i g i n a l l y g r a n t e d b y t h e P t o l e m i e s . J o s e p h u s , t o b e sure, s a y s t h a t t h e r i g h t s of A l e x a n d r i a n c i t i z e n s h i p w e r e i n c l u d e d in t h e c h a r t e r , b u t h e c a n n o t b e t r u s t e d in t h i s c o n n e x i o n . P o l i t i c a l l y a n d j u r i d i c a l l y i t w o u l d h a v e b e e n of u n p r e c e d e n t e d a r b i t r a r i n e s s h a d A u g u s t u s g r a n t e d c i v i c r i g h t s t o t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y a n d b y d o i n g so c h a n g e d t h e n a t i o n a l a n d c u l t u r a l c h a r a c t e r of t h e G r e e k c i t y . I t w o u l d also s t r o n g l y h a v e c o n t r a d i c t e d t h e u s u a l R o m a n p o l i c y , w h i c h confined itself t o t h e c o n firmation of r i g h t s a l r e a d y e x t a n t a n d d i d n o t s e e k t o m a k e i n n o v a t i o n s w h e r e R o m e ' s e c o n o m i c or p o l i t i c a l i n t e r e s t s w e r e n o t d i r e c t l y i n v o l v e d . S o w e m a y a s s u m e t h a t t h e first a c t of A u g u s t u s in f a v o u r of t h e J e w s b r o u g h t a b o u t n o c h a n g e s in t h e p o l i t i c a l s t a t u s of t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y of A l e x a n d r i a , a s t a t e of affairs p r o b a b l y w a r m l y w e l c o m e d b y t h e J e w s , since t h e d o w n f a l l of t h e 2 0

21

2 0

Josephus (ant. 14. 188; c. Ap. 2. 37) attri butes this 0T17A17 t o Julius Caesar instead of t o Augustus, but t h a t is a n obvious error o n his p a r t : Julius Caesar was never the official ruler of Alexandria and could not grant a n y rights t o J e w s residing in a c i t y not belonging to a R o m a n province. T h e edict fixing the rights of the J e w s of Alexandria was issued, we m a y reasonably suppose, by Augustus, whose d u t y it was t o reorganize the affairs of the c i t y which he had just conquered. Since Caesar w a s t h e m o s t im

portant e l e m e n t in A u g u s t u s ' nomenclature be fore 27 B.C., and a n essential even after t h e n , the substitution of Julius Caesar for Augustus was a very likely error. So T h . Reinach, REJ l x x i x , 1924, 123 s q q . ; cf. Bell, Juden und Griechen, 9 sq. 2

1

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Josephus' attitude o n the question of the civic rights of the J e w s see infra, p . 62.

T H E

E A R L Y

R O M A N

P E R I O D

57

P t o l e m a i c g o v e r n m e n t h a d c r e a t e d a p o l i t i c a l v a c u u m for a l l w h o s e l e g a l s t a t u s had been dependent upon it. T h e s e c o n d i n t e r v e n t i o n of A u g u s t u s in J e w i s h affairs in A l e x a n d r i a o c c u r r e d d u r i n g t h e y e a r s A . D . 1 0 - 1 2 : h e a b o l i s h e d t h e h i g h p o s t of t h e J e w i s h e t h n a r c h in A l e x a n d r i a a n d p u t t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of t h e affairs of t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y i n t o t h e h a n d s of t h e ' e l d e r s ' . W e h a v e n o m e a n s of j u d g i n g w h a t c o u l d h a v e b e e n t h e r e a s o n s for s u c h a m e a s u r e ; a t a n y r a t e , i t h a r d l y c h a n g e d t h e u s u a l m o d e of a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of t h e J e w i s h politeuma, since t h e e t h n a r c h h i m s e l f w a s n o m o r e t h a n a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of t h e J e w i s h a r i s t o c r a c y (see a b o v e , p . 1 0 ) . T h e r e a l c h a n g e s in t h e f a t e of t h e J e w s w e r e c a u s e d n o t b y A u g u s t u s ' d i r e c t o r d e r s c o n c e r n i n g J e w s , b u t b y h i s g e n e r a l p o l i c y , w h i c h affected J e w s i n d i r e c t l y . H e r e s o m e w o r d s m u s t b e s a i d o n t h e g e n e r a l f e a t u r e s of R o m a n p o l i c y in t h e O r i e n t i n o r d e r t o e x p l a i n t h e b a c k g r o u n d a g a i n s t w h i c h t h e ' J e w i s h q u e s t i o n ' is t o b e described. 22

T h e R o m a n c o n q u e s t of t h e O r i e n t p u t before t h e R o m a n g o v e r n m e n t t h e f u n d a m e n t a l p r o b l e m of h o w t o a d m i n i s t e r t h e c o n q u e r e d c o u n t r i e s . I n l a t e Republican times a simple solution h a d been found: the R o m a n provinces were praedia populi Romani (Cic. 7 7 Verr. 2. 7), a n d n o t h i n g e l s e ; t h e y h a d t o p a y 2 2

Philo, Flacc. 74. There is a serious discre p a n c y b e t w e e n Philo and the edict of Claudius in ant. 19. 283: according t o the edict, A u g u s t u s did not prevent t h e J e w s from creating n e w e t h narchs after t h e decease of t h e ethnarch under the prefect Aquila (A.D. I O - I I ) , whereas Philo (I.e.) emphasizes t h a t A u g u s t u s , in his letter t o t h e prefect Magius Maximus (Aquila's successor in E g y p t ) , instituted t h e Jewish gerousia in A l e x a n dria after the decease of the ethnarch (here called genarch). I n spite of these discrepancies in t h e n a m e s of the prefects a n d as regards the title of the ethnarch, there can be n o d o u b t t h a t b o t h sources refer t o the same e v e n t . Cf. Schiirer, iii. 77 s q . ; A . Stein, Die Prafekten von Aegypten, 1950, 21 s q . It is rightly agreed b y scholars t h a t Philo's evidence should be preferred t o t h a t of the e d i c t : the members of the gerousia (the 'elders') are fre q u e n t l y recorded under Gaius Caligula and later, whereas after A u g u s t u s there is n o mention of the ethnarch. W h a t is the reason, t h e n , for the strange and emphatic affirmation in t h e edict t h a t A u g u s t u s did not abolish the office of the ethnarch, w h e n in reality h e did? T h e question is answered if w e consider t h e general character of t h e edict of Claudius as preserved b y Josephus. W e shall see infra (p. 70, note 45) t h a t the t e x t of this docu m e n t , though based o n a genuine edict of t h e Emperor, w a s tampered w i t h b y someone, so t h a t some important items in it were changed or added t o , t o accord with t h e general purpose of the forgery. It is probable t h a t the passage in question also suffered some elaboration. T h e in sistence t h a t A u g u s t u s did not forbid a specific

action indicates t h a t t h e author of the pas sage h a d in mind persons w h o were anxious t o emphasize t h e contrary. If A u g u s t u s did not abolish t h e office of t h e ethnarch, it is o b v i o u s t h a t after t h e death of o n e ethnarch another would h a v e been nominated t o take his place, and nothing would h a v e happened t o draw t h e a t t e n t i o n of Claudius t o so unimportant an e v e n t . If t h e edict, nevertheless, records i t , it is reason able t o suppose that after t h e decease of the last ethnarch in the prefecture of Aquila, A u g u s t u s did abolish t h e office, in a special message t o t h e prefect Magius Maximus, and t h a t this fact w a s mentioned in t h e genuine t e x t of t h e edict. Claudius proclaimed, perhaps, t h a t h e confirmed all rights of Alexandrian J e w s which h a d been confirmed b y A u g u s t u s , b u t t h a t h e could n o t re-establish the office of t h e ethnarch (perhaps d e m a n d e d b y Jews) since A u g u s t u s h a d abolished it. Since all A u g u s t u s ' proclamations were re garded, b y R o m a n s a n d J e w s alike, as decisive for the foundations of Jewish a u t o n o m y , the abolition of such a n important office seemed in compatible w i t h A u g u s t u s ' favourable policy towards the J e w s . This is w h y t h e forger decided t o 'correct' t h e edict o h this point, as h e 'cor rected' it o n m a n y others.—According t o Talmudic sources (Thos. Sukkah 4. 6 ; b . Sukkah 51b) t h e number of members of the gerousia w a s 71. Philo records 38 of t h e m during t h e pogrom under Gaius Caligula (Flacc. 74); h e also gives t h e n a m e s of 3 m e m b e r s , E u o d o s , T r y p h o n , a n d Andron (ib. 76).

PROLEGOMENA t a x e s a n d m a i n t a i n silence. Y e t e v e n t h e n t h e b e s t m e m b e r s of t h e s e n a t o r i a l oligarchy and R o m e ' s leading personalities, like Cicero, realized t h a t this easy s o l u t i o n of t h e p r o b l e m w a s n o s o l u t i o n a t a l l : t h e c o w h a d t o b e c a r e d for if she w a s e x p e c t e d t o g i v e m i l k . T h e P r i n c i p a t e , i n a u g u r a t i n g t h e n e w e p o c h of pax Romana for t h e w h o l e R o m a n w o r l d , i n t r o d u c e d n e w m e t h o d s of rule in t h e p r o v i n c e s . T h e s e m e t h o d s w e r e b e s t d e s c r i b e d b y t h e E m p e r o r T i b e r i u s in his f a m o u s a n s w e r t o a n E g y p t i a n p r e f e c t : ' a g o o d s h e p h e r d shears his flock, b u t d o e s n o t s k i n i t ' (Suet. Tib. 3 2 ; D i o C a s s . 57. 10. 5). N e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e f u n d a m e n t a l p r i n c i p l e d i d n o t c h a n g e . T h e p r o v i n c e s , a s before, h a d t o furnish c o r n and money, and A u g u s t u s even increased his exactions b y introducing the c e n s u s in t h e n e w l y c o n q u e r e d p r o v i n c e s . Y e t m o r e liberal m e t h o d s in t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of t h e p r o v i n c e s w e r e n o w e s t a b l i s h e d , a n d R o m e m a d e a serious a t t e m p t t o m a k e p e a c e w i t h t h e p r i n c i p a l s o c i a l classes of p r o v i n c i a l s o c i e t y . I t w a s o n l y l o g i c a l t h a t R o m e s h o u l d s e e k friends a n d s u p p o r t e r s a m o n g the u r b a n p o p u l a t i o n : t h e t o w n s w e r e i n h a b i t e d b y m e r c h a n t s , r i c h l a n d o w n e r s , m e n of b u s i n e s s , a n d all t h e s e classes w e r e useful t o R o m e , p a r t l y for t h e e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e E m p i r e , a n d p a r t l y as a s o c i a l e l e m e n t a d m i r a b l y s u i t e d for f u r n i s h i n g l o c a l officials a n d m a g i s t r a t e s . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e t o w n s p e o p l e t h e m s e l v e s w e r e w i l l i n g t o m a k e p e a c e w i t h R o m e , since t h i s p e a c e p r o m i s e d t h e m a n e x t r a o r d i n a r y e x p a n s i o n of t h e i r t r a d e a n d i n d u s t r y . I n t h e W e s t e r n p r o v i n c e s t h i s a l l i a n c e b e t w e e n R o m e a n d t h e cities t o o k t h e f o r m of romanization: the townsfolk adopted the L a t i n tongue and the R o m a n culture, w h i l e R o m e e n d o w e d t h e m w i t h R o m a n c i t i z e n s h i p or ' L a t i n ' r i g h t s . T h e s i t u a t i o n in t h e E a s t e r n p r o v i n c e s w a s q u i t e different. H e r e t h e d o m i n a n t c u l t u r e w a s H e l l e n i s t i c , so p o w e r f u l a n d p e n e t r a t i n g t h a t n e i t h e r t h e L a t i n t o n g u e n o r t h e R o m a n m o d e of life c o u l d t a k e r o o t . Y e t t h e G r e e k cities in t h e O r i e n t , n o less t h a n t h e r o m a n i z e d cities of G a u l a n d S p a i n , w e r e e m i n e n t l y fitted t o s e r v e as d e v o t e d friends of R o m e since t h e y t o o , t o a n e v e n g r e a t e r e x t e n t , w e r e inter e s t e d in a p e a c e f u l life of t r a d e a n d i n d u s t r y . I n different p e r i o d s R o m e ' s a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s t h e G r e e k s w a s d i c t a t e d b y different principles, a n d a t t h e e n d of t h e R e p u b l i c w a s b y n o m e a n s s y m p a t h e t i c . Y e t it w a s e a s y t o u n d e r s t a n d t h a t , w i t h o u t t h e h e l p of t h e G r e e k s , R o m a n rule in t h e O r i e n t w o u l d r e m a i n n e c e s s a r i l y p r e c a r i o u s , e s p e c i a l l y in p r o v i n c e s of m i x e d p o p u l a t i o n , s u c h as E g y p t or S y r i a . R o m e c o u l d n o t g r a n t G r e e k s R o m a n c i t i z e n s h i p as she h a d g r a n t e d it in W e s t e r n cities, b e c a u s e t h e G r e e k s d i d n o t a c c e p t r o m a n i z a t i o n ; b u t she c o u l d f a v o u r G r e e k s in a n o t h e r w a y , v i z . b y p r o t e c t i n g t h e a n c i e n t franchises of t h e G r e e k cities. ' T h e f r e e d o m a n d a u t o n o m y ' of G r e e k s w a s a v e r y o l d s l o g a n , reflecting t h e d e e p e s t a s p i r a t i o n s of t h e G r e e k p e o p l e f r o m t h e classical p e r i o d o n w a r d s . W h e n t h e R o m a n s first m a d e w a r o n G r e e k soil t h e y u s e d t h i s s l o g a n v e r y skilfully. A f t e r w a r d s these fine i d e a l s w e r e a l m o s t f o r g o t t e n ; n o w t h e y w e r e r e v i v e d , t h o u g h , of course, n o t t o t h e e x t e n t t h a t t h e y w e r e in use in a n c i e n t G r e e c e . T h e m u n i c i p a l f r e e d o m of t h e G r e e k c i t y w a s p r o t e c t e d ; m a n y cities w e r e p r o c l a i m e d liberae et foederatae, o r liberae et immunes; t h e G r e e k l a n g u a g e w a s a c k n o w l e d g e d a s t h e official l a n g u a g e of R o m a n a d m i n i s t r a t i o n in a l l E a s t e r n p r o v i n c e s ; g o o d a d m i n i s t r a t i v e careers w e r e o p e n e d t o G r e e k s w i l l i n g t o s e r v e as officials in t h e s e r v i c e of R o m e . T h i s a l l i a n c e b e t w e e n R o m e a n d t h e G r e e k s w a s v e r y profitable for b o t h sides, b u t it h a d one i m p o r t a n t w e a k n e s s ;

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i t w a s m a d e a t t h e e x p e n s e of t h e n o n - G r e e k p o p u l a t i o n of t h e v i l l a g e s . T w o h u n d r e d y e a r s after A u g u s t u s t h i s w e a k n e s s b r o u g h t a b o u t f a t a l c o n s e q u e n c e s a n d g r e a t l y c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e decline of t h e R o m a n E m p i r e in t h e t h i r d century. I n E g y p t , R o m a n p o l i c y d e v e l o p e d a l o n g t h e s a m e lines a s e l s e w h e r e in t h e E a s t , y e t as a c o n s e q u e n c e of t h e s p e c i a l c o n d i t i o n s of t h e G r e e k p o p u l a t i o n i n E g y p t t h e r e arose s o m e p e c u l i a r q u e s t i o n s . T h e r e c o u l d b e n o d o u b t t h a t t h e c i t i z e n s of t h r e e G r e e k c i t i e s — A l e x a n d r i a , P t o l e m a i s , N a u k r a t i s — w e r e t r u e H e l l e n e s . B u t w h a t of t h e G r e e k - s p e a k i n g p o p u l a t i o n of t h e chora ? D u r i n g t h e P t o l e m a i c rule t h e G r e e k s h a d s e t t l e d i n E g y p t i a n v i l l a g e s a n d s m a l l t o w n s , married E g y p t i a n wives, called themselves b y E g y p t i a n names, and worshipped E g y p t i a n gods. O n the other hand, E g y p t i a n s called themselves b y Greek names, s p o k e G r e e k , a n d w e r e c l o s e l y m i n g l e d w i t h t h e i r G r e e k n e i g h b o u r s . H o w w a s it possible t o d i s t i n g u i s h G r e e k f r o m n o n - G r e e k a m o n g t h i s m i x e d p o p u l a t i o n ? T h e f o r m a l m a r k of a m a n ' s b e l o n g i n g t o t h e G r e e k s w a s his c i t i z e n s h i p in a G r e e k polis; b u t t h e r e w e r e n o G r e e k poleis i n E g y p t s a v e t h e a b o v e - m e n t i o n e d t h r e e . A f t e r a brief p e r i o d of h e s i t a t i o n a n e w c r i t e r i o n w a s f o u n d . I n t h e 34th y e a r of A u g u s t u s ( A . D . 4/5) a n e w class of p e r s o n s , ' t h o s e w h o b e l o n g t o t h e g y m n a s i u m ' (oi d-no yvixvaoLov), w a s c r e a t e d , a n d f r o m t h a t t i m e o n t h e g y m n a s i u m e d u c a t i o n b e c a m e t h e criterion for all p e o p l e c l a i m i n g G r e e k origin. I n t h e c o u r s e of t i m e t h i s g r o u p b e c a m e s o m e t h i n g of a n e x c l u s i v e c a s t e , o p e n o n l y t o t h o s e w h o c o u l d s h o w proof of their d e s c e n t from ' G r e e k ' p a r e n t s . I n s o m e c a s e s t h e f a t h e r , o n i n s c r i b i n g his son as a n ephebos, p r o d u c e d e v i d e n c e of t h e e a r l y ' G r e e k ' origin of his f a m i l y g o i n g b a c k 250 y e a r s . T h e s e ' G r e e k s ' , a fictitious n e w r a c e , n o w f o r m e d a n a r i s t o c r a c y in t h e chora, p r i v i l e g e d b y t h e R o m a n g o v e r n m e n t , a n d h a v i n g a t t h e i r d i s p o s a l e v e r y possible m e a n s of e n t e r i n g u p o n a n e a s y c a r e e r in t h e m u n i c i p a l a n d I m p e r i a l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . A s e c o n d g r o u p , c l o s e l y c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e former, w a s t h a t of metropolitai, i.e. t h e h e l l e n i z e d i n h a b i t a n t s of t h e metropoleis (chief t o w n s in t h e d i s t r i c t s ) ; t h e y , t o o , w e r e p e o p l e of G r e e k e d u c a t i o n . N e v e r t h e l e s s t h e R o m a n s , s c r u p u l o u s j u r i s t s t h a t t h e y w e r e , c o u l d n o t s i m p l y p r o c l a i m t h e s e n e w b o r n ' G r e e k s ' as t r u e H e l l e n e s , t h u s s e t t i n g aside t h e t r a d i t i o n a l m a r k of a G r e e k — h i s b e i n g a c i t i z e n of a polis. S o , j u r i d i c a l l y e n v i s a g e d , t h e n e w g r o u p s of metropolitai a n d of ' t h o s e w h o b e l o n g t o t h e g y m n a s i u m ' r e m a i n e d E g y p t i a n s , t h o u g h in p r a c t i c e t h e y w e r e p r i v i l e g e d a s m e n of G r e e k e d u c a t i o n . T h i s d o u b l e p o l i c y w a s c l e a r l y s h o w n i n t h e s e t t l e m e n t of t h e q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r t h e s e g r o u p s h a d , or h a d n o t , t o p a y t h e p o l l - t a x i m p o s e d o n t h e E g y p t i a n s . T h e y h a d t o p a y p o l l - t a x (and t h u s t h e y w e r e j u r i d i c a l l y r e c o g n i z e d as E g y p t i a n s ) , b u t t h e y p a i d it a t a r e d u c e d r a t e . 2 3

2 4

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On the R o m a n policy in the eastern pro vinces see, for e x a m p l e , Rostovtzeff, SEHRE 178 sq., 236 sqq., 298 sqq., 331 s q q . ; cf. CAR xi. 497 sqq., 5 3 sqq., 587 sqq., 615; A b b o t and J o h n s o n , 21 sq. P . O x y . 2186; P S I 457; cf. P . O x y . 257,1266. Applications for the registration of y o u n g m e n a m o n g the epheboi are preserved in great n u m b e r s ; cf., for e x a m p l e , W . Chr. 144-8; S B 7239, 7333, 7427,7561. In some d o c u m e n t s (e.g. P. O x y . 1202) J

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the oi diro yv/ivaoiov are considered as belonging t o a rdyfia (ordo); cf. Meautis, Hermoupolis-laGrande, 1918, 66. It goes without saying that the g y m n a s i u m education in Greek cities as well as in the metropoleis w a s now strictly supervised b y the government. On the g y m n a s i u m education in R o m a n E g y p t in general cf. Wilcken, Grundz. 140; D e s s a u , Gesch. d. rd'm. Kaiserzeit, ii. 2. 688; Bell, Chr. d'£g. xiii, 1938, 3 5 1 ; Bell, JEA xii. 245; B o a k , ib. xiii. 151.

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J u s t a s t h e g y m n a s i u m e d u c a t i o n w a s a m a r k of d i s t i n c t i o n p r o p e r t o G r e e k s , so t h e p a y m e n t of p o l l - t a x w a s a s i g n of d e g r a d a t i o n m a r k i n g t h e E g y p t i a n s . T h e p o l l - t a x , k n o w n i n E g y p t a s laographia (literally ' t h e n u m b e r i n g of t h e people'), w a s introduced into E g y p t b y A u g u s t u s , p r o b a b l y in the 7 t h y e a r of his r e i g n (24/23 B . C . ) . I t w a s n o t a c o n t i n u a t i o n of t h e P t o l e m a i c syntaxis, a s m a n y s c h o l a r s are d i s p o s e d t o b e l i e v e , since t h e m e a n i n g of syntaxis as p o l l - t a x is n o w h e r e a t t e s t e d a n d since t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n of a p o l l - t a x b y t h e P t o l e m i e s s e e m s v e r y u n l i k e l y . I t w a s a n i n n o v a t i o n of A u g u s t u s ' , a d m i r a b l y s u i t e d t o t h e g e n e r a l p r i n c i p l e s of R o m a n rule in t h e p r o v i n c e s : a c o n q u e r e d p e o p l e h a d t o p a y a vectigal, o r a tributum, t h i s t a x b e i n g ' q u a s i v i c t o r i a e p r a e m i u m a c p o e n a belli' (Cic. II Verr. 3. 12). E v e r y E g y p t i a n , u p o n r e a c h i n g his 1 4 t h y e a r , b e c a m e l i a b l e t o t h e p a y m e n t of laographia; t h e o b l i g a t i o n t o p a y c e a s e d a t t h e 60th or 62nd y e a r . C i t i z e n s of G r e e k cities, R o m a n c i t i z e n s , a n d s o m e m i n o r g r o u p s (such a s a s m a l l n u m b e r of p r i e s t s a n d g o v e r n m e n t officials) w e r e e x e m p t f r o m t h e p a y m e n t of laographia; t h e metropolitai p a i d it, a s w e h a v e said, at a r e d u c e d r a t e . R e c e i p t s for laographia are e x t a n t f r o m t h e first a n d s e c o n d c e n t u r y A . D . , g r a d u a l l y d i m i n i s h i n g i n n u m b e r in t h e s e c o n d c e n t u r y a n d v a n i s h i n g in t h e t h i r d . S i n c e t h e o v e r w h e l m i n g m a j o r i t y of t h e p a y e r s of laographia w e r e v i l l a g e r s , s u c h p a y m e n t w a s c o n s i d e r e d t h e p a r t i c u l a r m a r k of a s o c i a l l y d e g r a d e d class, a n d therefore a m a r k of i n f e r i o r i t y . T h i s d e g r a d a t i o n w a s , p e r h a p s , n o t so e x p l i c i t i n t h e metropoleis, w h e r e t h e t o w n s f o l k w e r e s u b j e c t e d t o laographia o n a s m a l l e r s c a l e , b u t i n G r e e k c i t i e s , l i k e A l e x a n d r i a , in w h i c h t h e c i t i z e n s w e r e a l t o g e t h e r freed f r o m t h i s i n v i d i o u s o b l i g a t i o n , t h e laographia w a s c l e a r l y t h e m a r k of a d e g r a d e d a n d s u b j e c t e d p e o p l e . T h e f u n d a m e n t a l d i s t i n c t i o n , i n t r o duced b y the R o m a n s in the E a s t e r n provinces, b e t w e e n Greeks and natives, c i t i z e n s a n d v i l l a g e r s , c i v i l i z e d (i.e. p e r s o n s of G r e e k e d u c a t i o n ) a n d n o n c i v i l i z e d (i.e. p e r s o n s of o l d o r i e n t a l c u l t u r e s , o r u n c u l t u r e d v i l l a g e r s ) , w a s n o w h e r e -so s h a r p l y felt a s i n E g y p t , b e c a u s e i n n o o t h e r l a n d w a s t h e r u r a l p o p u l a t i o n t o s u c h a d e g r e e r e g a r d e d a s a m i l c h c o w , so f r a n k l y t r e a t e d a s a s u b j e c t p e o p l e , so e x p l o i t e d b y t h e fiscus, a s i t w a s i n R o m a n E g y p t . 2 5

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A n d n o w w e t u r n t o o u r p r i n c i p a l t h e m e : t h e p o s i t i o n of t h e J e w s . W e r e t h e y r e g a r d e d as G r e e k s o r a s E g y p t i a n s ? O b v i o u s l y t h e y w e r e n e i t h e r t h e one n o r t h e o t h e r . T h e R o m a n g o v e r n m e n t h a d t o d e c i d e w h e t h e r all n o n - G r e e k s w e r e t o b e c o n s i d e r e d a s E g y p t i a n s or all n o n - E g y p t i a n s as G r e e k s . T h e decision w a s m a d e t h a t all non-Greeks were to be regarded as E g y p t i a n s . 2 5

See m y article o n t h e problem of t h e pollt a x in R o m a n E g y p t ('Syntaxis and Laographia', Journ. fur. Pap. i v , 1950,179-207); I here confine myself t o a brief s u m m a r y o n l y . 2 6

See for t h e laographia Wallace, 116 s q q . ; J o h n s o n , 531 s q q . ; cf. W i l c k e n , Ostr. 230 s q q . ; H o m b e r t a n d P r e a u x , Chr. d'£gypte, xii, 1937, 259 s q q . ; L a u m in RE, s.v. Xaoypala (xxiii. 732 s q q . ) ; Heichelheim, Gnomon, x, 1934,395 sqq. Earlier scholars (especially Wilcken) regarded t h e laographia as a mark of inferiority imposed on the n a t i v e population in E g y p t b y the R o m a n authorities; the n e w v i e w , formulated b y Sir

Harold Bell (JRS x x x v i i , 1947, 17 s q q . ; JEA x x v i i i , 1942, 39 s q q . ; ib. x x x , 1944, 72 s q q . ; cf. his book Egypt from Alexander the Great to the Arab Conquest, 1948, 68 sqq.), prefers t o regard t h e imposition of laographia as 'a normal feature in the financial s y s t e m of R o m a n E g y p t , t a k e n over b y A u g u s t u s from t h e P t o l e m i e s b u t re modelled b y h i m , w i t h a grant of e x e m p t i o n t o certain classes which he wished t o distinguish from t h e general mass' (Bell, fRS x x x v i i . 19). In m y above-mentioned article I h a v e a t t e m p t e d t o provide new arguments w h i c h strengthen the 'old view'.

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T h i s w a s q u i t e l o g i c a l , since n e i t h e r religion n o r ' r a c e ' h a d a n y j u r i d i c a l v a l u e . F r o m t h e j u r i d i c a l p o i n t of v i e w e v e r y p e r s o n h a v i n g h i s p e r m a n e n t d o m i c i l e i n a p r o v i n c e b e l o n g e d t o t h e p o p u l a t i o n of t h a t p r o v i n c e a n d h a d t o s h a r e i t s f a t e . A n e x c e p t i o n c o u l d b e m a d e o n l y i n r e g a r d t o c i t i z e n s of G r e e k c i t i e s , b e c a u s e t h e s e cities w e r e still c o n s i d e r e d (fictitiously, of course) a s free a u t o n o m o u s p o l i t i c a l entities, a n d , c o n s e q u e n t l y , i n s o m e sense e x t r a - t e r r i t o r i a l . I t is n o t e w o r t h y t h a t A l e x a n d r i a , i.e. t h e polis of A l e x a n d r i a n c i t i z e n s , w a s officially c a l l e d ' A l e x a n d r i a near E g y p t ' ( A l e x a n d r i a ad A e g y p t u m ) , n o t ' A l e x a n d r i a in E g y p t ' , b e c a u s e t h e p o l i t i c a l fiction h e l d t h a t i t w a s a u t o n o m o u s . N o J e w i s h politeuma c o u l d e v e r c l a i m s u c h r i g h t s , a n d a l l politeumata w e r e , in f a c t , a l w a y s u n d e r t h e c e n t r a l g o v e r n m e n t of a r e a l m , w h e t h e r a H e l l e n i s t i c k i n g d o m o r a R o m a n p r o v i n c e . T h e J e w s of t h e chora w e r e , p e r h a p s , n o t s o h e a v i l y s t r i c k e n a s t h o s e i n t h e c a p i t a l . T h e y h a d , i n d e e d , n o h o p e of p e n e t r a t i n g t h e r a n k s of t h e ' m e n of t h e g y m n a s i u m ' , o r t h e metropolitai, tightly closed t o o u t s i d e r s ; b u t , after a l l , these p r i v i l e g e d g r o u p s w e r e also ' E g y p t i a n s ' , a n d t h e differ e n c e b e t w e e n t h e p r i v i l e g e d a n d n o n - p r i v i l e g e d w a s o n l y i n t h e a m o u n t of p o l l - t a x t o b e p a i d . T h e s i t u a t i o n i n t h e c a p i t a l w a s e n t i r e l y different. T h e A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s , e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e of w e a l t h a n d h i g h s t a n d i n g , w e r e s t r o n g l y hellenized; they spoke, wrote, a n d thought in G r e e k ; it is, perhaps, worth n o t i n g t h a t t h e y w e r e t h e o n l y g r o u p of foreigners f r o m t h e E a s t w h o c r e a t e d a n o r i g i n a l b r a n c h of G r e e k l i t e r a t u r e . I n t h e i r e y e s t h e p a y m e n t of laographia w a s n o t m e r e l y a n a d d i t i o n a l e x p e n s e b u t also a m a r k of e x t r e m e p o l i t i c a l a n d cultural degradation, putting them o n the same level with the E g y p t i a n f e l l a h i n . W a s t h e A l e x a n d r i a n J e w e n t i t l e d t o m i x w i t h t h e s o c i e t y of G r e e k s a s a p e r s o n w i t h t h e s a m e p o l i t i c a l r i g h t s a n d o n t h e s a m e l e v e l of c i v i l i z a t i o n , or h a d h e t o leave this society a n d w i t h d r a w as into a ghetto ? T h e A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s were naturally unwilling t o forgo their 'emancipation', a n d so t h e struggle began. 2 7

28

T h e o n l y w a y of a v o i d i n g t h e u n p l e a s a n t s i t u a t i o n c r e a t e d b y t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n of t h e p o l l - t a x , a n d of m a i n t a i n i n g t h e h i g h s t a n d a r d s a c h i e v e d d u r i n g t h e P t o l e m a i c p e r i o d , w a s t o o b t a i n A l e x a n d r i a n c i t i z e n s h i p . W e h a v e a l r e a d y seen a b o v e (pp. 39 sq.) t h a t t h e q u e s t i o n of J e w i s h c i v i c r i g h t s i n A l e x a n d r i a w a s r a t h e r complicated, m a n y J e w s h a v i n g p r o b a b l y received civic rights from t h e kings, a n d o t h e r s h a v i n g p e n e t r a t e d t h e r a n k s of t h e c i t i z e n s b y m e a n s , if n o t e n t i r e l y illegal, a t l e a s t s o m e w h a t irregular. N o w t h i s s i t u a t i o n h a d t o c o m e t o a n e n d . W h e t h e r t h e i m p o s i t i o n of laographia is c o n s i d e r e d a s a m a r k of d e g r a d a t i o n o r 2 7

T h e metropolitai were repeatedly subjected t o detailed scrutiny, and each revision could easily delete n a m e s from t h e list of privileged persons. Cf. P . Princet. 124, dated A . D . 130/1 ( F a y u m ) : r£>v viroyeypafifxevojv

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1810v yivos ano8T£cu. For admission i n t o t h e rank of t h e epheboi (a prerequisite for enrolment a m o n g ' m e n of t h e gymnasium') see a b o v e , n o t e 24. I t is worth noting that one of the questions p u t t o t h e b o y w a s , ' W h o is your m o t h e r ? ' T h e origin of t h e ephebos h a d t o be 8vv[a]adai

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a b o v e suspicion o n both sides. T h e sudden change of political a n d social s t a t u s of t h e J e w s of E g y p t a t t h e beginning of the R o m a n rule a s a consequence of their liability t o p a y m e n t of laographia was emphasized in m y book (in H e b r e w ) : The Jews in Egypt in the Hellenistic-Roman Age, 1945, 95 sqq., 176 s q q . The same h a s been stated independently b y A . Segre in his t w o articles: 'The Status of t h e J e w s in Ptolemaic a n d R o m a n E g y p t ' , Jew. Soc. Stud, v i , 1944, 375 sqq., a n d 'Antisemitism in Hellenistic Alexandria', i b . viii, 1946, 127 sqq. 2 8

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s i m p l y a s a f i n a n c i a l m e a s u r e (see a b o v e , n o t e 26), o n e t h i n g is b e y o n d d o u b t : i t c o u l d n o t b e i m p o s e d w i t h o u t a c a r e f u l a n d precise s c r u t i n y of t h e e n t i r e p o p u l a t i o n of E g y p t . E v e r y o n e h a d t o u n d e r g o a n i n v e s t i g a t i o n a n d t o p r o v e h i s r i g h t , if a n y , t o b e e x e m p t f r o m laographia. H a v i n g t o face s u c h a n i n t e r r o g a t i o n w a s a h e a v y b l o w for a g r e a t n u m b e r , p e r h a p s for m a n y t h o u s a n d s , of A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s . O n l y a small minority could easily prove its claim to civic r i g h t s : t h e s e w e r e t h e d e s c e n d a n t s of o l d J e w i s h families, l o n g i n possession of citizenship. Such people remained unmolested. Others w h o h a d acquired A l e x a n d r i a n c i t i z e n s h i p o n a c c o u n t of t h e i r b e i n g e d u c a t e d in t h e g y m n a s i a , o r b y a s s u m i n g t h e p r o u d n a m e of ' A l e x a n d r i a n ' , or b y a n y o t h e r i r r e g u l a r m e a n s , w e r e n o w c o n f r o n t e d w i t h t h e n e c e s s i t y of p r o v i d i n g proofs, w h e r e t h e r e w e r e n o p r o o f s . T h o s e J e w s c a l l i n g t h e m s e l v e s ' A l e x a n d r i a n s ' (AXâvhpets) were especially affected b y the n e w regulations. T h e term h a d t w o senses: the p o p u l a r o n e of ' i n h a b i t a n t s of A l e x a n d r i a ' , a n d t h e j u r i d i c a l o n e , a p p l i e d t o citizens. T h i s e q u i v o c a l term w a s well suited to J e w s in an equivocal situa t i o n ; p o s s i b l y m a n y of t h e m s i n c e r e l y b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e y w e r e l e g a l l y e n t i t l e d t o b e so c a l l e d . Y e t t h e G r e e k s w e r e i n t e r e s t e d i n p u t t i n g a n e n d t o so v a g u e a s i t u a t i o n . I n t h e t i m e of C a l i g u l a , t h e l e a d e r of t h e a n t i - S e m i t e s , A p i o n , loudly expressed his perplexity t h a t Jews, being Jews, should call themselves A l e x a n d r i a n s (c. Ap. 2. 38), a n d m a n y y e a r s before h i m , u n d e r A u g u s t u s , a n A l e x a n d r i a n Jew, w h e n presenting a petition to the prefect, w a s compelled t o s t y l e h i m s e l f ' a J e w of A l e x a n d r i a ' , i n s t e a d of ' A l e x a n d r i a n ' , a s h e h a d o r i g i n a l l y w r i t t e n ( N o . 1 5 1 ) . I t is w o r t h n o t i n g t h a t in h i s p e t i t i o n t h i s J e w m e n t i o n s t h e laographia t h r e e t i m e s , a n d w e c a n infer t h a t it w a s p r e c i s e l y his o b l i g a t i o n t o p a y t h e laographia w h i c h l e d t h e g o v e r n m e n t officials of A l e x a n d r i a (and p e r h a p s t h e m a n h i m s e l f too) t o t h e d i s c o v e r y of h i s t r u e l e g a l s t a t u s . 29

T h e s t r u g g l e for c i v i c r i g h t s in A l e x a n d r i a left i t s m a r k u p o n J e w i s h l i t e r a t u r e of t h e e a r l y R o m a n p e r i o d . J o s e p h u s , t h o u g h a P a l e s t i n i a n J e w , m a d e g r e a t u s e of A l e x a n d r i a n l i t e r a t u r e w h e n s p e a k i n g of J e w s of t h e d i a s p o r a , a n d h e c a n b e c o n s i d e r e d a s r e p r e s e n t i n g its i d e a l s a n d t e n d e n c i e s . H e m a k e s f r e q u e n t m e n t i o n of t h e c i v i c r i g h t s of A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s . A c c o r d i n g t o h i m , i t w a s A l e x a n d e r h i m self w h o s e t t l e d J e w s i n A l e x a n d r i a a n d g r a n t e d t h e m ' i s o p o l i t y ' (equal rights) w i t h the Greeks. These rights were confirmed b y the Ptolemies. J e w s were granted 'Macedonian' rights as well. N o wonder, then, that Alexandrian Jews called themselves A l e x a n d r i a n s : 'all persons invited to join a colony, h o w e v e r different t h e i r o r i g i n , are c a l l e d b y t h e n a m e s of t h e f o u n d e r s ' (c. Ap. 2. 38). H e r e J o s e p h u s c o n f o u n d s t h e p o p u l a r use of t h e t e r m ' A l e x a n d r i a n s ' w i t h i t s j u r i d i c a l m e a n i n g a n d i n t e r p r e t s it a s ' c i t i z e n s of A l e x a n d r i a ' . P o s s i b l y h e h i m self w a s u n a w a r e of t h e m i s c h i e f h e c a u s e d b e c a u s e of his t o t a l i n a b i l i t y t o t h i n k i n j u r i d i c a l t e r m s . P r o b a b l y m o r e c o n s c i o u s of his o w n a c t i o n w a s t h e u n k n o w n J e w i s h forger, w h o i n s e r t e d i n t o t h e e d i c t of C l a u d i u s , after t h e w o r d ' J e w s ' , t h e false definition, ' t h o s e w h o are c a l l e d A l e x a n d r i a n s ' (see b e l o w , n o t e 45). J o s e p h u s ' s t o r y of A l e x a n d e r s e t t l i n g J e w s i n a q u a r t e r of A l e x a n d r i a is also 2 9

T h e terms Seleucians, Antiochenes, e t c . , had similarly a m b i g u o u s meanings. Josephus used this a m b i g u i t y t o a t t e s t the civic rights of J e w s inhabiting these cities (c. Ap. 2. 38). In

Alexandria the question had a peculiar importance, a large number of citizens being called 'Alexandrians' as distinct from those enrolled in vXai and 817/zoi (see a b o v e , p . 41, note 102).

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reflected i n a p o p u l a r J e w i s h l e g e n d o n t h e f o u n d a t i o n of A l e x a n d r i a , p r o b a b l y c o m p o s e d i n t h e first c e n t u r y A . D . P h i l o , w h o w a s himself t h e g r e a t e s t fighter for J e w i s h r i g h t s i n A l e x a n d r i a , k n e w t h e r e a l s t a t e of affairs b e t t e r t h a n a n y o n e else. I n h i s p o l i t i c a l w r i t i n g s , i n t e n d e d , p e r h a p s , t o b e p r e s e n t e d t o R o m a n a u t h o r i t i e s , h e n e v e r s p e a k s of J e w s a s possessing full c i t i z e n s h i p , b u t confines h i m s e l f t o t e r m s of a s o m e w h a t a m b i g u o u s c h a r a c t e r , s u c h a s St/cata o r SiKcucu/AaTa, c a p a b l e of b e i n g i n t e r p r e t e d i n v a r i o u s w a y s . B u t i n Vita Mosis h e e x p r e s s e s h i s real t h o u g h t s a s f o l l o w s : 3 0

31

T h e Jews [he tells us] were strangers (£eW), since famine h a d driven the founders of the nation . . . to migrate to E g y p t . . . . T h e y were, in a sense, suppliants (t/ceVai), who had found a sanctuary in the pledged faith of the king and the pity felt for them b y the inhabitants. F o r strangers, in m y judgement, must be regarded as suppliants of those who receive them, and not only suppliants but settlers and friends (/ne'roiKoi. . . Kal l\oi) w h o are anxious to obtain equal rights w i t h the burgesses and are near to being citizens because they differ little from the original inhabitants. H e r e t h e f u n d a m e n t a l i d e a of P h i l o ' s p o l i t i c s is q u i t e c l e a r : J e w i s h c l a i m s f o r full c i t i z e n s h i p a r e justified b e c a u s e J e w s differ b u t little from t h e G r e e k s . T h u s t h e s i m i l a r i t y of G r e e k s a n d J e w s , a n d t h e c u l t u r a l a c h i e v e m e n t s of t h e J e w s , are t h e t r u e b a s i s for t h e i r c l a i m s t o ' i s o p o l i t y ' . T h e o b l i g a t i o n t o p a y t h e laogra phia, h o w e v e r , p u t J e w s a n d E g y p t i a n s o n t h e s a m e l e v e l , a n d p n t i - S e m i t e s w e r e r e a d y t o m a k e t h e m o s t of s u c h a s i t u a t i o n . O n e of t h e fiercest A l e x a n d r i a n l e a d e r s i n t h e t i m e of C a l i g u l a , Isidoros, w h e n p r o s e c u t i n g t h e J e w i s h k i n g A g r i p p a before t h e h i g h I m p e r i a l c o u r t i n R o m e , a c c u s e d t h e A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s o f b e i n g of t h e s a m e c h a r a c t e r a s E g y p t i a n s , b e c a u s e b o t h n a t i o n s w e r e s u b j e c t t o t h e p a y m e n t of t h e p o l l - t a x ( N o . 156c). J e w i s h w r i t e r s w e r e d e e p l y offended b y a c c u s a t i o n s of t h i s k i n d a n d t r i e d h a r d t o d r a w a c l e a r line of demarcation between Jews and E g y p t i a n s . Since the anti-Semites interpreted the obligation of t h e J e w s t o p a y the poll-tax as a sign t h a t t h e y ranked a s E g y p t i a n s , Jewish writers were especially anxious to emphasize the great 3 2

3 3

3 0

Josephus) entered t h e ranks of Alexandrian citiz e n s , t h e risings against J e w s began ( i b . 2. 69). T h e E g y p t i a n s called J e w s 'strangers' (peregrini),

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although t h e y themselves had never been granted citizenship b y a n y king or emperor (ib. 2. 41, 71 sq.). Throughout their history t h e E g y p t i a n s h a d a l w a y s been a subject race (ib. 2. 127 s q . ) ; their religion w a s foolish a n d senseless ( i b . 1.

Vita Mos. 1. 34 sq. T h e end of t h e passage runs as f o l l o w s : anevSovres els dortiv laorifxlav KO.1 yeiTviaivTes r)8rj TroXlrais, oXlytp rtov avToxOdvwv BiaêpovTes. A different interpretation of this passage is g i v e n b y Wolfson, JBL Ixiii, 1944,

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225). Philo's attitude towards t h e E g y p t i a n s is n o better. H e , t o o , considers t h e E g y p t i a n religion as e x t r e m e l y foolish (de decal. 76 s q q . ; de spec. leg. 2. 146; de vita contemp. 8 s q . ; a n d passim), a n d in h i s philosophical s y s t e m h e de-

165 sqq. According t o Josephus, E g y p t i a n s h a d a l w a y s been t h e greatest enemies of t h e J e w s (c. Ap. 1. 70), t h e first t o calumniate t h e m (ib. 1. 223). T h e J e w s of Alexandria h a d never been disturbed w h e n living side b y side w i t h Greeks and Macedonians: b u t as soon as E g y p t i a n s , and such m e n a s Apion (an E g y p t i a n , according t o

picts the E g y p t i a n people as symbolizing demoralization, sensuality, a n d generally t h e materialistic element of h u m a n life (de poster. Caini 156 s q . ; legum alleg. 2. 59; de sacrif. Abeli 48, and t h e l i k e ; cf. also de Abrah. 107; de agricult. 62; de spec. leg. 3. 23; leg. 166). F o r Philo's attitude towards t h e religion of t h e E g y p t i a n s see Wolfson, Philo, i. 30 sqq.

F . Pfister, 'Eine jiidische Griindungsgesch. Alexandrias', Silzb. Heidelb. Akad. 1914, x i . 22 sqq. According t o Goodenough, The Politics of Philo Judaeus, 1938, In Flaccum was intended t o be handed t o the new prefect of E g y p t w h o w a s t o replace Flaccus, a n d Legatio t o t h e Emperor Claudius.

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i n j u r y c a u s e d t o J e w s b y t h e i m p o s i t i o n of t h i s i n v i d i o u s p o l l - t a x . A p a m p h l e t , n o t i n v e r y g o o d l i t e r a r y t a s t e , c o m p o s e d , as I b e l i e v e , in t h e t i m e of A u g u s t u s , a n d k n o w n a s t h e T h i r d B o o k of M a c c a b e e s , b e a r s w i t n e s s t o t h e g r e a t c o n s t e r n a t i o n w h i c h s e i z e d t h e A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s w h e n t h e y l e a r n e d of t h e i m p o s i t i o n of t h e laographia. T h e g e n e r a l c e n s u s of t h e E g y p t i a n p e o p l e , o r g a n i z e d p r o b a b l y i n t h e 6 t h y e a r of A u g u s t u s ' r e i g n in o r d e r t o fix t h e n u m b e r of t h o s e liable t o p a y m e n t of t h e laographia for t h e n e x t y e a r , w a s a l l e g e d b y t h e a u t h o r of 3 M a c e , t o a p p l y o n l y t o J e w s a n d w a s e n o r m o u s l y e x a g g e r a t e d ; b e i n g r e c o r d e d for t h e laographia w a s i n t e r p r e t e d b y h i m as a m e a n s of e n s l a v i n g t h e Jewish people, and even annihilating i t . 3 4

T h e i m p o s i t i o n of laographia, a c a l a m i t y for J e w s a n d E g y p t i a n s , w a s w e l c o m e d b y G r e e k s , w h o s h o w e d t h e u t m o s t r e a d i n e s s in c o - o p e r a t i n g w i t h R o m a n officials in t h e s e a r c h for p e r s o n s e v a d i n g p a y m e n t . T h e R o m a n g o v e r n m e n t w a s k e e n l y a n x i o u s t h a t n o J e w o r E g y p t i a n l i a b l e t o laographia s h o u l d e v a d e it b y i n s c r i b i n g h i m s e l f a m o n g s t t h e epheboi, since g y m n a s i u m e d u c a t i o n w a s a p r e r e q u i s i t e for c i t i z e n s h i p , a n d c i t i z e n s h i p w a s i n c o m p a t i b l e w i t h t h e p a y m e n t of p o l l - t a x . A t t h e s a m e t i m e , t h e A l e x a n d r i a n s w e r e also i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e s t r i c t fulfilment of t h e g o v e r n m e n t r e g u l a t i o n s c o n c e r n i n g laographia, so t h a t t h e y m i g h t p r e s e r v e t h e t r a d i t i o n a l G r e e k f o r m of t h e i r polis a n d n o t t h r o w o p e n the doors to outsiders. T h i s presaged an alliance b e t w e e n R o m a n s and A l e x a n drian Greeks. A v e r y interesting document written under Augustus (probably i n t h e y e a r s 2 1 - 1 9 B . C . ) , t h e s o - c a l l e d 'jSouA^-papyrus' ( N o . 150), g i v e s s o m e i n f o r m a t i o n of t h e b a s e s of n e g o t i a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e A l e x a n d r i a n G r e e k s a n d t h e E m p e r o r . T h e A l e x a n d r i a n s w e r e e a g e r t o see t h e r e s t i t u t i o n of t h e i r c i t y c o u n c i l , l o s t in c i r c u m s t a n c e s n o t c l e a r l y k n o w n t o u s . I n r e t u r n t h e y p r o m i s e d t o t a k e u p o n t h e m s e l v e s t h e d u t i e s of t h e g o v e r n m e n t t o g u a r d a g a i n s t a n y n o n - G r e e k e l e m e n t s infiltrating i n t o t h e r a n k s of t h e epheboi. T h i s d o c u m e n t s h o w s u s t h a t , f r o m t h e v e r y b e g i n n i n g of R o m a n rule, t h e G r e e k s w e r e a n x i o u s t o q u a s h e v e r y a t t e m p t o n t h e p a r t of t h e J e w s t o p e n e t r a t e i n t o t h e i r r a n k s a n d a t t a i n e q u a l i t y of c i t i z e n s h i p w i t h t h e m . T h e y h o p e d t h a t t h e R o m a n g o v e r n m e n t w o u l d a g r e e t o h e l p t h e m i n t h i s . I t is n o t s u r p r i s i n g t h a t t h e a n t i S e m i t i c m o v e m e n t , f o s t e r e d earlier b y A l e x a n d r i a n p a t r i o t s , n o w t o o k d e e p r o o t i n t h e G r e e k p o p u l a t i o n of t h e c a p i t a l , a n d a l t h o u g h n o d e t a i l s of i t s p r o g r a m m e in t h e r e i g n of A u g u s t u s are a v a i l a b l e , s o m e p i c t u r e m a y b e o b t a i n e d f r o m t h e w r i t i n g s of s u c h a n t i - S e m i t e s a s A p i o n , a n d from f a c t s a n d d o c u m e n t s b e l o n g i n g t o t h e d a y s of G a i u s C a l i g u l a a n d C l a u d i u s . T h e i r t e n e t s , e s s e n t i a l l y , w e r e a s f o l l o w s : J e w s are s t r a n g e r s ; t h e i r religion is a b s u r d ; t h e i r c u s t o m s a n d m a n n e r s o d d a n d b a r b a r o u s . T h e y h a t e o t h e r p e o p l e s a n d despise g o d s o t h e r t h a n t h e i r o w n . E g y p t i a n J e w s d o n o t differ f r o m n a t i v e E g y p t i a n s ; t h e y h a v e t h e s a m e m a n n e r s . N o J e w s h o u l d b e a l l o w e d t o e n t e r t h e r a n k s of G r e e k c i t i z e n s unless h e is w i l l i n g t o a b a n d o n h i s b a r b a r o u s c u s t o m s a n d t o w o r s h i p t h e c i t y g o d s . T h e p a r t i c i p a t i o n of J e w s in g y m n a s t i c c o n t e s t s a n d t h e i r e n r o l m e n t i n t h e epheboi m u s t b e f o r b i d d e n . T h e y m u s t b e s h u t u p in a s e p a r a t e q u a r t e r , a n d n o p e r m i s s i o n t o c o m m u n i c a t e w i t h G r e e k s s h o u l d b e g r a n t e d t o t h e m so t h a t 35

3 4

Cf. m y article in Hebrew mentioned a b o v e , p. 22, n o t e 54. A n E g y p t i a n neglecting this order w a s 3 5

threatened with severe p u n i s h m e n t ; cf. Gnomon of the Idios Logos, 44.

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the Greek c i t y m a y b e kept unpolluted. A l l their privileges are t o be abolished. A n d if a l l t h e s e m e a s u r e s s h o u l d n o t p r o v e s t r o n g e n o u g h t o c u r e t h i s p e o p l e of i t s h a t r e d of m a n k i n d a n d i t s c o n t e m p t for g o d s , t h e final m e a s u r e m u s t b e : t o b a n i s h t h e m f r o m t h e c i t y . S u c h w a s t h e s o l u t i o n of t h e ' J e w i s h q u e s t i o n ' , w o r k e d o u t b y t h e l e a d e r s of t h e A l e x a n d r i a n a n t i - S e m i t e s a n d p r o b a b l y p r e s e n t e d t o t h e R o m a n g o v e r n m e n t a s a possible m e a n s of r e c o n c i l i a t i o n b e t w e e n the Alexandrian patriots and the R o m a n government. A u g u s t u s would n o t accept this programme. H e did not grant the A l e x a n d r i a n s t h e i r c i t y c o u n c i l , n o r d i d C l a u d i u s s i x t y y e a r s after. R o m e h a d sufficient grounds for distrusting the A l e x a n d r i a n patriots a n d for discouraging their a s p i r a t i o n s t o w a r d s full f r e e d o m a n d a u t o n o m y . N e i t h e r c o u l d A u g u s t u s a b o l i s h t h e t r a d i t i o n a l r i g h t of t h e J e w s ' t o l i v e a c c o r d i n g t o t h e i r o w n l a w s ' : t h a t w o u l d m a r k a b r e a k w i t h t h e o l d R o m a n t r a d i t i o n of c o n f i r m i n g t h e r i g h t s e x t a n t , a n d i t w o u l d i m m e d i a t e l y p u t t h e J e w i s h p o p u l a t i o n of t h e e n t i r e R o m a n E m p i r e i n t o a s t a t e of p e r m a n e n t a g i t a t i o n a n d r e v o l t . T i b e r i u s , o n t h e J e w i s h q u e s t i o n , a s i n a l l m a j o r issues, f o l l o w e d i n t h e s t e p s of A u g u s t u s . T h e a c c e s sion of G a i u s C a l i g u l a ( A . D . 37) i n a u g u r a t e d a n e w e p o c h . T h e n e w E m p e r o r i n t e n d e d t o rule o v e r t h e R o m a n E m p i r e a c c o r d i n g t o t h e p r i n c i p l e s of a H e l l e n istic m o n a r c h . T h e deification of t h e m o n a r c h w a s f u n d a m e n t a l w i t h e v e r y H e l l e n i s t i c ruler. T h e s y m p a t h i e s of C a l i g u l a f o r t h e G r e e k s , a n d i n p a r t i c u l a r for A l e x a n d r i a , w e r e w e l l k n o w n , a n d t h e A l e x a n d r i a n p a t r i o t s b e g a n t o h o p e t h a t a t l a s t t h e i r d a y of v i c t o r y h a d a r r i v e d . A n d i n d e e d i t h a d . T h e l e a d e r s of the A l e x a n d r i a n patriots a n d anti-Semites, Isidoros, L a m p o n , a n d Dionysios, d i s p l a y e d f e v e r i s h a c t i v i t y . T h e p r e f e c t w a s F l a c c u s , a R o m a n of t h e o l d s c h o o l , w h o h a d b e e n o n v e r y g o o d t e r m s w i t h T i b e r i u s b u t h a d sufficient g r o u n d s t o f e a r t h e n e w E m p e r o r , w h o s e p r i n c i p l e s of g o v e r n m e n t w e r e n e w a n d s t r a n g e t o h i m . I t w a s e a s y , therefore, f o r t h e A l e x a n d r i a n l e a d e r s t o p e r s u a d e t h e o l d R o m a n t h a t his career w a s dependent upon them, a n d t h a t he h a d t o d o as t h e y w i s h e d if h e desired t o b e o n g o o d t e r m s w i t h t h e n e w E m p e r o r . W i t h t h e p r e f e c t o n t h e i r side, t h e y c o u l d s t a r t t o c a r r y o u t t h e i r p r o g r a m m e . A c h a n c e v i s i t of the Jewish king, A g r i p p a I, a n event w h i c h greatly roused the Jews, provided t h e p r e t e x t for v i o l e n t a g i t a t i o n a m o n g t h e A l e x a n d r i a n m o b . S t i r r e d u p b y a n t i Semites, the Alexandrians streamed into the theatre a n d demanded the erection of i m a g e s of t h e E m p e r o r i n t h e s y n a g o g u e s . P r o b a b l y t h e p o l l u t i o n of t h e s y n a g o g u e s i n t h i s w a y w a s i m m e d i a t e l y effected, a n d a s a r e s u l t t h e J e w i s h religious c u l t a u t o m a t i c a l l y c e a s e d . T h i s w a s a n o p e n v i o l a t i o n of t h e t r a d i 3 6

3 7

3 6

T h e 'theoretical' i t e m s of this programme (the scorn felt for t h e g o d s ; t h e misanthropia, i.e. t h e hatred of m a n k i n d ; t h e Jewish religion as barbara superstitio) were gradually deve loped b y anti-Semitic authors from Manetho (3rd century B.C.) t o A p i o n , a n d later briefly summarized b y Tacitus (hist. 5. 2 sqq.). T h e 'practical' items (the exclusion of t h e J e w s from g y m n a s t i c contests, their similarity t o t h e E g y p t i a n s , their foreign origin a n d their u n familiarity t o Alexandrians, etc.) c a n b e recon structed from m a n y separate hints in t h e papyri, B 2909

and especially i n t h e A c t s of t h e Alexandrian Martyrs ( N o s . 154-9). S e e , o n Alexandrian antiSemitism, Bell, JRS x x x i . 1 s q q . ; Segre\ Jew. Soc. Stud. viii. 127 s q q . 3 7

T h e persecution of the J e w s i n R o m e during his reign had a local reason a n d did n o t affect t h e fate of the J e w s i n t h e R o m a n Empire i n general. T h e persecution is ascribed b y our sources t o Sejanus, n o t t o t h e Emperor himself, and it s e e m s t h a t after t h e fall of Sejanus (A.D. 31) Tiberius suspended t h e anti-Jewish policy. S e e leg. 160;

Euseb. hist, eccles. 2. 5.

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t i o n a l rights of t h e J e w s . T h e p r e f e c t h a d n o w t o c h o o s e b e t w e e n p r o t e c t i n g t h e J e w s ' franchises a n d f o l l o w i n g t h e a n t i - S e m i t i c p o l i c y ; if he c h o s e t h e f o r m e r , it w a s his d u t y t o r e m o v e the E m p e r o r ' s statues from the synagogues, w h i c h c o u l d b e i n t e r p r e t e d in R o m e a s a n a c t of h o s t i l i t y t o w a r d s t h e E m p e r o r . H e chose the latter. A n edict w a s issued b y F l a c c u s , p r o b a b l y aiming at strict definition of J e w i s h p r i v i l e g e s a s i n t e r p r e t e d b y t h e a n t i - S e m i t e s . T h e t e x t of t h e e d i c t is n o t e x t a n t ; t h i s m u c h is k n o w n , t h a t F l a c c u s p r o c l a i m e d t h e A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s t o b e 'foreigners a n d a l i e n s ' (|eVot /cat eVÂuSe?) (Flacc. 54). T h i s w a s t h e first g r e a t v i c t o r y of t h e a n t i - S e m i t e s : t h e i r thesis t h a t J e w s w e r e s t r a n g e r s w a s a d o p t e d a n d officially p r o c l a i m e d b y t h e R o m a n g o v e r n m e n t . A l l e n s u i n g a c t i o n s w e r e m e r e l y i m p l i c a t i o n s of t h i s b a s i c principle. A l l J e w s w e r e s h u t u p in o n e q u a r t e r , t o p r e v e n t a n y c o n t a g i o n t o G r e e k s f r o m t h i s b a r b a r o u s p e o p l e ; w h e n J e w s w e r e f o r c e d b y t h e s c a r c i t y of f o o d t o l e a v e t h e i r q u a r t e r a n d t o a p p e a r in t h e m a r k e t - p l a c e , t h e y w e r e p u r s u e d a n d s l a u g h t e r e d . T h e h o u s e s of J e w s w e r e p l u n d e r e d , t h e i r g o o d s s t o l e n o r d e s t r o y e d . M e m b e r s of t h e J e w i s h gerousia w e r e flogged w i t h w h i p s in t h e t h e a t r e before all t h e w o r l d in t h e s a m e w a y as were c o m m o n E g y p t i a n s , t h o u g h until then an old custom h a d pre s e r v e d t o J e w s t h e p r i v i l e g e of b e i n g p u n i s h e d l i k e A l e x a n d r i a n c i t i z e n s (see above, p. 41). T h u s Jewish a u t o n o m y w a s w h o l l y abolished, and w i t h un r e m i t t i n g s e v e r i t y t h e J e w s w e r e d r i v e n o u t of t h e G r e e k c i t y a n d s h u t a w a y in a g h e t t o . S u c h w a s t h e first p o g r o m in J e w i s h h i s t o r y ( A . D . 3 8 ) . 38

T h e r e a c t i o n of t h e A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s w a s t w o f o l d . T h e rich a n d influential classes of t h e c o m m u n i t y d i d n o t i n t e n d t o b r e a k off all r e l a t i o n s w i t h G r e e k s o c i e t y . P h i l o w a s o n e of t h o s e w h o s o u g h t a w a y of r e c o n c i l i a t i o n . H i s t w o h i s t o r i c a l w o r k s d e v o t e d t o t h e d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e p o g r o m , t h e In Flaccum a n d t h e Legatio ad Gaium, s t r i k e u s a s g i v i n g a s o m e w h a t n a i v e a n d simplified c o n c e p t i o n of t h e c a u s e s a n d r e a s o n s of t h e p o g r o m . N o serious i n q u i r y i n t o t h e d e e p e r m o t i v e s of t h e a n t i - J e w i s h m o v e m e n t is m a d e , or e v e n a t t e m p t e d . H e blames the unruly a n d undisciplined A l e x a n d r i a n m o b and the dishonest a n d w o r t h l e s s s c o u n d r e l s , s u c h a s I s i d o r o s a n d his c o m r a d e s ; h e also b l a m e s t h e R o m a n p r e f e c t , w h o h a s b e t r a y e d his p o s t a s t h e s u p r e m e g u a r d i a n of l a w a n d order. P h i l o d o e s n o t d r a w t h e l o g i c a l c o n c l u s i o n f r o m t h e f a c t w h i c h h e h i m s e l f h a s r e c o r d e d , t h a t I s i d o r o s a n d L a m p o n w e r e gymnasiarchoi, i.e. m e n a t t h e h e a d of t h e e d u c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n of t h e G r e e k c i t y , a n d , a s s u c h , r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of t h e c u l t u r e d e l e m e n t of t h e G r e e k c o m m u n i t y , t h o u g h p r o b a b l y n o t of t h e a r i s t o c r a c y of A l e x a n d r i a (see t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n t o N o . 156). H e s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e a n t i - S e m i t i c m o v e m e n t arose a s a n e x p r e s s i o n of t h e w i c k e d i d e a s of a s m a l l m i n o r i t y c e n t r e d in p o p u l a r c l u b s (eVaipefat /cat avvoSoi), a n d n o t as t h e c o n sidered decision of t h e e n t i r e G r e e k c i t y - c o m m u n i t y of A l e x a n d r i a , w h i c h w a s d e t e r m i n e d n o t t o g i v e t o J e w s a c c e s s t o c i t y affairs n o r t o p e r m i t t h e m t o e n t e r t h e r a n k s of c i t i z e n s . I m b u e d a s h e w a s w i t h G r e e k p h i l o s o p h y a n d m o d e s of t h o u g h t , h e c o u l d n o t b e l i e v e t h a t t h e G r e e k i n t e l l i g e n t s i a of A l e x a n d r i a c o n s i d e r e d J e w s t o b e a s t r a n g e a n d p e r n i c i o u s e l e m e n t in t h e polis. A s for t h e R o m a n g o v e r n m e n t h e h a d n o l o v e for it, b u t h e b e l i e v e d t h a t it w a s R o m e ' s 3 8

T h e e v e n t s of A . D . 38 in Alexandria h a v e frequently been described in modern literature, Cf. Willrich, Klio, iii, 1903, 397 s q q . ; Schiirer, i.

495 s q q . ; Bell, Juden und Griechen, 16 s q q . ; B a l s d o n , The Emperor Gaius, 1934, 125 s q q . ; B o x in his edition of Philo's in Flaccum, p p . x x x v i i i s q q .

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mission to establish l a w and order throughout the world, and he could hardly a g r e e t h a t t h e v e r y p r i n c i p l e s of R o m a n rule i n t h e O r i e n t c r e a t e d a p o l i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n w h i c h m a r k e d E g y p t i a n J e w s w i t h t h e s t i g m a of i n f e r i o r i t y . If i n s o m e c a s e s (as i n A . D . 38) R o m a n s w e r e i n v o l v e d i n a n a n t i - S e m i t i c m o v e m e n t , the responsibility l a y w i t h individuals, like the m a d E m p e r o r Gaius or the faith less p r e f e c t F l a c c u s . T h e s e p e r s o n s h a d , of course, t o b e p u n i s h e d , b u t s u c h p u n i s h m e n t w a s in G o d ' s h a n d s , n o t in t h o s e of m o r t a l m e n (cf. Flacc. 121 s q q . ; de praem. et poen. 169 s q q . ) . P h i l o ' s p o l i t i c a l p r o g r a m m e w a s a l o g i c a l result of these basic principles. T h e anti-Semitic leaders h a d to be opposed b y e v e r y m e a n s , b u t t h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e m h a d t o b e f o u g h t o u t n o t in A l e x a n d r i a b u t in R o m e , a n d n o t b y force of a r m s b u t b y m e t h o d s of i n s t r u c t i o n a n d e l u c i d a t i o n . T h e rulers of R o m e w e r e p r o b a b l y m i s l e d b y b a d a d v i s e r s ; t h e y w e r e not aware t h a t the anti-Semitic leaders were dangerous, not only to Jews, b u t also t o R o m a n rule in E g y p t ; t h e y h a d n o c l e a r k n o w l e d g e of t h e t r a d i t i o n a l Jewish rights granted b y the Ptolemies and confirmed b y A u g u s t u s ; and t h e y h a d o v e r l o o k e d t h e f a c t t h a t J e w s t h r o u g h o u t t h e w o r l d c o u l d , i n c e r t a i n cir cumstances, unite to become a danger to the R o m a n Empire. These were the p r i n c i p a l issues t o b e d i s c u s s e d in R o m e before t h e E m p e r o r . 39

P h i l o ' s p o l i c y w a s n o t a result of his i n d i v i d u a l c o g i t a t i o n s b u t a n e x p r e s s i o n of a m o d e of t h o u g h t c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of a w h o l e social class. T h e r e is n o difficulty i n r e c o g n i z i n g t h a t P h i l o ' s i d e a s of r e c o n c i l i a t i o n w i t h t h e g o v e r n m e n t a n d t h e G r e e k s w e r e d i r e c t l y in line w i t h t h e i d e a s of A r i s t e a s . P h i l o , t h e b r o t h e r of t h e r i c h b a n k e r A l e x a n d e r , h a d b e e n b r o u g h t u p i n a n a t m o s p h e r e of s o l i d a r i t y w i t h his G r e e k n e i g h b o u r s , a n d , l i k e all J e w s of h i g h s t a n d i n g , h a d n o i n t e n t i o n of b r e a k i n g e i t h e r w i t h t h e m or w i t h R o m e . A n d since t h e h i g h e r circles of t h e J e w i s h p o p u l a t i o n in A l e x a n d r i a , t h e r i c h b a n k e r s , m e r c h a n t s , a n d s h i p o w n e r s , w e r e t h e r e a l rulers of t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y , t h e i r p o l i c y w a s a d o p t e d a s t h e official p o l i c y of t h e A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s . A n e m b a s s y of five p e r s o n s , h e a d e d b y P h i l o , w a s s e n t t o R o m e for t h e p u r p o s e of e x p l a i n i n g t o t h e E m p e r o r t h e t r a d i t i o n a l r i g h t s of t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y i n A l e x a n d r i a . T h e G r e e k s , for t h e i r p a r t , sent a c o u n t e r - e m b a s s y , h e a d e d b y A p i o n , o n e of t h e m o s t s t u b b o r n l e a d e r s of t h e a n t i - S e m i t e s . S o t h e ' J e w i s h q u e s t i o n ' , for t h e first t i m e i n h i s t o r y , w a s t o b e discussed before a h i g h t r i b u n a l , a n d t h e fate of t h e J e w s w a s t o b e settled b y diplomatic means. 4 0

Y e t t h e r e w e r e classes of t h e J e w i s h p o p u l a t i o n in A l e x a n d r i a w h i c h c o u l d n o t a g r e e w i t h t h e official p o l i c y of t h e l e a d i n g p e r s o n a l i t i e s of t h e c o m m u n i t y . W e h a v e a l r e a d y seen t h a t t h e influence of P a l e s t i n e o n A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s w a s v e r y s t r o n g . F r o m t h e t i m e of t h e first H a s m o n a e a n s t h i s influence h a d n e v e r f a v o u r e d a r e c o n c i l i a t i o n w i t h t h e G r e e k s . A f t e r t h e a n n i h i l a t i o n of t h e H a s m o n a e a n S t a t e b y t h e R o m a n s t h i s influence w a s e v e n m o r e i m b u e d w i t h n a t i o n a l s p i r i t t h a n i t h a d b e e n a h u n d r e d y e a r s earlier. K i n g H e r o d , i n t h e t i m e of A u g u s t u s , w a s n o m o r e t h a n a c r e a t u r e of R o m e , a n d h i s p r o - H e l l e n i s t i c a n d p r o - R o m a n p o l i c y , a c c o m p a n i e d b y r u t h l e s s c r u e l t y t o w a r d s his J e w i s h s u b j e c t s , 3 9

For Philo's a t t i t u d e towards R o m e see Goodenough, The Politics of Philo Judaeus, 1938; Sterling Tracy, Philo Judaeus and the Roman Principate, 1933.

4 0

T h e figure of five persons is g i v e n b y Philo himself (leg. 370). Philo's evidence m u s t be preferred t o t h a t of Josephus w h o speaks of three m e m b e r s of each e m b a s s y (ant. 18. 257).

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s o w e d t h e s e e d s of l a t e r d i s t u r b a n c e s . T h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n of J u d a e a i n t o a R o m a n p r o v i n c e i n A . D . 6, a n d t h e g e n e r a l c e n s u s h e l d i n t h e n e w p r o v i n c e t h e f o l l o w i n g y e a r , l e d t o t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n of t h e p a t r i o t i c a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y f a c t i o n of Z e a l o t s , a n d f r o m t h i s t i m e o n , p e a c e c o u l d n o t b e e x p e c t e d t o p r e v a i l i n J u d a e a . H a t r e d of R o m e w a s n o w t h e s l o g a n of J e w i s h P a l e s t i n e . N o w o n d e r t h a t t h e l o w e r s t r a t a of t h e J e w i s h p o p u l a t i o n of E g y p t , less i n t o u c h w i t h t h e Greeks and more deeply devoted to the national tradition, were highly suscep t i b l e t o t h e influence of P a l e s t i n i a n J e w r y , w h o s e h a t r e d of R o m e w a s c o n t a g i o u s . I t m a y b e r e c a l l e d t h a t , a s a c o n s e q u e n c e of t h e i m p o s i t i o n of t h e laographia, A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s h a d g o o d r e a s o n s of t h e i r o w n t o h a t e R o m e . T h e T h i r d B o o k of M a c c a b e e s m a y s e r v e a s g o o d e v i d e n c e of s u c h h a t r e d . I t is curious t h a t Greeks, as such, seldom appear in this b o o k , and w h e n t h e y do, t h e y are n o t r e p r e s e n t e d as hostile t o J e w s (3. 8 s q q . ) . T h e a u t h o r ' s e n t i r e h a t r e d is c o n c e n t r a t e d a g a i n s t t h e g o v e r n m e n t a n d a g a i n s t J e w i s h t r a i t o r s . T h e g o v e r n m e n t i n 3 M a c e , is d e p i c t e d a s t h a t of t h e P t o l e m a i c K i n g P h i l o p a t o r ; b u t in m y o p i n i o n (as a l r e a d y m e n t i o n e d ) t h e final c o m p o s i t i o n of t h i s p a m p h l e t m a y b e a s s i g n e d t o A u g u s t u s ' t i m e , so t h a t t h e feelings of t h e a u t h o r t o w a r d s t h e ' P t o l e m a i c ' g o v e r n m e n t are t o b e i n t e r p r e t e d a s d i c t a t e d b y his fierce h a t r e d of t h e R o m a n s . E v e n m o r e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c is h i s a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s t r a i t o r s . T h e t r a i t o r s are t h o s e J e w s w h o h a v e p r e f e r r e d t o r e c e i v e t h e k i n g ' s g r a n t of A l e x a n d r i a n c i t i z e n s h i p i n e x c h a n g e for t h e i r a b a n d o n m e n t of t h e J e w i s h f a i t h (2. 3 1 ) ; t h e a u t h o r r e c o r d s w i t h g r e a t s a t i s f a c t i o n t h e fierce s l a u g h t e r a m o n g t h e m c a r r i e d o u t b y J e w s w h o r e m a i n e d faithful t o J e w i s h t r a d i t i o n (7. 10 s q q . ) . S u c h w a s t h e w a y of feeling a n d t h i n k i n g a m o n g t h e l o w e r classes of A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s . I t is o b v i o u s t h a t t h e a t t e m p t t o s e t t l e t h e ' J e w i s h q u e s t i o n ' b y p e a c e f u l m e t h o d s of n e g o t i a t i o n a n d discussion f o u n d l i t t l e s y m p a t h y a m o n g t h e m . T h e r e w a s a n o t h e r w a y of s e t t l i n g t h e q u e s t i o n : b y force of a r m s . T h e J e w i s h d e m a g o g u e s c o u l d s c a r c e l y h o p e for a t o t a l v i c t o r y o v e r G r e e k s a n d R o m a n s , b u t feelings of h a t r e d a n d t h e desire for v e n g e a n c e are s e l d o m a c c o m p a n i e d b y s o u n d r e a s o n i n g ; t o m a k e a b e g i n n i n g w a s of t h e first i m p o r t a n c e , a n d G o d w o u l d t a k e c a r e of w h a t f o l l o w e d . T w o i m p o r t a n t s t e p s w e r e t a k e n , p r o b a b l y w i t h o u t a n y c o n t r o l o n t h e p a r t of t h e official J e w i s h a u t h o r i t i e s : a r m s w e r e s m u g g l e d i n t o t h e J e w i s h q u a r t e r , a n d e n v o y s w e r e s e n t t o J e w s i n t h e E g y p t i a n chora a n d i n P a l e s t i n e t o i n v i t e t h e m t o c o m e t o t h e h e l p of t h e i r b r e t h r e n i n A l e x a n d r i a . 41

4 2

4 1

On t h e rise of the Zealots' party in Palestine and its programme see Klausner, A History of the Second Commonwealth, i v , 2nd e d . , 200 sqq. (in H e b r e w ) ; Bonsirven, Le Judaisme Palestinien, i, 1924, 58 s q . ; Fairweather, The Background of the Gospels, 1920, 195 s q . For J u d a s of Galilee, t h e founder of the Zealots' p a r t y , and his family see J . Spencer K e n n a r d , JQR x x x v i , 1945/6, 281 s q q . A detailed history of t h e Zealots' party, of its ideals and aspirations, of various factions inside it, is as y e t unwritten. 4 2

Neither fact is anywhere directly a t t e s t e d , y e t t h e y m a y b e deduced from s o m e indirect evidence. Flaccus ordered a search for arms in t h e J e w i s h quarter, a n d , according t o P h i l o , n o arms

were found because there were none (Flacc. 90). T h a t is an e x a g g e r a t i o n ; y e t the whole descrip tion of the pogrom reveals t h a t in A.D. 38 J e w s were not able t o fight their enemies and were easily subdued. H o w did t h e y a t t a c k the Greeks in A.D. 41 w i t h such vigour t h a t R o m a n legions were needed t o s t o p t h e m ? There is little d o u b t t h a t a large q u a n t i t y of arms w a s either smuggled into t h e c i t y or m a d e in the secret forges of t h e g h e t t o . Cf. for a similar proceeding the situation in Carthage at the beginning of the third Punic w a r : 'all t h e sacred places of t h e c i t y , t e m p l e s , and every other wide space, were turned into w o r k s h o p s ; m e n and w o m e n worked together d a y and night, without pause, taking their g o o d s

THE EARLY

ROMAN PERIOD

69

T h u s , at the v e r y time t h a t Philo w a s debating the Jewish case before the E m p e r o r , p r e p a r a t i o n s for a n u p r i s i n g w e r e g o i n g f o r w a r d . T h e f a t e of t h e J e w i s h e m b a s s y is t o o w e l l k n o w n t o b e r e c o r d e d here i n d e t a i l . P h i l o a n d his fellow e n v o y s w a i t e d for m o n t h s before b e i n g g r a n t e d a n audience. W h e n at last t h e y were received b y Caligula, t h e y were m e t w i t h c o n t e m p t o n t h e p a r t of t h e E m p e r o r a n d ridicule a n d m o c k e r y f r o m h i s c o u r t i e r s . P h i l o ' s m i s s i o n w a s a c o m p l e t e failure. A t t h e s a m e t i m e , t h e g r a v i t y of t h e s i t u a t i o n w a s i n c r e a s e d b y C a l i g u l a ' s o r d e r t h a t his s t a t u e s h o u l d b e e r e c t e d i n t h e T e m p l e of J e r u s a l e m . T h e r e c o u l d b e n o d o u b t a s t o t h e r e a c t i o n of t h e J e w s h a d t h i s o r d e r b e e n c a r r i e d o u t : t h e entire J e w i s h p o p u l a t i o n of t h e R o m a n E m p i r e w o u l d h a v e r e v o l t e d . I t s e e m e d t h a t t h e t i m e for q u i e t d e l i b e r a t i o n w a s p a s t a n d t h a t t h e f a t e of t h e J e w i s h p e o p l e h a d n o w t o b e d e c i d e d , n o t b y negotiation, b u t in an open struggle. A n d suddenly the entire situation c h a n g e d : o n t h e 24th of J a n u a r y A . D . 41 C a l i g u l a w a s a s s a s s i n a t e d b y a s m a l l g r o u p of m i l i t a r y c o n s p i r a t o r s , a n d o n t h e 25th a n e w E m p e r o r , C l a u d i u s , w a s p r o c l a i m e d b y t h e P r a e t o r i a n soldiers. T h e n e w E m p e r o r h a d n o i n t e n t i o n of p u r s u i n g t h e H e l l e n i s t i c p o l i c y of his p r e d e c e s s o r : he r e t u r n e d t o t h e s o u n d p r i n c i p l e s of A u g u s t u s ' p o l i t i c s . I t is e a s y t o i m a g i n e t h e i m m e d i a t e a n d c o m p l e t e c o l l a p s e of t h e h o t - h e a d e d A l e x a n d r i a n p a t r i o t s w h e n t h e n e w s of C a l i g u l a ' s a s s a s s i n a t i o n r e a c h e d A l e x a n d r i a . T h i s w a s t h e m o m e n t for J e w s t o t a k e v e n g e a n c e . T h e A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s arose s u d d e n l y in a r m s , a n d , s t r e n g t h e n e d b y their brethren from E g y p t and Palestine, made an assault upon the Greek p o p u l a t i o n of t h e c a p i t a l . J o s e p h u s , r e c o r d i n g t h i s e v e n t i n ant. 19. 278, d o e s n o t d e s c r i b e it i n full d e t a i l , b u t t h e s t r u g g l e w a s p r o b a b l y fierce a n d s t u b b o r n , since it p r o v o k e d military intervention. R o m a n arms put an end to the rioting and b l o o d s h e d (ib. 279), b u t t h e conflict b e t w e e n G r e e k s a n d J e w s w a s n o t t o b e s o l v e d b y force of a r m s : t h e final decision d e p e n d e d u p o n t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n of t h e w h o l e affair before t h e c o u r t of t h e E m p e r o r a t R o m e . 43

44

A . D . 41 w a s a c r u c i a l y e a r i n t h e h i s t o r y of t h e A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s . I n t h i s y e a r a final decision c o n c e r n i n g J e w i s h p r i v i l e g e s in A l e x a n d r i a w a s t a k e n , a n d , a t t h e s a m e t i m e , t h e q u e s t i o n of t h e i r c i v i c r i g h t s w a s finally s e t t l e d . W e h a v e a t our disposal three d o c u m e n t a r y sources composed during this year. These docu m e n t s a r e : (1) t h e e d i c t of C l a u d i u s i n f a v o u r of t h e J e w s , issued i n R o m e a t t h e b e g i n n i n g of t h e n e w r e i g n {ant. 19. 280 s q q . ) ; (2) t h e Acta Isidori—fragments of a n t i - S e m i t i c l i t e r a t u r e k n o w n a s ' T h e A c t s of t h e A l e x a n d r i a n M a r t y r s ' a n d b e a r i n g o n t h e t r i a l of t w o of t h e l e a d e r s of t h e A l e x a n d r i a n a n t i - S e m i t e s , I s i d o r e s a n d L a m p o n , before C l a u d i u s o n t h e 30th of A p r i l a n d t h e 1st of M a y 41 ( N o . 1 5 6 ) ; (3) t h e l e t t e r of C l a u d i u s t o t h e A l e x a n d r i a n s , d i s p l a y e d p u b l i c l y in E g y p t o n t h e 10th of N o v e m b e r 4 1 . O f t h e s e d o c u m e n t s , o n l y t h e l e t t e r of C l a u d i u s e v o k e s n o q u e s t i o n of i t s a u t h e n t i c i t y o r t h e t i m e of i t s c o m p o s i t i o n ; b y turns, on a fixed schedule' (Appian, Lib. 13, 93). A s for inviting the foreign J e w s from the E g y p t i a n chora and Palestine t o come t o t h e help of the J e w s in Alexandria, t h e fact is attested b y the relevant prohibition post factum proclaimed b y Claudius in his letter ( N o . 1 5 3 , 1 1 . 96 sq.). Philo himself described the fate o f the e m 4 3

bassy a t length in his Legatio ad Gaiutn, and modern scholars can do no more t h a n g i v e a paraphrase of his account, S u e t . Claud, n . 2; cf. Momigliano, Claudius, the Emperor and His Achievement, 1934, 24; Charlesworth, CAH x . 669. 4 4

70

P R O L E G O M E N A

b o t h t h e o t h e r d o c u m e n t s m a y b e r e g a r d e d a s h i s t o r i c a l e v i d e n c e o n l y after careful e x a m i n a t i o n . A s t o t h e t r i a l of I s i d o r o s , t h e o p i n i o n s of s c h o l a r s a r e d i v i d e d a s t o w h e t h e r i t t o o k p l a c e i n A . D . 41 o r 5 3 . 1 h a v e n o d o u b t t h a t t h e earlier d a t e is t h e c o r r e c t o n e ; t h e r e a d e r w i l l find m y r e a s o n s g i v e n i n t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n t o N o . 156. T h e p e c u l i a r c h a r a c t e r of t h e c u r i o u s l i t e r a t u r e of t h e ' A c t s ' o u g h t also t o b e t a k e n i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n w h e n t h e h i s t o r i c a l v a l u e of Acta Isidori is c o n s i d e r e d ; t h i s q u e s t i o n is d i s c u s s e d a t l e n g t h i n t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n t o N o s . 154-9. P r o b l e m s of a n o t h e r c h a r a c t e r arise a s t o t h e h i s t o r i c a l v a l u e o f t h e e d i c t of C l a u d i u s . D i d J o s e p h u s p r e s e r v e t h e precise t e x t of t h e e d i c t ? T h e m a j o r i t y of s c h o l a r s incline towards t h e opinion t h a t he d i d so, b u t I cannot share this optimistic view. A d m i t t e d l y , t h e w o r d i n g of t h e e d i c t i n ant. 19. 280 s q q . i s b a s e d o n t h e a u t h e n t i c t e x t of t h e e d i c t , a s c a n b e d e m o n s t r a t e d b y s o m e p a s s a g e s c l o s e l y p a r a l l e l t o c e r t a i n p a s s a g e s i n t h e l e t t e r of C l a u d i u s . Y e t t h e a u t h e n t i c t e x t of t h e e d i c t w a s u n d o u b t e d l y modified b y s o m e o n e , w h o a d d e d s o m e p h r a s e s a n d s l i g h t l y c h a n g e d o t h e r s so a s t o a c c o m m o d a t e t h e c o n t e n t s of t h e e d i c t t o h i s o w n w i s h e s . T h i s f o r g e r y w a s u s e d b y J o s e p h u s a s a t r u e e d i c t of C l a u d i u s . T h e f o r g e d p a s s a g e s s t r o n g l y c o n t r a d i c t t h e i d e a s e x p r e s s e d i n t h e l e t t e r of C l a u d i u s a n d o u g h t t o b e d e l e t e d before w e u s e t h e e d i c t a s a n h i s t o r i c a l s o u r c e r e l a t i n g t o e v e n t s of A . D . 4 1 . W e h a v e n e x t t h e d u t y t o r e c o n s t r u c t t h e w h o l e series of e v e n t s i n c h r o n o 4 5

4 5

T h e authenticity of t h e edict of Claudius i n ant. 19. 280-5 h been frequently questioned, especially some passages (cf., for e x a m p l e , T h . Reinach, REJ l x x i x , 1924, 124 sqq.), b u t o n t h e whole scholars incline towards confirming the authorship of Claudius. (The opposite opinion of Zielinski, Rev. de VUniv. de Bruxelles, N o . 2, decembre 1926-janvier 1927, 1 s q q . , affirming the complete falsification of t h e edict b y Jose p h u s , is based o n t h e false presumption that t h e letter of Claudius is t h e authentic t e x t of t h e edict.) T h e only w a y of solving t h e question is b y comparison of t h e edict w i t h t h e letter of Clau dius ( N o . 153): parts of t h e edict which are in accordance w i t h t h e letter are t o b e regarded a s authentic, those t h a t are in direct contradiction are t o b e looked u p o n a s forged a n d so should b e disregarded. A s authentic passages w e m a y c o n sider : (r) Augustus' wish t o preserve for everyone his right t o conform t o his o w n c u s t o m s (ep,p.evovr a s TO i s (8IOT; e d e o i ) a n d n o t t o b e compelled t o violate his o w n religion (p.i) irapafiaivew dvayKa ofievovs rr)v irovrpiov dpr/aKeiav); (2) t h e restoration of Jewish traditional rights ( 8 I * a i a a n d 81/caicufiara) abolished under Gaius (vXdooeoOat. be a

s

r

avrots

Kal rd

admonition {d(i(f)OTepois iroirjoaadai

irporepov

8iKaid>p.ara

to both 8e

sides

8iaKeXevop.ai

npovoiav

K.T.X.)

; (3)

t o preserve rots

OITOJS [irjSefita

the

peace

pepeat

•nXetoTrjv

rapaxi)

yevr)Ta£).

T h e forgery is particularly obvious in t h e first sentence of t h e e d i c t : emyvoiis dveKadev rovs ev AXe£av8pela

'JouSai'ous,

avyKarotKiadevras

rois

AXe£av8peZs irpwrois

Xeyopevovs, evdvs

Kaipois

XXe£av8pevoi

Kal iar]s

iroXireias

-rtapa ra>v

fiamXecov

Here three items are incompatible w i t h the l e t t e r : (1) AXegavBpeis in a n official d o c u m e n t m e a n s 'citizens of Alexandria', a n d Claudius in his letter h a s written t h a t J e w s are dwelling 'in a city not their own' and consequently are n o t citi zens of Alexandria. Besides, AXegav8pet$, as w e h a v e already seen (p. 41, note 102), m i g h t h a v e a special meaning of 'citizens n o t included in tribes and demes'. W o u l d Claudius h a v e published his edict for this particular group of J e w s o n l y ? (2) J e w s , s a y s Claudius in t h e edict, h a v e dwelt in Alexandria 'from i t s earliest t i m e s ' ; i n other words, t h e y h a d been settled there b y Alexander, and t h e Jewish noXLrevp.a is a s old a s t h e Greek city. This s t a t e m e n t corresponds with analogous s t a t e m e n t s b y J o s e p h u s ; y e t Claudius in h i s letter speaks of J e w s dwelling in t h e t o w n 'from olden times' (eV -noXXwv xpdvwv), and this more limited definition, simple a n d devoid of a n y bias, is t h e only one which is possible in the m o u t h of the Emperor. (3) J e w s h a v e 'isopolity' with t h e Alexandrians. This term cannot be interpreted in the sense t h a t 'the Jewish c o m m u n i t y w a s in fact a c i t y , . . . w i t h powers practically equal . . . t o those of the Alexandrians' (Bell, Jews and Chris tians, 16). T h e 10-17 iroXiTeia is a juridical term meaning that all t h e citizens of a certain city enjoy civic rights in another (cf. a b o v e , p . 40, note 101). This s t a t e m e n t contradicts t h e letter no less t h a n d o t h e words about t h e 'so-called Alexandrians'. Further, t h e passage concerning the abolition of t h e office of t h e ethnarch h a s rervxdras.

THE EARLY

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PERIOD

7i

l o g i c a l order. H e r e b e g i n t h e r e a l difficulties. S t r a n g e l y e n o u g h , t h i s a b u n d a n c e of s o u r c e s is l i k e l y t o c o m p l i c a t e r a t h e r t h a n f a c i l i t a t e t h e t a s k of t h e h i s t o r i a n . E v e r y s c h o l a r h a s a t h e o r y of his o w n a s t o t h e s e q u e n c e of e v e n t s a n d t h e i r p o l i t i c a l significance, t h o u g h e v e r y t h e o r y is b a s e d o n a n i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of t h e s a m e s o u r c e s . T h i s w i l l b e a p p r e c i a t e d b y t h e r e a d e r w h o c o n s u l t s t h e re s p e c t i v e p a s s a g e s in t h e c o m m e n t a r i e s t o N o s . 153 a n d 156. W h e t h e r I h a v e c o r r e c t l y r e c o n s t r u c t e d t h e s e q u e n c e of e v e n t s I c a n n o t s a y ; i n t h e p r e s e n t s t a t e of o u r k n o w l e d g e n o final c o n c l u s i o n s are p o s s i b l e . T h e r e a d e r w i l l find t h e w h o l e b o d y of e v i d e n c e i n N o s . 153 a n d 156. H e r e o n l y a s u m m a r y w i l l b e g i v e n . T h e first d e l i b e r a t i o n o n t h e J e w i s h q u e s t i o n before C l a u d i u s t o o k p l a c e a s h o r t t i m e after C l a u d i u s ' a c c e s s i o n t o t h e t h r o n e . I t w a s t h e J e w i s h k i n g A g r i p p a I , a p e r s o n a l friend of t h e n e w E m p e r o r , w h o u s e d his influence t o s p e e d t h e discussions. Y e t C l a u d i u s w a s n o t l i k e l y t o d e c i d e t h e q u e s t i o n m e r e l y u p o n t h e r e q u e s t of his f r i e n d : h e w i s h e d t o h e a r t h e a r g u m e n t s of b o t h sides. I t is u n l i k e l y t h a t t h e A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s c o u l d s e n d a n e m b a s s y t o R o m e w i t h so l i t t l e t i m e for p r e p a r a t i o n , a n d it is r e a s o n a b l e t o s u p p o s e t h a t t h e A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s were represented b y Philo's delegation. This delegation had been received b y G a i u s a s h o r t t i m e before his a s s a s s i n a t i o n , a n d since t h e r e w a s l i t t l e s h i p p i n g d u r i n g t h e w i n t e r , w e m a y s u p p o s e t h a t i t w a s still in R o m e . T h e s a m e a r g u m e n t h o l d s for t h e G r e e k d e l e g a t i o n of A p i o n . I s i d o r e s , w h o w a s p r o b a b l y a m e m b e r of t h i s d e l e g a t i o n , w a s p r e s e n t i n t h e c o u r t w h e n P h i l o w a s r e c e i v e d b y G a i u s . S o t h e t w o d e l e g a t i o n s m e t a g a i n , b u t t h i s t i m e t h e chief j u d g e w a s n o t a w o u l d - b e H e l l e n i s t i c ruler, a l m o s t m a d in his e n d e a v o u r t o b e c o m e a g o d , b u t a n E m p e r o r r e a r e d i n t h e t r a d i t i o n of R o m a n virtus, a s c h o l a r v e r s e d i n h i s t o r i c a l s t u d i e s , a n d a s t a t e s m a n of p o l i t i c a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . H e w a s n o t t h e m a n t o a c c e p t t h e p r o g r a m m e of t h e a n t i - S e m i t e s . A u g u s t u s ' a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s t h e J e w s f o r m e d t h e b a s i s of his o w n p o l i c y : h e c o n f i r m e d t h e t r a d i t i o n a l p r i v i l e g e s of t h e A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s a n d r e s t o r e d t h e s t a t e of affairs w h i c h h a d e x i s t e d before t h e p o g r o m . A n e d i c t w a s p r o m u l g a t e d in f a v o u r of A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s : i t c o n f i r m e d t h e i r r i g h t t o five a c c o r d i n g t o t h e i r o w n l a w s ; t h e J e w i s h r e l i g i o u s 4 6

been altered, as we h a v e already stated a b o v e , in a s o m e w h a t arbitrary manner (p. 57, n o t e 22). Other passages, such as the evidence of Ptolemaic d o c u m e n t s (281), the preservation of Jewish rights b y R o m a n prefects (282), the assault of Alexandrians on J e w s as caused b y the madness of Gaius (284), t h o u g h n o t confirmed b y t h e letter, do not contradict it and we have n o reason t o disregard t h e m . T h e major portion of the d o c u m e n t , consequently, m a y be considered as authentic. It seems t h a t e v e n the suspected pas sages were only very slightly changed, so t h a t the previous t e x t m a y easily be restored. The first passage, for e x a m p l e , in its genuine form, ran per h a p s as follows : imyvovs aveKadev rovs ev AXe£avSpela Xpovwv fiaoiXetDV

'IovSaiovs, AXe£av8pevoi Tervxpras,

ovyKCLTOiKiodevras KCU I8ias Kadws

etc

iroXireias

(jtavepov

•noXXdjv irapa

iyevero

TWV K.T.X.

For additional points of resemblance and dis

crepancy between t h e edict and t h e letter cf. some notes t o N o . 153,11. 82-88. This first deliberation on Jewish affairs be fore Claudius is attested in 11. 87 s q . of his l e t t e r : 4 6

a.7T€p

KCU. iywi

Siaxovoas

ap.tf>OTepa)v

ejSejStu'coaa;

cf.

N o . 153, note ad loc. The evidence of the first deliberation, furnished b y the letter of Claudius, is important for the promulgation of his edict. Aiaxovoas implies an official deliberation in a court (cf. N o . 156a, col. I, 1. 1 8 ; col. I I , 1. 2), and e/?e/Seu'a)aa used b y the Emperor refers t o an official act, i.e. the publishing of a n e d i c t ; so it would appear t h a t the edict preserved in ant. 19. 280 sqq. w a s not written under the sole in fluence of Agrippa, as is frequently assumed. The explanation b y Engers ( K l i o , x x , 1925, 175) and others t h a t the doubtful passages of the edict show traces of the cunning Jewish king's influence o n t h e weak-minded Emperor, is far from correct.

72

PROLEGOMENA

c u l t w a s p r o t e c t e d , a n d all t h e r e s t r i c t i o n s i m p o s e d o n it d u r i n g t h e r e i g n of G a i u s w e r e a b o l i s h e d . O f c o u r s e , t h e r e w a s n o m e n t i o n i n t h e e d i c t of J e w i s h c i v i c r i g h t s : C l a u d i u s c o u l d h a r d l y m a k e i n n o v a t i o n s c o n t r a d i c t i n g t h e a c t s of A u g u s t u s , e s p e c i a l l y a t t h e v e r y b e g i n n i n g of his r e i g n . T h e p r o m u l g a t i o n of t h e e d i c t c o u l d b e r e g a r d e d , o n t h e w h o l e , a s a n i m p o r t a n t v i c t o r y for t h e J e w s . A t a n y r a t e , t h e a s p i r a t i o n s of t h e a n t i - S e m i t e s w e r e f r u s t r a t e d . T h e A l e x a n d r i a n e n v o y s were not inclined to give in w i t h o u t a struggle. T h e Jewish king, A g r i p p a , w a s in their eyes the principal e n e m y : t h e y could easily interpret the J e w s ' v i c t o r y a s t h e r e s u l t of A g r i p p a ' s influence u p o n a w e a k - m i n d e d E m p e r o r . A g r i p p a , therefore, w a s t o be punished first; other enemies w o u l d be dealt w i t h l a t e r . T h e m e t h o d s of p e r s e c u t i n g a p o l i t i c a l p e r s o n a g e w e r e sufficiently w e l l k n o w n in R o m e ; he w o u l d be charged w i t h some crime and brought before a c o u r t ; if f o u n d g u i l t y , h e w o u l d b e s e n t e n c e d t o d e a t h o r exile, a n d , in a n y c a s e , his p o l i t i c a l c a r e e r w a s r u i n e d . I s i d o r o s , o n e of t h e m o s t a c t i v e l e a d e r s of t h e a n t i - S e m i t e s , a n d p r o b a b l y a m e m b e r of A p i o n ' s d e l e g a t i o n , t o o k u p o n h i m s e l f t h e role of t h e a c c u s e r ; h e c a l l e d A g r i p p a before t h e c o u r t of t h e E m p e r o r . I s i d o r o s w a s f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e role of a c c u s e r : i n t h e r e i g n of G a i u s he h a d c a l l e d s e v e r a l influential R o m a n p e r s o n s b e f o r e t h e c o u r t a n d h a d w o n his c a s e s . Y e t h e d i d n o t t a k e i n t o a c c o u n t t h e f u n d a m e n t a l c h a n g e in R o m a n p o l i c y w h i c h fol l o w e d t h e a s s a s s i n a t i o n of G a i u s . T h e H e l l e n i s t i c p r i n c i p l e s of G a i u s f a v o u r e d G r e e k d e m a g o g u e s , s u c h a s Isidoros, a n d a n a c c u s a t i o n b y s u c h a m a n c o u l d r e s u l t in a R o m a n c i t i z e n of h i g h s t a n d i n g b e i n g p u t t o d e a t h . C l a u d i u s w a s n o t i n c l i n e d t o f a v o u r t h e A l e x a n d r i a n d e m a g o g u e s in t h e i r p o l i t i c a l a c t i v i t y , w h i c h w a s essentially anti-Roman. A chance circumstance played, perhaps, a decisive role: it happened t h a t t w o particular persons, sentenced to death b y Gaius upon t h e a c c u s a t i o n of I s i d o r o s , h a d b e e n p e r s o n a l friends of C l a u d i u s . T h u s I s i d o r o s ' s i t u a t i o n a t t h e o p e n i n g of t h e t r i a l w a s n o t a v e r y h a p p y one, a n d e v e n t h e i n t e r f e r e n c e of B a r b i l l o s , a p e r s o n a l friend of C l a u d i u s a n d t h e h e a d of a n o t h e r Greek delegation n e w l y arrived from A l e x a n d r i a , could not save him. Isidoros l o s t his c a s e , a n d h e a n d his friend L a m p o n , a n o t h e r l e a d e r of A l e x a n d r i a n a n t i Semites, were put to death. Their tragic fate appears to h a v e made an enormous i m p r e s s i o n u p o n t h e G r e e k s i n A l e x a n d r i a , a n d p o l i t i c a l leaflets w e r e c o m p o s e d describing their intrepid conduct before the E m p e r o r and their heroic end. A g r i p p a , h a v i n g w o n his c a s e , left R o m e for J u d a e a . Y e t t h e ' J e w i s h q u e s t i o n ' w a s still n o t s e t t l e d . T h e G r e e k d e l e g a t i o n f r o m A l e x a n d r i a , h e a d e d b y B a r billos, b r o u g h t t h e n e w s — o r , m o r e c o r r e c t l y , t h e d e t a i l e d a c c o u n t — o f t h e J e w s ' a s s a u l t u p o n t h e A l e x a n d r i a n s after t h e d e a t h of G a i u s ; i t r e q u e s t e d a careful i n q u i r y i n o r d e r t o assess t h e c u l p a b i l i t y of t h e J e w s . T h e J e w s , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , h a d also d i s p a t c h e d a d e l e g a t i o n , i n s t r u c t e d t o e x p l a i n t o t h e E m p e r o r t h a t t h e a s s a u l t of t h e J e w s h a d b e e n p r o v o k e d b y t h e a n t i - S e m i t i c a c t i v i t i e s of t h e A l e x a n d r i a n s . S o for t h e t h i r d t i m e C l a u d i u s w a s c o m p e l l e d t o d e a l w i t h t h e ' J e w i s h q u e s t i o n ' i n A l e x a n d r i a , t h i s t i m e n o t w i t h r e g a r d t o t h e p r i v i l e g e s of t h e J e w s (this q u e s t i o n h a d a l r e a d y b e e n s e t t l e d b y his e d i c t ) , b u t w i t h a m a t t e r of t o p i c a l s i g n i f i c a n c e : t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y for t h e r e c e n t riots. T h e d e l i b e r a t i o n m e t w i t h u n e x p e c t e d difficulties, c a u s e d b y t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e t h a t t h e p r e v i o u s J e w i s h d e l e g a t i o n , t h a t of P h i l o , h a d a p p a r e n t l y c l a i m e d t h e sole r i g h t t o represent the A l e x a n d r i a n c o m m u n i t y , p r o b a b l y suspecting the new delegation

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PERIOD

73

of h a v i n g b e e n influenced b y t h e J e w i s h r e v o l u t i o n a r y l e a d e r s ; so two J e w i s h d e l e g a t i o n s a p p e a r e d before C l a u d i u s . T h a t w a s t o o m u c h for a R o m a n E m p e r o r ; C l a u d i u s w a s t i r e d of J e w s ; h e h a d o t h e r m a t t e r s c a l l i n g for his a t t e n t i o n . N e v e r t h e l e s s , he w a s p a t i e n t e n o u g h t o h e a r o n c e a g a i n t h e c l a i m s of b o t h p a r t i e s , J e w s a n d G r e e k s . H e d i d n o t y i e l d t o t h e r e q u e s t s for a n i n q u i r y m a d e b y t h e G r e e k s : t h a t w o u l d h a v e l e d t o a r e n e w e d o u t b r e a k of hostilities, a n d C l a u d i u s l o n g e d for p e a c e . B u t h e k n e w , a s e v e r y o n e d i d , t h a t t h e a u t h o r s of t h e r e c e n t r i o t s h a d b e e n J e w s , a n d h e c o u l d n o t d i s s e m b l e his w r a t h a g a i n s t t h i s u n r u l y p e o p l e , a g a i n a n d a g a i n a c a u s e of p e r m a n e n t p o l i t i c a l tensions, n o t o n l y i n A l e x a n d r i a , b u t i n P a l e s t i n e , a n d e v e n i n R o m e . W h e n a l l t h e discussions a n d debates were over, he wrote a letter to the Alexandrians—his famous letter, n o w o n e of t h e m o s t p r e c i o u s p a p y r o l o g i c a l d o c u m e n t s ( N o . 153). H e a d m o n ished the Alexandrians 'to show themselves forbearing and kindly towards J e w s ' , a n d n o t d i s t u r b t h e m 'in t h e e x e r c i s e of t h e i r t r a d i t i o n a l w o r s h i p ' , a n d h e o r d e r e d J e w s n o t t o a i m a t t h e a c q u i s i t i o n of n e w r i g h t s , a n d t o e n j o y q u i e t l y ' i n a c i t y n o t t h e i r o w n ' t h e a b u n d a n c e of a l l g o o d t h i n g s it c o u l d g i v e t h e m ; t h e p a r t i c i p a t i o n of J e w s in g y m n a s t i c c o n t e s t s , p r e s i d e d o v e r b y gymnasiarchoi a n d kosmetai, w a s s p e c i f i c a l l y p r o h i b i t e d . T w o m o r e p r o h i b i t i o n s , o b v i o u s l y caused b y the recent situation in R o m e a n d A l e x a n d r i a , were p r o c l a i m e d : not t o d i s p a t c h two e m b a s s i e s t o R o m e , a n d n o t t o i n t r o d u c e J e w s f r o m t h e E g y p t i a n chora a n d from P a l e s t i n e i n t o A l e x a n d r i a . T h e w h o l e p a s s a g e c o n cerning J e w s culminated in a sudden m e n a c e : were the J e w s unwilling to carry o u t his orders, h e w o u l d ' b y all possible m e a n s t a k e v e n g e a n c e o n t h e m , a s f o m e n t i n g s o m e t h i n g l i k e a g e n e r a l p l a g u e for t h e w h o l e w o r l d ' . 4 7

Modern scholars almost unanimously h a v e proclaimed Claudius a 'philoS e m i t e ' . I c a n n o t s h a r e t h i s v i e w . Of c o u r s e h e a b o l i s h e d t h e r e s t r i c t i o n s i m p o s e d o n t h e A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s d u r i n g t h e p o g r o m of A . D . 3 8 ; b u t a n y s o u n d ruler w o u l d h a v e done likewise. T h e anti-Jewish measures t a k e n b y F l a c c u s a n d his a n t i - S e m i t i c a d v i s e r s w e r e i n t e n d e d n o t o n l y t o r e s t r a i n t h e a d d i t i o n a l a n d e x t r a o r d i n a r y r i g h t s of J e w s , w h i c h t h e y h a d a c q u i r e d d u r i n g t h e P t o l e m a i c rule (such a s t h e p r i v i l e g e c o n c e r n i n g s c o u r g i n g ) , b u t also t h e i r t r a d i t i o n a l a n d w e l l - f o u n d e d r i g h t s a s a n e t h n i c politeuma, n e v e r q u e s t i o n e d , a n d officially c o n firmed b y A u g u s t u s . I n a d d i t i o n , t h e p o g r o m w a s a c c o m p a n i e d b y t h e p l u n d e r of J e w i s h p r o p e r t y a n d t h e e n f o r c e d s e g r e g a t i o n of J e w s in one q u a r t e r , w h i c h c o u l d n e v e r b e justified b y a n y g o v e r n m e n t p l a n n i n g t o restore l a w a n d order. T h e a b o l i t i o n of t h e s e m e a s u r e s a n d t h e r e s t o r a t i o n of t h e n a t i o n a l a n d r e l i g i o u s a u t o n o m y of t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y f o l l o w e d t h e i n q u i r y a s a m a t t e r of c o u r s e . W e s h o u l d h a v e c a l l e d C l a u d i u s a p h i l o - S e m i t i c r u l e r h a d he e n l a r g e d t h e c i v i c r i g h t s of t h e J e w s or, a t least, f a c i l i t a t e d t h e i r a c q u i s i t i o n of s u c h r i g h t s . B u t his m e a s u r e s h a d p r e c i s e l y t h e o p p o s i t e t e n d e n c y . H e f o r b a d e J e w s t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n g y m n a s t i c c o n t e s t s , i.e. h e d e p r i v e d t h e m of g y m n a s i u m e d u c a t i o n ; a s a 4 8

4 7

H . J a n n e , Melanges Bidez, 1934, 544 n. 1 : ' D e p u i s Cesar a u c u n chef d'etat romain ne fut plus philojuif que Claude.' T h e opposite opinion of Zie-

4 8

liriski, Rev. de VUniv. de Brux., N o . 2, 17 sq., t h o u g h based on false premisses, is more in accord w i t h the historical truth.

This is the avriKardaraois mentioned in 1. 75 of t h e letter of Claudius. Cf. the n o t e ad loc. in N o . 153. Cf., for e x a m p l e , F u c h s , 2 2 : ' D e n H o h e p u n k t in der ganz besonderen B e g u n s t i g u n g der J u d e n durch Claudius bildete sein bekanntes E d i k t . . . ' ;

74

PROLEGOMENA

r e s u l t n o m o r e J e w s c o u l d u s e g y m n a s i u m e d u c a t i o n a s a prerequisite t o c i t i z e n s h i p o r a s a h e l p t o e n t e r i n g G r e e k s o c i e t y . T h e A l e x a n d r i a n s p o k e s m a n of A u g u s t u s ' t i m e h a d r e q u e s t e d t h a t n o s t r a n g e r s s h o u l d b e a l l o w e d t o inscribe t h e m s e l v e s a s epheboi. A s f a r a s J e w s w e r e c o n c e r n e d , C l a u d i u s fulfilled t h e r e q u e s t . H e o r d e r e d J e w s t o b e satisfied w i t h t h e i r s i t u a t i o n a n d n o t t o aspire t o t h e a c q u i s i t i o n of a d d i t i o n a l r i g h t s ; i n f a c t , a l l J e w i s h a s p i r a t i o n s for t h e a c q u i s i t i o n of t h e r i g h t s of A l e x a n d r i a n c i t i z e n s h i p w e r e n o w c o n s i d e r e d b y the R o m a n government t o b e illegal. Claudius h a d said in plain words t h a t t h e A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s w e r e d w e l l i n g ' i n a c i t y n o t t h e i r o w n ' (eV dXXorpia 7rdAei), a n d t h u s c o n f i r m e d t h e b a s i c p r i n c i p l e of t h e a n t i - S e m i t e s a s e x p r e s s e d i n t h e e d i c t of F l a c c u s , t h a t J e w s w e r e s t r a n g e r s . W h y , t h e n , s h o u l d C l a u d i u s b e considered a s a 'philo-Semite' ? H e w a s far from favouring Jews, a n d everything h e d i d i n t h e s e t t l i n g of t h e ' J e w i s h q u e s t i o n ' w a s d i c t a t e d b y t h e g e n e r a l p r i n ciples of R o m a n p o l i c y , a n d n o t b y a n y s p e c i a l l i k i n g for t h e J e w s . T h e final s e t t l e m e n t of t h e ' J e w i s h q u e s t i o n ' i n A l e x a n d r i a b y C l a u d i u s i n A . D . 41 l e d t o v e r y u n f a v o u r a b l e r e s u l t s a s r e g a r d s t h e c u l t u r a l d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y . O f course, J e w s c o u l d a g a i n freely p r a c t i s e their religious customs, read a n d comment upon the Bible, a n d 'live according to the ancestral l a w s ' ; b u t their tendency towards 'emancipation' h a d been brought t o a n end. A l l a t t e m p t s a t r e c o n c i l i a t i o n , e v e r y effort t o forge a l i n k b e t w e e n J u d a i s m a n d H e l l e n i s m , h a d b e e n f r u s t r a t e d b y t h e b l o o d s h e d of A . D . 38 a n d 4 1 . T h e G r e e k s h a d expressed their attitude t o w a r d s t h e J e w s in plain w o r d s : t h e y w a n t e d n o strangers in their c o m m u n i t y , a n d t h e R o m a n E m p e r o r supported them. O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e J e w s d i s p l a y e d s u c h feelings of h a t r e d for G r e e k s t h a t s o m e g r o u p s a m o n g t h e J e w s t h e m s e l v e s , p a r t i c u l a r l y of t h e u p p e r classes, w e r e a s t o n i s h e d . A n e w J u d a i s m , n o t t h a t of A r i s t e a s a n d P h i l o , n o w arose f r o m t h e l o w e r s t r a t a of A l e x a n d r i a n J e w r y a n d d e m a n d e d t h e l e a d e r s h i p of t h e c o m m u n i t y . U n f o r t u n a t e l y i t is difficult f o r u s t o e v a l u a t e t h i s n e w t r e n d a m o n g s t t h e J e w s , since t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of i t left f e w t r a c e s i n A l e x a n d r i a n l i t e r a t u r e . O n e of t h e l i t e r a r y p r o d u c t s reflecting t h e i d e a s a n d t e n d e n c i e s of s u c h J e w s is u n d o u b t e d l y t h e T h i r d B o o k of M a c c a b e e s , b u t t h e a u t h o r is c o n c e r n e d w i t h political questions only, a n d from his w o r k it is n o t easy t o reconstruct a n y t h i n g like h i s g e n e r a l o u t l o o k . T h e m o s t t h a t c a n b e s t a t e d is t h a t h e is a f e r v e n t w o r s h i p p e r of G o d , t r u s t i n g H i m a l o n e , a n d t h a t h e considers t h e d i a s p o r a a s a t e m p o r a r y e x i l e . T h i s m o t i v e of t h e galuth is c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of a n a t i o n a l i s t J e w of t h e t i m e : a h e l l e n i z e d J e w r e g a r d e d h i s polis, a n d n o t P a l e s t i n e , a s h i s rrarpis ( m o t h e r l a n d ) . C u r i o u s l y e n o u g h , t h e a p p r o a c h t o t h e p r o b l e m of t h e ' m o t h e r 4 9

50

4 9

T h e J e w s fix t h e d a y of their miraculous salvation a s a feast e ' m irdaav TTJV irapoiKiav avT&v—'for the whole time of their galuth' (6.36); cf. 7. 19: e m T O V TT\S irapoLKtas avTa>v xpwov. In 6. 10 the sojourn of the J e w s in E g y p t is characterized a s d7roi/a'a, i.e. galuth; cf. for the use of t h e terms dnoiKia and napoixla in t h e Septuagint in t h e sense of galuth Hatch and Redpath, Concordance to LXX, s.vv. diroiKia, ira.pot.Kia. I n the prayer of Eleazaros, God is invoked in order

t o help H i s people, 'who perish unjustly a s a people of strangers in a foreign land' (6. 3 : Xaov eV £4vr) 5 0

yfj £ e V o v a S i ' / c t o s

dnoXXvp-evov).

See N o . 151, note t o 1. 7. Cf. Philo, Flacc. 46: t h e J e w s regard Jerusalem ('the holy city', UpoiroXw) as their ^ T / H W O A I S , b u t t h e places in which their fathers have lived a n d in which t h e y themselves are born a n d reared t h e y regard as their irarpl&es.

THE

EARLY

ROMAN

PERIOD

75

l a n d ' b y t h e a u t h o r of 3 M a c e , r e s e m b l e s t h e t r e a t m e n t of t h e p r o b l e m b y F l a c c u s a n d C l a u d i u s : J e w s are s t r a n g e r s i n A l e x a n d r i a . A n o t h e r l i t e r a r y w o r k c o m p o s e d , it w o u l d a p p e a r , in t h e e a r l y R o m a n p e r i o d is Sapientia Solomonis. H e r e , t o o , a J e w of t h e n e w t y p e w a s a t w o r k , since t h e a u t h o r ' s a t t i t u d e t o t h e r e l i g i o n of t h e p a g a n s is definitely i n i m i c a l . N o f u r t h e r l i t e r a r y i n s t a n c e s s e r v i n g t o c h a r a c t e r i z e t h e n e w t r e n d i n A l e x a n d r i a n J e w i s h s o c i e t y are a v a i l a b l e . Y e t it is w o r t h n o t i n g t h a t i n t h e g r e a t J e w i s h p h i l o s o p h e r P h i l o t h e H e l l e n i s t i c t r e n d of A l e x a n d r i a n l i t e r a t u r e a c h i e v e d i t s b e s t a n d m o s t t y p i c a l r e p r e s e n t a t i v e , a t t h e v e r y t i m e w h e n t h e i d e a l s a n d a s p i r a t i o n s of H e l l e n i s t i c Judaism had been almost annihilated. 5 1

52

I t is n o t m y i n t e n t i o n t o d i s c u s s t h e p h i l o s o p h y of P h i l o : t h a t h a s n o reference t o t h e s u b j e c t of these P r o l e g o m e n a . Y e t s o m e n o t e m u s t b e m a d e of t h e f u n d a m e n t a l t e n d e n c y of t h e l i t e r a r y w o r k of t h i s , t h e g r e a t e s t a n d l a s t of all t h e J e w i s h w r i t e r s of A l e x a n d r i a . P h i l o w a s a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of t h e J e w i s h intelli g e n t s i a of A l e x a n d r i a , c l o s e l y l i n k e d w i t h t h e u p p e r s t r a t a of t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y . I t is i m p o r t a n t t o n o t e t h a t o n e f a m i l y p r o d u c e d t h r e e o u t s t a n d i n g p e r s o n s , e a c h p u r s u i n g his o w n w a y : t h e g r e a t a p o l o g i s t of J u d a i s m , P h i l o ; t h e r i c h b a n k e r , A l e x a n d e r ; a n d t h e a b l e R o m a n official, a r e n e g a d e f r o m Judaism, Tiberius Julius Alexander. This can easily be explained. T h e great w e a l t h of t h i s f a m i l y b r o u g h t i t s m e m b e r s close t o G r e e k s a n d G r e e k c u l t u r e . T h i s c o n n e x i o n c o u l d h a v e l e d t o a t o t a l a b a n d o n m e n t of t h e J e w i s h w o r l d ; t h e a l t e r n a t i v e w a s t o r e m a i n a J e w a n d t r y t o find w a y s of u n i t i n g t h e t w o worlds. Philo chose the latter w a y . Y e t , t h o u g h he remained a practising Jew, he w a s strongly imbued w i t h Greek scholarship and never attempted to conceal t h i s f a c t f r o m his r e a d e r s . I n t h e e y e s of P h i l o , a s i n t h o s e of e v e r y G r e e k , t h e w h o l e w o r l d w a s d i v i d e d i n t o ' G r e e k s ' a n d ' B a r b a r i a n s ' (the J e w s w e r e e x c l u d e d from b o t h categories). F o r Philo the Greek tongue w a s 'his', and even 'ours', a n d t h e p r e - e m i n e n c e of G r e e k e d u c a t i o n (iyKVKXios 7raiSeia) w a s a m a t t e r of course: even Moses w a s educated b y Greek teachers specially invited from 5 3

5 1

It is worth noting that the author of 3 Mace, is a fierce e n e m y of those J e w s who had aban doned Judaism in order t o obtain civic rights in Alexandria. H e is the only one a m o n g the A l e x andrian J e w i s h writers w h o does not favour the struggle of Alexandrian J e w s for civic rights. H e is not a friend of the 'emancipation' m o v e m e n t : in his e y e s Alexandrian citizenship means treason t o J u d a i s m , and Jewish 'traitors' are the steady object of his hatred. H e would willingly h a v e agreed w i t h Flaccus about J e w s being £ e V o i z e a l iirtfXvoes in Alexandria, as well as with the state m e n t of Claudius t h a t t h e y dwell in Alexandria

cause of all evil (ib. 14. 29). In comparison w i t h t h e fiery invective of Sap. Sol. Aristeas' criticisms of heathen cults are extremely mild. T h e search for w a y s of reconciliation, so typical of Aristeas (cf. a b o v e , p p . 42 sq.), are absent in Sap. Sol. Cf. on Sap. Sol. in general F o c k e , Die Entstehung der Weisheit Salomos, 1913; Torrey, The Apocryphal Literature, 9 8 s q q . ; Pfeiffer, History of N.T. Times, 313 sqq. The t i m e of composition is usually fixed at the end of the Ptolemaic age, t h o u g h there is no convincing reason for t h i s ; the begin ning of the R o m a n period is no less admissible and suits the general spirit of the book.

as

T h e literature on Philo is very large; see the detailed bibliography in 'A General Bibliography of Philo' b y Goodhart and Goodenough in Goodenough's The Politics of Philo Jud., 1938, 127 sqq. Standard works a r e : Br^hier, Les ide'es philosophiques et religieuses de Philon d'Alexandrie,i925; H e i n e m a n n , Philonsgriechische und jiidische Bildung, 1932; Goodenough, By Light, Light, 1935; Wolfson, Philo, i-ii, 1947.

eV dXXorpLa

noXei.

For

details cf.

my

article

in Zion mentioned a b o v e in note 54 on p . 22. For the political and cultural outlook of the author of 3 Mace, as contrasted w i t h t h a t of Aristeas, see Sterling Tracy, YCS i, 1928, 239 s q q . ; M. H a d a s , HTR xiii. 175 sqq. 5 2

Cf. the description of all the crimes and moral degeneration connected w i t h the pagan cults in Sap. Sol. 14. 22 sqq. The adoration of idols is t h e

5 3

7

6

PROLEGOMENA 5 4

G r e e c e . G y m n a s i u m e d u c a t i o n w a s a l s o a m a t t e r of c o u r s e : P h i l o s p e a k s a b o u t g y m n a s t i c c o n t e s t s a n d s p e c t a c l e s a s t h o u g h h e w e r e a r e g u l a r v i s i t o r of t h e g y m n a s t i c s h o w s . H e w a s v e r s e d in t h e different s c h o o l s of G r e e k p h i l o s o p h y , a n d f r o m t h e m h e b o r r o w e d t h e t h o u g h t s a n d m e t h o d s h e n e e d e d for t h e p u r p o s e s of his o w n p h i l o s o p h i c a l t h e o r y . N o w , t h e s e p u r p o s e s differed w i d e l y f r o m t h e c o m m o n t e n d e n c i e s of G r e e k p h i l o s o p h y . T h e e n t i r e s t r u c t u r e of P h i l o ' s p h i l o s o p h y , s e e n t h r o u g h t h e e y e s of a n o u t s i d e r , is n o t h i n g b u t a n e n o r m o u s c o m m e n t a r y o n t h e T o r a h . P h i l o s o p h y here a p p e a r s in t h e u n u s u a l role of ancilla theologiae, t h o u g h P h i l o , of c o u r s e , w a s u n c o n s c i o u s of t h i s i n n o v a t i o n of h i s : i n h i s e y e s , t h e t e a c h i n g of M o s e s was t h e t r u e p h i l o s o p h y , a n d so t h e r e could be no contradiction between faith and knowledge. H e held t h a t the true p h i l o s o p h y w a s t a u g h t b y M o s e s i n a n o c c u l t m a n n e r . T h e p r e c e p t s of t h e T o r a h were not w h a t t h e y appeared t o b e ; t h e y h a d in addition to their obvious m e a n ing a hidden one, and this hidden meaning h a d to be revealed and explained b y m e a n s of p h i l o s o p h i c a l t e a c h i n g . T h i s is t h e f a m o u s m e t h o d of a l l e g o r i c a l i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of t h e B i b l e , u s e d l o n g b e f o r e P h i l o ' s t i m e b y J e w i s h A l e x a n d r i a n w r i t e r s , b u t n e v e r so c o n s i s t e n t l y a s b y P h i l o . B y m e a n s of t h i s a l l e g o r i c a l i n t e r p r e t a t i o n P h i l o c r e a t e d a r e l i g i o u s p h i l o s o p h y of his o w n , w h i c h w a s t h e most perfect synthesis possible b e t w e e n J u d a i s m and Hellenism, and w h i c h later p l a y e d a g r e a t p a r t i n t h e f o r m u l a t i o n of t h e f u n d a m e n t a l p r i n c i p l e s of C h r i s t i a n t h e o l o g y . W e are n o t , h o w e v e r , c o n c e r n e d w i t h t h e p h i l o s o p h i c a l c o n t e n t of Philo's literary w o r k , b u t w i t h its place in the cultural and religious develop m e n t of A l e x a n d r i a n J e w r y . W e h a v e a l r e a d y seen t h a t t h e S e p t u a g i n t c r e a t e d a B i b l e G r e e k in i t s l a n g u a g e a n d t e r m i n o l o g y ; n o w t h e n e x t s t e p w a s t a k e n , and the Bible received a n e w content as well. Biblical personages ceased to be l i v i n g b e i n g s a n d w e r e t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o personifications of a b s t r a c t i d e a s ; t h e p r e c e p t s of M o s e s r e c e i v e d a n o c c u l t sense a n d w e r e t o b e i n t e r p r e t e d as s y m b o l s of d e e p m o r a l i d e a s . T h e h i s t o r y of t h e J e w i s h p e o p l e , t h e m o t h e r c o u n t r y of t h e J e w s , a n d t h e J e w i s h religion i n i t s h i s t o r i c a l s h a p e , c o u l d n o t b e s t u d i e d 55

5 6

5 7

5 4

For Greeks, barbarians, and J e w s see de cherub. 9 1 ; for the Greek tongue, de confus. ling. 129; for Moses' Greek teachers, vita Mos. 1. 21. 5 5

P h i l o , de congr., 79 s q . ; cf. Wolfson, Philo, i. 145 sqq. On t h e allegorical exegesis of t h e Scriptures before Philo see B o u s s e t , Judisch-Christlicher Schulbetrieb in Alexandria und Rom, 1915; E d . Stein, Die allegorische Exegese des Philo aus Alexandreia, 1929 (emphasizes especially the in fluence of the elder exegets o n Philo). For t h e allegorical m e t h o d of interpretation used b y Philo see Wolfson, Philo, i. 115 sqq. T h e occult aspect of Philo's teaching, o p e n t o initiates o n l y , is greatly emphasized b y Goodenough, By Light, Light. Another interpretation is g i v e n b y Wolf s o n , Philo, i. 43 sqq. 5 6

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Here are some characteristic e x a m p l e s . T h e various personages of the Torah are n o t only m e n b u t 'types of soul' ($vxfjs rpoiroi) a s well. T h e Patriarchs, for instance, are t y p e s of soul symbol

izing t h e pursuit of the good through teaching (Abraham), through nature (Isaac), and through practice (Jacob) (de Abrah. 52). For other Biblical personages interpreted as symbols see Quaest. in Genes., passim. E v e r y e v e n t narrated in t h e Torah reveals, b y m e a n s of allegorical interpreta t i o n , i t s 'hidden sense'. Commenting, for e x a m p l e , o n t h e verse Gen. 2 . 6 ('And a spring w e n t u p out of the earth and watered all the face of t h e earth') Philo w r i t e s : ' H e calls t h e mind a spring of the earth, and t h e senses its face T h e m i n d , like a spring, waters t h e senses, sending t o each of t h e m t h e streams suitable t o it' (leg. alleg. 1. 28). T h e four h e a d s of t h e river going forth from E d e n are four virtues (ib. 63). These examples can be in definitely multiplied. 'Everything in Scripture, from n a m e s , d a t e s , and numbers t o the narration of historical e v e n t s or the prescription of rules for h u m a n conduct is t o h i m subject t o allegorical interpretation' (Wolfson, Philo, i. 116).

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f r o m P h i l o ' s a l l e g o r i c a l c o m m e n t a r y , w h i c h c o n t a i n e d o n l y a b s t r a c t i d e a s of a s u b l i m e faith. T h e s e i d e a s c o u l d b e r e v e a l e d t o i n i t i a t e s w h a t e v e r t h e i r n a t i o n o r c o u n t r y . H e r e w e t o u c h u p o n t h e p r o f o u n d i n t e n t i o n of P h i l o ' s p h i l o s o p h i c a l w o r k : t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n of J u d a i s m i n t o a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l p h i l o s o p h y , d e v o i d of all i n c i d e n t a l n a t i o n a l f e a t u r e s , a n d therefore a c c e p t a b l e a l i k e t o J e w s a n d H e l l e n e s . J e w s , of course, h a d h a d t h e p r i v i l e g e of b e i n g t h e first p e o p l e t o r e c e i v e t h i s d i v i n e p h i l o s o p h y ; t h e i r role a m o n g o t h e r p e o p l e s m i g h t , therefore, b e e q u a l t o t h e role p l a y e d b y p r i e s t s i n a s t a t e . Y e t G r e e k s w e r e also a b l e t o s h a r e t h e benefits of t h e r e v e l a t i o n , a n d i t is c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of P h i l o t h a t , s p e a k i n g of t h e feast c e l e b r a t e d b y A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s i n c o m m e m o r a t i o n of t h e d a y w h e n t h e t r a n s l a t i o n of t h e T o r a h i n t o G r e e k w a s c o m p l e t e d , h e e m p h a s i z e s t h a t n o n Jews too participate. 5 8

59

T h u s t h e T o r a h is t h e p r i n c i p a l l i n k b e t w e e n J u d a i s m a n d H e l l e n i s m : a n i d e a w h i c h m u s t h a v e b e e n d e e p l y r o o t e d in A l e x a n d r i a n J e w r y , since it h a d b e e n e x p r e s s e d for t h e first t i m e 200 y e a r s before P h i l o , i n t h e ' L e t t e r of A r i s t e a s ' ( a b o v e , p . 43). S o i t f o l l o w s t h a t t h e s t u d y of t h e T o r a h a n d t h e fulfilment of i t s p r e c e p t s w a s n o t t o b e n e g l e c t e d . P h i l o r e a l i z e d t h a t t h e m e t h o d s of alle g o r i c a l i n t e r p r e t a t i o n m i g h t e a s i l y d i v e r t J e w s f r o m t h e o b s e r v a n c e of t h e L a w : if t h e p r e c e p t s of M o s e s h a v e a n o c c u l t sense, w h i c h is t h e i r p r i n c i p a l c o n t e n t , w h y p a y a t t e n t i o n t o t h e i r l i t e r a l m e a n i n g , w h i c h is n o m o r e t h a n a c o v e r ? A n d , a s a m a t t e r of f a c t , t h e r e w e r e J e w s w h o d r e w s u c h a n t i n o m i a n c o n c l u sions. B u t it w a s obvious to Philo t h a t antinomism could not be reconciled w i t h t h e s u r v i v a l of t h e J e w i s h p e o p l e i n t h e d i a s p o r a . D e p r i v e d a s t h e y h a d b e e n of t h e i r m o t h e r c o u n t r y a n d n a t i o n a l l a n g u a g e , e x p o s e d t o t h e influences of H e l l e n i s t i c l a w s a n d c u s t o m s , w h a t else c o u l d l i n k t h e m w i t h J u d a i s m if n o t the obligation strictly to observe the T o r a h ? Philo could not w a l k in the foot60

6 1

s 8

de spec. leg. 2. 163. Vita Mos. 2. 41 sqq. It seems t h a t Philo w a s s o m e t i m e s asked, W h y , if Jewish philosophy so perfectly fits J e w s and Hellenes alike, do the latter n o t recognize it as their o w n ? Philo's answer i s : t h e y d o not recognize it because of the hard fate of t h e Jewish n a t i o n . It will be otherwise w h e n t h e fate of the J e w s c h a n g e s : 'I believe t h a t each n a t i o n will abandon its peculiar w a y s (T<X thia), a n d , throwing overboard its ancestral c u s t o m s (rots iroT/)iois), turn t o honouring our laws alone' (ib.44). 5 9

6 0

P h i l o , de migr. Abr. 89 sqq. Cf. Wolfson, i. 66 sqq. Philo characterizes these extreme allegorists as m e n completely detached from a n y social g r o u p : 'As it is, as though t h e y were living alone b y t h e m s e l v e s in a wilderness (wairep iv iprffila # c a 0 ' iavrovs fiovoi û>vres), or as t h o u g h t h e y h a d b e c o m e disembodied souls (dod>p,aroi. tfivxal yeyovores), and k n e w neither city nor village, nor household nor a n y c o m p a n y of h u m a n beings a t 6 1

all ( / e c u firjTe TTOXIV firjre Kp/qv / i i j V o u a a v prjre

aw-

overlooking all t h a t t h e m a s s of m e n regard, t h e y explore reality OXOJS

dlaoov

dvdpwirojv

elSores),

in its naked absoluteness' (de migr. Abr. 90, transl. b y Whitaker). If we translate this some w h a t poetical picture in terms of the historical conditions, w e realize t h a t Philo is speaking of m e n w h o h a v e abandoned practical J u d a i s m and ceased t o be members of the Jewish c o m m u n i t y , b u t w h o could not associate t h e m s e l v e s w i t h a n y Greek c o m m o n w e a l t h , and thus remained sus p e n d e d in a social v a c u u m w i t h n o polis, no village, or e v e n a family of their o w n . There w a s only one w a y open for J e w s so completely u n attached : t o go into t h e desert and there build a c o m m u n i t y of their o w n . A n d , indeed, there were such communities of outsiders in t h e vicin i t y of A l e x a n d r i a : t h e y were k n o w n as therapeutai (depairevTot). Y e t , according t o P h i l o , t h e therapeutai, t h o u g h allegorists (de vita contempt. 28 sq.), did strictly observe such laws of t h e Torah a s the observation of Sabbath and t h e h o l y d a y s (ib. 30, 32, 36, 65). I t seems t h a t t h e e x t r e m e allegorists were individualists t o such a degree t h a t n o social c o m m u n i t y , e v e n consisting of persons like t h e m s e l v e s , could satisfy t h e m . Cf. Wolfson, Philo, i. 69.

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s t e p s of his n e p h e w , T i . J u l i u s A l e x a n d e r , a n d b e c o m e a r e n e g a d e f r o m J u d a i s m : w h a t fate w o u l d befall the divine philosophy, were there no specially a p p o i n t e d p e o p l e in e x i s t e n c e t o t e a c h i t a n d t o p r o p a g a t e i t ? T h a t a c c o u n t s for P h i l o ' s n a t i o n a l i s t i c s t a n d p o i n t in all h i s w r i t i n g s , a s w e l l a s in his l i f e — n a t i o n a l istic, of course, a s seen t h r o u g h t h e e y e s of t h e h e l l e n i z e d J e w r y of A l e x a n d r i a . H e w r o t e a n Apology on Jews, a i m i n g a t t h e r e f u t a t i o n of a n t i - S e m i t i c c a l u m n i a t i o n s of J e w s a n d J u d a i s m ; h e h e a d e d t h e e m b a s s y t o G a i u s C a l i g u l a a n d p r o b a b l y d i s c u s s e d t h e q u e s t i o n of J e w i s h r i g h t s in A l e x a n d r i a before C l a u d i u s ; a n d h e w r o t e a w o r k o n t h e s p e c i a l l a w s of t h e B i b l e [De specialibus legibus) i n t e n d e d t o i n t e r p r e t B i b l i c a l p r e c e p t s , n o t a l l e g o r i c a l l y , a s for t h e i n i t i a t e d o n l y , b u t in a s i m p l e r w a y t h a t w o u l d b e c o m p r e h e n s i b l e t o a s i m p l e J e w i s h r e a d e r . T h i s w a s w r i t t e n w i t h t h e p u r p o s e of p r o p a g a t i n g t h e p r a c t i c a l side of M o s e s ' t e a c h i n g , so t o s p e a k , for e v e r y d a y u s e . T o d a y h i s p o l i t i c a l role is re g a r d e d a s n o m o r e t h a n of m i n o r h i s t o r i c a l i n t e r e s t , b u t h i s l i t e r a r y w o r k r e m a i n s a s a w i t n e s s of t h e l a s t effort of A l e x a n d r i a n J e w r y t o b r i d g e t h e gulf b e t w e e n Judaism and Hellenism b y creating a philosophic system uniting both. I t w a s , i n d e e d , t h e l a s t effort. O n e w o n d e r s w h e t h e r P h i l o w a s a w a r e of t h e f a n a t i c a l h a t r e d w h i c h w a s s t e a d i l y g r o w i n g o n b o t h sides. W e h a v e seen w h a t P h i l o t h o u g h t a b o u t t h e c i v i c r i g h t s of t h e J e w s : i t w a s t h e d u t y of t h e G r e e k s t o g r a n t c i v i c r i g h t s t o J e w i s h i m m i g r a n t s , since J e w s d i d n o t differ (or differed b u t little) f r o m t h e G r e e k s . T h i s p o l i t i c a l v i e w of P h i l o ' s w a s a l o g i c a l result of his p h i l o s o p h i c a l s y s t e m : t h e c h o s e n p e o p l e , w h o c o u l d p l a y t h e role of priests for t h e w h o l e u n i v e r s e a n d h a d r e c e i v e d f r o m G o d t h e d i v i n e L a w , e q u a l l y s u i t a b l e for J e w s a n d G r e e k s , w e r e a t l e a s t w o r t h y of c i v i c r i g h t s , in o r d e r t h a t t h e y m i g h t n o t b e f o r c e d t o p a y t h e p o l l - t a x o r b e s c o u r g e d p u b l i c l y like a n E g y p t i a n fellah. Y e t t h e p o l i t i c a l r e a l i t y w a s q u i t e different. T h e e p o c h of P h i l o w a s t h e l a s t in w h i c h t h e i d e a l s of a b r o t h e r h o o d b e t w e e n G r e e k s a n d J e w s c o u l d still b e s e r i o u s l y e n v i s a g e d . T h e e v e n t s of A . D . 66-70, f a t a l for t h e J e w s of P a l e s t i n e , d e c i d e d also t h e f a t e of E g y p t i a n J e w r y : t h e y p u t a n e n d t o a n y a t t e m p t at a reconciliation between the t w o nations. T h e s t o r y t o l d b y J o s e p h u s {bell. 2. 487 sqq.) is t h e o n l y piece of e v i d e n c e r e g a r d i n g t h e e v e n t s of A . D . 66 in A l e x a n d r i a . T h e s t o r y is short a n d n o t v e r y c l e a r : w h e n s p e a k i n g of his o w n t i m e J o s e p h u s is n o t a n i m p a r t i a l w i t n e s s . H e h a s o b v i o u s s y m p a t h y w i t h t h e u p p e r classes of J e w i s h s o c i e t y a n d a n e q u a l l y obvious antipathy to Jewish revolutionaries. Besides, his account had to be a p p r o v e d b y t h e R o m a n a u t h o r i t i e s . I f i n a d d i t i o n w e r e c a l l his u s u a l e x a g g e r a t i o n s in r e c o r d i n g n u m b e r s , w e m a y infer t h a t h i s s t o r y of e v e n t s in A l e x a n d r i a should be discounted. According to Josephus, the disturbances broke out when a c o n s i d e r a b l e n u m b e r of J e w s e n t e r e d t h e a m p h i t h e a t r e w h e r e t h e A l e x a n d r i a n s w e r e d e l i b e r a t i n g o n t h e s u b j e c t of a n e m b a s s y t o b e s e n t t o N e r o . J o s e p h u s d o e s n o t tell u s t h e p u r p o s e of t h e e m b a s s y , n o r d o e s h e s a y w h o t h e J e w s w e r e w h o e n t e r e d t h e a s s e m b l y . If t h e s e J e w s w e r e c i t i z e n s of A l e x a n d r i a , t h e y h a d t h e r i g h t t o b e p r e s e n t a t a n y a s s e m b l y of A l e x a n d r i a n s ; if t h e y w e r e n o t , t h e i r w i s h t o t a k e p a r t in t h e a s s e m b l y m u s t h a v e h a d a s p e c i a l reason. A t a n y r a t e the Greeks upon seeing t h e m shouted loudly, calling t h e m 'enemies' and ' s p i e s ' . T h i s s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e s u b j e c t of t h e d e l i b e r a t i o n s of t h e A l e x a n d r i a n s

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w a s a g a i n t h e ' J e w i s h q u e s t i o n ' , a n d t h a t c e r t a i n decisions w e r e t o b e t a k e n and instructions accordingly given to the embassy, which w a s to appear before t h e E m p e r o r a t R o m e . R e n e w e d d e l i b e r a t i o n s in R o m e o n t h e s u b j e c t of J e w i s h r i g h t s w e r e q u i t e possible, c o n s i d e r i n g t h e n e w s of t h e r e c e n t r e v o l t in P a l e s t i n e . T h e J e w s , n a t u r a l l y e n o u g h , w e r e a n x i o u s t o k n o w w h a t t h e A l e x a n d r i a n s w e r e a b o u t t o p r o p o s e t o t h e E m p e r o r , a n d s e n t s o m e of t h e i r m e n t o t h e a s s e m b l y . I t is e v e n possible t h a t i n s t r u c t i o n s h a d b e e n g i v e n t o t h e m t o d i s t u r b t h e a s s e m b l y , s h o u l d t h e resolutions of t h e A l e x a n d r i a n s b e e x c e s s i v e l y a n t i - S e m i t i c . W h e n t h e p r e s e n c e of t h e J e w s in t h e a m p h i t h e a t r e w a s discovered and Greeks rushed forward to capture them, the J e w s tried to e s c a p e , b u t t h r e e of t h e m w e r e c a p t u r e d a n d t a k e n a w a y t o b e b u r n t a l i v e . T h i s a r o u s e d t h e w h o l e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y {irav TO 'IOVSCUKOV) ; first s t o n e s w e r e t h r o w n a t G r e e k s , a n d t h e n a n a t t e m p t w a s m a d e t o set fire t o t h e a m p h i t h e a t r e , so a s t o b u r n t o d e a t h all t h e G r e e k s a s s e m b l e d t h e r e . E v i d e n t l y a r e p e t i t i o n of t h e e v e n t s of A . D . 41 w a s p l a n n e d . A t t h i s t i m e t h e R o m a n prefect w a s T i b e r i u s J u l i u s A l e x a n d e r , t h e r e n e g a d e J e w ( a b o v e , p . 53). W e are t o l d b y J o s e p h u s t h a t T i b e r i u s a t first t r i e d t o influence t h e J e w s b y persuasion, b u t t h a t t h e r i o t e r s r i d i c u l e d his e x h o r t a t i o n s a n d i n s u l t e d h i m . S i n c e T i b e r i u s w a s a R o m a n official of h i g h s t a n d i n g a n d d u r i n g t h e siege of J e r u s a l e m h a d b e e n one of t h e p r i n c i p a l a d v i s e r s of T i t u s , J o s e p h u s h a d e v e r y r e a s o n t o flatter h i m . T h i s m a y a c c o u n t for J o s e p h u s ' a t t e m p t t o d e p i c t T i b e r i u s a s a m i l d g o v e r n o r . Y e t e v e n J o s e p h u s c a n n o t c o n c e a l t h e f a c t t h a t t h e J e w i s h r e v o l t in A l e x a n d r i a w a s c r u s h e d w i t h r u t h l e s s c r u e l t y . T h e soldiers w e r e g i v e n p e r m i s s i o n t o k i l l J e w s , t o b u r n d o w n t h e i r h o u s e s , a n d t o p l u n d e r t h e i r p r o p e r t y ; so t h e J e w i s h q u a r t e r , 'Delta', w a s heavily damaged. T h e Jews tried to oppose the R o m a n troops w i t h a r m s , b u t w e r e , of course, t o t a l l y r o u t e d . J o s e p h u s q u o t e s t h e n u m b e r of s l a u g h t e r e d J e w s a s 50,000, w h i c h is, p r o b a b l y , a n e x a g g e r a t i o n . B u t it is t r u e t h a t in A . D . 66 t h e A l e x a n d r i a n J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y w a s t e r r i b l y s t r i c k e n , far m o r e t e r r i b l y t h a n d u r i n g t h e p o g r o m of A . D . 38. I t is e a s y t o i m a g i n e t h a t t h e l o w e r s t r a t a of t h e J e w i s h p o p u l a t i o n of A l e x a n d r i a suffered t h e m o s t , since it w a s o n l y n a t u r a l t h a t t h e a r m s s h o u l d h a v e b e e n d i s t r i b u t e d first of all a m o n g t h e m . A s t o t h e u p p e r classes, i t s e e m s t h a t t h e y e s c a p e d t h e c o m m o n fate of s l a u g h t e r and destruction b y loudly protesting their l o y a l t y to the R o m a n g o v e r n m e n t . P o s s i b l y T i b e r i u s , w h o h a d himself b e e n o r i g i n a l l y one of t h e r i c h A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s , t o o k t h e l e a d i n g m e m b e r s of t h e J e w i s h gerousia u n d e r his s p e c i a l p r o t e c t i o n . A t a n y r a t e , t h i s b o d y of t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y i n A l e x a n d r i a w a s n o t a b o l i s h e d ; w e m e e t it a g a i n in A . D . 73, a n d i t is n o t w i t h o u t i n t e r e s t t o n o t e i t s humble and sycophantic attitude towards the R o m a n government. After the l a s t r e m n a n t s of t h e J e w i s h r e v o l t in P a l e s t i n e h a d b e e n c r u s h e d s o m e J e w i s h fighters, t h e w e l l - k n o w n sicarii, e s c a p e d i n t o E g y p t a n d t o o k refuge in A l e x a n d r i a . T h e y b r o u g h t w i t h t h e m t h e p r o u d s l o g a n of t h e P a l e s t i n i a n r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s : ' N o l o r d b u t G o d . ' O p p o s e d b y t h e l e a d e r s of t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y , t h e y k i l l e d s o m e of t h e m , o p e n l y p r e a c h i n g r e v o l t a g a i n s t R o m e . T h e n t h e ' l e a d e r s of t h e elders' (rrpwrevovTes rrjs yepovaias) of t h e J e w s c a l l e d a g e n e r a l a s s e m b l y a n d c h a r g e d t h e sicarii w i t h r e s p o n s i b i l i t y for all t h e i r t r o u b l e s . T h e a s s e m b l y , influenced b y t h e ' e l d e r s ' , seized 600 sicarii o n t h e s p o t ; t h o s e w h o h a d e s c a p e d t o t h e chora, e s p e c i a l l y in U p p e r E g y p t , w e r e a r r e s t e d a n d b r o u g h t

PROLEGOMENA

8o

b a c k to Alexandria. A l l were delivered up to the R o m a n s and put to death under h e a v y t o r t u r e (bell. 7. 409 s q q . ) . S u c h b e h a v i o u r o n t h e p a r t of t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y i n A l e x a n d r i a w a s i n d e e d n e w a n d s h a m e f u l . T h e d e e p s o c i a l s c h i s m in t h e A l e x a n d r i a n c o m m u n i t y w a s n e v e r so g r e a t a s in t h e c r u c i a l y e a r s f o l l o w i n g t h e J e w i s h n a t i o n a l d e b a c l e of A . D . 70. T h e n a t i o n a l c a t a s t r o p h e h a d i t s e p i l o g u e in t h e ' L a n d of O n i a s ' : in a c c o r d a n c e i t h t h e o r d e r s of t h e R o m a n a u t h o r i t i e s i n E g y p t , t h e t e m p l e of O n i a s w a s d e m o l i s h e d a n d t h e c u l t of t h e J e w i s h G o d s u s p e n d e d (bell. 7. 420 s q q . ) . T h e t e m p l e of O n i a s h a d n e v e r b e e n a religious c e n t r e of E g y p t i a n J e w r y , a n d i t s d e s t r u c t i o n d i d n o t s e r i o u s l y affect t h e c u l t u r a l life of t h e J e w s . Y e t i t w a s , in a sense, s o m e e v i d e n c e of p a s t g l o r y a n d a s y m b o l of n a t i o n a l i n d e p e n d e n c e . These dangerous reminders h a d to be destroyed. Probably the demolition of t h e s a n c t u a r y w a s also c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e d i s a p p e a r a n c e of t h e J e w i s h s e t t l e m e n t i n t h e ' L a n d of O n i a s ' , since t h e r e is n o further e v i d e n c e of i t s existence. A hard and troublous existence now faced E g y p t i a n Jewry. Claudius seemed t o h a v e b e e n right: t h e J e w s were a s e d i t i o u s n a t i o n , ' f o m e n t i n g s o m e t h i n g l i k e a g e n e r a l p l a g u e t h r o u g h o u t t h e w o r l d ' . T h e y h a d risen a g a i n s t R o m e a n d so t h e y were to be punished. T h e chastisement decided upon b y Vespasian w a s a c u r i o u s m i x t u r e of p r a c t i c a l financial m e a s u r e s a n d c y n i c a l m o c k e r y . T h e J e w s h a d t o p a y t h e didrachmon—the half of a s h e k e l , p r e v i o u s l y p a i d b y e v e r y J e w t o t h e T e m p l e of J e r u s a l e m — t o t h e R o m a n r i v a l of t h e J e w i s h G o d , J u p i t e r C a p i t o l i n u s . S i n c e t h e t e m p l e of J u p i t e r h a d b e e n b u r n t d o w n in A . D . 69, t h e n e w E m p e r o r ' s first d u t y w a s t o r e c o n s t r u c t it, a n d t h e v a n q u i s h e d n a t i o n h a d t o d e f r a y t h e e x p e n s e . S o t h e fiscus Judaicus w a s founded. Its administrative c e n t r e w a s a t R o m e a n d i t h a d p r o c u r a t o r s of i t s o w n . T h e s u m s d u e f r o m J e w s were e x a c t e d w i t h extreme harshness, especially under D o m i t i a n (Suet. Domit. 12. 2). U n d e r N e r v a t h e a b u s e s of t h e e x a c t i o n w e r e a b o l i s h e d , a n d t h e R o m a n S e n a t e e v e n o r d e r e d a c o i n t o b e s t r u c k in order t o c e l e b r a t e t h i s a c t of I m p e r i a l l i b e r a l i t y . T h e J e w s of t h e w h o l e R o m a n E m p i r e w e r e s u b j e c t e d t o the p a y m e n t of t h e t a x , b u t o n l y f r o m E g y p t h a v e w e a b u n d a n t m a t e r i a l c o n c e r n i n g i t . A p a p y r u s f r o m A r s i n o e ( N o . 421), a n o t h e r f r o m K a r a n i s ( N o . 460), a n d e s p e c i a l l y t h e n u m e r o u s o s t r a k a f r o m E d f u ( N o s . 160 s q q . ) , c o n t a i n v e r y v a l u a b l e e v i d e n c e a s t o t h e n a m e of t h e t a x , its r a t e a n d m o d e of p a y m e n t , a s w e l l as t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s of t h o s e s u b j e c t t o t h e t a x . T h e r e a d e r w i l l find a d e t a i l e d discussion of all t h e s e p o i n t s in t h e I n t r o d u c t i o n t o S e c t i o n I X . H e r e a brief s u m m a r y is g i v e n . 6 2

63

T h e e d i c t of V e s p a s i a n c o n c e r n i n g t h e J e w i s h t a x w a s p r o m u l g a t e d in t h e 3rd y e a r of t h e n e w r e i g n , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e R o m a n r e c k o n i n g , b u t t h e t a x itself w a s p r e s u m e d t o h a v e b e e n i n force f r o m t h e m o m e n t of t h e d e s t r u c t i o n of t h e T e m p l e in J e r u s a l e m , i.e. f r o m t h e 2nd y e a r of V e s p a s i a n ' s r e i g n . C o n s e q u e n t l y t h e J e w s h a d t o p a y a r r e a r s for o n e y e a r . I n E g y p t t h e t a x w a s l e v i e d f r o m t h e 4 t h y e a r of V e s p a s i a n , a c c o r d i n g t o E g y p t i a n r e c k o n i n g , r o u g h l y c o r r e s p o n d i n g 6 2

On the edict of Vespasian concerning the foundation offiscus Judaicus see J o s . bell. 7. 218; D i o Cass. 66. 7. 2. F o r t h e procuratores of t h e fiscus see CIJ 532. Cf. Ginsburg, 'Fiscus Judaicus',

JQR

x x i , 1930/1, 281. 'Fisci Judaici calumnia sublata' (Madden, Hist, of Jewish Coinage, p . 199). 6 3

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PERIOD

81

t o his 3rd. y e a r in R o m e ; n e v e r t h e l e s s t h e t a x h a d t o b e p a i d 'from t h e 2nd y e a r ' ( N o s . 164 a n d 166), a n d t h u s t h e E g y p t i a n J e w s p a i d a r r e a r s for two y e a r s . T h e official n a m e of t h e t a x w a s , p r o b a b l y , denarii duo Judaeorum, a n d in E g y p t ' t h e p r i c e ' {rifAr)) of t h e s e t w o denarii w a s p a i d in E g y p t i a n drachmai, 8 dr. b e i n g t h e e q u i v a l e n t of 2 denarii. T w o o b o l s m o r e w e r e e x a c t e d , p r o b a b l y a s a fee for t h e p a y m e n t of t h e t a x in l o c a l m o n e y . I n a d d i t i o n , a t a x of 1 dr., c a l l e d dirapxai, w a s l e v i e d t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e J e w i s h t a x , so t h a t t h e t o t a l a n n u a l p a y m e n t of t h e t a x a m o u n t e d t o 9 dr. 2 o b . T h i s s u m w a s p a i d in o n e o r t w o i n s t a l m e n t s , b u t s m a l l e r i n s t a l m e n t s w e r e also a c c e p t e d . A l l J e w s , m a l e a n d f e m a l e a l i k e , i n c l u d i n g t h e i r s l a v e s a n d f r e e d m e n , f r o m t h e a g e of 3 t o 60 o r 62, w e r e liable t o t h e p a y m e n t of t h e t a x . S p e c i a l officials w e r e a p p o i n t e d t o c o l l e c t t h e t a x ; l o n g lists of J e w i s h t a x p a y e r s w e r e d r a w n u p b y g o v e r n m e n t officials (e.g. b y t h e a m p h o d a r c h of A r s i n o e ) , a n d r e c e i p t s , w r i t t e n o n p o t s h e r d s , w e r e issued b y t h e t a x c o l l e c t o r s a n d h a n d e d t o t h e t a x p a y e r s (as in E d f u ) . T h e official n a m e of t h e t a x — ' t w o d e n a r i i of t h e J e w s ' — w a s u s e d in E g y p t u n t i l D o m i t i a n ; b e t w e e n t h e 8th a n d t h e 12th y e a r of t h e l a t t e r ' s r e i g n t h i s n a m e w a s d i s c o n t i n u e d a n d r e p l a c e d b y t h e less c o m p l i c a t e d ' J e w i s h t a x ' . P e r h a p s t h e c h a n g e of n a m e w a s c o n n e c t e d w i t h s o m e reform in t h e c e n t r a l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of t h e fiscus Judaicus, b u t t h i s r e f o r m h a d n o influence a t a n y r a t e o n t h e t a x in E g y p t . T h e r e it c o n t i n u e d t o b e l e v i e d in t h e u s u a l w a y . P a y m e n t of t h e J e w i s h t a x in E g y p t c a n b e t r a c e d till t h e m i d d l e of t h e s e c o n d c e n t u r y (cf. N o . 460); w e d o n o t k n o w when and b y w h o m the t a x w a s abolished. 64

J o h n s o n c a l c u l a t e d t h e y e a r l y i n c o m e f r o m t h e J e w i s h t a x in E g y p t a s a m o u n t i n g t o 8 million E g y p t i a n d r a c h m a i . A d d i n g t h e drrapxai, w e g e t 9 m i l lion, a n d t a k i n g i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n t h a t in t h e y e a r A . D . 7 1 / 2 (the 4 t h y e a r of t h e r e i g n a c c o r d i n g t o E g y p t i a n r e c k o n i n g ) J e w s p a i d t h e t a x n o t for t h a t y e a r o n l y b u t for t h e t w o p r e c e d i n g y e a r s a s w e l l , w e g e t t h e e n o r m o u s s u m of 27 m i l l i o n E g y p t i a n d r a c h m a i p a i d b y E g y p t i a n J e w s a t t h e v e r y b e g i n n i n g of t h e n e w r e i g n . T h i s c a l c u l a t i o n , of course, m u s t b e r e g a r d e d a s e x a g g e r a t e d , since i t is b a s e d o n P h i l o ' s n u m b e r of o n e million J e w s in E g y p t , a n u m b e r w h i c h c a n h a r d l y b e a c c e p t e d a s c o r r e c t (see a b o v e , p . 4). Y e t e v e n if t h e a c c u r a c y of t h e t o t a l s u m is t o b e d o u b t e d , t h e f a c t r e m a i n s t h a t t h e y e a r A . D . 7 1 / 2 m e a n t a h e a v y financial b u r d e n for E g y p t i a n J e w s . W e m a y s u p p o s e t h a t n o t e v e r y J e w w a s a b l e t o p a y t h e l a r g e s u m s d e m a n d e d of h i m a n d t h a t n o n - p a y m e n t of t h e a r r e a r s r e s u l t e d in s e v e r e p u n i s h m e n t . Y e t e v e n w h e n t h e first y e a r s w e r e o v e r a n d a l l t h e a r r e a r s d u l y p a i d , t h e financial s i t u a t i o n i n v o l v e d c o n s i d e r a b l e h a r d ship. T h e a m o u n t to be paid b y a n y individual w a s , perhaps, not v e r y g r e a t ; t h e laographia in U p p e r E g y p t , p a i d a t t h e r a t e of 16 d r a c h m a i , w a s a l m o s t t w i c e a s m u c h , a n d t h e 44 dr. of t h e avvrd^\iov {laographia a n d s o m e a d d i t i o n a l t a x e s ) in t h e A r s i n o i t e district w a s five t i m e s a s m u c h a s t h e J e w i s h t a x . Y e t t h e J e w i s h t a x d i d n o t s u p e r s e d e t h e laographia, n e i t h e r d i d i t t a k e t h e p l a c e of numerous capitation taxes, such as the b a t h - t a x , dike-tax, guard-tax, etc. A l l these h a d to be paid, and the Jewish t a x w a s an additional burden. T h i s burden 65

6 4

There is n o clear evidence of the existence of the 'Jewish t a x ' after the middle of the second century. According to Juster (ii. 286) the t a x was still in existence in the middle of the third century B 2909

and w a s abolished, perhaps, b y J u l i a n ; cf. also Ginsburg, o p . cit. 290. W e have no means of proving this assertion, s Johnson, Roman Egypt, 488. 6

G

82

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w a s especially h e a v y w h e n imposed o n a family w i t h numerous children or old p e o p l e , since t h e h e a d of t h e f a m i l y h a d t o p a y for e v e r y o n e of i t s m e m b e r s i n c l u d i n g s l a v e s . A f a m i l y of five p e r s o n s , w h i c h c a n b y n o m e a n s b e c o n s i d e r e d l a r g e , h a d t o p a y t h e J e w i s h t a x a t a r a t e e q u a l l i n g t h e h i g h r a t e of t h e laographia i n t h e A r s i n o i t e n o m e . D o e s t h i s e x p l a i n w h y m a n y J e w i s h families, a c c o r d i n g t o w h a t w e k n o w of t h e m f r o m t h e E d f u o s t r a k a a n d f r o m N o . 421, h a v e s o astonishingly f e w children—or n o children a t all? Y e t t h e e c o n o m i c b u r d e n w a s , p e r h a p s , n o t t h e d a r k e s t side of t h e n e w t a x ; i t s p o l i t i c a l a n d s o c i a l significance p r o b a b l y a r o u s e d feelings f a r m o r e g l o o m y . N e e d l e s s t o s a y , t h e m e r e o b l i g a t i o n t o s u p p o r t t h e h e a t h e n g o d , t h e g o d of t h e h a t e d c o n q u e r o r s , w i t h m o n e y f o r m e r l y c a l l e d ' s a c r e d ' (Upd xPVt )> c y n i c a l i n s u l t u n p r e c e d e n t e d i n J e w i s h h i s t o r y . Y e t i t w a s t h e fate of t h e J e w i s h p e o p l e t h r o u g h o u t t h e w h o l e R o m a n E m p i r e . A s for t h e E g y p t i a n J e w s , t h e y h a d s o m e a d d i t i o n a l g r i e v a n c e s . T h e y h a d f o u g h t a l o n g fight for c i v i c r i g h t s i n A l e x a n d r i a in order t o b e o n a level w i t h t h e Greeks a n d n o t b e confused w i t h E g y p t i a n s . T h e y h a d l o s t t h i s b a t t l e , a n d i t h a d b e e n officially r u l e d t h a t e v e n a n A l e x a n d r i a n J e w , u n l e s s h e w a s a c i t i z e n , w a s l i a b l e t o laographia. N o w a l l J e w s , c i t i z e n s o r n o t , h a d t o p a y t h e J e w i s h t a x . S i n c e i t w a s sufficiently w e l l k n o w n t h a t t h e i m p o s i t i o n of t h i s t a x w a s a p u n i t i v e m e a s u r e , a n d since i t h a d b e e n i m p o s e d o n J e w s after t h e c r u s h i n g of t h e i r r e v o l t , t h e t a x w a s p u b l i c l y r e g a r d e d a s f a r m o r e d e g r a d i n g t h a n e v e n t h e laographia. T h e J e w s w e r e n o w p u t t o s h a m e n o t o n l y i n t h e e y e s of t h e G r e e k s b u t i n t h e e y e s of t h e E g y p t i a n v i l l a g e r s a s w e l l . T h e p a y m e n t of t h e J e w i s h t a x a c q u i r e d s o m e t h i n g of t h e significance of t h e ' y e l l o w s p o t ' o n J e w s ' c l o t h e s i n t h e M i d d l e A g e s ; i t m a r k e d t h e J e w s a s a d a n g e r o u s a n d s e d i t i o u s p e o p l e . I n t h i s w a y t h e l a s t h o p e of 'emancipation' w a s frustrated. W e c a n imagine t h a t n o w w r a t h a n d hatred were t h e d o m i n a n t feelings of J e w s t o w a r d s t h e G r a e c o - R o m a n w o r l d . iaTa

w

a

s

a

6 6

T h e J e w s d r e w closer t o e a c h o t h e r . T h i s c a m e a b o u t , n o t , p e r h a p s , a s t h e result of a d e l i b e r a t e p o l i c y , b u t r a t h e r b y i n s t i n c t : i t w a s safer t o k e e p oneself a p a r t f r o m n e i g h b o u r s , if t h e s e n e i g h b o u r s h a d b e c o m e e n e m i e s . W e s s e l y , w h e n first p u b l i s h i n g J e w i s h o s t r a k a f r o m A p o l l i n o p o l i s M a g n a ( E d f u ) , a p p l i e d t h e term 'Ghetto' t o t h e Jewish quarter in this t o w n . Juridically envisaged, this t e r m i s e r r o n e o u s , since ' g h e t t o ' p r e s u p p o s e s t h a t J e w s w e r e p r o h i b i t e d f r o m s e t t l i n g o u t s i d e i t , a n d n o s u c h p r o h i b i t i o n w a s e v e r issued b y a n y R o m a n g o v e r n m e n t . B u t t a k i n g t h e w o r d i n i t s w i d e r s e n s e — a s a s p e c i a l q u a r t e r deli b e r a t e l y c h o s e n b y J e w s — i t is q u i t e c o r r e c t . W e h a v e r e a s o n for s u p p o s i n g t h a t i n t h e earlier p e r i o d t h e J e w s of A p o l l i n o p o l i s M a g n a w e r e s c a t t e r e d a l l o v e r t h e t o w n , a n d t h a t t h e c o n d i t i o n s of a g h e t t o life b e g a n t o d e v e l o p o n l y i n t h e m i d d l e of t h e first c e n t u r y A . D . O f c o u r s e , t h i s t e n d e n c y t o w a r d s a g h e t t o life 6 7

6 6

According t o Josephus (bell. 7. 218), t h e Jewish t a x w a s imposed 'on all J e w s wheresoever resident' (rots oirovhriitoT* oSaiv ' J o u S a i o i s ) , and D i o tells u s t h a t all J e w s ' w h o practised t h e habits of their forefathers' (rovs r d -ndrpia airwv eOrj TrepiareXXovras)

h a d t o p a y t h e t a x (66. 7. 2).

In b o t h cases n o m e n t i o n of a political or civic s t a t u s is m a d e . J e w s w h o were R o m a n citizens paid t h e t a x , as attested b y t h e Edfu ostraka

(Nos. 162, 174, a n d others). T h e striking of t h e coin under N e r v a mentioned above (note 63) presupposes t h a t J e w s w h o h a d suffered under D o m i t i a n were R o m a n citizens: the Senate would hardly care about peregrini. If R o m a n citizenship did n o t e x e m p t J e w s from t h e p a y m e n t of t h e Jewish t a x , h o w could the citizenship of a Greek city d o s o ? Stud. Pal. ii. 8 sqq. 6 7

THE EARLY

ROMAN PERIOD

83

w a s a s t r i k i n g f e a t u r e of t h e J e w i s h s e t t l e m e n t i n E g y p t , f r o m t h e v e r y b e g i n n i n g (see a b o v e , p p . 5 s q . ) ; b u t n o w , after t h e b i t t e r e x p e r i e n c e s of A . D . 38 a n d 6 6 70, t h e ' g h e t t o ' b e c a m e n o t o n l y a h o m e b u t a s h e l t e r a s w e l l . T h e G r e e k s c o u l d o n l y w e l c o m e t h e s e s e p a r a t i s t t e n d e n c i e s in a p e o p l e c o m p o s e d , i n t h e i r e y e s , of ' s t r a n g e r s a n d a l i e n s ' . A s for R o m a n s , t h e y s e e m t o h a v e b e e n i n d i f f e r e n t : i t w a s a m a t t e r of n o i m p o r t a n c e w h e t h e r t h e J e w s preferred t o s e t t l e i n t h i s o r i n t h a t m a n n e r ; t h e essential p o i n t w a s t h a t t h e y s h o u l d p a y t h e i r t a x e s a n d refrain f r o m a n y a t t e m p t t o rise once m o r e a g a i n s t R o m e . T h e q u e l l i n g of t h e J e w s ' r e v o l t in A . D . 70 a n d t h e i n a u g u r a t i o n of t h e J e w i s h t a x d i d n o t affect t h e f u n d a m e n t a l p r i n c i p l e s of R o m a n p o l i c y t o w a r d s t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t i e s . A s before, J e w s w e r e a l l o w e d t o l i v e ' a c c o r d i n g t o t h e i r ancestral l a w s ' , and all their national and religious privileges were p r o t e c t e d . N o religious persecutions were inaugurated a n d no anti-Semitic policy w a s officially a d o p t e d b y t h e R o m a n g o v e r n m e n t . T h i s p r i v i l e g e of l i v i n g a c c o r d i n g to tradition, coupled n o w w i t h the strong t e n d e n c y t o live in separate quarters a n d t o a v o i d close c o n t a c t w i t h G r e e k a n d E g y p t i a n n e i g h b o u r s , l e d t o a r e v i v a l of s t r o n g n a t i o n a l feeling. E g y p t i a n J e w r y , r a p i d l y h e l l e n i z e d i n t h e P t o l e m a i c a g e a n d a t t h e b e g i n n i n g of R o m a n r u l e , n o w t u r n e d t o w a r d s J e w i s h t r a d i t i o n s . U n f o r t u n a t e l y w e h a v e n o l e g a l d o c u m e n t s f r o m t h e close of t h e first c e n t u r y A . D . , s u c h a s c o u l d b e c o m p a r e d w i t h t h e d o c u m e n t s of t h e P t o l e m a i c p e r i o d f r o m t h e F a y u m a n d w i t h t h o s e of A u g u s t u s ' t i m e f r o m A l e x a n d r i a . W e h a v e a l r e a d y seen ( a b o v e , p . 34) t h a t t h e s e l a t t e r d o c u m e n t s p r o v i d e e v i d e n c e of t h e influence of H e l l e n i s t i c l a w o n J e w i s h f a m i l y a n d b u s i n e s s life. A f t e r A . D . 70, w e r e E g y p t i a n J e w s d i s p o s e d t o use t h e i r n a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s r a t h e r t h a n t o d r a w u p t h e i r l e g a l d o c u m e n t s i n G r e e k offices, a c c o r d i n g t o Greek laws ? I a m inclined to believe t h a t t h e y were, b u t no evidence can be p u t f o r w a r d i n f a v o u r of t h i s s u p p o s i t i o n . D i d J e w s of t h i s t i m e f o u n d n e w c o m m u n i t i e s or erect n e w s y n a g o g u e s ? T h i s q u e s t i o n , t o o , m u s t r e m a i n u n a n s w e r e d . W e h a v e a p a p y r u s d a t e d A . D . 113, m e n t i o n i n g a s y n a g o g u e of T h e b a n J e w s i n A r s i n o e ( N o . 432), b u t w e d o n o t k n o w e x a c t l y w h e n t h e J e w s of t h e T h e b a i d i m m i g r a t e d i n t o t h e F a y u m . O n e m e a n s of i n v e s t i g a t i n g t h e n e w a t t i t u d e of t h e E g y p t i a n J e w s t o w a r d s t r a d i t i o n is t o e x a m i n e t h e i r p r o p e r n a m e s . H e r e , o n c e a g a i n , t h e p a p y r i a n d o s t r a k a , e s p e c i a l l y t h e r e c e i p t s f r o m E d f u , furnish us with abundant material. 6 8

6 9

C o w l e y , i n t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n t o his Aramaic Papyri of the Fifth Century B.C., p . x x i i i , w r o t e a s f o l l o w s : ' A m o n g t h e n u m e r o u s n a m e s of c o l o n i s t s [of E l e p h a n t i n e ] , A b r a h a m , J a c o b , J o s e p h , Moses, S a m u e l , D a v i d , so c o m m o n i n l a t e r t i m e s , n e v e r o c c u r . . . . I t is a l m o s t i n c r e d i b l e , b u t i t is t r u e . ' L o n g before C o w l e y this 'incredible' fact w a s well k n o w n to Z u n z , w h o emphasized it in relation to the T a l m u d i c period. A c c o r d i n g to Z u n z , the most c o m m o n Jewish names, such as A b r a h a m , A a r o n , Moses, D a v i d , Solomon, Sarah, R e b e c c a , were n o t i n use in t h e T a l m u d i c p e r i o d . Y e t w e m a y a d d t h a t n e i t h e r w e r e t h e y i n use 7 0

6 8

Cf. t h e confirmation of t h e 8if«ua/xara of t h e J e w s of Antiochia b y Titus in A . D . 71 (bell. 7. 2

n o sq.). Cf. Juster, ii. 19 s q q . ; Baron, SRH i i , 108 sqq. A synagogue of R o m a n t i m e s is recorded 6 9

in S B 6832, but we do not know w h e n , or even where, it w a s built. 7 0

Zunz, Namen der Juden, 1837 (Gesam. Schr. ii), p . 13.

84

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in t h e B i b l i c a l p e r i o d . ' D u r i n g t h e w h o l e B i b l i c a l p e r i o d t h e n a m e s of t h e ' ' F a t h e r s ' ' w e r e n e v e r u s e d ; t h e r e are n o A b r a h a m s , I s a a c s , J a c o b s , R e u b e n s , L e v i s , S i m e o n s , or J o s e p h s a p a r t f r o m t h e P a t r i a r c h s a n d t h e i r s o n s . ' T h i s b e i n g so, o u r a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s t h e u s e of t h e n a m e s of t h e P a t r i a r c h s a n d of B i b l i c a l personages in general m u s t be revised. W e h a v e not to ask w h e n and w h y the J e w s c e a s e d t o u s e B i b l i c a l n a m e s , b u t w h e n a n d w h y t h e y b e g a n t o use t h e m . H e r e t h e d o c u m e n t a r y s o u r c e s furnish u s w i t h v a l u a b l e m a t e r i a l in t h e l i g h t of w h i c h Z u n z ' s s t a t e m e n t n e e d s s o m e m o d i f i c a t i o n . I t is, of c o u r s e , t r u e t h a t t h e n a m e s stressed b y h i m s e l d o m or n e v e r o c c u r in t h e T a l m u d ; y e t s o m e of t h e m , l i k e A b r a h a m , S a r a h , R e b e c c a , a n d p e r h a p s A a r o n a n d S o l o m o n , are f o u n d in p a p y r i , o s t r a k a , a n d i n s c r i p t i o n s . F o r o u r p u r p o s e t h e c o m p a r i s o n of t h e m a t e r i a l of t h e P t o l e m a i c a n d t h e R o m a n p e r i o d s i n E g y p t is of g r e a t v a l u e . W e h a v e a l r e a d y seen (p. 29) t h a t t w o B i b l i c a l n a m e s a t least, J o s e p h a n d S i m e o n , w e r e in g r e a t u s e i n t h e P t o l e m a i c p e r i o d , a n d w e h a v e s t a t e d t h a t s p e c i a l c a u s e s m a y a c c o u n t for t h e i r use. N o w w e h a v e t o s t u d y t h e fate of o t h e r B i b l i c a l n a m e s . A m o n g t h e n a m e s of t h e ' F a t h e r s ' , J a c o b o c c u r s m o s t f r e q u e n t l y ; it is f o l l o w e d i n p o p u l a r i t y b y I s a a c ; a n d l a s t of all c o m e s A b r a h a m . A l l t h r e e n a m e s s h o w t h e s a m e c o m m o n f e a t u r e : t h e y are v e r y r a r e l y u s e d in t h e P t o l e m a i c a g e a n d m o r e or less f r e q u e n t l y in t h e R o m a n p e r i o d . T h e n a m e J e s u s shares t h e s a m e f a t e . O t h e r B i b l i c a l n a m e s i n use in t h e P t o l e m a i c a g e , s u c h a s S i m o n , J o s e p h , S a m u e l , J o h a n n a n , Judas, Helkias, Eleazar, and others, continue to be used in the R o m a n p e r i o d . A n i n t e r e s t i n g r e s u l t m a y b e o b t a i n e d b y c o m p a r i n g t h e use of t h e H e b r e w n a m e s a t t h e b e g i n n i n g of t h e e a r l y R o m a n p e r i o d i n A l e x a n d r i a (Section V I I ) w i t h t h e i r u s e a t t h e e n d of t h e s a m e p e r i o d i n E d f u ( S e c t i o n I X ) . W e find a v e r y s m a l l n u m b e r of H e b r e w n a m e s a m o n g t h e n u m e r o u s p e r s o n s m e n t i o n e d i n t h e p a p y r i of A l e x a n d r i a ; y e t t h e r e is little d o u b t t h a t J e w s m u s t h a v e b e e n m e n t i o n e d f r e q u e n t l y i n t h e s e p a p y r i since s o m e of t h e s e d o c u m e n t s w e r e d r a w n u p i n t h e J e w i s h q u a r t e r , D e l t a . T h e r e is n o w a y of e x p l a i n i n g t h e i n c o n g r u i t y s a v e b y s u p p o s i n g t h a t t h e o v e r w h e l m i n g p r o p o r t i o n of A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s b o r e G r e e k n a m e s a n d , c o n s e q u e n t l y , c a n n o t n o w b e differentiated f r o m t h e G r e e k s m e n t i o n e d i n t h e s a m e p a p y r i . If w e n o w t u r n t o E d f u , t h e s i t u a t i o n r e v e a l s q u i t e different f e a t u r e s . T h o u g h G r e e k n a m e s are p r e d o m i n a n t here t o o , a n d i n a d d i t i o n E g y p t i a n a n d e v e n R o m a n n a m e s are u s e d , t h e list of H e b r e w a n d A r a m a i c n a m e s is b y n o m e a n s n e g l i g i b l e . T h i s s t e a d y i n c r e a s e in t h e use of H e b r e w n a m e s f r o m t h e P t o l e m a i c t o t h e R o m a n p e r i o d is t h e b e s t e v i d e n c e of t h e g r a d u a l i n c r e a s e of n a t i o n a l spirit a m o n g t h e E g y p t i a n J e w s . C a l l i n g c h i l d r e n b y t h e s a c r e d n a m e s of t h e forefathers, or b y t h e n a m e s of J o s h u ' a - J e s u s , t h e h e r o i c c o n q u e r o r of P a l e s t i n e , w a s e n t i r e l y different f r o m calling t h e m Sambathaios, Simon, or J o s e p h : it indicated a return to the old J e w i s h t r a d i t i o n , t h e r e m e m b r a n c e of t h e c r a d l e of t h e J e w i s h p e o p l e a n d of t h e 71

72

7 1

The Lachish Ostraka, p. 43

7 2

T h e n a m e J a c o b occurs 18 times in the

H . Torczyner, (Hebrew edition).

papyri—3 times in the Hellenistic period, 12 in

7 3

Hellenistic period, 6 in the R o m a n , and 3 times in the B y z a n t i n e . For Abraham (occurs 8 times) the respective figures a r e : 1 - 6 - 1 . 7 3

T h e n a m e Jesus

('Irjaovs)

is mentioned 8

the R o m a n , and 3 in the B y z a n t i n e . It is men-

times in the p a p y r i ; the respective figures a r e :

tioned 4 times in the inscriptions of the R o m a n period from E g y p t ( S B 1 1 , 3942, 6175, 6228). T h e n a m e Isaak occurs n t i m e s — t w i c e in t h e

1-7-0. It occurs twice in the inscriptions ( S B 6648, 7296).

THE EARLY

ROMAN

PERIOD

85

J e w i s h faith, a n d , p e r h a p s , t h e u n c o n s c i o u s w i s h t o r e v i v e t h e p a s t g l o r y of God's chosen people. T h i s s t e a d y a n d r a p i d r e g e n e r a t i o n of n a t i o n a l feeling a m o n g E g y p t i a n J e w r y r e s u l t e d , a s w e h a v e a l r e a d y seen, from t h e n e w p o l i t i c a l a n d social e x p e r i e n c e of t h e J e w s i n E g y p t itself. Y e t w e m a y a s k w h e t h e r P a l e s t i n e o n c e a g a i n c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of t h i s n e w spirit. N o s t r i c t e v i d e n c e c a n b e b r o u g h t f o r w a r d in f a v o u r of t h i s s u p p o s i t i o n ; y e t I s h o u l d l i k e t o e m p h a s i z e t h e t w o f o l l o w i n g f a c t s . F i r s t l y , t h e n u m b e r of E g y p t i a n J e w s w a s s u d d e n l y i n c r e a s e d b y n e w ' i m m i g r a n t s ' from P a l e s t i n e : t h e s e w e r e t h e n u m e r o u s J e w i s h c a p t i v e s b r o u g h t b y R o m e i n t o E g y p t after t h e v i c t o r i o u s t e r m i n a t i o n of t h e J e w i s h w a r . A c c o r d i n g t o J o s e p h u s (bell. 6. 418), y o u n g J e w s f r o m t h e a g e of 17 o n w a r d s w e r e s e n t f r o m P a l e s t i n e t o E g y p t for c o m p u l s o r y w o r k ( p r o b a b l y in t h e q u a r r i e s ) ; f u r t h e r w e are t o l d b y H i e r o n y m u s t h a t infinita millia captivorum w e r e s e n t f r o m P a l e s t i n e t o R o m e v i a G a z a a n d A l e x a n d r i a . M o s t of t h e s e prisoners p r o b a b l y perished, for t h e i r l a b o u r s w e r e e x h a u s t i n g ; o t h e r s m e r e l y p a s s e d t h r o u g h E g y p t . Y e t t h o s e w h o w e r e i n t e n d e d t o b e sold as s l a v e s t o p r i v a t e p e r s o n s c o u l d b e s o l d i n E g y p t a s w e l l a s in R o m e , a n d since E g y p t w a s t h e n e a r e s t R o m a n p r o v i n c e t o P a l e s t i n e , t h e r e is l i t t l e d o u b t t h a t t h i s w a s w h a t f r e q u e n t l y h a p p e n e d . N o w , i t w a s a l w a y s a m a t t e r of s p e c i a l v i r t u e for J e w s t o r e d e e m t h e i r b r e t h r e n f r o m c a p t i v i t y ; w e h a v e a d d i t i o n a l p r o o f of t h i s i n a p a p y r u s of t h e l a t e R o m a n p e r i o d ( N o . 473). T h e spirit w i t h w h i c h t h e s e y o u n g m e n w h o h a d b e e n fighters for l i b e r t y w e r e i m b u e d n e e d s n o s p e c i a l c o m m e n t . E v e n if w e s u p p o s e t h a t t h e n u m b e r of s u c h s l a v e s w a s s m a l l , t h e i r influence o n t h e E g y p t i a n J e w s c o u l d h a v e b e e n c o n s i d e r a b l e . O f course, t h e A l e x a n d r i a n c o m m u n i t y w a s a n x i o u s t o s h o w t h a t it h a d n o s y m p a t h y w i t h t h e Z e a l o t s . Y e t after t h e b l o o d s h e d of A . D . 66 a n d t h e c o n s t a n t h u m i l i a t i o n s t h e y h a d suffered, t h e rich m e r c h a n t s of A l e x a n d r i a w e r e b u t a s m a l l m i n o r i t y of t h e J e w i s h p e o p l e i n E g y p t , a n d n o t a t all r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of t h e m . T h e i r p e r s e c u t i o n of t h e Z e a l o t s h a d f o l l o w e d i m m e d i a t e l y u p o n t h e t e r m i n a t i o n of t h e w a r , w h e n a f o r m a l d e m o n s t r a t i o n of p r o - R o m a n s y m p a t h i e s w a s a m a t t e r of p o l i t i c a l n e c e s s i t y . W h e n t h e h a r d t i m e s w e r e o v e r , t h e J e w i s h prisoners w h o f o u n d n e w h o m e s i n t h e h o u s e h o l d s of t h e i r b r e t h r e n i n E g y p t w e r e p r o b a b l y t r e a t e d a s heroes, w h o h a d f o u g h t a s a c r e d w a r for G o d , H i s p e o p l e , a n d H i s c o u n t r y . S o t h e a r d e n t p a t r i o t i s m of t h e P a l e s t i n i a n fighters m a y h a v e b e e n felt i n E g y p t a n d p e r h a p s c o n t r i b u t e d its s h a r e t o the i n c r e a s e of n a t i o n a l feeling. S e c o n d l y , f r o m t h e v e r y b e g i n n i n g of t h e s e c o n d c e n t u r y t h e r e w a s c o n t a c t b e t w e e n E g y p t i a n J e w r y a n d t h e P a l e s t i n i a n R a b b i s . T h i s f a c t w a s , p e r h a p s , of e v e n g r e a t e r significance a s r e g a r d s t h e r e t u r n of t h e E g y p t i a n J e w s t o J e w i s h t r a d i t i o n ; b u t t h i s q u e s t i o n w i l l b e d e a l t w i t h i n t h e n e x t c h a p t e r , since t h e p r i n c i p a l material concerning this intercourse derives from the late R o m a n and B y z a n t i n e periods. 74

7 5

T h e p o l i t i c a l h i s t o r y of t h e E g y p t i a n J e w s from A . D . 70 till A . D . 115 is a l m o s t a b l a n k . W e c a n i m a g i n e t h a t t h e m u t u a l h a t r e d of J e w s a n d G r e e k s i n A l e x a n d r i a 7 4

For t h e detailed list of all Jewish n a m e s occurring in the papyri, ostraka, and inscriptions from E g y p t , see Vol. I l l , A p p e n d i x I I .

7 S

877).

Hieron. Comm. in Jerem. 31. 15 (PL

xxiv.

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r e s u l t e d in a s t a t e of c o n s t a n t t e n s i o n a n d t h a t q u a r r e l s a n d clashes w e r e e v e r y d a y occurrences. S m a l l disagreements were p r o b a b l y settled b y the prefect, greater ones were brought, as usual, before the E m p e r o r . W e h a v e knowledge of o n e s u c h q u a r r e l b r o u g h t b e f o r e t h e c o u r t of T r a j a n . O n c e a g a i n t w o e m b a s s i e s — o n e of t h e J e w s a n d o n e of t h e G r e e k s — p r e s e n t e d t h e m s e l v e s before t h e E m p e r o r . U n f o r t u n a t e l y t h e sole s o u r c e c o n c e r n i n g t h i s e v e n t is a f r a g m e n t of t h e ' A c t s of t h e A l e x a n d r i a n M a r t y r s ' ( N o . 157), a s o u r c e b y n o m e a n s i m p a r t i a l a n d d e l i b e r a t e l y m i n g l i n g p i e c e s of h i s t o r i c a l e v i d e n c e w i t h p u r e f a n t a s y . T h e f r a g m e n t c o n c e r n i n g T r a j a n is e s p e c i a l l y s u s p e c t since i n t h e a c c o u n t of t h e e v e n t s i t i n t r o d u c e s s u p e r n a t u r a l forces. S o far a s w e c a n d r a w a n y c o n c l u s i o n from the fragmentary text, the author's purpose w a s to depict the clash between J e w s a n d G r e e k s i n R o m e a s a sort of s t r u g g l e b e t w e e n t h e g o d of t h e A l e x a n d r i a n s , S e r a p i s , a n d t h e J e w i s h G o d . S e r a p i s , of c o u r s e , w a s i n t e n d e d t o w i n . T h e p o l i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n is n o less u n r e a l : T r a j a n , his w i f e P l o t i n a , t h e R o m a n S e n a t e — a l l are d e s c r i b e d a s f a v o u r i n g t h e J e w s a n d d e s p i s i n g t h e A l e x a n d r i a n s . A l l t h a t c a n b e a c c e p t e d a s h i s t o r i c a l is t h e e x i s t e n c e of t h e t w o e m b a s s i e s a n d t h e n a m e s of t h e i r m e m b e r s , b u t w e c a n n o t m a k e a n y use of t h i s k n o w l e d g e , since a l m o s t a l l t h e s e p e r s o n s are u n k n o w n t o u s . T h e r e a s o n for s e n d i n g t h e e m b a s s i e s is also o b s c u r e ; a possible o n e is t h a t t h e r e h a d b e e n o u t b r e a k s of a n t i - S e m i t i c feeling i n A l e x a n d r i a , b u t t h i s c a n n o t b e p r o v e d . F o r d e t a i l s see i n t r o d u c t i o n a n d n o t e s t o N o . 157. T h e g r e a t p o l i t i c a l e v e n t of t h e e p o c h is t h e J e w i s h r e v o l t u n d e r T r a j a n ( A . D . 1 1 5 - 1 7 ) . N o d e t a i l e d d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e r e v o l t is t o b e f o u n d in l i t e r a r y s o u r c e s . T h e m o s t v a l u a b l e e v i d e n c e is g i v e n b y E u s e b i o s (Hist. eccl. 4. 2). A c c o r d i n g t o h i m , t h e r e v o l t b r o k e o u t in t h e 18th y e a r of T r a j a n ( A . D . 1 1 5 ) ; t h e J e w s of A l e x a n d r i a , E g y p t , a n d C y r e n e , ' a s if s h a k e n b y a s t r o n g a n d rebellious spirit', fiercely a t t a c k e d t h e i r G r e e k n e i g h b o u r s . I n t h e f o l l o w i n g y e a r (116) t h e r e v o l t (ORDOIS) b e c a m e a w a r (7T6X€[XOS). T h e first a t t a c k b r o u g h t v i c t o r y t o t h e J e w s ; b u t t h e G r e e k s f r o m t h e E g y p t i a n chora r u s h e d t o A l e x a n d r i a a n d t h e r e g a i n e d a v i c t o r y o v e r t h e J e w s . T h e J e w s of C y r e n e , u n d e r t h e g u i d a n c e of t h e i r ' k i n g ' L o u k u a s , a t t a c k e d t h e E g y p t i a n chora a n d d e v a s t a t e d t h e l a n d . I t w o u l d a p p e a r t h a t t h e p r e f e c t of E g y p t , M . R u t i l i u s L u p u s , w a s n o t s t r o n g e n o u g h t o c r u s h t h e r e v o l t , a n d a s p e c i a l c o m m a n d e r , M a r c i u s T u r b o , w a s sent b y t h e E m p e r o r a t t h e h e a d of a g r e a t m i l i t a r y force. T u r b o d e f e a t e d t h e J e w s after m a n y s t r u g g l e s a n d ' n o t in a s h o r t t i m e ' ; in t h e E g y p t i a n c h o r a h e e x t e r m i n a t e d ' m a n y t e n s of t h o u s a n d s ' of J e w s . A t t h e s a m e t i m e , L u s i u s Q u i e t u s w a s s e n t t o M e s o p o t a m i a since T r a j a n s u s p e c t e d t h e J e w s t h e r e , t o o , of f o m e n t i n g a r e v o l t , a n d m a n y of t h e m w e r e k i l l e d b y t h e R o m a n s . S u c h is t h e s t o r y t o l d b y E u s e b i o s . D i o C a s s i u s (68. 32) e m p h a s i z e s t h e u n m i t i g a t e d f e r o c i t y of t h e J e w i s h r e b e l s in t h e i r b e h a v i o u r t o w a r d s t h e G r e e k s a n d R o m a n s : t h e y s m e a r e d t h e m s e l v e s w i t h t h e b l o o d of t h e i r v i c t i m s , a t e t h e i r flesh, a n d t h e l i k e . H e e s t i m a t e s t h e n u m b e r of p e r s o n s s l a u g h t e r e d b y J e w s i n C y r e n e a t 220,000, a n d in C y p r u s a t 240,000. I n E g y p t ' t h e y p e r f o r m e d m a n y t h i n g s in a s i m i l a r w a y ' (iroXXd ehpaaav ofioia). D i o c a l l s t h e J e w i s h ' k i n g ' A n d r e a s . T h e s t o r y of D i o a d d s b u t l i t t l e t o E u s e b i o s ' e v i d e n c e a n d i t s e x a g g e r a t i o n s ( e s p e c i a l l y as r e g a r d s n u m b e r s ) are t o o e v i d e n t for i t t o b e t a k e n s e r i o u s l y ; y e t t h e fierce c h a r a c t e r of t h e s t r u g g l e is a t t e s t e d b y o t h e r s o u r c e s a n d is n o t t o b e d o u b t e d .

THE EARLY

ROMAN

PERIOD

87

A p p i a n , w h o w a s h i m s e l f a w i t n e s s of t h e r e v o l t a n d s a v e d his life b y fleeing f r o m E g y p t v i a P e l o u s i o n , tells u s of t h e d e s t r u c t i o n b y J e w s of t h e t e m p l e of N e m e s i s i n t h e close v i c i n i t y of A l e x a n d r i a (bell. civ. 2. 90). O r o s i u s (7. 12) r e c o r d s t h e r e v o l t of J e w s 'in t h e w h o l e of L i b y a ' (per totam Libyam). T h e J e w s , quasi rabie efferati, d e v a s t a t e d t h e c o u n t r y t o s u c h a n e x t e n t t h a t i t w o u l d h a v e b e e n t u r n e d i n t o a desert h a d H a d r i a n n o t sent n e w s e t t l e r s f r o m v a r i o u s c o u n t r i e s t o r e p o p u l a t e it. I n a d d i t i o n t o L i b y a , t h e r e v o l t ' s p r e a d o v e r t h e w h o l e of E g y p t , C y r e n e a n d t h e T h e b a i d ' . I n t h e A r m e n i a n v e r s i o n of E u s e b i o s ' c h r o n i c l e w e r e a d t h e f o l l o w i n g s t a t e m e n t : ' H a d r i a n r e c o n s t r u c t e d A l e x a n d r i a after i t s h a v i n g b e e n d e m o l i s h e d b y t h e J e w s ' , a n d t h e s a m e p h r a s e is r e p e a t e d b y H i e r o n y m o s . S y n k e l l o s (347 d) r e c o r d s t h e e x t e r m i n a t i o n of t h e J e w s w h o f o u g h t t h e G r e e k s in L i b y a , Cyrene, E g y p t , Alexandria, and the Thebaid, and elsewhere he says b r i e f l y : ' H a d r i a n inflicted p u n i s h m e n t u p o n t h e J e w s w h o r e v o l t e d a g a i n s t t h e A l e x a n d r i a n s ' (348 d ) . W e m a y a d d t h e brief n o t i c e of S p a r t i a n u s (Hist. A u g . , Vita Hadr. 5) referring t o a J e w i s h r e v o l t i n P a l e s t i n e , a n d here t h e e v i d e n c e of l i t e r a r y s o u r c e s c o m e s t o a n e n d ( w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n of o c c a s i o n a l r e p o r t s r e p e a t i n g t h e p r i n c i p a l sources). T o this literary evidence w e m a y a d d some notes preserved in the T a l m u d , s u c h a s t h e c r u s h i n g of t h e J e w i s h r e v o l t i n P a l e s t i n e a n d M e s o p o t a m i a b y L u s i u s Q u i e t u s , o r t h e d e s t r u c t i o n of t h e J e w i s h s y n a g o g u e i n A l e x a n d r i a . T h e d e v a s t a t i o n of L i b y a a n d C y r e n e , r e c o r d e d b y O r o s i u s , h a s r e c e n t l y b e e n c o n f i r m e d b y i n s c r i p t i o n s f r o m A f r i c a , of g r e a t h i s t o r i c a l v a l u e . T h e w h o l e of the material hitherto described m a y be s u m m e d u p as follows: 1. T h e J e w i s h r e v o l t i n E g y p t w a s o n l y p a r t of a m o r e g e n e r a l r e b e l l i o u s m o v e m e n t in w h i c h n o t o n l y E g y p t i a n a n d A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s b u t also t h o s e of C y r e n e a n d C y p r u s p a r t i c i p a t e d , a n d , t o a lesser e x t e n t , t h o s e of P a l e s t i n e a n d Mesopotamia. 2. T h e r e v o l t i n E g y p t l a s t e d for a b o u t t h r e e y e a r s ( 1 1 5 - 1 7 ) a n d w a s d e f i n i t e l y c r u s h e d in t h e first y e a r of H a d r i a n . S e d i t i o n i n A l e x a n d r i a , t h o u g h s t r o n g , w a s s u p p r e s s e d a t t h e v e r y o u t s e t , w h e r e a s t h e r e v o l t i n t h e chora r e a c h e d i t s c l i m a x i n 116, w h e n t h e E g y p t i a n J e w s r e c e i v e d c o n s i d e r a b l e h e l p f r o m t h e i r b r e t h r e n in Cyrene. 3. T h e J e w s ' first a c t s w e r e d i r e c t e d a g a i n s t t h e i r G r e e k n e i g h b o u r s . W h e n t h e R o m a n a r m y intervened, sedition became w a r against R o m e . T h e military forces o n t h e s p o t w e r e n o t s t r o n g e n o u g h t o c r u s h t h e r e v o l t , a n d a s p e c i a l 76

7 7

7 8

7 9

7 6

See R e i n a c h , Textes, N o . 79, p p . 153 sq. Hieron. Chr on., ed. H e l m , p . 197: 'Hadrianus Alexandriam a R o m a n i s (1. Judaeis) subversam publiciis instauravit expensiis.' 7 7

For the 'war of Quietus' ( O W j ? ^70 Ol&VlD) in M. S o t a h 9. 14 and Seder '01am see Schiirer, i. 667, n . 59, and 668-9. The destruction of t h e Alexandrian s y n a g o g u e : j . Sukkah 5. 55^. 7 8

7 9

A Latin inscription attests t h a t the road f r o m Cyrene t o Apollonia w a s destroyed during t h e J e w i s h war and reconstructed b y H a d r i a n : ' v i a m quae t u m u l t u Iudaico eversa et corrupta

erat . . .' (Arch. Anzeiger, Beiblatt z. Jahrb. d. Arch. Inst., 1929, p . 423). In another inscription t h e destruction during the war of t h e thermae, and their restitution b y Hadrian, is m e n t i o n e d (ib., p . 400). T h e temple of Apollo, together w i t h buildings belonging t o it, like t h e porticus and t h e Hekataion (the temple of H e k a t e ) , were destroyed b y J e w s (ib. 412, 421). Cf. A p p l e b a u m , 'A N o t e o n t h e work of Hadrian at Cyrene', JRS x l , 1950, 87 s q q . ; id. 'The Jewish R e v o l t in Cyrene in 115-7', Journ. of Jewish Stud, ii, 1951, 177 sqq.

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commander, Marcius Turbo, w a s appointed b y the Emperor to deal with the m a t t e r . T h e q u e l l i n g of t h e r e v o l t w a s a difficult a n d t r o u b l o u s t a s k . 4. T h e w a r w a s w a g e d w i t h g r e a t f e r o c i t y o n t h e p a r t of t h e J e w s . T h e s o u r c e s d o n o t s a y w h e t h e r t h e G r e e k s a n d R o m a n s c o m m i t t e d a c t s of a t r o c i t y , b u t m a n y of t h e m r e c o r d t h e e x t e r m i n a t i o n of v e r y l a r g e n u m b e r s of J e w s . 5. T h e J e w s of C y r e n e w e r e h e a d e d b y a ' k i n g ' . T h i s t e r m h a s a m e a n i n g o n l y if it is r e m e m b e r e d t h a t e v e r y ' M e s s i a h ' , w h o w a s t o l i b e r a t e t h e J e w i s h p e o p l e f r o m t h e rule of t h e h e a t h e n , w a s c a l l e d ' k i n g ' b y t h e J e w s . W e t u r n n o w t o t h e e v i d e n c e of t h e p a p y r i . T h e p a p y r i c o n t r i b u t e n u m e r o u s v e r y i m p o r t a n t d e t a i l s t o o u r g e n e r a l p i c t u r e of t h e r e v o l t , t h o u g h n o w h e r e is a n y c o h e r e n t e x p o s i t i o n g i v e n . M a n y d e t a i l s , k n o w n f r o m l i t e r a r y sources, are c o n f i r m e d b y t h e p a p y r i , m a n y o t h e r d e t a i l s are n e w a n d h a v e a l r e a d y p r o v i d e d m a t e r i a l for discussion a n d c o n t r o v e r s y . O u r w h o l e p a p y r o l o g i c a l m a t e r i a l c a n b e d i v i d e d i n t o t h r e e g r o u p s : (1) t w o official, or semi-official, d o c u m e n t s of c o n s i d e r a b l e l e n g t h f r o m A l e x a n d r i a ( N o s . 1 5 8 , 4 3 5 ) ; (2) a s t o c k of p r i v a t e l e t t e r s m a i n l y f r o m t h e a r c h i v e s of a c e r t a i n A p o l l o n i o s , s t r a t e g o s of t h e d i s t r i c t of A p o l l i n o p o l i s - H e p t a k o m i a s i n U p p e r E g y p t , g i v i n g a p i c t u r e of t h e s i t u a t i o n of t h e G r e e k s of t h e chora d u r i n g t h e r e v o l t (Nos. 436-44, 446); (3) v a r i o u s d o c u m e n t s w r i t t e n after t h e r e v o l t referring t o s o m e q u e s t i o n s c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e r e v o l t (Nos. 445, 447-50). T h e r e a d e r w i l l find a d e t a i l e d discussion of all t h e s e p a p y r i in S e c t i o n X I . H e r e o n l y a s u m m a r y of i t e m s of a m o r e g e n e r a l c h a r a c t e r w i l l b e g i v e n . I h a v e a r r a n g e d t h e p r i n c i p a l issues a c c o r d i n g t o t h e five p a r a graphs just given. 1. The geographical extension of the revolt. T h e l i t e r a r y sources, s p e a k i n g of E g y p t , m e n t i o n A l e x a n d r i a a s t h e f o c u s of t h e r e v o l t , a n d refer o c c a s i o n a l l y t o t h e T h e b a i d . T h e p a p y r i r e c o r d , in a d d i t i o n t o A l e x a n d r i a , t h e f o l l o w i n g p l a c e s in t h e E g y p t i a n chora: M e m p h i s , t h e F a y u m , A t h r i b i s ( D e l t a ) , a n d t h e n o m e s of H e r a k l e o p o l i s , O x y r h y n c h o s , K y n o p o l i s , a n d H e r m o u p o l i s . T h e e v i d e n c e of t h e r e v o l t from t h e H e r m o u p o l i t e n o m e is e s p e c i a l l y r i c h in d e t a i l . T h e e v i d e n c e of t h e p a p y r i , t a k e n w i t h t h a t of t h e l i t e r a r y sources, i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e J e w i s h r e v o l t s p r e a d o v e r t h e e n t i r e c o u n t r y of E g y p t , f r o m t h e D e l t a t o t h e T h e b a i d , a n d t h a t n o p l a c e r e m a i n e d u n a f f e c t e d b y it. 2. The chronological question is c o n s i d e r a b l y f a c i l i t a t e d b y a n A l e x a n d r i a n p a p y r u s d a t e d 1 3 t h O c t o b e r 1 1 5 ( N o . 435). T h i s p a p y r u s ( e v i d e n t l y a n official p r o c l a m a t i o n i s s u e d b y t h e E g y p t i a n p r e f e c t M . R u t i l i u s L u p u s ) refers t o a ' b a t t l e ' (fjidxr)) b e t w e e n J e w s a n d R o m a n s w h i c h h a d o c c u r r e d earlier a n d in w h i c h t h e J e w s w e r e d e f e a t e d . T h i s reference confirms b y i t s d a t e t h e k n o w l e d g e g a i n e d f r o m t h e l i t e r a r y s o u r c e s , t h a t t h e J e w i s h r e v o l t of A l e x a n d r i a w a s c r u s h e d a t its v e r y o u t s e t . U n f o r t u n a t e l y t h e d o c u m e n t s of t h e chora ( N o s . 436 sqq.) are u n d a t e d , a n d t h e fixing of t h e d a t e of e a c h is a m a t t e r for s p e c i a l discussion. 3. T h e p a p y r i c o n t r i b u t e s o m e i m p o r t a n t d e t a i l s of the general development of events. W e c a n g u e s s a t t h e s i t u a t i o n i n A l e x a n d r i a from t h e a b o v e - m e n t i o n e d p r o c l a m a t i o n of L u p u s ( N o . 435) a n d f r o m a p i e c e of t h e ' A c t s of t h e A l e x a n d r i a n M a r t y r s ' , k n o w n a s Acta Pauli et Antonini, referring t o a t r i a l of J e w s a n d G r e e k s b e f o r e H a d r i a n ( N o . 158). M o s t of t h e a b u n d a n t allusions in t h e s e t w o

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d o c u m e n t s are a l m o s t i n c o m p r e h e n s i b l e t o u s . T h e s e i n c l u d e references t o a p o p u l a r d i s t u r b a n c e , t h e e s c a p e of s o m e s l a v e s from t h e prison, a p u n i s h m e n t inflicted o n t h e G r e e k s of A l e x a n d r i a , a n d t h e l i k e . A p p a r e n t l y , t h e ' b a t t l e ' b e t w e e n J e w s a n d R o m a n s , m e n t i o n e d in N o . 435, t h o u g h r e s u l t i n g i n t h e c r u s h i n g of t h e m a i n force of t h e J e w i s h r e v o l t , d i d n o t p u t a n e n d t o t h e d i s t u r b a n c e s i n g e n e r a l . I t s e e m s t h a t t h e G r e e k p o p u l a t i o n t o o k a d v a n t a g e of t h e s t a t e of a n a r c h y in A l e x a n d r i a t o l a u n c h a n e w a t t a c k o n J e w s , t h u s c o n s i d e r a b l y a g g r a v a t i n g t h e difficulties w h i c h f a c e d t h e R o m a n g o v e r n m e n t in i t s efforts t o m a i n t a i n p e a c e in t h e c a p i t a l . A s for t h e s t a t e of affairs i n t h e chora, t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t i n f o r m a t i o n is g i v e n b y N o . 438, w h e r e a d e f e a t 'of t h e w h o l e p e a s a n t r y of t h e n o m e ' t a k i n g t h e field a g a i n s t t h e J e w s is m e n t i o n e d . I n t h e s a m e p a p y r u s t h e a r r i v a l of t h e ' o t h e r l e g i o n ' (dXXrj Xeyewv) a t M e m p h i s is r e c o r d e d . F r o m t h i s i m p o r t a n t piece of e v i d e n c e w e l e a r n t h a t E g y p t i a n s a s w e l l a s R o m a n s t o o k a n a c t i v e p a r t i n t h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e J e w s . T h e s a m e m a y b e s a i d of t h e G r e e k s : t h e m e t r o p o l i s of O x y r h y n c h o s , e i g h t y y e a r s after t h e r e v o l t , r e m e m b e r e d t h e aid its citizens h a d lent the R o m a n s during the Jewish revolt, and e v e r y y e a r c o m m e m o r a t e d its v i c t o r y o v e r t h e J e w s ( N o . 450). W e c a n s t a t e , further, t h a t A p o l l o n i o s , t h e s t r a t e g o s of A p o l l i n o p o l i s - H e p t a k o m i a s in t h e T h e b a i d , h a d b e e n one of t h e officers s e r v i n g in t h e a r m y ( p r o b a b l y a s a l e a d e r of t h e l o c a l m i l i t a r y forces), a n d since t h e office of s t r a t e g o s i n E g y p t w a s p u r e l y a d m i n i s t r a t i v e w e m a y d r a w t h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t e v e n a d m i n i s t r a t i v e officials s e r v e d i n t h e a r m y . S o t h e s u p p r e s s i o n of t h e J e w i s h r e v o l t w a s a r e a l w a r , l e d b y t h e R o m a n s w i t h t h e a c t i v e h e l p of t h e e n t i r e p o p u l a t i o n of E g y p t , G r e e k s a n d E g y p t i a n s alike. 4. T h e m o s t v a l u a b l e e v i d e n c e of t h e p a p y r i c o n c e r n s the atrocities of the war and the depopulation of the country. O u r m a t e r i a l is, of c o u r s e , o n e - s i d e d , since all t h e p a p y r i are w r i t t e n b y G r e e k s , b u t e v e n so, t h e y are of g r e a t v a l u e . I t s e e m s t h a t f a n t a s t i c stories c i r c u l a t e d a m o n g t h e G r e e k s a b o u t t h e c r u e l t y of t h e J e w i s h f i g h t e r s : e.g. one o l d l a d y s i n c e r e l y b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e J e w s r o a s t e d t h e i r c a p t i v e s ( N o . 437). T h e s e stories of c r u e l t y , h o w e v e r e x a g g e r a t e d , m a y y e t c o n t a i n a g e r m of t r u t h . T h e d e p o p u l a t i o n of t h e c o u n t r y is a t t e s t e d b y N o s . 447 a n d 449. I t is w o r t h n o t i n g t h a t a l t h o u g h t h e l a t t e r d o c u m e n t w a s w r i t t e n t h i r t y - f i v e y e a r s after t h e r e v o l t , i t s h o w s t h a t t r a c e s of t h e d e p o p u l a t i o n w e r e still felt. 5. L e s s c e r t a i n is o u r k n o w l e d g e c o n c e r n i n g t h e Messianic character of the movement. I n N o . 158a a n e n i g m a t i c ' k i n g of t h e scene a n d t h e m i m e ' is m e n t i o n e d , a n d t h o u g h t h e reference is o b s c u r e , t h e likeliest s u g g e s t i o n is t h a t t h e J e w i s h K i n g of C y r e n e , L o u k u a s o r A n d r e a s , is h e r e i n t e n d e d . T h e allusion s h o u l d p e r h a p s b e i n t e r p r e t e d as a satire p e r f o r m e d o n t h e s t a g e ( s o m e t h i n g l i k e a ' P u r i m - S p i e l ' ) ; a s i m i l a r satire w a s p e r f o r m e d b y t h e A l e x a n d r i a n s i n A . D . 38 o n t h e o c c a s i o n of K i n g A g r i p p a ' s v i s i t t o A l e x a n d r i a . A n o t h e r a l l u s i o n t o t h e M e s s i a n i c m o v e m e n t m a y b e seen i n t h e f r e q u e n t c h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n of t h e J e w s a s ' i m p i o u s ' (dvoaiot,): t h i s t e r m is u s e d four t i m e s i n t h e p a p y r i ( N o s . 1 5 7 - 8 , 438, 443), o n e of w h i c h is a n official d o c u m e n t . T h e ' a t h e i s m ' of t h e J e w s a n d t h e i r c o n t e m p t for g o d s w a s a t h e m e n o t u n k n o w n i n a n t i - S e m i t i c l i t e r a t u r e ; b u t 8 0

8 0

Manetho, the E g y p t i a n priest of the third century B.C., was the first w h o accused the J e w s

(or, more precisely, their forefathers) of i m p i e t y c. Ap. 1. 248) and detestable actions

(dvoottos,

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90

t h i s w a s t h e first t i m e i n J e w i s h h i s t o r y t h a t t h i s t e r m w a s u s e d , a s a m a t t e r of c o u r s e , in a n official d o c u m e n t . T h e d e s t r u c t i o n of p a g a n t e m p l e s b y J e w s d u r i n g t h e r e v o l t s e e m s t o h a v e p r o v i d e d e v i d e n c e of t h e i r i m p i e t y . S u c h a c t s of d e s t r u c t i o n , a t t e s t e d a l i k e b y l i t e r a r y s o u r c e s a n d b y inscriptions, are b e y o n d d o u b t . W h a t w a s t h e r e a l c a u s e of s u c h r u t h l e s s n e s s ? If w e refer t o P a l e s t i n i a n h i s t o r y of t h i s p e r i o d a n a n s w e r m a y b e g i v e n . F r o m 4 B.C. a n d o n w a r d , t h e a p p e a r a n c e of ' k i n g s ' r e c u r s . E a c h of t h e s e ' k i n g s ' w a s r e g a r d e d b y himself, a s w e l l a s b y h i s followers, a s t h e ' M e s s i a h ' , s e n t b y G o d t o h u m i l i a t e t h e h e a t h e n world and to rescue the J e w s from their bondage to R o m e . T h a t the Jewish r e v o l t i n C y r e n e w a s s u c h a M e s s i a n i c m o v e m e n t is s u g g e s t e d b y t h e a p p e a r a n c e of t h e J e w i s h ' k i n g ' , L o u k u a s - A n d r e a s , w h o , i t s e e m s , m a d e a g r e a t i m p r e s sion o n t h e G r e e k s , since h e is r e c o r d e d b y E u s e b i o s a n d D i o Cassius, a n d , i t m a y b e , b y t h e Acta Pauli et Antonini ( N o . 158). N o w , a M e s s i a n i c m o v e m e n t , t h o u g h e s s e n t i a l l y p o l i t i c a l , h a s a l w a y s a r e l i g i o u s a s p e c t , a n d uses s t i r r i n g r e l i g i o u s s l o g a n s t o a r o u s e t h e h i g h e s t e n t h u s i a s m of t h e m a s s e s . T h e Z e a l o t s ' call not to acknowledge a n y lord besides G o d can be interpreted as political o r r e l i g i o u s , a c c o r d i n g t o w h e t h e r t h e e m p h a s i s is p u t o n ' l o r d ' or ' G o d ' . T h e J e w s ' fierce a n d s y s t e m a t i c d e s t r u c t i o n of h e a t h e n t e m p l e s w a s , w e m a y a s s u m e , p a r t of t h e i r p r o g r a m m e , w h i c h a i m e d a t t h e a n n i h i l a t i o n of t h e p a g a n g o d s a n d t h e p u n i s h m e n t of t h e i r w o r s h i p p e r s , a n d e a r n e d t h e m t h e t i t l e of avocnoi. 8 1

82

8 3

V a r i o u s e x p l a n a t i o n s of t h e r e a s o n s a n d m o t i v e s of t h e r e v o l t h a v e b e e n p u t forward b y modern scholars, b u t in m y opinion the only reason w a s the Messianic c h a r a c t e r of t h e w h o l e m o v e m e n t . Of c o u r s e , p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c c o n d i t i o n s 8 4

towards t h e g o d s . ' N o t only did t h e y set cities and villages o n fire, n o t only did t h e y pillage t h e t e m p l e s and m u t i l a t e the images of the g o d s , b u t , n o t content w i t h t h a t , t h e y habitually used t h e v e r y sanctuaries as kitchens for roasting t h e venerated sacred animals . . .' (c. Ap. 1. 249). Cf. Tacitus, hist. 5. 4: 'profana illic omnia quae apud nos sacra'. For t h e 'atheism' of t h e J e w s cf. H e i n e m a n n , RE, Suppl. v . 42. 8 1

I n Alexandria the h o l y precincts (reuevos) devoted to Nemesis was devastated by Jews who used t h e m 'for the exigencies of the war' (App. bell. civ. 2. 90). In E g y p t N e m e s i s has b e e n fre q u e n t l y identified w i t h Isis, the m o s t venerated E g y p t i a n goddess, sacred t o E g y p t i a n s and Greeks alike (cf. Perdrizet, Ann. d. Serv. x x x i . 30). T h e h o l y precincts ( r e / n e V ^ ) were frequently connected w i t h h o l y groves (BIFAO xli, 1942, 52), and the c u t t i n g d o w n of trees in such a grove w a s looked u p o n as sacrilegious (cf., e.g., P . B r e m . 35). For the destruction of the temples in Cyrene (of Apollo, A r t e m i s , the Dioscuri, H e k a t e , D e m e t e r , and perhaps of P l u t o , Isis, and others) see A p p l e b a u m , Journ. Jew. Stud. ii. 177 sqq. 8 2

T h e political confusion after Herod's d e a t h in 4 B.C. g a v e popular leaders their first oppor t u n i t y t o proclaim t h e m s e l v e s kings. Josephus tells us of three such leaders: J u d a s , son of t h e

'brigand' (i.e. guerrilla-fighter) Hezekias, S i m o n , a slave of the king Herod, and Athronges, a shepherd (ant. 17. 271 s q q . ; bell. 2. 55 sqq.). I n A.D. 66 Menachem, the son of the above-mentioned J u d a s , entered Jerusalem 'like a king' ( o l a fiacnXevs) and became t h e leader of the revolt (bell. 2. 434). I t is likely t h a t Simon ben Giora, one of the chief leaders of the war of A.D. 66-70, also considered himself a king, since h e appeared before t h e R o m a n s , u p o n surrendering himself, 'dressed in a white tunic w i t h a purple m a n t l e buckled over it' (bell. 7. 29), t h e dress of a king. T h a t all these 'kings' were regarded as saviours of t h e Jewish people, sent b y God, cannot be doubted w h e n we take into consideration t h e fanatical creed of the J e w s t h a t 'at t h a t t i m e o n e from their country would rule over t h e whole world' (bell. 6. 312; cf. T a c . hist. 5. 1 3 ; Suet. Vesp. 4. 5). 8 3

The discrepancy in the n a m e s of the Jewish king g i v e n b y Eusebios (Loukuas) and D i o Cassius (Andreas) m a y be explained b y the sug gestion t h a t he bore a double n a m e : Aovnovas 6 KCU. AvSpeas. This is the opinion held b y m o s t of t h e scholars (cf. e.g. F u c h s , 31, note 1). 8 4

Mommsen (Rom. Gesch. v . 543) sees t h e restoration of the Jewish State as t h e final aim of t h e revolt. Graetz (Gesch. i v , 2nd ed., 125 sqq.)

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c r e a t e d a s u i t a b l e b a c k g r o u n d for t h e r e v o l t : T r a j a n , w i t h h i s l a r g e a r m y , w a s e n g a g e d i n a l o n g a n d serious w a r a g a i n s t t h e P a r t h i a n s , a n d t h e p a y m e n t of the Jewish t a x w a s a perpetual irritant against R o m e . Y e t the news from P a r t h i a , e s p e c i a l l y a t t h e b e g i n n i n g of t h e w a r (i.e. j u s t w h e n t h e J e w i s h r e v o l t b r o k e o u t ) , w a s of b r i l l i a n t R o m a n v i c t o r i e s , a n d t h e J e w i s h t a x w a s n o t a n innovation b u t an institution forty-five y e a r s old. T a k e n merely as a political m o v e m e n t , t h e J e w i s h r e v o l t a p p e a r s t o b e d e v o i d of a n y r e a s o n a b l e a i m . C o u l d the J e w s seriously h a v e believed t h a t t h e y could w i n a decisive v i c t o r y over the c o m b i n e d forces of t h e R o m a n l e g i o n s a n d t h e G r e e k a n d n a t i v e p o p u l a t i o n s of t h e R o m a n p r o v i n c e s i n t h e O r i e n t ? D i d t h e y n o t k n o w t h e r e a l s t r e n g t h of t h e m i l i t a r y forces o n b o t h s i d e s ? A l l t h e s e q u e s t i o n s s h o u l d h a v e b e e n s e r i o u s l y c o n s i d e r e d b y t h e J e w i s h l e a d e r s before t h e y c a l l e d t h e i r p e o p l e t o a r m s . Y e t i t d o e s n o t s e e m t h a t a n y of t h e s e q u e s t i o n s w a s s e r i o u s l y d i s c u s s e d : if t h e y h a d b e e n , i t is u n l i k e l y t h a t t h e r e w o u l d h a v e b e e n a r e v o l t . S o i t is d o u b t f u l w h e t h e r a n y r a t i o n a l r e a s o n s for t h e o u t b r e a k of t h e J e w i s h r e v o l t c a n b e f o u n d , a n d a n irrational one must b e sought. A strong Messianic m o v e m e n t , t a k i n g place b e t w e e n t h e f r u s t r a t e d M e s s i a n i c h o p e s of A . D . 70 a n d t h e a p p e a r a n c e of t h e l a s t g r e a t M e s s i a h , B a r - K o c h b a , i n A . D . 132, is n o t surprising. Of course, a M e s s i a n i c m o v e m e n t s h o u l d h a v e s t a r t e d i n P a l e s t i n e , n o t i n t h e d i a s p o r a . Y e t after t h e d e s t r u c t i o n of t h e T e m p l e of J e r u s a l e m a n d t h e p r o c l a m a t i o n of t h e J e w i s h t a x , a l l lines of d e m a r c a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e J e w s i n P a l e s t i n e a n d t h e i r b r e t h r e n i n o t h e r R o m a n p r o v i n c e s w e r e effaced, since all w e r e c o n s i d e r e d a s a s e d i t i o u s p e o p l e a n d h a d t o p a y t h e J e w i s h t a x . T h e influence of P a l e s t i n i a n J e w r y o n t h e d i a s p o r a h a d n e v e r b e e n so s t r o n g a s i t b e c a m e after A . D . 7 0 : t h e d e g e n e r a t i o n a n d t h e g r a d u a l d i s a p p e a r a n c e of J e w i s h l i t e r a t u r e i n G r e e k is t h e b e s t e v i d e n c e of t h i s f a c t . S o m e u n i m p o r t a n t e v e n t , p e r h a p s a c l a s h b e t w e e n J e w s a n d G r e e k s , m a y h a v e o c c a s i o n e d t h e o u t b r e a k of h o s t i l i t i e s i n one of t h e G r e e k c i t i e s of C y r e n e . T h i s i n c i d e n t m i g h t e a s i l y h a v e b e e n o v e r l o o k e d as o n n u m e r o u s o t h e r 8 5

connects the Jewish revolts in E g y p t and Cyrene w i t h t h a t in Mesopotamia and suggests t h a t the revolt w a s directed from a centre in Palestine. Cf. H . Zucker, Studien z.jiid. Selbstverwaltung im Altertum, 1936,153: 'Das gleichzeitige Losbrechen der J u d e n in der Kyrenaika wie in Mesopotamien i m Jahre 116 zwingt eine Zentrale a n z u n e h m e n , die geographisch wiepolitisch immer nur Palastin a sein konnte.' According t o Heichelheim, t h e origin of the revolt is n o t t o be found in internal J e w i s h affairs b u t in t h e general political situa tion in the Orient: the revolt 'was probably encouraged rather b y one of the leading Parthian c o m m a n d e r s opposing Trajan, n a m e l y , the king of Adiabene . . .' (JEA x x x i i , 1946, 106). R a c h m u t h finds t h e cause of t h e revolt n o t in t h e J e w s ' inimical feelings towards the R o m a n s b u t i n t h e hatred of the J e w s for their Greek neigh bours (MGWJ 1, 1906, 22). T h e Messianic origin of t h e revolt is stressed b y Lagrange, Le Messianisme chez les Juifs, 308. H e c o m m e n t s on the appearance of t h e Jewish king as f o l l o w s : 'on n e

p e u t se soustraire a la conclusion qu'a c e t t e epoque u n roi de Juifs est u n Messie'. T h e J e w i s h Messianism and the restoration of the J e w i s h S t a t e are combined b y W i l c k e n : 'in Verbindung m i t d e m damals stark hervortretenden Messiasg e d a n k e n erwuchs allmahlich die tollkuhne Hoffn u n g , sich v o m Romerreich loszureissen u n d womoglich wieder einen jiidischen N a t i o n a l s t a a t aufzurichten' (Wilcken, Die Bremer Papyri, A b h . Preuss. A k . 1936, N o . 2, p . 14). It is clear t h a t the opinions of scholars concerning t h e m o t i v e s of the revolt v a r y greatly, a fact which cannot sur prise u s w h e n w e consider the scantiness of our material and the unreliability of our sources. 8 5

W e h a v e little information on the political and cultural status of the J e w s in Cyrene, b u t it is probable t h a t their general situation differed little from t h a t of the E g y p t i a n J e w s . T h e J e w s were organized into a group of inhabitants sepa rate from the other minority groups, s o m e w h a t v a g u e l y characterized b y Strabo (ap. J o s e p h u s , ant. 14. 115) as yeatpyot and (ICTOIKOI, a s well as

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o c c a s i o n s of t h e s a m e k i n d . Y e t a l e a d e r a p p e a r e d , a ' k i n g ' , a M e s s i a h ; a n d t h e d i s t u r b a n c e s t o o k o n t h e s h a p e of a r e l i g i o u s m o v e m e n t , r a p i d l y g r o w i n g t o f o r m i d a b l e d i m e n s i o n s . R e l i g i o u s e n t h u s i a s m a s k s few q u e s t i o n s a n d n e e d s n o r a t i o n a l a n s w e r s . W e r e t h e J e w s a b l e t o fight all t h e i r e n e m i e s ? O f course t h e y w e r e , since G o d w a s t h e i r l e a d e r . W a s t h e p o l i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n i n t h e O r i e n t f a v o u r a b l e f o r t h e J e w i s h fighters? O f c o u r s e i t w a s , since i t w a s G o d ' s p r e m e d i t a t e d p l a n t o s e n d t h e E m p e r o r t o r e m o t e c o u n t r i e s , t h e r e t o m e e t his e n d , t o g e t h e r w i t h his e n t i r e a r m y . S o t h e g r e a t J e w i s h r e v o l t g r e w a n d s p r e a d o v e r m a n y countries, devastating t h e land, annihilating t h e inhabitants a n d their g o d s , d e s t r o y i n g t h e i r h o m e s a n d t e m p l e s — t h e cruellest a n d m o s t r u t h l e s s o f all t h e J e w i s h r e v o l t s of t h e p a s t . I t w a s t h e i r o n y of f a t e t h a t E g y p t i a n J e w r y , s o a n x i o u s , for s o m a n y c e n turies, t o b e on good terms w i t h its heathen neighbours, should take a leading p o s i t i o n i n t h i s m o v e m e n t of e x t r e m e n a t i o n a l significance. Y e t i t w a s n o t m e r e c h a n c e . W e h a v e seen t h a t t h e E g y p t i a n J e w s i n t h e P t o l e m a i c a g e , a n d t o a greater extent in t h e early R o m a n period, were divided into t w o groups, o n e s e e k i n g close c o n t a c t w i t h G r e e k s , t h e o t h e r m o r e influenced b y P a l e s t i n i a n J e w r y a n d strongly devoted t o t h e ancient national creed a n d customs. T h e second group m a d e steady progress, helped b y certain gradual changes in e x t e r n a l p o l i t i c a l a n d s o c i a l c o n d i t i o n s w h i c h w e r e d i s a d v a n t a g e o u s t o t h e first g r o u p . N o w t h i s n a t i o n a l t r e n d a c h i e v e d i t s final v i c t o r y , d r a w i n g t h e w h o l e of E g y p t i a n J e w r y into a dangerous a n d bloody action. T h e results could easily be foreseen: t h e y a m o u n t e d t o the almost total exter m i n a t i o n of t h e E g y p t i a n J e w s . T h e d e s t r u c t i o n of t h e J e w s i n t h e c o u r s e of q u a s h i n g t h e r e v o l t is a t t e s t e d b y o u r l i t e r a r y s o u r c e s . T h e p a p y r i a d d s o m e n e w i n f o r m a t i o n a s r e g a r d s t h e c o n d i t i o n s of t h e J e w s after t h e r e v o l t : t h e c o n fiscation of t h e i r p r o p e r t y ( N o s . 445, 448). F r o m t h e w o r d i n g of N o . 448 w e m a y infer t h a t t h e confiscation of t h e e s t a t e s b e l o n g i n g t o J e w s w a s n o t a p u n i s h m e n t inflicted o n J e w s still a l i v e , b u t a n e c e s s a r y m e a s u r e , f o l l o w i n g t h e s i m p l e f a c t t h a t t h e J e w i s h possessors of t h e e s t a t e s h a d v a n i s h e d , p r o b a b l y h a v i n g b e e n k i l l e d ; so t h a t t h e e s t a t e s b e c a m e bona caduca a n d t h e R o m a n g o v e r n m e n t w a s a n x i o u s t o find n e w possessors for t h e m . T h e e x t r e m e f e a r of t h e J e w s felt b y t h e G r e e k a n d E g y p t i a n p o p u l a t i o n of t h e n o m e s , a s i l l u s t r a t e d b y s u c h e v i d e n c e a s N o s . 436-7, a n d t h e i r n o less e x t r e m e h a t r e d f o r t h e ' i m p i o u s ' p e o p l e , m a y s e r v e a s a n a s s u r a n c e t h a t t h e v e n g e a n c e of t h e E g y p t i a n p o p u l a t i o n o n J e w s w a s a s cruel a s t h e b e h a v i o u r of t h e J e w s d u r i n g t h e r e v o l t . W e are f a i r l y safe i n a s s u n i 86

from citizens. I n Berenike of Cyrene their c o m m u n i t y w a s called iroXlrevfia, like t h a t of Alex andria (see t h e inscription of Berenike in C 1 G iii. 5361, quoted b y Schiirer, iii. 79, note 20). T h e inscription of Berenike shows t h a t t h e J e w s of Cyrene h a d been hellenized t o a considerable e x t e n t : a m o n g t h e n a m e s of eighteen persons mentioned in the inscription (the Jewish archons and their fathers), there is only one H e b r e w n a m e . See, for the history of t h e J e w s in Cyrene, R a c h m u t h , ' D i e J u d e n i n Nordafrika bis zur I n v a s i o n der Araber', MGWJ 1 , 1906, 22 s q q . ;

K . Friedmann, 'Condizioni e cultura degli Ebrei di Cirenaica nelF Antichita', Giorn. della Societa Asiat. Italiana, N.S. ii, 1934, 323 sqq. 8 6

According t o Eusebios, HE 4. 2. 4, Marcius Turbo exterminated ' m a n y tens of thousands' of J e w s . Cf. A p p i a n , bell. civ. 2. 90: 'in m y t i m e , under the R o m a n Emperor Trajan, w h e n h e w a s exterminating t h e Jewish race in E g y p t ' (e£oAXvvra

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i n g t h a t in m a n y p l a c e s t h e J e w i s h p o p u l a t i o n w a s t o t a l l y a n n i h i l a t e d , w h i l e in o t h e r s s o m e J e w i s h families m a y h a v e s u r v i v e d . A n argumentum ex silentio c o n f i r m s o u r s u p p o s i t i o n : J e w s v a n i s h a l m o s t e n t i r e l y f r o m o u r s o u r c e s (see t h e n e x t c h a p t e r ) . T h e m a i n p l a c e w h e r e J e w s are k n o w n t o h a v e s u r v i v e d is A l e x a n d r i a . H e r e , a s w e h a v e a l r e a d y seen, t h e J e w i s h r e v o l t w a s c r u s h e d a t t h e v e r y b e g i n n i n g of t h e m o v e m e n t , w h e n t h e feelings of h a t r e d a n d w r a t h h a d n o t y e t r e a c h e d t h e i r full v i g o u r . N e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e m a t e r i a l losses of A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s w e r e p r o b a b l y v e r y c o n s i d e r a b l e , t o s a y n o t h i n g of losses in h u m a n l i f e : t h e i r g r e a t s y n a g o g u e w a s d e m o l i s h e d , a n d it w o u l d a p p e a r t h a t t h e a c t i v i t i e s of t h e J e w i s h c o u r t in A l e x a n d r i a w e r e s u s p e n d e d . I t seems, further, t h a t i m m e d i a t e l y after t h e r e v o l t s o m e p a r t of t h e J e w i s h p o p u l a t i o n of A l e x a n d r i a , p e r h a p s l a r g e g r o u p s of J e w i s h refugees from t h e chora, w e r e s e t t l e d in a s e p a r a t e q u a r t e r o u t s i d e t h e c i t y , b u t in close p r o x i m i t y t o it. T h e f o u n d i n g of t h i s n e w settlement w a s organized b y the R o m a n prefect R a m m i u s Martialis, b u t w a s s t r o n g l y o p p o s e d b y t h e A l e x a n d r i a n s , w h o s u s p e c t e d t h e J e w s of p l a n n i n g t o l a u n c h a t t a c k s o n t h e c i t y f r o m t h e i r n e w s e t t l e m e n t (see n o t e t o N o . 158a, C o l . V I , 11. 1 4 - 1 5 ) . Y e t t h e r e w a s n o g o o d r e a s o n for s u s p e c t i n g t h e A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s of n e w p l a n s of r e v o l t . T h e s t r e n g t h of E g y p t i a n J e w r y h a d b e e n b r o k e n for e v e r , a n d t h e g a t h e r i n g of n e w forces w a s a s l o w a n d t e d i o u s p r o c e s s , w h i c h t o o k a c o n s i d e r a b l e t i m e a n d i n d e e d w a s n e v e r fully a c h i e v e d . 87

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T h e y e a r A . D . 284 is c o m m o n l y r e g a r d e d b y p a p y r o l o g i s t s as a line of d e m a r c a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e R o m a n a n d t h e ' B y z a n t i n e ' p e r i o d s . Y e t , as h a s a l r e a d y b e e n p o i n t e d o u t in t h e I n t r o d u c t i o n , t h e u s u a l c h r o n o l o g i c a l d i v i s i o n s of E g y p t i a n h i s t o r y , t h o u g h w e l l s u i t e d t o t h e h i s t o r y of E g y p t , are of m i n o r significance w h e n a p p l i e d t o J e w s , since t h e h i s t o r y of E g y p t i a n J e w r y h a d a d e v e l o p m e n t of i t s o w n . T h e t r a g i c e v e n t s of A . D . 1 1 5 - 1 7 s t a m p t h e e a r l y R o m a n p e r i o d a s h a v i n g seen a n a l m o s t t o t a l a n n i h i l a t i o n of E g y p t i a n J e w r y ; s t r i c t l y s p e a k i n g , w i t h t h i s p e r i o d t h e h i s t o r y of t h e E g y p t i a n J e w s in t h e H e l l e n i s t i c - R o m a n a g e c o m e s t o a n e n d , a n d t h e n e x t p e r i o d m a r k s t h e b e g i n n i n g of a n e w d e v e l o p m e n t , reflecting t h e social a n d c u l t u r a l a t m o s p h e r e of t h e ' M i d d l e A g e s ' r a t h e r t h a n t h a t of t h e classical w o r l d . T h e n e w period, t h o u g h p o o r in p o l i t i c a l , social, a n d cultural achievements compared w i t h the t w o preceding periods, has an interest of i t s o w n : it s h o w s t e n a c i o u s effort o n t h e p a r t of E g y p t i a n J e w r y t o a c c o m m o d a t e itself t o t h e n e w e p o c h , a n e p o c h i n w h i c h t h e J e w i s h p e o p l e t h r o u g h o u t 8 7

T h e destruction of the great synagogue in Alexandria is reported in j . Sukkah 5 . 5 5 b . For the suspension of the Jewish court in Alexandria see Thoseftha K e t h u b o t h 3. 1 = T h o s . P e a h 4. 6:

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250 the same passage, slightly altered, is ascribed to R . Simeon b . Gamaliel, w h o flourished in the middle of the second century, so that the sus pension of the court m a y be ascribed t o t h e

persecution of Alexandrian J e w s after the revolt of A.D. 115-17. Scholars emphasize the significant fact t h a t the Gnomon of the Idios Logos, an i m portant collection of laws and regulations con cerning the legal s t a t u s of various groups of t h e Alexandrian population in the middle of t h e second century A.D., totally ignores t h e J e w s , as if t h e y had ceased t o exist in Alexandria. Cf., e.g., Bell, Juden und Griechen, 45.

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t h e w o r l d w e r e f a c e d w i t h f o r m i d a b l e difficulties, since t h e o l d p a t t e r n of life h a d b e e n d e s t r o y e d a n d a n e w one h a d n o t y e t b e e n s h a p e d . F r o m t h e p o i n t of v i e w of a c c o m m o d a t i o n t o n e w c o n d i t i o n s , t h e l o n g p e r i o d of A . D . I 17-641 m a y b e d i v i d e d i n t o t w o s e c t i o n s : t h e first l a s t i n g till t h e final v i c t o r y of t h e C h r i s t i a n Church over the G r a e c o - R o m a n world, and the second covering the whole period of C h r i s t i a n rule in E g y p t till t h e A r a b c o n q u e s t i n A . D . 641/2. T h e earlier p e r i o d is t h a t of a l o n g a n d t e d i o u s p r o c e s s of c o l l e c t i n g n e w forces i n a n e n v i r o n m e n t still s o m e w h a t s i m i l a r t o t h a t of t h e e a r l y R o m a n p e r i o d , w h e r e a s t h e l a t e r p e r i o d s h o w s t h e efforts of t h e J e w s t o m a i n t a i n t h e m s e l v e s i n t h e c o n d i t i o n s of a n e w a n d v e r y h o s t i l e w o r l d . T h e d e a t h of C o n s t a n t i n e I ( A . D . 337) m a y s e r v e a s a c o n v e n i e n t d a t e of d i v i s i o n . I n S e c t i o n X I I t h e r e a d e r w i l l find v a r i o u s p a p y r o l o g i c a l d o c u m e n t s c o v e r i n g t h e p e r i o d b e t w e e n A . D . 117 a n d A . D . 337. T h e g e n e r a l i m p r e s s i o n is t h a t of a c o m p l e t e b r e a k d o w n of J e w i s h life i n E g y p t , a t a n y r a t e a t t h e b e g i n n i n g of t h i s p e r i o d . N o . 460 p r o v i d e s u s w i t h a significant p i e c e of e v i d e n c e : i n K a r a n i s , a v i l l a g e i n t h e F a y u m n u m b e r i n g i n t h e m i d d l e of t h e s e c o n d c e n t u r y A . D . o v e r 1,000 a d u l t m a l e s , o n l y one J e w is r e c o r d e d . S o m e H e b r e w n a m e s a t t e s t t h e e x i s t e n c e of J e w s (tillers of t h e soil a n d t h e like) a m o n g t h e i n h a b i t a n t s of s o m e o t h e r v i l l a g e s ; t h e y are, so t o s p e a k , i m m e r s e d in t h e v a s t s e a of n a t i v e E g y p t i a n s , and w e m a y ask b y w h a t miracle t h e y h a d avoided complete assimilation. T h e e x i s t e n c e of s u c h a p r o c e s s of a s s i m i l a t i o n m a y b e d e m o n s t r a t e d b y t h e f a t e of t h e E d f u J e w s : i t a p p e a r s t h a t t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y of E d f u h a d b e e n e x t e r m i n a t e d , a n d t h e o n l y J e w i s h f a m i l y a t t e s t e d for t h e a g e of M a r c u s A u r e l i u s u s e d e x c l u s i v e l y E g y p t i a n n a m e s ( N o s . 375 s q q . , cf. i n t r o d u c t i o n t o S e c t i o n I X ) . W e m a y s u p p o s e t h a t a similar f a t e h a d b e f a l l e n m a n y of t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t i e s of t h e chora. I n all p r o b a b i l i t y t h e f e w p o o r s u r v i v o r s c o u l d m a i n t a i n t h e m s e l v e s a m o n g t h e E g y p t i a n p o p u l a t i o n of t h e v i l l a g e s o n l y b y r e l i n q u i s h i n g t h e i r n a t i o n a l m a n n e r s a n d c u s t o m s . T h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t i e s of t h e m e t r o p o l e i s f o u n d themselves in similar circumstances. T w i c e during the second century 'Jewish q u a r t e r s ' are m e n t i o n e d i n t h e p a p y r i , o n c e i n O x y r h y n c h o s ( N o . 454) a n d for t h e s e c o n d t i m e i n H e r m o u p o l i s ( N o . 468); i n b o t h c a s e s t h e o w n e r s of t h e p r o p e r t y in these q u a r t e r s are n o n - J e w s , a n d i t is possible t h a t t h e p r o p e r t y of t h e J e w s i n the metropoleis h a d been confiscated b y the government and handed over to natives. O n l y in the third century, and especially towards its closing years, again d o w e h e a r of J e w s e n g a g e d i n v a r i o u s professions. A n i n s c r i p t i o n ( O G I S 129) a t t e s t s t h e r e n e w a l of t h e r i g h t of a s y l u m of a J e w i s h s y n a g o g u e b y t h e Q u e e n of P a l m y r a , Z e n o b i a , a n d h e r s o n ( A . D . 270), a n d N o . 473 tells u s of a J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y in O x y r h y n c h o s i n A . D . 291 r i c h e n o u g h t o r e d e e m f r o m s l a v e r y a J e w i s h s e r v i n g - m a i d w i t h t w o c h i l d r e n . T h e s l o w b u t s t e a d y w o r k of r e c o n s t r u c t i o n had already begun. T h e f e w d o c u m e n t s r e l e v a n t t o J e w s of t h e s e c o n d c e n t u r y r e v e a l t h e e x i s t e n c e of q u i t e a l a r g e g r o u p of p e r s o n s w h o c a n n o t b e a c c o u n t e d J e w s , b u t w h o a r e , i n s o m e m a n n e r , c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e m : I refer t o t h e e n i g m a t i c ' S a m b a t h i o n s ' . T h e r e a d e r w i l l find a d e t a i l e d discussion of t h e q u e s t i o n i n t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n t o Section X I I I , where the whole material concerning Sambathions has been col l e c t e d . H e r e a s h o r t s u m m a r y m a y suffice. T h e H e b r e w n a m e S a b b a t h a i o s , or S a m b a t h a i o s (TQtP), w a s m o s t f r e q u e n t

LATE ROMAN AND BYZANTINE

PERIOD

95

a m o n g E g y p t i a n J e w s in t h e H e l l e n i s t i c a g e . I t is p r o b a b l e t h a t t h i s n a m e h a d p r e v i o u s l y b e e n g i v e n o n l y t o c h i l d r e n b o r n o n t h e S a b b a t h , b u t in t h e c o u r s e of time the name b e c a m e familiar and w a s p r o b a b l y used in m a n y Jewish families without such a connotation. In the R o m a n period the name changed its form s l i g h t l y a n d w a s s p e l l e d S a m b a t h i o n i n s t e a d of S a m b a t h a i o s . A t t h e s a m e t i m e t h e r e o c c u r s a n e w p h e n o m e n o n ( w h i c h is in n o w a y c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e c h a n g e of f o r m ) : t h e n a m e S a m b a t h i o n is n o l o n g e r b o r n e b y J e w s o n l y , b u t b y E g y p t i a n s a s w e l l . T h e r e are f r e q u e n t a p p e a r a n c e s of t h e n a m e S a m b a t h i o n , as the sole Hebrew name, in s u c h p u r e l y n o n - J e w i s h e n v i r o n m e n t s as t h e v i l l a g e s of K a r a n i s , T h e a d e l p h e i a , a n d o t h e r s . S o m e p a p y r i furnish u s w i t h n a m e s of e n t i r e f a m i l i e s w h o s e m e m b e r s are c a l l e d b y c o m m o n E g y p t i a n n a m e s , w h i l e o n e b e a r s t h e n a m e of S a m b a t h i o n . S o i t s e e m s t h a t i n t h e R o m a n p e r i o d (and t h i s p r o c e s s c a n b e t r a c e d f r o m t h e v e r y b e g i n n i n g of t h e first c e n t u r y A . D . ) some E g y p t i a n s borrowed the n a m e S a m b a t h i o n from the J e w s . A similar p h e n o m e n o n o c c u r s a g a i n , far f r o m E g y p t , i n t h e H e l l e n i s t i c c i t y of T a n a i s , o n t h e s h o r e s of t h e S e a of A z o v . A g l a n c e a t c e r t a i n G r e e k i n s c r i p t i o n s f r o m various countries, such as E g y p t , Crete, L y d i a , Kilikia, P h r y g i a , and R o m e , r e v e a l s t h a t v a r i o u s n a m e s of persons, deities, a n d i n s t i t u t i o n s w e r e d e r i v e d f r o m t h e H e b r e w w o r d ' S a b b a t h ' . N e v e r t h e l e s s , all t h e s e persons, deities, a n d i n s t i t u t i o n s w e r e n o t c o n n e c t e d (at a n y r a t e d i r e c t l y ) w i t h J e w s a n d J e w i s h c o m m u n i t i e s b u t b e l o n g e d t o t h e G r a e c o - R o m a n w o r l d . T h e s i m p l e e x p l a n a t i o n of all t h e s e n a m e s d e r i v e d f r o m t h e S a b b a t h is t o b e s o u g h t i n t h e w e l l - k n o w n f a c t t h a t t h e o b s e r v a n c e of t h e J e w i s h S a b b a t h left a d e e p i m p r e s s i o n o n n o n - J e w s i n t h e R o m a n E m p i r e , so t h a t m a n y of t h e m a d o p t e d it w i t h o u t b r e a k i n g t h e i r c o n nexion w i t h the p a g a n world and w i t h o u t formally embracing the Jewish faith. W h e t h e r t h e s e persons b e l o n g e d t o t h e w i d e s p r e a d g r o u p s of ' t h o s e w h o fear G o d ' (ofiov/A€voL or atfiotievoi rov deov, metuentes, '7\ ''XT') is a m a t t e r n o t t o b e d i s c u s s e d h e r e ; I s h o u l d c a l l t h e m s i m p l y ' S a b b a t h - o b s e r v e r s ' (oafii%aTi£ovTes), t o q u o t e t h e i d i o m f a m i l i a r t o t h e F a t h e r s of t h e C h u r c h . N o w it is l i k e l y t h a t t h e n a m e S a m b a t h i o n a t t e s t s a similar p h e n o m e n o n , n a m e l y t h e a d o p t i o n of S a b b a t h o b s e r v a n c e b y n u m b e r s of n o n - J e w s . I t w o u l d b e difficult o t h e r w i s e t o e x p l a i n t h e use of t h e n a m e S a m b a t h i o n in t h e c o m m u n i t y of w o r s h i p p e r s of ' t h e H i g h e s t G o d ' (Oeds vifticrros) in T a n a i s , a c o m m u n i t y h e a t h e n in i t s s t r u c ture and organization though probably deeply impressed b y Judaism. It seems t o b e o b v i o u s , therefore, t h a t t h e n u m e r o u s E g y p t i a n S a m b a t h i o n s i n t h e 1

2

3

4

1

On this occasion we m a y recall the s t a t e m e n t m a d e a b o v e (Introduction) t h a t no Hebrew n a m e s were ever borrowed b y n o n - J e w s from J e w s , w i t h t h e sole e x c e p t i o n of Sambathion. 2

L a t y s h e v , Inscr. antiquae orae septentr. Ponti Eux. ii, N o s . 434, 446, 447, 448, 451; iv, N o s . 435, 4366. Cf. Schiirer, 'Die J u d e n i m bosporanischen Reiche und die Genossenschaften der oefioiievoi', Sitzb. Preuss. A h . 1897, xiii. 3

A theory has been p u t forward b y W . Schulze in his article 'Samstag' (Kleine Schriften, 1895, 281 sqq.) t h a t a number of these n a m e s are derived from the n a m e of a Phrygian goddess, S a m b e t h e .

I n fact, n o such goddess w a s ever in existence. For details cf. the introduction t o Section X I I I . 4

For the worship of the 6 e 6 s v^tiaros in Tanais see the article of Schiirer mentioned a b o v e in n o t e 2. T h e cult of 6e6s vtfiiaros, as well as of Zeis vifiioTos, w a s widespread in t h e R o m a n E m p i r e ; it shows features of Greek and Jewish influence simultaneously. Cf. RE xvii. 444 sqq., s.v. vijiioTos; R o b e r t s , Skeat, and N o c k , 'The Gild of Zeus H y p s i s t o s ' , HTR x x i x , 1936,39 s q q . ; Cumont, Les Religions orientates dans lepaganisme romain, 4th ed., 59 sqq.

9


6

R o m a n p e r i o d w e r e n o t J e w s , b u t m e m b e r s of n o n - J e w i s h families w h o o b s e r v e d t h e S a b b a t h . I n t h e first c e n t u r y A . D . it is p r o b a b l e t h a t t h i s o b s e r v a n c e of t h e S a b b a t h w a s p r a c t i s e d freely, a n d i t m a y b e t h a t t h i s a p p r o a c h t o J u d a i s m s o m e t i m e s c u l m i n a t e d in full p r o s e l y t i s m . A f t e r A . D . 1 1 7 , S a b b a t h o b s e r v a n c e , t o s a y n o t h i n g of t h e profession of t h e J e w i s h religion o n t h e p a r t of a n o n J e w , b e c a m e d a n g e r o u s , since it c o u l d n o t b e i n t e r p r e t e d o t h e r w i s e t h a n a s a n a c t of s y m p a t h y w i t h t h e ' i m p i o u s ' n a t i o n . P e r h a p s t h a t is the r e a s o n w h y in t h e s e c o n d c e n t u r y o n l y o l d p e o p l e a n d w o m e n are c a l l e d S a m b a t h i o n , o l d p e o p l e , b e c a u s e t h e y h a d b e e n so c a l l e d b e f o r e A . D . 1 1 7 , a n d w o m e n , b e c a u s e t h e y c o u l d b e r e g a r d e d a s c o m p a r a t i v e l y safe f r o m a n y p o l i t i c a l p e r s e c u t i o n . T h e e x i s t e n c e of t h e s e E g y p t i a n S a b b a t h - o b s e r v e r s t h r o w s l i g h t o n J e w i s h religious p r o p a g a n d a in E g y p t , a f a c t n o t a t t e s t e d b y t h e p a p y r i , b u t b o r n e witness to b y the T a l m u d , and indirectly b y Jewish Hellenistic literature. In t h i s s u r v e y of t h e h i s t o r y of t h e J e w s in E g y p t t h e r e h a s b e e n f r e q u e n t c o m m e n t o n t h e g r e a t influence of t h e n o n - J e w i s h e n v i r o n m e n t u p o n J e w s . N o w w e c a n s u g g e s t t h a t a r e v e r s e p r o c e s s also t o o k p l a c e , t h o u g h , of c o u r s e , r e l a t i v e l y far less i m p o r t a n t t h a n t h e h e l l e n i z a t i o n of t h e E g y p t i a n J e w r y . 5

6

7

T o w a r d s A . D . 300 J e w i s h n a m e s b e c a m e m o r e f r e q u e n t in t h e p a p y r i a n d w e g a i n t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t all r e m i n d e r s of t h e e v e n t s of A . D . I 1 5 - 1 7 h a d a t l a s t v a n i s h e d a n d J e w i s h life in E g y p t w a s a b o u t t o r e a w a k e n . B u t a n e w e n e m y arose in t h e s h a p e of t h e C h r i s t i a n C h u r c h , w h i c h p l a c e d n e w a n d i n s u r m o u n t a b l e o b s t a c l e s in t h e w a y of t h e free d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e J e w i s h p e o p l e . T h e C h u r c h c l a i m e d t h e r i g h t t o b e r e g a r d e d a s t h e sole g u a r d i a n of G o d ' s c o m m a n d m e n t s a s r e v e a l e d in t h e H o l y S c r i p t u r e s . I t c a l l e d itself ' t h e t r u e I s r a e l ' , a n d c o n s i d e r e d J e w s a s e d i t i o u s p e o p l e , w h o h a d b e e n in s t e a d y conflict w i t h G o d a n d H i s p r o p h e t s f r o m t h e v e r y b e g i n n i n g of t h e i r h i s t o r y a n d w h o h a d r e a c h e d t h e z e n i t h of t h e i r i m p i e t y a n d b a s e n e s s in t h e b e t r a y a l of C h r i s t . T h e t e r m deoKTovot, ' G o d ' s m u r d e r e r s ' , a p p l i e d t o J e w s , n o w b e c a m e a l m o s t a s t a n d i n g f o r m u l a , a s c o m m o n in t h e m o u t h of a C h r i s t i a n a s t h e t e r m avomos, ' i m p i o u s ' , in t h e m o u t h of a h e a t h e n in H a d r i a n ' s t i m e . J u s t a s t h e a n t i - S e m i t e s of t h e p r e v i o u s p e r i o d h a d a c c u s e d t h e J e w s of b e i n g hostile t o t h e g o d s a n d t o t h e entire h e a t h e n w o r l d , so n o w t h e C h r i s t i a n s c h a r g e d t h e J e w s w i t h a s i m i l a r h a t r e d of C h r i s t a n d H i s followers. M a n y of t h e earlier a n t i - S e m i t i c a r g u m e n t s were remodelled b y the Christians, and new ones were devised. A special litera t u r e adversus Judaeos, i.e. p o l e m i c a l leaflets a n d p a m p h l e t s d e m o n s t r a t i n g t h e erroneousness of J u d a i s m a n d c h a r g i n g t h e J e w s w i t h v a r i o u s c r i m e s , w e r e p u t i n t o c i r c u l a t i o n , a n d t h e g r e a t e s t a n d m o s t f a m o u s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of t h e C h r i s t i a n C h u r c h , in E a s t a n d W e s t a l i k e , p a r t i c i p a t e d in t h e c r e a t i o n of t h i s 5

Zapfiadliov

form, and feminine.

(or

Zafiftariajv)

Ea.ufla.diov

(or

is the masculine is t h e

Eaupdnov)

6

For a further reason w h y this n a m e was given to w o m e n see introduction t o Section X I I I . 7

j . Y e b a m o t h 8. gb:

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nxa ii p •»» jnnsa rwnf? •nw nx» "131 ,IV»*1X»

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Qiddushin 5. 4. Philo frequently speaks a b o u t proselytes (cf. Wolfson, Philo, i. 179; ii. 355 sqq., 369 sqq.), but there is no evidence that he is referring o n l y t o proselytes in E g y p t . Y e t he emphasizes (Vita Mos. 2. 41) t h a t a great number of n o n - J e w s participated in the eopri) KCU •navriyvpis on the isle of Pharos in c o m m e m o r a t i o n of the d a y of the Greek version of L X X , and so w e m a y suppose that such 'non-Jews' (ttauTtXÔeis frepoi) had some interest in Jewish affairs.

LATE

ROMAN AND BYZANTINE PERIOD

97

literature. T h e principles, laid d o w n in this anti-Jewish Christian literature, f o u n d t h e i r w a y i n t o p o l i t i c a l life a n d influenced n o t o n l y t h e a t t i t u d e o f R o m a n authorities towards Jewish communities b u t also Imperial legislation c o n c e r n i n g J e w s . O n v a r i o u s o c c a s i o n s t h e a u t h o r i t i e s of t h e S t a t e w e r e p r e pared t o protect Jews, b u t t h e y could not carry out their policy without coming i n t o serious conflict w i t h t h e l e a d e r s of t h e C h u r c h , a n d a s a rule i n s u c h c o n flicts t h e S t a t e h a d t o g i v e w a y . J e w i s h s y n a g o g u e s w e r e d e m o l i s h e d , J e w i s h r i g h t s w e r e r e s t r i c t e d , J e w s w e r e d i s m i s s e d f r o m t h e i r offices a n d d o m i c i l e s , a n d t h e m o b s of t h e cities w e r e c o n t i n u a l l y i n c i t e d t o a t t a c k t h e i n h a b i t a n t s of the Jewish quarters. S u c h w a s t h e inauguration of t h e n e w period. 8

T h e r e is n o r e a s o n t o b e l i e v e t h a t J e w s w e r e p r e p a r e d t o y i e l d w i t h o u t a struggle. W e cannot state w i t h certainty whether J e w s did persecute Christians d u r i n g t h e first t h r e e c e n t u r i e s a n d w h e t h e r T e r t u l l i a n w a s r i g h t i n c a l l i n g s y n a g o g u e s fontes persecutorum ; b u t t h e r e is l i t t l e d o u b t t h a t after t h e v i c t o r y of t h e C h u r c h u n d e r C o n s t a n t i n e , J e w s b e c a m e o p e n l y hostile t o t h e n e w rulers, a n d proffered a s s i s t a n c e t o a n y g r o u p of p e r s o n s o r t o a n y s o c i a l o r r e l i g i o u s m o v e m e n t i n o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e official C h u r c h . T h u s t h e y c e r t a i n l y s u p p o r t e d the Arians, a n d t h e Fathers of t h e Church classed J e w s a n d Arians together a s t h e fiercest e n e m i e s of o r t h o d o x y . T h e J e w r y of t h e R o m a n E m p i r e , t h o u g h dispersed a n d lacking a national centre in a state of its own, w a s nevertheless a c o n s i d e r a b l e force, n o t t o b e o v e r l o o k e d b y t h e C h r i s t i a n C h u r c h . B u t t h e d i s p r o p o r t i o n of forces dispelled a n y d o u b t s a s t o t h e r e s u l t of t h e s t r u g g l e : f r o m t h e v e r y b e g i n n i n g t h e d e f e a t of t h e J e w s w a s c e r t a i n . 9

10

N o c o h e r e n t a c c o u n t of t h i s s t r u g g l e , a s f a r a s E g y p t w a s c o n c e r n e d , is i n e x i s t e n c e , a n d w e h a v e t o r e c o n s t r u c t t h e p r o g r e s s of e v e n t s w i t h t h e a i d o f s u c h brief n o t i c e s a s o c c u r i n r e c o r d s p r e s e r v e d b y t h e F a t h e r s of t h e C h u r c h o r b y e c c l e s i a s t i c a l h i s t o r i a n s . T h e first p i e c e o f e v i d e n c e b e l o n g s t o t h e t i m e o f t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e A l e x a n d r i a n b i s h o p , A t h a n a s i o s , t h e g r e a t l e a d e r of t h e 8

T h e Christian Church a s 'true Israel': cf. Harnack, Die Mission und Ausbreitung des Christentums, E n g l , transl. i. 240 s q q . ; M. S i m o n , Verus Israel, 1948, 102 sqq. J e w s a s 'God's murderers': e.g. J o h n Chrysost., adv. Jud. 1. 6 (PG xlviii. 852): Xpioroicrovoi; Athanasios, Epist. encyl. 3 (PG x x v . 229A): KvpioKrovoi. Cf. t h e Christian curse in a n inscription from B e n g h a z i : Kal rr)v

[fieplSa

airov

per]a

TU>V deoKrovwv

Adversus Judaeos, 1935; B . Blumenkranz, Die Judenpredigt Augustins, 1946, 9 sqq. F r a g m e n t s of anti-Jewish Christian literature o n p a p y r u s : P . O x y . 2070. T h e conflict b e t w e e n t h e Church a n d t h e State regarding J e w s is well illustrated b y Ambrosius' energetic a t t a c k o n the Emperor Theodosios I (A.D. 388): t h e Emperor punished t h e bishop of Kallinikon (a t o w n o n t h e Euphrates), a t whose instigation a J e w i s h synagogue h a d been destroyed, b u t h e was forced t o revoke h i s decision after Ambrosius' intervention. Cf. J . R . Palanque, Saint Atnbroise et VEmpire romain, 1933, 205 s q q . ; F . H o m e s D u d d e n , The Life and Times of St. Ambrose, 1935, ii. 371 s q q . Tertull. adv. Gnosticos scorpiace, 10, PL ii. 143A. Cf. Parkes, The Conflict of the Church and the Synagogue, 1934, 125 sqq. For the relations between J e w s and Christians see Parkes, o p . cit., passim. For t h e fourth a n d fifth century see also Lukas, o p . c i t . , w h o emphasizes the energetic character of the struggle o n t h e part of the J e w s (75 sqq., 113 sqq.).

'Iovoalwv

Ka[Td9es] ( S B 5928). Christian a n t i - S e m i t i s m : S i m o n , o p . c i t . 239 s q q . ; in comparison with heathen a n t i - S e m i t i s m : Juster, i. 45, n . 1. I t is not w i t h o u t interest t o compare a passage from J o h n Chrysostom's first h o m i l y against t h e J e w s (1. 6; PG xlviii. 852): KOWT)V Xvpyv ical voaov rr}s oiKovfi4v7]s drrdarjs—with the famous words of the letter of Claudius ( N o . 1 5 3 , 1 1 . 99 s q . ) : naOditep Kovrqv relva rr\s oiKovfievrjs voaov iêyelpovras. One wonders whether J o h n Chrysostomos h a d read t h e letter of Claudius. F o r t h e literature adversus Judaeos cf. Juster, i. 53 s q q . ; L u k a s , Zur Geschichte d. Juden in IV. Jahrh., 1910,1 sqq.; A. L . Williams, B 2909

9

1 0

II

98

PROLEGOMENA

C a t h o l i c C h u r c h i n i t s fierce s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e A r i a n s . J e w s i n A l e x a n d r i a a r e s a i d t o h a v e offered t h e i r a i d t o t h e p r e f e c t P h i l a r g i o s i n h i s efforts t o c r u s h t h e disorders w h i c h b r o k e o u t i n c o n n e x i o n w i t h t h e e n t h r o n e m e n t of a n e w b i s h o p , Gregorios, w h o h a d been nominated t o supersede Athanasios. Incited b y Philar gios, J e w s a n d p a g a n s b r o k e i n t o c h u r c h e s , p l u n d e r e d s a n c t u a r i e s , a n d i n s u l t e d m o n k s a n d n u n s ( A . D . 335). U n d e r t h e A r i a n E m p e r o r V a l e n s ( A . D . 364-78), J e w s again demonstrated their sympathies for t h e Arians b y participating in t h e e x p u l s i o n of t h e b i s h o p P e t r u s , A t h a n a s i o s ' successor, a n d b y s u p p o r t i n g t h e A r i a n bishop, L u c i u s ; once again t h e y t o o k part in acts of violence directed a g a i n s t C a t h o l i c s a n c t u a r i e s . P o s s i b l y s o m e of t h e d e t a i l s of t h e s e stories, a s told b y Christian writers, are exaggerated, b u t their principal features are p r o b a b l y c o r r e c t , f o r t h e y a r e i n a c c o r d w i t h t h e g e n e r a l a t t i t u d e of t h e J e w s everywhere in the R o m a n Empire towards the Catholic Church. 11

12

A t t h e e n d of t h e f o u r t h a n d t h e b e g i n n i n g of t h e fifth c e n t u r y t h e l e g a l s t a t u s of t h e J e w s i n t h e E m p i r e d e t e r i o r a t e d r a p i d l y a n d t h e t e n s i o n b e t w e e n J e w s a n d Christians became even more marked. A g a i n it w a s in A l e x a n d r i a t h a t t h e g r e a t s t r u g g l e b e t w e e n J e w s a n d n o n - J e w s w a s f o u g h t o u t . A s i n A . D . 66, a n incident in a theatre precipitated the struggle. According t o our principal s o u r c e , S o k r a t e s (H.E. 7. 13), t h e p e o p l e of A l e x a n d r i a w e r e a l w a y s p r o n e t o disturbances a n d tumults, a n d this time t h e tension w a s a g g r a v a t e d b y t h e r i v a l r y b e t w e e n v a r i o u s c i r c u s - f a c t i o n s . B u t t h e real a n d h i d d e n c o n t e n t i o n w a s b e t w e e n t h e p o w e r of t h e g o v e r n m e n t r e p r e s e n t e d b y O r e s t e s , t h e p r e f e c t , a n d that of the Church, whose fanatical leader w a s Kyrillos, the bishop of A l e x a n d r i a . T h e d e c i s i v e b a t t l e b e t w e e n t h e t w o w a s , u n f o r t u n a t e l y for t h e J e w s , fought o u t w i t h regard t o t h e 'Jewish question'. There were Jews present in the theatre w h e n Orestes w a s about t o m a k e some announcements in con nexion w i t h recent circus disturbances, in w h i c h Christians a n d Jews seem t o h a v e b e e n i n v o l v e d . S u p p o r t e r s of K y r i l l o s w e r e also p r e s e n t i n t h e t h e a t r e . T h e Jews protested loudly on perceiving a certain Hierax, w h o w a s k n o w n as a fervent adherent of K y r i l l o s : t h e y suspected h i m of appearing in t h e theatre w i t h t h e sole i n t e n t i o n of p r o v o k i n g a riot. O r e s t e s o r d e r e d t h e a r r e s t of t h e m a n a n d his i m m e d i a t e flogging i n t h e t h e a t r e . T h a t w a s sufficient r e a s o n for K y r i l l o s t o see t h e J e w s a s t h e a g g r e s s i v e p a r t y . T h e l e a d e r s of t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y w e r e s u m m o n e d before h i m , a n d h e w a r n e d t h e m n o t t o a t t a c k t h e C h r i s t i a n s . T h e rest of t h e s t o r y a p p e a r s t o b e t o o o b v i o u s l y b i a s e d in f a v o u r of t h e C h r i s t i a n s to be altogether authentic: w e are told that Jews, at night, spread a rumour t h a t a church w a s consumed in flames, a n d w h e n Christians r a n t o save it, used t h e r e s u l t i n g confusion i n o r d e r t o a t t a c k t h e m . T h e n e x t d a y K y r i l l o s , a t t h e h e a d of a g r e a t c r o w d , a t t a c k e d t h e J e w i s h s y n a g o g u e s a n d t o o k possession of 13

1 1

Athanasios, Epist. encycl. 3 (PG x x v . 228 sqq.). T h e inimical a t t i t u d e of J e w s towards Athanasios is mentioned also in Apol. c. Ar. 82 (PG x x v . 396). 1 2

Theodoret, Hist. eccl. 4. 18 (PG l x x x i i . 1164c); i b . 4. 19 ( p . 1 1 7 6 B ) ; Cassiodorus, Hist. Tripart. 7. 37 (PL l x i x . 1097B s q q . ) ; i b . 7. 40 (p. IIOID). 1 3

T h e hatred of Orestes towards t h e bishops

w h o tried t o encroach upon t h e rights of t h e State's officials is clearly stated b y S o k r a t e s : 'Opecrr-qs raiv

Be KCU -npoTepov uev iuloei

imaKoirajv,

on

rrjv

TraprjpovvTO noXv

rrjs

Svvaareiav eôvaias

dpxeiv rerayuevatv (764A). Cf. M. Gelzer, Studien z. Byzant. Verwaltung Agyptens, 1909, 17 s q q . ; E . R . H a r d y , Christian Egypt: Church and People, 1952, 104. rwv

€K

fHaoiXecos

L A T E

R O M A N

A N D

B Y Z A N T I N E

P E R I O D

99

t h e m ; J e w s w e r e t h r o w n o u t of t h e c i t y a n d t h e i r p r o p e r t y p l u n d e r e d b y t h e m o b . M a n y f e a t u r e s of t h e e v e n t s of A . D . 415 b e a r s o m e r e s e m b l a n c e t o t h e p o g r o m of A . D . 38, b u t t h e final a c t — t h e e x p u l s i o n of t h e J e w s — s e e m s t o i n a u g u r a t e a n e w e p o c h . A t t h e t i m e of C a l i g u l a t h e A l e x a n d r i a n a n t i - S e m i t e s h a d hoped t o exploit the situation in R o m e , where the traditional policy h a d b e e n r e v e r s e d b y t h e h a l f - m a d hellenizer. B u t t h e g e n e r a l t r e n d of R o m e ' s policy w a s against t h e m , so t h a t t h e y were unsuccessful, even under Caligula, a n d c e r t a i n l y so u n d e r h i s s u c c e s s o r C l a u d i u s . N o w , u n d e r t h e C h r i s t i a n E m p e r o r s , t h e c e n t r a l g o v e r n m e n t a c q u i e s c e d i n t h e a n t i - S e m i t i c p o l i c y of t h e Church. T h e prefect Orestes sympathized w i t h the Alexandrian J e w s and deplored their fate, b u t he w a s powerless t o help them. H e protested in Con s t a n t i n o p l e a g a i n s t K y r i l l o s ' p o l i c y of v i o l e n c e , b u t h i s p r o t e s t s h a d n o effect a n d K y r i l l o s r e m a i n e d u n m o l e s t e d , a n d i n d e e d , s o m e t i m e after t h e e x p u l s i o n of t h e J e w s , c e r t a i n C h r i s t i a n m o n k s from N i t r i a i s t o n e d O r e s t e s a n d w o u n d e d h i m s e v e r e l y . A s h a s h a p p e n e d so often i n h i s t o r y , t h e p e r s e c u t i o n of t h e J e w s a t t h i s t i m e r e v e a l e d t h a t t h e s t r u c t u r e of t h e S t a t e w a s u n d e r m i n e d . 14

T h e e x p u l s i o n of t h e J e w s f r o m A l e x a n d r i a w a s a serious b l o w t o E g y p t i a n J e w r y . O f c o u r s e , J e w s c o u l d r e t u r n t o t h e c i t y if t h e y c o n s e n t e d t o e m b r a c e Christianity, b u t it does not seem t h a t t h e y were willing to do s o . W e do not k n o w w h e t h e r t h e e x p u l s i o n of t h e J e w s w a s a c c o m p a n i e d b y a n official p r o h i b i t i o n a g a i n s t t h e i r r e s e t t l e m e n t in t h e c i t y , a n d it is l i k e l y t h a t n o s u c h p r o h i b i t i o n w a s issued, since a t t h e e n d of t h e fifth a n d t h e b e g i n n i n g of t h e s i x t h c e n t u r y i n d i v i d u a l J e w s are a g a i n r e c o r d e d a s l i v i n g i n A l e x a n d r i a . A C h r i s t i a n s e r m o n , a t t r i b u t e d t o K y r i l l o s of A l e x a n d r i a b u t a c t u a l l y c o m p o s e d i n t h e sixth century, even mentions a 'Jewish street' in A l e x a n d r i a . T h u s w e m a y 1 5

1 6

1 7

1 4

Our only source for t h e e v e n t s of A.D. 415 i n Alexandria is Sokrates, Hist. eccl. 7. 13-14. All

pended'. I should prefer t o refrain from s u c h farreaching c o m m e n t on a passage which s a y s n o

other authors were simply c o p y i n g h i m or re-

more t h a n t h a t the number of J e w s expelled w a s

stricted t h e m s e l v e s t o brief s u m m a r i e s ; cf. Cassiodoros, Hist. Trip. 1 1 . 11 (PL Ixix. 1193);

considerable. T h e opinion of Milne and others is influenced b y the general v i e w of scholars, w h o

N i k e p h . Kallistos, Hist. eccl. 14. 14 (PG c x l v i . 1100 s q q . ) ; Kedrenos,#z's*. Comp. ( P G c x x i . 640); T h e o p h a n . , Chronog. (PG cviii. 224). J o h n of

c o m m o n l y exaggerate t h e role of J e w s a s merc h a n t s and m e n of business. Cf. a b o v e , p . n , n o t e 29. 1 5

N i k i o u is t h e only writer w h o seems t o follow

Sokrates, H.E.

of

John, Bishop of Nikiou, transl. from Ethiopic b y Charles, 1916, cc. 84, 87-103); y e t his story is t o o

A d a m a n t i o s . H i s conversion remain in Alexandria.

confused t o be t a k e n seriously. T h e date of the e v e n t is n o t quite c e r t a i n : s o m e scholars place t h e expulsion of t h e J e w s from Alexandria in A.D. 414, and e v e n 412. According t o Sokrates, Orestes bewailed the fate of t h e c i t y , so suddenly deprived of such a n u m b e r of i n h a b i t a n t s : o68pa iirl T& yevofj,4voj ixaXeiraive, Kal irevdos \iiya

One of t h e m is t h e J e w i s h physician D o m nus h a v i n g his domicile in A l e x a n d r i a , in t h e reign of the Emperor Zenon (A.D. 474-91); cf. Suidas, s.v. JTcWs; RE v . 1526, s.v. ' D o m n u s ' . Another w a s U r b i b , under the Emperor A n a s tasios (A.D. 491-518); cf. I b n Batrik ( E u t y c h i o s ) , Ann. 2. 132 (PG cxi, 1062). A n o t h e r rich J e w w a s P h i l o x e n o s , mentioned in a Christian sermon attributed t o Kyrillos and composed in t h e s i x t h century (see the n e x t note), M. Chaine, 'Sermon sur la Penitence attribue a Saint-Cyrille d'Alexandrie', Melanges de la Facultd orient., Univ. Saint-Joseph, Beyrouth, v i 1913, 493 sqq.

CW0€TO, rrjXiKavTrjv

TTOXIV

OVTWS

apo-qv

TOOOVTWV

eKKevwOijvai avOpojiruiv. Juster (ii. 299 n. 8) infers from this passage t h a t t h e expulsion of J e w s led t o a 'stagnation of affairs' in Alexandria. According t o Milne (op. cit. 98), the expelled J e w s were 'the chief merchants of Alexandria, the people on w h o m the prosperity of the city mainly de-

conversion,

1 6

1 7

that

7. 13, records only one case

a slightly different tradition (The Chronicle of

of t h e

Jewish enabled

physician him

to

100


infer t h a t a c e n t u r y after t h e e x i l e J e w s w e r e a g a i n e s t a b l i s h e d in t h e E g y p t i a n c a p i t a l . T h e i r n u m b e r i n c r e a s e d s t e a d i l y ; t h e s h o r t rule of t h e P e r s i a n s i n E g y p t ( A . D . 616-27) s e e m s t o h a v e b e e n e s p e c i a l l y f a v o u r a b l e t o t h e m , a n d E g y p t i a n J e w s were again able t o receive their brethren from S y r i a a n d Palestine, w h o w e r e n o w fleeing f r o m t h e p e r s e c u t i o n s of t h e E m p e r o r H e r a k l i o s . O n t h e e v e of the A r a b conquest J e w s were quite numerous in A l e x a n d r i a , t h o u g h the numbers preserved b y Christian and A r a b writers seem to be greatly exaggerated. W h a t w a s t h e l e g a l s t a t u s of J e w s i n t h e l a t e R o m a n a n d B y z a n t i n e p e r i o d ? I n A . D . 212 t h e f a m o u s Constitutio Antoniniana of C a r a c a l l a b e s t o w e d R o m a n r i g h t s u p o n t h e i n h a b i t a n t s of t h e e n t i r e R o m a n E m p i r e , a n d J e w s w e r e n o e x c e p t i o n t o t h e r u l e . I n t h e d o c u m e n t s t h e n e w c i t i z e n s are s t y l e d Aurelii, a n d s o m e p a p y r i m e n t i o n J e w i s h Aurelii ( N o s . 473, 474, 477, 503, 508). J u r i s t s h a v e l o n g d e b a t e d w h e t h e r t h e p r o m u l g a t i o n of CA (Constitutio Antoniniana) m e a n t t h a t t h e l o c a l l a w s a n d c u s t o m s w e r e r e p l a c e d b y t h e R o m a n l a w . I t is n o w c o m m o n l y accepted t h a t the local civic units continued their functions e v e n u n d e r R o m a n l a w . T h u s t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t i e s a n d t h e r i g h t of t h e i r members 'to live according to their ancestral laws' remained untouched. N o . 477, a p a p y r u s f r o m O x y r h y n c h o s of A . D . 291, r e c o r d s t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y (awaycoyr) r&v 'IovSalwv) of t h a t c i t y p a y i n g a s u m of m o n e y a s a r a n s o m for a Jewish servant-maid and her t w o children: here the Jewish c o m m u n i t y appears a s a l e g a l b o d y a u t h o r i z e d t o a c t a s a c o n t r a c t i n g p a r t y a n d h a v i n g s u m s of m o n e y a t i t s d i s p o s a l . T h e v i c t o r y of t h e C h u r c h c a u s e d a g r a d u a l b u t v e r y c o n s i d e r a b l e d e t e r i o r a t i o n in t h e l e g a l s t a t u s of J e w s t h r o u g h o u t t h e E m p i r e , a n d , c o n s e q u e n t l y , i n E g y p t t o o . T h o u g h t h e b a s i c r i g h t of t h e J e w s t o l i v e a c c o r d i n g to their o w n laws and habits w a s not abolished, and their religious a u t o n o m y 18

1 9

20

2 1

1 8

Cf. I b n Batrik ( E u t y c h i o s ) , Ann. 2. 245-7 (PG cxi. 1090). J o h n of N i k i o u , c. 120. 21, reports t h a t , according t o a t r e a t y m a d e b e t w e e n the A r a b conqueror of E g y p t , 'Amr ibn al-'As, and t h e Patriarch of Alexandria, K y r o s , J e w s were per m i t t e d t o remain in Alexandria (A.D. 641). Cf. Juster, ii. 176, n. 6; J. Starr, ' B y z a n t i n e J e w r y o n t h e E v e of t h e A r a b Conquest', JPOS x v , 1935, 281. For the surrender of Alexandria cf. Butler, The Arab Conquest of Egypt, 1902, 310 sqq. T h e number of J e w s is reported b y A r a b sources t o h a v e been 40,000. It is said t h a t 'Amr ibn al-'As reported the capture of Alexandria t o the Caliph in the following w o r d s : 'I h a v e t a k e n a c i t y of which I can but say t h a t it contains 4,000 palaces, 4,000 b a t h s , 400 theatres, 12,000 sellers of green vegetables, and 40,000 tributary J e w s ' (quoted b y Butler, o p . cit. 368). T h e exaggerations are typical of oriental story-tellers; cf. for other marvellous stories told b y Arabs a b o u t A l e x andria the numerous instances brought together b y Butler, o p . cit., c a p . 24 ('Alexandria a t t h e Conquest'), p p . 368-400. 1 9

2 0

Cf. A l v a r o d'Ors, 'Estudios sobre la Consti

t u t i o A n t o n i n i a n a , I V : L a extension d e la ciudadania a Egipcios y J u d i o s en el 212 d . C , Sefarad, v i , 1946, 21 sqq. T h e solution of the problem depends essen tially (though n o t exclusively) on the restoration of the famous passage in CA, preserved o n t h e papyrus ( P . Giss. 40): AlSwui T o t [ v ] w aira[aiv 2 1

rots

KasroiKovoiv

'PoiuaicDV

[U~\4VOVTOS

rrj\v

OIKOVU4VT)V

[

w[oAtT]etav ]aTa>v

It is not m y task here t o enter i n t o a discussion of this question, and I restrict myself t o quoting s o m e articles dealing w i t h CA and especially w i t h the question of the preservation of local laws side b y s i d e w i t h R o m a n l a w : Schonbauer, Sav. Ztschr. Ii, 1931, 277 s q q . ; Wilhelm, Amer. fourn. Arch, x x x v i i i , 1934,178 s q q . ; Wenger, Actes du 5 Congres, 525; A . H . M. J o n e s , fRS x x v i , 1936,223 s q q . ; S t r o u x , Philologus, l x x x v i i i , 1933, 272 s q q . ; Schubart, Aegyptus, x x , 1940, 31 s q q . ; Wenger, Rev. intern, d. droits de VAntiquitd, iii, 1949, 521 s q q . ; Schon bauer, Anz. d. phil.-hist. Kl. d. ost. Akad. d. Wiss., 1949, N o . 1 7 ; id. Journ. fur. Pap. v i , 1952, 17 s q q . ; Taubenschlag, fourn. fur. Pap. v , 1951, 121 s q q . X«>/>[ts] rciv

[SeJSeiTi/ci'tov.

e

LATE ROMAN AND BYZANTINE

PERIOD

101

22

w a s p r o t e c t e d , n u m e r o u s I m p e r i a l e d i c t s i m p o s e d a series of p r o h i b i t i o n s affect i n g t h e p r i v a t e a n d social life of J e w s in v a r i o u s w a y s . I t w a s o n l y n a t u r a l t h a t , in s u c h c i r c u m s t a n c e s , J e w s s h o u l d c l i n g t o g e t h e r . T h u s e n d s t h e l o n g h i s t o r i c a l p r o c e s s w h i c h h a d a l r e a d y b e g u n i n t h e e a r l y R o m a n period. T h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y i n E g y p t u n d e r w e n t a p r o f o u n d c h a n g e , t u r n i n g definitely f r o m t h e G r a e c o - R o m a n f o r m of o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d a d o p t i n g t h e J e w i s h o n e . H e r e t h e p a p y r i g i v e u s t h e o p p o r t u n i t y of c o l l e c t i n g s o m e e v i d e n c e of t h i s n e w t y p e o f J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y i n E g y p t , b u t , significantly e n o u g h , these p a p y r i are w r i t t e n not in Greek b u t in Hebrew. I n 1905 s o m e s c r a p s of H e b r e w - w r i t t e n p a p y r i w e r e f o u n d b y Grenfell a n d H u n t in Oxyrhynchos, a n d Cowley, w h o edited them, dates them about A . D . 400. T h e m o s t v a l u a b l e f r a g m e n t c o n t a i n s a l e t t e r from a n u n k n o w n J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y ( p r o b a b l y s o m e w h e r e i n E g y p t ) t o a n o t h e r (perhaps t h e c o m m u n i t y of O x y r h y n c h o s ) , a n d runs a s follows: 2 3

24

F r o m the heads of the Kneseth [and from your brethren?] the members of t h e Kneseth which is in M [ . . . t o our R a b b i ? ] Anikhah, the head of the Kneseth, a n d t o the elders of the Kneseth and to [the whole] sacred Qahal which is[ in O x y r h y n c h o s ?]. Our prayers for your lives w[ill be ? . . . ] and for the health of your sons and d a u g h t e r s . . .] and the fulfilment] (?) of the commandments . . . . 2 S

A n o t h e r scrap, even more damaged, records a certain Ushiah ben-I(saak?) w r i t i n g a l e t t e r t o t h e ' h e a d s ' a n d t h e ' l e a d e r s ' of a n u n k n o w n c o m m u n i t y . T h e w o r d ' l e a d e r s ' i s e x p r e s s e d b y t h e G r e e k t e r m Trpoardrai w r i t t e n i n H e b r e w 'pDDO'nD. T h e s e t w o little s c r a p s r e v e a l s o m e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c f e a t u r e s of t h e n e w t y p e of J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y . F i r s t of a l l , t h e official t o n g u e u s e d i n t h e E g y p t i a n c o m m u n i t i e s w a s n o w H e b r e w . W e h a v e seen a b o v e (p. 3 1 ) t h a t i t is a m a t t e r of c o n t r o v e r s y b e t w e e n scholars w h e t h e r P h i l o , a l e a d i n g p e r s o n a g e i n 26

2 2

Cf. G. Ferrari dalle Spade, 'Privilegi degli Ebrei nell' Impero R o m a n o Cristiano', Festschr.f. L. Wenger, ii, 1945, 102 sqq. » T h e full list of these edicts, a s preserved in C. Theod. and C. Just., is given in chronological order b y Juster, i. 168, n. 3. T h e most important restriction was the exclusion of J e w s from military service and from all government offices. C. Th. 16. 8. 16 (A.D. 404): 'Ioudaeos e t Samaritanos . . . o m n i militia privandos esse censemus.' Nov. Th. 3, § 2 (A.D. 438): '. . . lege sancimus n e m i n e m J u d a e u m , neminem Samaritam, neutra lege cons t a n t e m a d honores et dignitates accedere, nulli administrationempaterecivilisobsequii....Cf. Juster, 11. 244 sqq. Cowley, 'Notes o n Hebrew Papyrus Fragm e n t s from Oxyrhynchos', JEA ii, 1915, 209 sqq. 2 4

«

Cowley, o p . c i t . , p . 210. Bodl. Libr., MS.

2]W W\ly>7\ 7rlpn 5 . PÎT? l m ^ S r ! 6

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' W.,t,, ' LPJ ™ p » CI17W71 7 . • • • rVrlXan [rVl]TBn 8. Cowley restores i n 1. 2 [ D N S ] » 3 W ; if this restoration is correct, t h e place in question should F u s t a t and the document should b e dated i n h Arab period, w h e n F u s t a t became the prinj i f E g y p t and was usually called b y j j i s h d o c u m e n t s QnXD. e t other restorations are also possible, e.g. rp]&3tf. Cf. J . Mann, The Jews in Egypt and in ^ p . L'cowley p . 212:

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PROLEGOMENA

102

t h e g r e a t e s t J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y of E g y p t i n t h e first c e n t u r y A . D . , h a d a n y k n o w l e d g e of H e b r e w . N o w , 400 y e a r s l a t e r , s o m e o b s c u r e l e a d e r s of t w o J e w i s h c o m m u n i t i e s i n t h e E g y p t i a n chora c a r r y o n t h e i r c o r r e s p o n d e n c e in H e b r e w . I t is w o r t h n o t i n g t h a t t h e S e m i t i c l a n g u a g e w h i c h t o o k t h e p l a c e of t h e G r e e k w a s not the vernacular Aramaic, widely used b y Jews everywhere and especially i n P a l e s t i n e , b u t H e b r e w , t h e h o l y l a n g u a g e of t h e S c r i p t u r e s , r a r e l y u s e d t h e n a s e v e r y d a y l a n g u a g e . I t a p p e a r s , t h e n , t h a t t h i s use of H e b r e w w a s n o t t h e re s u l t of c o m p e t i t i o n b e t w e e n t w o l i v i n g l a n g u a g e s , b u t a c o n s e q u e n c e of a c u l t u r a l m o v e m e n t , a i m i n g a t t h e a b o l i t i o n of foreign h a b i t s a n d t h e i r r e p l a c e m e n t b y a n a t i o n a l m o d e of life. T h e c e n t r e of t h i s m o v e m e n t w a s P a l e s t i n e , a s w i l l b e seen l a t e r (p. 1 0 6 ) . S e c o n d l y , t h e c h a n g e of t h e l a n g u a g e c a u s e d a c h a n g e in t h e t e r m i n o l o g y in use i n t h e c o m m u n i t y a n d i t s v a r i o u s o r g a n s . T h e H e b r e w p a p y r i q u o t e d a b o v e c a l l t h e c o m m u n i t y Kneseth; t h i s t e r m w a s u s e d in H e b r e w i n m a n y i d i o m s , s u c h as beth ha-kneseth ( s y n a g o g u e ) , Kneseth Israel (the c o n g r e g a t i o n of Israel, i.e. t h e entire J e w i s h n a t i o n ) , ha-Kneseth ha-gedolah (the G r e a t A s s e m b l y , a l l e g e d l y e s t a b l i s h e d b y E z r a ) , a n d t h i s w o r d possessed n a t i o n a l connotations familiar to every Jew. E v e n more importance must be attributed t o t h e t e r m ' h o l y c o n g r e g a t i o n ' (ha-qahal ha-qadosh), d i r e c t l y c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e v e r s e s of t h e B i b l e ( E x o d . 19. 6 a n d L e v . 19. i ) . I t is o b v i o u s t h a t t h e use of these t e r m s i n d i c a t e s a r e s u r g e n c e of n a t i o n a l feeling in t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t i e s , w h i c h w a s l a c k i n g w h e n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l G r e e k t e r m s , s u c h as politeuma, or synagoge, w e r e u s e d . Y e t it is w o r t h n o t i n g t h a t e v e n i n t h i s p e r i o d of J e w i s h n a t i o n a l r e v i v a l t h e G r e e k t e r m Trpoardrai is still u s e d for ' l e a d e r s ' of t h e c o m m u n i t y , t h o u g h t h e t r a d i t i o n a l H e b r e w ' Z e k e n i m ' , elders, is also used. A n o t h e r i t e m w h i c h d e s e r v e s o u r a t t e n t i o n in t h i s c o n n e x i o n is t h e m e n t i o n of B i b l i c a l c o m m a n d m e n t s (DYlÊ) i n a n official l e t t e r f r o m one J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y t o another. 2 7

T h e c o n t e n t s of t h e H e b r e w p a p y r i are n o t r i c h e n o u g h t o g i v e u s a c l e a r p i c t u r e of t h e i n n e r s t r u c t u r e of a J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y i n E g y p t d u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d . I t s e e m s possible t h a t t h e c o m m u n i t y c o n s i s t e d of a class of r u l i n g p e r s o n a g e s , c a l l e d ' h e a d s ' , ' e l d e r s ' , or ' l e a d e r s ' , a n d one of c o m m o n p e o p l e , c a l l e d s i m p l y ' m e m b e r s of t h e K n e s e t h ' (nOlDH ^ll) o r ' t h e h o l y c o n g r e g a t i o n ' . 28

2 7

For the use of the term Kneseth for Jewish

communities

in

Palestine

cf.

Elbogen,

Der

fudische Gotlesdienst, 3. Aufl., 482 sqq. T h e term 'holy congregation' ( W " 7 j ?

tfVnj?) for

members

of Jewish communities is familiar from the prayer

Sefer h a - Y i s h u v 1. 88 (in Hebrew). Cf. Baramki and A v i - Y o n a h , QDAP,

vi. 73 s q q . ; J. Baer, Zion,

x v , 1950, 9 sq. (in Hebrew). I n the T a l m u d 'the holy congregation of Jerusalem'

(WHp

D ^ E n T m ) is mentioned (b. Berakhoth 9b; b.

IpHID Dip"*, k n o w n to u s from Gaonic t i m e s : y e t

B e z a h 27a), but it is probable t h a t the 'congrega

the roots of this prayer seem to be m u c h earlier.

t i o n ' here means the academy of the Rabbis and

A n inscription from A p a m e a in Syria, CIJ

not the Jewish c o m m u n i t y of J e r u s a l e m ;

804,

dated as early as the end of the fourth century uses the term 'holy congregation', in its Greek trans lation :

TO

T)yiaauivov

irXrjdos.

Cf. Schwabe,

Inscription of the Synagogue of Apamea,

An

Qedem,

cf.

Baer, op. cit., 10, n. 29. 2 8

T h e heads of the Alexandrian c o m m u n i t y in

A.D. 415 are called b y Sokrates (H.E. irpcorevomes;

7. 13)

t h e y were, probably, the direct suc

i. 92 (Hebrew). A n inscription of a synagogue in

cessors of the r/yovuevoi,

Jericho, dated approximately in the fifth century,

Hellenistic-Roman period. For the internal or

1

starts w i t h t h e following w o r d s : 3 D ?

.rwftip

nbnp

nvb

"[TDT

provm •nrr

or the 'elders', of t h e

ganization of Jewish communities in the Tal m u d i c period cf. Baron, The fewish

See

i. 133 sqq.

Community,

LATE

ROMAN AND BYZANTINE

PERIOD

103

B u t w e d o n o t k n o w t h e f u n c t i o n s of t h e former, a n d t h e d u t i e s a n d r i g h t s of t h e l a t t e r , o r w h e t h e r t h e w h o l e o r g a n i z a t i o n w a s a r i s t o c r a t i c or d e m o c r a t i c . A r o u n d A . D . 600 w e find s o m e a t t e m p t s t o u n d e r m i n e t h e f u n d a m e n t a l p r i n ciple of J e w i s h n a t i o n a l a u t o n o m y . U n d e r t h e E m p e r o r M a u r i k i o s ( A . D . 582602) c a s e s of forcible b a p t i s m s of J e w s o c c u r , a n d i n A . D . 632 a c o m p u l s o r y c o n v e r s i o n of J e w s w a s p r o c l a i m e d b y H e r a k l i o s . T h e r e is s o m e e v i d e n c e f r o m Carthage and elsewhere t h a t Heraklios' decree w a s actually enforced. In the l i g h t of t h i s e v i d e n c e , a C h r i s t i a n l e g e n d of t h e c o n v e r s i o n of t h e e n t i r e J e w i s h p o p u l a t i o n (375 persons) of t h e t o w n of T o m e i i n L o w e r E g y p t w o u l d a p p e a r t o b e b a s e d o n f a c t , t h o u g h m a n y d e t a i l s of t h e s t o r y c a n n o t b e a c c e p t e d a s historically accurate. It remains an open question whether Jews in the early B y z a n t i n e age h a d to p a y a special t a x . A l l t a x e s imposed on J e w s b y previous E m p e r o r s were a b o l i s h e d b y J u l i a n . I t is g e n e r a l l y a g r e e d t h a t t h e C h r i s t i a n E m p e r o r s after J u l i a n re-enforced p a y m e n t of all s u c h t a x e s , a n d a l t h o u g h n o a d e q u a t e e v i d e n c e h a s b e e n offered i n s u p p o r t of t h i s s u p p o s i t i o n , i t s e e m s t o b e r e a s o n a b l e . W e do not k n o w when the 'Jewish tax', established b y Vespasian, w a s abolished (see a b o v e , p . 8 1 , n o t e 64), b u t w e c a n h a r d l y b e l i e v e t h a t i t w a s a b o l i s h e d w i t h o u t b e i n g r e p l a c e d b y t h e i m p o s i t i o n of o t h e r financial o b l i g a t i o n s u p o n t h e J e w s : n e i t h e r t h e s t a t e of t h e I m p e r i a l fiscus n o r t h e a t t i t u d e of t h e C h r i s t i a n 29

30

31

2 9

J. Starr, fPOS x v , 1935, 283, 288 s q . ; id. JQR x x x v i i i , 1947/8, 97 s q q . ; cf. Krauss, Studien z. byz.-jud. Gesch. 1914, 22. 3 0

For the conversion of the J e w s of Tomei see R. Griveau, 'Histoire de la Conversion des Juifs habitant la ville de T o m e i en E g y p t e ' , Rev. de I'Orient Chre't., 2 Serie, t. iii (xiii), 1908, 298 sqq. W e are told b y the author of the legend t h a t the conversion took place as the result of a debate o n religious matters b e t w e e n J e w s and Christian m o n k s . It was the pious hope of t h e Christian Church t o convert J e w s b y m e a n s of debates, b u t it seldom succeeded. So it is probable t h a t here t o o the author w a s influenced b y his wishes rather t h a n b y t h e historical evidence. Cf. for this sort of literature Parkes, The Conflict of the Church and the Synagogue, 283 sqq. T h e e v e n t took place in the s e v e n t h century, b u t the exact d a t e c a n n o t be established, since t h e chrono logy of t h e author is very confused. F r o m 616 till 627 E g y p t w a s occupied b y Persians and it is hard t o believe t h a t a t a t i m e w h e n t h e Christians were in a state of debasement a Jewish c o m m u n i t y should willingly join the Christian Church. It is possible t h a t t h e conversion took place before 616. B u t it is more likely t h a t the conversion of the J e w s of T o m e i w a s the result of the above-mentioned decree of Heraklios and t o o k place (probably as the result of compulsion) in the short period between the years 634 and 641. T h e author himself dates the e v e n t in 'year e

347 of the martyrs', i.e. A.D. 631, which is close t o t h e date of Heraklios' decree. W e m a y imagine t h a t t h e s y m p a t h i e s felt b y J e w s towards t h e Persians resulted, after 627, in a persecution of E g y p t i a n J e w s b y the Church, similar t o Hera klios' persecution of t h e J e w s of Palestine. For t h e attitude of the J e w s towards t h e Persians (and later towards t h e Arabs) see Butler, o p . cit. 59, n. 2 ; Krauss, op. cit. 24 s q q . ; J . Starr, fPOS x v , 1935, 285 sqq. 3 1

Juster, ii. 286; J. Starr, The fews in the Byzantine Empire, 1939, p . 1 1 ; cf. id. 93, n. 14. For t h e question whether J e w s h a d t o p a y a special poll-tax in t h e B y z a n t i n e Empire after 641, see Dolger, Viert. f. Soz. u. Wirtsch. Gesch. x x v i , 1933, 1 s q q . ; Andreades, Melanges Diehl, 93°? i» 7 A' 5 Starr, o p . cit. 93, n. 14. T h e papyrus N o . 506 cannot serve as evidence of J e w s p a y i n g poll-tax in the fifth c e n t u r y , since t h e abbreviations Ke<j>( ) 'IovS( ) are n o t t o be interpreted as m e a n i n g a poll-tax. Cf. infra, p . 106. Stronger evidence m a y be seen in the presence of a n u n k n o w n number (allegedly 40,000) of 'tributary J e w s ' in Alexandria at t h e m o m e n t of the Arab conquest (see a b o v e , p . 100, n o t e 19). After the conquest, all non-Muslim inhabitants of E g y p t had t o p a y a poll-tax (the D j i z y a ) ; w h y , t h e n , should 'Amr m e n t i o n only J e w s as 'tributary' ? T h e m o s t obvious answer is t h a t J e w s were tributary before t h e conquest. I

so

104

PROLEGOMENA

rulers t o w a r d s t h e J e w s are l i k e l y t o h a v e p e r m i t t e d s u c h b e n e v o l e n c e . I t is p r o b a b l e t h a t t h e o l o g i c a l j u s t i f i c a t i o n s w e r e f o u n d for t h e n e w t a x e s i m p o s e d o n J e w s . W e t u r n t o t h e e c o n o m i c a s p e c t of J e w i s h life. T h e n a t i o n a l c a t a s t r o p h e of A . D . 1 1 5 - 1 7 d e p r i v e d t h e E g y p t i a n J e w s of a n y p o s s i b i l i t y of e s t a b l i s h i n g t h e m s e l v e s i n t h e i r p r e v i o u s o c c u p a t i o n s since t h e i r v e r y l i v e s w e r e n o t safe. O n l y t o w a r d s t h e e n d of t h e t h i r d a n d t h e b e g i n n i n g of t h e f o u r t h c e n t u r i e s d o w e find J e w s a g a i n e n g a g e d i n v a r i o u s professions. T h e p a p y r i m e n t i o n J e w i s h p e a s a n t s ( N o s . 4 7 0 - 1 , 474, 476), a d o n k e y - d r i v e r ( N o . 472), a g u a r d ( N o . 475), a n d e v e n a n official ( N o . 477). F u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e i r e c o n o m i c a c t i v i t y w a s s e r i o u s l y h a m p e r e d b y t h e h a r s h c o n d i t i o n s c r e a t e d in E g y p t , a s e l s e w h e r e i n t h e E m p i r e , b y t h e n e w e p o c h , e s p e c i a l l y b y t h e h o s t i l e a t t i t u d e of t h e C h u r c h , p e r c e p t i b l e i n t h e e c o n o m i c field a s i n e v e r y o t h e r , a n d b y t h e entire r e c o n s t r u c t i o n of s o c i a l life, s l o w l y c h a n g i n g i t s c h a r a c t e r f r o m t h e ' H e l l e n i s t i c - R o m a n ' m o d e of life t o t h e ' m e d i e v a l ' . T h e p e r s o n a l l i b e r t y of t h e c o m m o n m a n w a s c o n s i d e r a b l y r e s t r i c t e d ; p e a s a n t s w e r e b o u n d t o t h e soil, t h e decuriones t o t h e i r c i t y c o u n c i l s , m e r c h a n t s a n d a r t i s a n s t o t h e i r collegia, t h e soldiers t o t h e a r m y , a n d s o o n . T h e R o m a n E m p i r e b e c a m e a 'totalitarian' s t a t e : its principle w a s the general b o n d a g e of t h e w h o l e p o p u l a t i o n of t h e E m p i r e t o t h e S t a t e . I n t h i s S t a t e - s l a v e r y , o n l y t h r e e classes w e r e c o m p a r a t i v e l y f r e e : t h e c l e r g y , t h e g r e a t officials of t h e E m p e r o r , a n d t h e r i c h l a n d o w n e r s . I n t h i s n e w s o c i e t y , w i t h i t s r i g i d differen t i a t i o n b e t w e e n o n e c l a s s a n d a n o t h e r , t h e r e w a s n o p l a c e for a foreign e l e m e n t , such as the Jews. T h e n e w laws prohibited J e w s from entering the a r m y or the c i v i l s e r v i c e ; t h e collegia of m e r c h a n t s a n d a r t i s a n s w e r e h a r d l y l i k e l y t o a d m i t new members w h o were not favoured b y the government and the C h u r c h ; the cities h a d refused J e w s a d m i t t a n c e t o t h e r a n k s of t h e i r c i t i z e n s e v e n i n t h e p r e v i o u s p e r i o d , a n d n o w t h a t m e m b e r s h i p of t h e c i t y c o u n c i l h a d b e c o m e a n intolerable burden, the J e w s themselves were probably anxious to a v o i d this d u b i o u s ' h o n o u r ' . O f c o u r s e t h e r e w a s n o p o s s i b i l i t y of t h e i r p e n e t r a t i n g t h e r a n k s of t h e rich l a n d o w n e r s , w h o w e r e a l l e i t h e r h i g h officials of t h e l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t , m e n of t h e c o u r t , o r influential c i t i z e n s . A s t h i n g s w e r e , i t is n o t sur p r i s i n g t h a t p a p y r i a n d o t h e r s o u r c e s d o n o t p r o v i d e e v i d e n c e of t h e e c o n o m i c a c t i v i t y of J e w s i n t h e e a r l y B y z a n t i n e a g e . 3 2

33

34

35

I t is, t h e n , r e m a r k a b l e t h a t a h u n d r e d y e a r s after t h e i r e x p u l s i o n w e find t h e J e w s of A l e x a n d r i a a g a i n rich a n d influential. O n e of t h e m , U r b i b , Judaeus quidam opulentus, is s a i d t o h a v e d i s t r i b u t e d f o o d t o t h e A l e x a n d r i a n p o p u l a t i o n 3 2

In t h e dialogue De altercatione Ecclesiae et Synagogae t h e Church tries t o demonstrate t h a t t h e s y n a g o g u e became a n ancilla of the Church. One of t h e arguments r u n s : T r i b u t u m mihi solvis' (PL xiii. 1133). So it s e e m s t h a t the J e w i s h t a x w a s interpreted as a n obligation on t h e part of the J e w i s h people t o p a y tribute t o t h e Christian Church. 3 3

See for t h e general character of t h e early B y z a n t i n e period Comb. Med. Hist. i. 543 s q q . ; Piganiol, VEmpire Chretien, 1947, 275 s q q . ; E . Stein, Gesch. d. Spdtrdmischen Reiches, i. 1 sqq. 3 4

T h e desire t o e v a d e municipal office w a s

well expressed b y a Palestinian R a b b i of t h e third century, R. Johanan b . N a p a h a , of T i b e r i a s : 'if y o u h a v e been elected t o t h e c i t y council, m a k e t h e Jordan your neighbour' ( j . Mo'ed Qat. 2. 81b). This flight into t h e deserts (dvax(aAcua>Tr)s) 'iouS(cuW), t h e t e r m m a y , p e r h a p s , b e i n t e r p r e t e d as m e a n i n g a f o r e m a n of a n a s s o c i a t i o n of J e w i s h t r a d e r s or a r t i s a n s , a l t h o u g h t h e t e r m /ccâAaicor^? h a s m a n y different m e a n i n g s (see n o t e s t o N o . 5 0 6 ) . W h e n w e h a v e a d d e d a refer e n c e t o a J e w i s h d y e r f r o m A n t i n o o p o l i s t o t h i s list ( N o . 5 1 1 ) , o u r i n f o r m a t i o n o n J e w i s h e c o n o m i c c o n d i t i o n s in B y z a n t i n e E g y p t c o m e s t o a n e n d . We had

h a v e a l r e a d y s t a t e d t h a t t h e c u l t u r a l a s p e c t of t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t i e s

altered, a n d t h a t faithfulness t o the ancient Jewish traditions h a d super

s e d e d t h e earlier i n c l i n a t i o n t o w a r d s H e l l e n i s m . T h e H e b r e w p a p y r i a l r e a d y q u o t e d a d d f u r t h e r e v i d e n c e of t h i s r e t u r n t o t h e n a t i o n a l t r a d i t i o n : in a f r a g m e n t a q u o t a t i o n of M i c a h 6. 7 is p r e s e r v e d , a n d a n o t h e r f r a g m e n t a p p e a r s t o refer t o M i s h n a Y o m a .

4 2

T h i s l a t t e r e v i d e n c e is p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t e r e s t i n g ,

since

i t a t t e s t s s o m e influence of T a l m u d i c J u d a i s m o n E g y p t i a n J e w r y . I t is n o t surprising t h a t t h i s s h o u l d b e so, since f r o m t h e s e c o n d c e n t u r y A . D . t h e r e w a s s t e a d y correspondence a n d intercourse b e t w e e n the Palestinian R a b b i s and the E g y p t i a n Jews. Once again Jewish Palestine, though debased and politically i m p o t e n t , e x e r t e d g r e a t influence on t h e J e w i s h d i a s p o r a , t h i s t i m e s h a p i n g t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y a c c o r d i n g t o n e w p r i n c i p l e s of J u d a i s m , as l a i d d o w n b y t h e T a l m u d i c a u t h o r i t i e s . W e are t o l d b y t h e T a l m u d : ' T w e l v e q u e s t i o n s w e r e set by

t h e A l e x a n d r i a n s b e f o r e R . J o s h u ' a b . H a n a n i j a h : t h r e e (on m a t t e r s )

of

w i s d o m , t h r e e (on m a t t e r s ) of A g g a d a h , t h r e e ( b e c a u s e of their) i g n o r a n c e , a n d t h r e e (on m a t t e r s ) of h a b i t ' .

4 3

S o m e R a b b i s , s u c h as R . J o h a n a n h a - S a n d l a r ,

H a n a n 'the E g y p t i a n ' , a n d R . Z a k k a i , h a d b e e n b o r n i n A l e x a n d r i a , a n d i t m a y b e s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h e y m a i n t a i n e d b o n d s of f r i e n d s h i p w i t h t h e A l e x a n d r i a n Jews.

4 4

A t t h e b e g i n n i n g of t h e f o u r t h c e n t u r y t h e P a l e s t i n i a n A m o r a , R . A b a h u ,

v i s i t e d A l e x a n d r i a ; a n o t h e r A m o r a , R . J o s i , w r o t e responsa t o t h e A l e x a n d r i a n s on questions regarding feasts;

and a third A m o r a , R . T a n h u m b. P a p a , had

his t e m p o r a r y d o m i c i l e in A l e x a n d r i a a n d f r o m t h e r e c o n s u l t e d R . J o s i o n t h e

halakhic q u e s t i o n s .

45

4 1

Cf. H a r d y , o p . c i t . 53. Cowley, JEA ii. 211. T h e passage in question is M. Y o m a 3. 8-4. 1 ; y e t it does n o t seem t o b e an exact quotation from t h e Mishna. I t is more likely that t h e mutilated passage of the papyrus belongs t o some parallel t e x t discussing, as does Mishna Y o m a 3-4, t h e ancient liturgy for t h e D a y of A t o n e m e n t , a s it w a s performed b y t h e high priest in t h e d a y s of the Second Temple. 4 2

« B . N i d d a h 69b: frx® U*m

, r r a n - p swirr "a-i m

'WSrD'W

x m a o D ^ x "wax

•"flN - p i

'J ,rn"TD A question of the

Alexandrians t o R . Joshu'a b . Hananijah is mentioned also in M. N e g a ' i m 14.13. R . Joshu'a b . Hananijah flourished a t t h e beginning of t h e second century A.D. R . Johanan ha-Sandlar (2nd c e n t u r y ) : j . H a g i g a h , 3. 78^; H a n a n 'the E g y p t i a n ' (2nd c e n t u r y ) : b . Sanhedrin 17&; R . Zakkai (an A m o r a ) : j . Y e b a m o t h 7. 8b; j . K e t h u b o t h 4. 28d; j . 'Abodah Zarah 2. 42a. J . 'Erubin 3. 21c; j . Qiddushin 3. 64^. 4 4

4 5

LATE

ROMAN

AND BYZANTINE

107

PERIOD

T h e s e n u m e r o u s e x a m p l e s of s t e a d y c u l t u r a l i n t e r c o u r s e b e t w e e n A l e x a n d r i a n J e w r y a n d t h e T a l m u d i c a u t h o r i t i e s of P a l e s t i n e reflect t h e c h a n g e in t h e m a n ners of life a n d t h o u g h t of t h e E g y p t i a n J e w s . T h e s t r i v i n g s of t h e E g y p t i a n J e w s t o w a r d s H e l l e n i s m h a d v a n i s h e d . P h i l o is t h e l a s t J e w i s h a u t h o r i n A l e x a n d r i a n l i t e r a t u r e ; s o m e o c c a s i o n a l a t t e m p t s t o c o m p o s e in G r e e k m a d e b y t h e A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s of t h e l a t e R o m a n p e r i o d are t o o i n s i g n i f i c a n t , b o t h in s t y l e and content, to be worth c o m m e n t .

4 6

I n the B y z a n t i n e period e v e r y t e n d e n c y

t o w a r d s H e l l e n i s m w a s c h e c k e d , n o t o n l y b y t h e influence of J e w i s h n a t i o n a l i s m , but

also b e c a u s e H e l l e n i s m itself h a d lost i t s earlier s u p r e m a c y i n E g y p t . T h e

m o s t c o n s p i c u o u s p h e n o m e n o n in t h e c u l t u r a l life of B y z a n t i n e E g y p t is t h e rise of E g y p t i a n n a t i o n a l i s m , r e v e a l i n g itself first i n t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n of t h e C o p t i c C h u r c h , a n d l a t e r in t h e c r e a t i o n of a s p e c i a l t r e n d in C h r i s t i a n t h e o l o g y , k n o w n a s t h e M o n o p h i s i t e d o c t r i n e . T h e r e g e n e r a t i o n of t h e E g y p t i a n l a n g u a g e , t h e use of C o p t i c w r i t i n g , t h e a p p e a r a n c e of t h e a n c h o r i t e s of t h e T h e b a i d , t h e e r e c t i o n of n u m e r o u s m o n a s t e r i e s , t h e M o n o p h i s i t e C h u r c h , t h e s t u b b o r n o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e g o v e r n m e n t in C o n s t a n t i n o p l e — a l l a t t e s t t h e u n p r e c e d e n t e d a n d v i g o r o u s regeneration

of t h e

old E g y p t i a n nation,

strongly opposed

to

Hellenism.

4 7

A m o n g t h e J e w s t h i s r e n a s c e n c e of E g y p t i a n n a t i o n a l i s m c o u l d n o t e v o k e a n y s y m p a t h i e s . H e l l e n i s m w a s a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l c u l t u r e of h i g h i m p o r t a n c e , e x t r e m e l y a t t r a c t i v e to the intelligent, b u t C o p t i c nationalism w a s too narrow a n d o n e - s i d e d t o h a v e a n y influence o n J e w s , w h o h a d , b e s i d e s , n e v e r b e e n o n g o o d t e r m s w i t h t h e n a t i v e p o p u l a t i o n of E g y p t (see a b o v e , p . 63, n. 33). B e s i d e s , t h e C o p t i c m o v e m e n t w a s c o n n e c t e d as c l o s e l y as possible w i t h t h e C h r i s t i a n C h u r c h : it f o u n d its e x t r e m e e x p r e s s i o n in f a n a t i c a l f a i t h f u l n e s s t o C h r i s t i a n i t y , p r e v i o u s l y in t h e o r t h o d o x , a n d l a t e r in t h e M o n o p h i s i t i c f o r m . T h u s w e see

that

t h e c o m b i n a t i o n of t h e c u l t u r a l d e v e l o p m e n t of E g y p t w i t h J e w i s h n a t i o n a l i n f l u e n c e l e d t o t h e c o n s o l i d a t i o n a n d c u l t u r a l s e g r e g a t i o n of E g y p t i a n J e w r y . Any

a t t e m p t t o m a k e a close s t u d y of t h e c u l t u r a l a s p e c t of B y z a n t i n e J e w r y

i n E g y p t m a y b e r e g a r d e d as hopeless. S o m e f e w f e a t u r e s o n l y m a y b e t r a c e d . The

m o s t s t r i k i n g , t h e r e v i v a l of t h e H e b r e w l a n g u a g e , h a s a l r e a d y b e e n m e n

t i o n e d in c o n n e x i o n w i t h t h e n e w o r g a n i z a t i o n of t h e c o m m u n i t i e s ; w e m a y n o w quote some additional evidence.

F i r s t , H e b r e w b e g i n s t o r e p l a c e G r e e k in

religious c o n n e x i o n s . A H e b r e w p a p y r u s , k n o w n as P . N a s h , c o n t a i n s t h e t e x t of t h e T e n C o m m a n d m e n t s a n d t h e p r a y e r of ' S h e m a ' I s r a e l ' . 4 6

Such are, e.g., some fragments of the fourth and t h e fifth book of the 'Oracle of the Sybilla'. For the regeneration of the E g y p t i a n nation in B y z a n t i n e times see, e.g., J . Leipoldt, Schenute 4 7

von Atripe Ckristentums,

und die Entstekung 1903;

d.

Hardy,

national-dgyptisch. Christian

Egypt,

passim. P . N a s h w a s first edited b y Cook in Proc. Soc. Bibl. Arch., 1903. T h e date of t h e papyrus w a s variously fixed. T h e editor himself p u t t h e P . N a s h in the second century A.D., and this date, or t h e first century A.D., h a d been c o m m o n l y accepted. Y e t Albright (JBL l v i , 1937,145 sqq.) suggested on purely palaeographic grounds a m u c h earlier date v i z . t h e H a s m o n e a n period. 4 8

4 8

W e are t o l d b y

The discovery of t h e D e a d Sea Scrolls led t o a renewed investigation of P . N a s h . T h e Hel lenistic period seems n o w t o be c o m m o n l y ac cepted, especially the end of it, as suggested b y Albright himself and b y m a n y others. I a m n o t sure whether palaeographic evidence only m a y be decisive i n this particular case, taking into con sideration 'the paucity of epigraphic and palaeo graphic evidence for Hebrew during the last cen turies B.C. and the early centuries A.D.' (Trever, BASOR cxiii, F e b . 1949, 6). Trever places t h e D e a d Sea Scrolls 'quite clearly about 200 B.C. t o a b o u t 200 A.D.' (ibid. 17 sqq.), a very long period indeed, fitting practically every possible dating of P . N a s h . A s to the D e a d Sea Scrolls themselves,

PROLEGOMENA

io8

t h e T a l m u d ( M . T a m i d 5 . 1 ) t h a t in t h e l i t u r g y of t h e S e c o n d T e m p l e t h e p r a y e r of Shema* w a s p r e c e d e d b y t h e r e c i t a t i o n of t h e T e n C o m m a n d m e n t s , a n d t h i s c u s t o m w a s r e t a i n e d for s o m e t i m e a f t e r t h e d e s t r u c t i o n of t h e T e m p l e .

4 9

We

d o n o t k n o w w h e t h e r t h i s s m a l l p a p y r u s w a s c o p i e d b y a n E g y p t i a n J e w for h i s p r i v a t e use or w h e t h e r i t w a s c o p i e d for p u b l i c r e c i t a t i o n in a s y n a g o g u e ; w h a t e v e r t h e r e a s o n , i t a t t e s t s t h e p e n e t r a t i o n of t h e H e b r e w l a n g u a g e

into

J e w i s h religious life. T h i s m a y also b e inferred f r o m t w o i n s c r i p t i o n s in H e b r e w belonging t o t h e same period (presumably t h e second century), one on a t o m b a n d t h e o t h e r o n t h e m u m m y c a s e of a w o m a n .

5 0

Secondly, the Hebrew lan

g u a g e c a m e i n t o u s e for l i t e r a r y p u r p o s e s . A l t h o u g h E g y p t i a n J e w r y of t h e l a t e r R o m a n a n d B y z a n t i n e a g e d o n o t a p p e a r t o h a v e c o n t r i b u t e d a n y t h i n g of v a l u e t o H e b r e w l i t e r a t u r e , w e see f r o m s o m e s c r a p s of H e b r e w p a p y r i t h a t t h e l i t e r a t u r e of t h e piyutim

w a s k n o w n in E g y p t .

5 1

Finally, we note t h a t H e b r e w was

u s e d in B y z a n t i n e E g y p t e v e n in p r i v a t e l e t t e r s .

we m u s t bear i n mind t h a t their dating cannot as y e t b e considered a s certain, since every n e w discovery m a y change t h e results achieved b y n o w . 'Under these circumstances palaeography can establish only a general range of possibilities, w i t h some elasticity a t b o t h ends. I t cannot, however, b e stretched t o o far. T o allow a range of more

than

about

two

centuries

[the

italics

are

mine, V . T . ] is t o defy definite, objective evi dence' (Burrows, BASOR cxxii. 4 sqq.). I n v i e w of t h i s very cautious attitude of the palaeographs themselves, I see no decisive grounds t o place the composition of P . N a s h a t t h e Hellenistic period, and I should prefer t h e previous dating, i.e. t h e first or the second centuries A.D., t h e more s o as historical evidence seems t o suggest a later date (see t h e n e x t note). F r o m t h e abundant literature on P . N a s h w e m a y q u o t e : Burkitt, JQR x v , 1903, 392 s q q . ; J . L e v i , REJ x l v i , 1903, 212 s q q . ; Al b r i g h t , JBL Oct.

l v i , 1937,145 s q q . ; id., BASOR

1949, 10 s q q . ; S e g a l , Leshonenu,

cxv,

x v , 27 s q q .

(Hebrew). 4 9

J . Berakhoth 1. 3c; b . Berakhoth 12a. Since the historical reminiscences of t h e Talmud con cerning t h e Temple refer i n the u t m o s t cases t o the last decades of t h e T e m p l e , t h e Talmudic evidence in this case h a s i t s value essentially a s referring t o t h e first century A.D. I t m a y b e plausibly suggested t h a t after A.D. 70 the custom t o recite t h e T e n Commandments before Shema' was generally accepted in all synagogues. T h e usage w a s abolished in t h e second century i n order that the Minim should n o t argue t h a t only the T e n Commandments were given o n Mount S i n a i : j . Berakhoth 1. $c. Cf. Burkitt, o p . c i t . 398; J . Levi, o p . cit. 214; Baron, The Jewish Community, i. 1 2 1 ; iii. 21, n. 4. This abolition can n o t s e r v e a s a terminus

ante

quern

for t h e

com

5 2

position of P . N a s h , since t h e prohibition p u b lished i n Palestine could easily be. ignored, or b e u n k n o w n , in E g y p t ; cf. Levi, o p . cit. 217. 5 0

T h e inscription on the t o m b is from Antinoo-

p o l i s ; cf. CIJ 1534: .1TX77 [ p T ) 7 D T2j? m] D^nn

THXa

ma T h e inscription o n t h e

,rnttDn HTWO dVis7 «nV nnaro , m : w » Vs? dttb (cij 1536).

mummy

runs

a s follows:

W e h a v e , t o be sure, n o right t o infer from these s c a n t y instances t h a t all Jewish t o m b in scriptions in E g y p t , or even t h e major part of t h e m , h a v e been composed a t this period in Hebrew. T h e excavations in t h e Necropolis o f B e t h She'arim h a v e shown t h a t e v e n i n Pales tine, under the spiritual guidance of the R a b b i s , t h e great majority of t o m b inscriptions were c o m p o s e d in Greek. Cf.

B.

Maisler, Beth

She'arim,

1944, 114 ( H e b r e w ) ; CIJ 993-1161. 5 1

I n 1922 some fragments o f Hebrew a n d Aramaic papyri were found b y Flinders Petrie in Oxyrhynchos. After t h e papyri h a d been p u b lished it w a s stated that some of t h e m belong t o the literature of the piyutim, written as early a s the second or t h e beginning of t h e third century A.D. Cf. Hirschfeld, Jewish

Guardian,

9. 6 . 1 9 2 2 ;

L o e w e , JTS x x i v , 1923, 126 s q q . ; L e v i n , Jew. Guard. 1923, N o . 185, p . 9 ; Thackeray, ibid., N o . 182, p . 6; Arbuthnot, ibid., N o . 190, p . 7 ; N e p p i Modona, Aeg. iv. 31 sqq., 125 s q q . ; D e Boer, Vetus Testamentum, i, 1951, 49 sqq. According t o Birnb a u m (cf. D e Boer, o p . cit. 57, n. 1) the fragments belong t o t h e fourth century. Other piyutim were found o n a Hebrew papyrus from O x y r h y n c h o s in 1897 a n d published b y Cowley in JQR x v i , 1904, 1 sqq. 5 2

A m o n g t h e Hebrew papyri published b y Cowley i n JQR x v i . 1 sqq. there is o n e ( N o . 4)

LATE

ROMAN

AND BYZANTINE

PERIOD

F u r t h e r e v i d e n c e of n a t i o n a l r e g e n e r a t i o n is f u r n i s h e d b y t h e n a m e s of t h e J e w s . T h e y are n o w B i b l i c a l , a s w e m i g h t h a v e e x p e c t e d ; b u t i t is w o r t h n o t i n g t h a t t h e y are n o l o n g e r s p e l l e d in t h e G r e e k w a y , b u t t r a n s l i t e r a t e d , a s c l o s e l y a s p o s s i b l e , f r o m t h e H e b r e w f o r m of t h e w o r d .

5 3

T h e s e f o r m s , i t is t r u e , h a d

a l r e a d y b e e n u s e d in t h e S e p t u a g i n t ; y e t t h e r e s e e m s n o g o o d r e a s o n w h y t h e S e p t u a g i n t s h o u l d s u d d e n l y influence t h e f o r m s of J e w i s h n a m e s in t h e B y z a n t i n e p e r i o d , w h e n i t h a d n o s u c h influence in t h e H e l l e n i s t i c a n d R o m a n a g e s . The

m o s t p l a u s i b l e e x p l a n a t i o n s e e m s t o b e t h a t t h e r e v i v a l of t h e H e b r e w

l a n g u a g e w a s a c c o m p a n i e d b y t h e use of B i b l i c a l n a m e s in t h e i r o r i g i n a l f o r m , w h i c h w e r e n o w m o r e f a m i l i a r t o J e w s t h a n t h e earlier H e l l e n i s t i c

ones.

5 4

T h e a t t i t u d e of t h e B y z a n t i n e J e w s t o t h e use of H e l l e n i s t i c - R o m a n l a w c a n only be guessed at, y e t the a b o v e mentioned quotation from the Mishna Y o m a , a n d t h e m e n t i o n of B i b l i c a l c o m m a n d m e n t s (I)

in t h e l e t t e r f r o m t h e ' h e a d

of t h e K n e s e t h ' (p. 1 0 1 ) , s u g g e s t t h a t m e m b e r s of J e w i s h c o m m u n i t i e s w e r e n o w b o u n d b y J e w i s h l a w . T h i s b e i n g so, t h e y p r o b a b l y t r i e d t o a v o i d referring t o a S t a t e office or a n official t r i b u n a l w h e n e v e r t h e m a t t e r c o u l d b e s e t t l e d w i t h i n the c o m m u n i t y itself.

55

Nevertheless, w e c a n n o t s a y t h a t the J e w s w i t h d r e w t h e m s e l v e s into a real g h e t t o , a n d t h a t all s o c i a l i n t e r c o u r s e w i t h n o n - J e w s w a s f o r b i d d e n or r e g a r d e d a s a n t a g o n i s t i c t o t h e n e w J e w i s h w a y of life. A l e x a n d r i a n J e w s p a r t i c i p a t e d in t h e g e n e r a l life of t h e t o w r a n d e v e n t o o k p a r t in p o l i t i c a l a c t i o n a g a i n s t t h e C a t h o l i c C h u r c h . T h e F a t h e r s of t h e C h u r c h t e l l u s t h a t J e w s in v a r i o u s p a r t s of t h e E m p i r e w e r e also k n o w n a s f r e q u e n t a n d e v e n f e r v e n t t h e a t r e - g o e r s .

5 6

I n r e c e n t y e a r s t h e t h e o r y h a s b e e n a d v a n c e d t h a t e v e n P a l e s t i n i a n J e w r y of t h e T a l m u d i c period w a s influenced b y the Hellenistic e n v i r o n m e n t t o a far greater extent than has hitherto been believed.

5 7

T h i s question cannot now be discussed;

t h e i n t e n t i o n here is t o e m p h a s i z e t h a t a s e g r e g a t i o n of t h e J e w s of E g y p t f r o m t h e i r e n v i r o n m e n t w a s n o t c o m p l e t e , t h o u g h a l l t h e t e n d e n c i e s of b o t h t h e J e w i s h a n d t h e n o n - J e w i s h w o r l d s w e r e in f a v o u r of s u c h a s e g r e g a t i o n . containing a private letter from Eliezer b . Josi (nOV p pns-

,

ITS'?) t o R . J a c o b b . Isaac ( 3 p » » 2 H

virep

'Evwx, 'Iovdfi are used n o w instead of the names of the Ptole maic or early R o m a n a g e ending usually in - o s or - i s . 5

3

'IOOLK,

Nadav,

Naovu,

ZauovrjX,

5 4

T h e Christians use t h e same Hebrew forms of names a s the Byzantine J e w s : the influence of the Septuagint might h a v e been responsible for this. s s

This a i m could, perhaps, n o t always be easily attained. So, e.g., the Gnomon of the Idios Logos (middle of the second century) invalidates all wills n o t drawn u p according t o t h e official form of public documents (§ 7: A[i\adijKai, oaai urj

Kara

5 6

I t w a s especially J o h n Chrysostom w h o charged J e w s with excessive devotion t o g a m e s : ev be

p).

8r)uoaiovs

xpV

u a T l a u 0

^

s

yelvoivrat,

aKvpol

elat). W e do not know t o w h a t e x t e n t this regula tion affected t h e right of a J e w t o bequeath his property.

5 8

iirioTavrat

uovov,

yaarpitfioBai

opxycrrtiiiv KaraKoirreaOai,

paTiCeodai

(adv.

fud.

I.

4;

virep PG

KOX

uedveiv,

rjvioxav

rpav-

x l v i i i . 848).

In

Alexandria the fact is attested b y Sokrates (Hist, eccl. 7. 13) on t h e occasion of the events of A.D. 415. Cf. for other Fathers of the Church, Juster, ii. 240, n. 6. T h e Talmud also did n o t d e n y t h e fact that theatres a n d circuses were frequented b y J e w s (cf. Krauss, Talmud. Arch. iii. 119). For t h e attitude of Talmudic authorities on this ques tion cf. J . Bergman, Jiidische Apologetik im neutestamentl. 5

7

S.

Zeitalter, Lieberman,

1942; id. Hellenism 5 8

1908,16 s q q . Greek in fewish

in

fewish Palestine,

Palestine, 1950.

I t m u s t also be emphasized that t h e victory of Hebrew over Greek was b y no m e a n s complete. E v e n in prayers Greek continued t o be used, and it is possible that t h e well-known prayer of 'Shmoneh-'Esre' w a s in Byzantine E g y p t

PROLEGOMENA

110

E m p h a s i s h a s a l r e a d y b e e n l a i d o n t h e f a c t t h a t t h e J e w s of E g y p t , e s p e c i a l l y those living in t h e villages, were strongly influenced b y t h e n a t i v e E g y p t i a n p o p u l a t i o n . W e d o n o t k n o w w h e t h e r t h e p r o c e s s of a s s i m i l a t i o n of J e w s a m o n g t h e E g y p t i a n s in t h e B y z a n t i n e p e r i o d w a s so v i g o r o u s as t o t e a r a w a y e n t i r e c o m m u n i t i e s f r o m t h e b o d y of t h e n a t i o n , b u t t h e r e is l i t t l e d o u b t t h a t c a s e s of i n d i v i d u a l a s s i m i l a t i o n o c c u r r e d f r e q u e n t l y . T h e religious f a c t o r , in a n e p o c h w h e n q u e s t i o n s of f a i t h a n d c r e e d w e r e b e i n g e v e r y w h e r e d i s c u s s e d , m u s t also h a v e e x e r t e d a n influence o n t h e J e w s , a n d cases of v o l u n t a r y a p o s t a s y are sometimes recorded b y our sources.

5 9

T h i s J e w i s h e l e m e n t , d i s p e r s e d in n u m b e r s

u n k n o w n t o u s a m o n g t h e n u m e r o u s p o p u l a t i o n of n a t i v e E g y p t i a n s , m a y p e r h a p s a c c o u n t for s o m e J e w i s h f e a t u r e s in t h e religious creeds a n d h a b i t s of t h e n o n - J e w i s h p o p u l a t i o n . M a n y C h r i s t i a n s in t h e E m p i r e r e g a r d e d t h e S a b b a t h as a h o l y d a y , n o less h o l y t h a n S u n d a y , a n d t h i s a t t i t u d e w a s c o n s i d e r e d b y t h e F a t h e r s of t h e C h u r c h t o b e a sign of J e w i s h i n f l u e n c e .

60

A p a p y r u s of t h e f o u r t h

c e n t u r y f r o m O x y r h y n c h o s ( P . O x y . 903) i n d i c a t e s t h a t a C h r i s t i a n w o m a n a t t e n d e d c h u r c h (TO KvpiaKov) o n a S a b b a t h . I t m a y b e r e c a l l e d t h a t b y t h e e n d of t h e t h i r d c e n t u r y t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y of O x y r h y n c h o s , p r o b a b l y d e c i m a t e d in A . D . 1 1 7 , w a s a g a i n

flourishing

a n d e x e r t i n g s o m e influence o n t h e life of t h e

t o w n . N o less i m p o r t a n t is t h e e v i d e n c e of papyri

magicae.

T h i s curious litera

t u r e of religious spells a n d e x o r c i s m s , of t h e h i g h e s t i m p o r t a n c e for t h e s t u d y of t h e religious s y n c r e t i s m of t h e B y z a n t i n e a g e , is s t r o n g l y i m b u e d w i t h J e w i s h e l e m e n t s w h i c h are c l o s e l y m i n g l e d w i t h e l e m e n t s of t h e p a g a n a n d C h r i s t i a n religions.

61

I n S e c t i o n X V a n a t t e m p t h a s b e e n m a d e t o select f r o m t h e l a r g e

n u m b e r of m a g i c p a p y r i t h o s e r e v e a l i n g t h e closest affinity w i t h J e w i s h beliefs a n d i d e a s . I t m u s t b e p o i n t e d o u t , h o w e v e r , t h a t i n d i v i d u a l J e w i s h f e a t u r e s are discernible i n a l m o s t all m a g i c p a p y r i , a n d t h a t t h e n a m e s of t h e J e w i s h G o d , s u c h as 'Idto, AScoval, 'EXolp., Zafiad>Q, are u s e d b y t h e e x o r c i s t s a t l e a s t as m u c h as t h e n a m e s of v a r i o u s d e m o n s a n d p a g a n g o d s . S o w e m a y d r a w t h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t as a r e s u l t of t h i s religious s y n c r e t i s m a c e r t a i n c u l t u r a l m e d i u m

was

c r e a t e d , s u i t e d t o t h e a d o p t i o n of s o m e f e a t u r e s of J u d a i s m , a n d i t is possible

sometimes recited in Greek: cf. Wahrhaftig, JTS xl, 1939, 376 sqq. Sokrates, Hist. eccl. 7. 1 3 : a Jewish physi cian, Adamantios (after A . D . 415); Ibn-Batrik, Ann. ii. 132: t h e rich J e w Urbib (cf. above, note 16); Ananias (seventh c e n t u r y ) : a calendar expert, Phineas, is recorded as a member of a Christian committee in Alexandria (it can hardly be assumed that a J e w , unless converted, could be a member of a Christian collegium; cf. Starr, JPOS, 1935, 290, n. 53). W e are further told b y John of Nikiou (91. 1-9) t h a t a Jewish family i n Alexandria, i n t h e d a y s of Justinian, embraced Christianity, being impressed b y a miracle. Another miracle, causing t h e conversion of a multitude of J e w s in the Alexandrian synagogue, is reported b y t h e author of t h e Sermon sur la Penitence, 514 sqq. Of course, w e cannot be sure t h a t all these conversions were voluntary, a s our 5 9

Christian sources seem t o suggest, nor c a n w e consider a s historical t h e numerous 'miracles' connected with t h e conversions. 6 0

Cf. Juster, i. 280, n. 2 ; Simon, Verus

Israel,

3746 1

T h e magical papyri, published before 1930, are collected b y Preisendanz, Papyri Graecae Magicae, i (1928), ii (1931). F o r t h e general characteristics of oriental magic see Dieterich, Abraxas,

1891;

id.

C u m o n t , Les Religions

Eine

Mithrasliturgie,

orientates

dans

1903; lepaganisme

romain, 4th e d . , 1929, 168 s q q . ; N o c k , 'Greek Magical Papyri', JEA x v , 1929, 219 s q q . ; R e e s , 'Popular Religion in Greco-Roman E g y p t ' , JEA x x x v i , 1950, 86 sqq. F o r Jewish elements i n t h e magic cf. K n o x , 'Jewish Liturgical Exorcism', HTR x x x i , 1938, 192 s q q . ; Rist, 'The God of A b r a h a m , Isaak, a n d Jacob', JBL lvii, 1938^ 289 sqq. F o r details cf. Section X V .

LATE

ROMAN

AND BYZANTINE

PERIOD

i n

t h a t t h e e x i s t e n c e of J e w i s h e l e m e n t s in t h i s m e d i u m w a s d u e t o t h e a c t i v i t y of s u c h J e w s a s left t h e i r a n c e s t r a l t r a d i t i o n in s e a r c h of a n e w f a i t h . W e are a t t h e e n d of o u r s u r v e y . I n t h e course of a l m o s t a t h o u s a n d y e a r s E g y p t i a n J e w r y underwent m a n y vicissitudes a n d metamorphoses. W e h a v e seen i t s t r o n g a n d v i g o r o u s a t t h e e n d of t h e P t o l e m a i c p e r i o d , e x e r t i n g i t s influence o n t h e e c o n o m i c a n d p o l i t i c a l life of t h e c o u n t r y ; t h e n f i g h t i n g s t u b bornly during the early R o m a n period against a t t e m p t s inaugurated b y the R o m a n g o v e r n m e n t a n d a c t i v e l y s u p p o r t e d b y t h e G r e e k s t o d e b a s e i t s social a n d c u l t u r a l l e v e l ; t h e n i d e n t i f y i n g itself w i t h t h e s t r o n g n a t i o n a l

movement

against R o m e throughout the Empire, and eventually succumbing to the enemy, a f t e r a h o p e l e s s a t t e m p t t o realize a f a n t a s t i c d r e a m of t h e k i n g d o m of

the

M e s s i a h ; a n d , finally, r e v i v i n g a n d g a t h e r i n g fresh forces for a n e w s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t n e w enemies. I n t h e course of its h i s t o r y E g y p t i a n J e w r y , a n d e s p e c i a l l y i t s l e a d i n g e l e m e n t , t h e c o m m u n i t y of A l e x a n d r i a , c h a n g e d i t s c u l t u r a l c h a r a c t e r , slowly discarding extreme hellenization

in f a v o u r of t h e n a t i o n a l

tradition.

E g y p t i a n J e w r y w a s a l i v i n g o r g a n i s m , d e v e l o p i n g a l o n g its o w n lines, t h o u g h , of course, i n s t e a d y c o n t a c t w i t h , a n d d e p e n d i n g u p o n , t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e J e w i s h p e o p l e a s a w h o l e . W e are i n d e b t e d t o t h e v a r i o u s sources, l i t e r a r y a n d d o c u m e n t a r y a l i k e , for t h e r i c h e v i d e n c e t h e y p r o v i d e for t h e s t u d y of t h e life a n d w o r k of E g y p t i a n J e w r y . I t m a y s e e m t h a t t h e l i t e r a r y sources, reflecting m a i n l y t h e religious, e t h i c a l , a n d p o l i t i c a l i d e a s of t h e A l e x a n d r i a n w r i t e r s a n d p h i l o s o p h e r s , are f a r m o r e i m p o r t a n t t h a n t h e d r y m a t e r i a l of t h e p a p y r i . O f course, t h e y a r e ; b u t w e c a n n o t u n d e r s t a n d t h e c u l t u r a l d e v e l o p m e n t of a p e o p l e w i t h o u t a f u n d a m e n t a l k n o w l e d g e of t h e m a t e r i a l c o n d i t i o n s of i t s life. A n d so it is h o p e d t h a t t h e d o c u m e n t s , g a t h e r e d in t h e fifteen s e c t i o n s of t h e C . P . J u d . , w i l l h e l p t o b r i n g a b o u t a b e t t e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g of t h e m a t e r i a l b a s i s of a d e v e l o p m e n t so rich in c u l t u r a l a c h i e v e m e n t s .

PART I


SECTION I

JEWS OF PALESTINE IN THE Z E N O N PAPYRI T H E l a r g e a r c h i v e s of t h e Z e n o n P a p y r i , d i s c o v e r e d d u r i n g t h e F i r s t W o r l d W a r b y E g y p t i a n fellahin in D a r b e l - G e r z a (the site of a n c i e n t P h i l a d e l p h e i a in t h e F a y u m ) a n d p u b l i s h e d since t h e n b y I t a l i a n , E n g l i s h , a n d A m e r i c a n scholars ( P S I i v - v i , P C Z i - v , P . Z e n . M i c h . , P . C o l . Z e n . i-ii), h a v e e n l a r g e d o u r k n o w l e d g e of t h e e a r l y P t o l e m a i c p e r i o d in a v e r y i m p o r t a n t w a y . T o q u o t e E d g a r , 'one c o u l d fill p a g e s w i t h a list of n e w a n d s t r i k i n g d e t a i l s c o n c e r n i n g p o l i t i c s , t r a d e , e c o n o m i c s , a r t , m a n n e r s , a n d c u s t o m s ' ( P . Z e n . M i c h . , I n t r o d . , p . 3). T h e t w o c e n t r a l figures of t h e Z e n o n A r c h i v e s , t h e g r e a t m i n i s t e r of P t o l e m y I I P h i l a d e l p h o s , A p o l l o n i o s t h e hioiK-qrrj?, a n d his official Z e n o n , are sufficiently w e l l k n o w n t o e v e r y o n e w h o h a s s t u d i e d p a p y r o l o g y , a n d it is n o t m y t a s k t o i n t r o d u c e t h e m t o t h e reader. S o I m a y confine m y s e l f t o c i t i n g t h e p r i n c i p a l w o r k s d e a l i n g w i t h t h e Z e n o n P a p y r i : R o s t o v t z e f f , A Large Estate

in Egypt

in

the Third Century B.C.; V i e r e c k , Philadelpheia; E d g a r , Introd. to P. Zen. Mich.; R . Seider, Beitrage zur ptolemaischen Verwaltungsgeschichte, 1938; CI. P r e a u x , Les Grecs en £gypte d'apres les archives de Zenon, 1947. F o r t h e h i s t o r y of E g y p t u n d e r P t o l e m y I I cf. B e v a n , History

SEHHW

of Egypt,

p p . 56 s q q . , a n d

Rostovtzeff,

i. 255 sqq.

A m o n g t h e a b u n d a n c e of n e w m a t e r i a l f u r n i s h e d b y t h e Z e n o n P a p y r i w e o b t a i n s o m e n e w i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t J e w s as w e l l . T h e w h o l e of t h e m a t e r i a l c o n c e r n i n g J e w s in t h e Z e n o n P a p y r i c a n b e d i v i d e d i n t o t w o s e c t i o n s : J e w s of P a l e s t i n e a n d t h o s e of t h e F a y u m . T h e p r e s e n t s e c t i o n d e a l s w i t h t h e J e w s of Palestine. A f t e r t h e l o n g t r o u b l e s f o l l o w i n g t h e d e a t h of A l e x a n d e r t h e G r e a t , P a l e s t i n e p a s s e d t o P t o l e m y I (301 B . C . ) a n d for t h e n e x t h u n d r e d y e a r s (till 198) r e m a i n e d in t h e h a n d s of t h e P t o l e m a i c d y n a s t y . T h e h i s t o r y of P a l e s t i n e d u r i n g t h i s t i m e is a l m o s t a b l a n k , t h e l i t e r a r y sources b e i n g e i t h e r insufficient or q u i t e u n s a t i s f a c t o r y as h i s t o r i c a l d o c u m e n t s .

H e n c e t h e g r e a t i m p o r t a n c e of t h e

Zenon

P a p y r i as r e g a r d s P a l e s t i n i a n h i s t o r y . I n t h e 2 7 t h y e a r of P h i l a d e l p h o s (259 B . C . ) P a l e s t i n e w a s v i s i t e d b y Z e n o n , t h e n a t r a v e l l i n g a g e n t of A p o l l o n i o s ; Z e n o n b r o u g h t f r o m his j o u r n e y a n u m b e r of d o c u m e n t s (fists, a c c o u n t s , l e t t e r s , a n d t h e like). H e d i d n o t b r e a k off his c o n n e x i o n w i t h s o m e residents of P a l e s t i n e after r e t u r n i n g h o m e , a n d t h e result w a s t h a t a n u m b e r of d o c u m e n t s

was

s t o r e d u p in his a r c h i v e s i l l u s t r a t i n g t h e social a n d e c o n o m i c life of P a l e s t i n e u n d e r P t o l e m a i c rule. N e a r l y f o r t y d o c u m e n t s of t h i s k i n d are k n o w n t o u s . I n m y article ' P a l e s t i n e u n d e r t h e P t o l e m i e s ' (Mizraim,

i v - v , 1937, 9 sqq.) t h e

r e a d e r w i l l find a d e t a i l e d discussion of t h e p r o b l e m s c o n n e c t e d w i t h P t o l e m a i c P a l e s t i n e ; here I confine m y s e l f t o q u e s t i o n s c o n n e c t e d w i t h J e w s o n l y . T h e p r i n c i p a l p e r s o n a g e in t h e P a l e s t i n e p a p y r i of Z e n o n is T o u b i a s . H i s n a m e is m e n t i o n e d s i x t i m e s on v a r i o u s o c c a s i o n s : h e s e n d s g i f t s t o t h e k i n g a n d t o

n6

SECTION

I

A p o l l o n i o s ( N o s . 4 a n d 5 ) ; s u p p l i e s t h e t r a v e l l i n g p a r t y of Z e n o n a n d his c o l l e a g u e s w i t h a q u a n t i t y of w h e a t (2b); his m e n a n d b e a s t s of b u r d e n p a r t i c i p a t e in t h e j o u r n e y of t h e G r e e k s (2c a n d d);

t h e t r a v e l l i n g p a r t y v i s i t s his r e s i d e n c e

(2d), w h e r e a c l e r u c h y of m i l i t a r y s e t t l e r s h a s b e e n p l a c e d u n d e r his c o m m a n d ( 1 ) . I t follows from all these instances t h a t T o u b i a s w a s an i m p o r t a n t m a n in his country, and on good terms w i t h the

Greek government

residence w a s in T r a n s j o r d a n ; it w a s c a l l e d 17 Tovfilov L a n d of T o u b i a s ' (cf. -r) 'Ovlov

or 'Oviov

a

x^P

m

in A l e x a n d r i a . H i s a

2

(sc. yfj or xP ) ( ^)>

E g y p t , ant.

the

1 3 . 287; 1 4 . 1 3 1 ;

bell. 1 . 1 9 0 ; 7. 4 2 1 ; S B 7781). T h e a b o v e - m e n t i o n e d c l e r u c h y w a s c e r t a i n l y w i t h i n t h e l i m i t s of his l a n d . W e h a v e t h e m e a n s of i d e n t i f y i n g t h e p l a c e of h i s residence w i t h s o m e e x a c t i t u d e . T h e t r a v e l l i n g p a r t y in P . L o n d . i n v . 2358 (A) v i s i t e d 'the L a n d of T o u b i a s ' o n 2 9 t h of D y s t r o s ; a d a y b e f o r e t h e p a r t y p a s s e d t w o p l a c e s A b i l a a n d EaipafiiTT . . . (the l a s t n a m e is m e n t i o n e d in 2a t o o ) . T h e d e e d of sale i n t h e c l e r u c h y of T o u b i a s w a s d r a w n u p iv Biprai

rrjs Ap,p,aviTi8os

('in

s t r o n g h o l d of A m m a n i t i s ' ) . S o w e h a v e four g e o g r a p h i c a l n a m e s — t h e t h e ' L a n d of T o u b i a s ' , A b i l a , a n d S o u r a b i t t — a l l l e a d i n g u s t o t h e

residence

of T o u b i a s or t o s o m e p l a c e s in i t s v i c i n i t y . W i t h t h e a i d of l i t e r a r y a n d a r c h a e o l o g y n e a r l y all t h e p l a c e s c a n b e identified. jordan,

known

today

as

'Arak

el-Emir,

is

commonly

the Birta,

sources

A p l a c e in T r a n s accepted

as

the

p l a c e of t h e B i r t a : t h e r e m a i n s of a g r e a t b u i l d i n g o n a hill ( K a s r e l - ' A b d ) can be attributed t o the Hellenistic

period, a n d the inscription

' T u b i a h ' in

H e b r e w c h a r a c t e r s (JT'îlt?) o c c u r s t w i c e o n a r o c k in i t s n e i g h b o u r h o o d . first s y l l a b l e of UwpafSirr...

or Uovpa^rr...

1

The

(so in 2a) is s u r e l y a G r e e k t r a n

s c r i p t i o n of Z u r (TES), a H e b r e w w o r d for ' s t r o n g h o l d , fortress' (like t h e A r a m a i c B i r t a ) . W e find t h i s p l a c e a g a i n in T y r o s , t h e s t r o n g h o l d of H y r k a n o s , a g r a n d son of T o u b i a s , w h o h a d his r e s i d e n c e in T r a n s j o r d a n , n e a r H e s h b o n , as w e are t o l d b y J o s e p h u s (ant.

1 2 . 233). T h e n a m e still s u r v i v e s in W a d i es-Sir in

the

2

n e i g h b o u r h o o d of ' A r a k e l - E m i r . A s t o A b i l a , it is n o t t h e c i t y of D e k a p o l i s , b u t A b e l - h a - S h i t t i m m e n t i o n e d in N u m . 33. 49 (cf. F . H . A b e l , Geogr.

de Palest,

ii.

234). T h u s t h e site of t h e r e s i d e n c e of T o u b i a s is f a i r l y c e r t a i n l y k n o w n , a n d t h e g e o g r a p h i c a l q u e s t i o n m a y b e r e g a r d e d as s e t t l e d . W e are e v e n b e t t e r off r e g a r d i n g t h e h i s t o r i c a l s i t u a t i o n . M a i s l e r in his a r t i c l e ' T h e H o u s e of T o u b i a s '

(Tarbiz,

x i i . 109 s q q . , in H e b r e w ) h a s s h o w n t h a t o n p a l a e o g r a p h i c a l g r o u n d s t h e a b o v e m e n t i o n e d i n s c r i p t i o n ("PUXID is t o b e referred t o t h e t i m e a r o u n d 500 B . C . a n d n o t t o t h e t h i r d o r e v e n t h e s e c o n d c e n t u r y B . C . as s u g g e s t e d b y s o m e s c h o l a r s . S o it is n o t

the

name

of

'our' T o u b i a s w h i c h is e n g r a v e d on

the rock

in

' A r a k e l - E m i r , b u t t h a t of one of h i s a n c e s t o r s . T h e f a m i l y , i n d e e d , w a s of v e r y a n c i e n t origin. T o u b i a s , 'the

Ammonite

slave',

was

a political opponent

of

N e h e m i a h ; t h a t h e w a s n o t a ' s l a v e ' , b u t a m a n of h i g h b i r t h , c a n b e inferred 1

f r o m t h e f a c t t h a t t h e h i g h priest E l i a s h i b r e s e r v e d a c h a m b e r (J1D12? ?) for h i s

T h e inscription rP21t3 was first published b y M. de Vogii£, Le Temple de Jerusalem, 1864, 42. N o w reprinted b y E . L i t t m a n n in The Princeton Univ. Arch. Exped. to Syria in igo4-igo5, Div. I I I , Sect. A (1907), 1 sqq. Cf. CIJ 868. A detailed description of t h e ruins in 'Arak el-Emir w a s given b y M. C. Butler in t h e same publication, 1

D i v . I I , Sect. A , 1 sqq. T h e meaning of the whole word Eovpa^-n... or Zcopa^nr . . . is still obscure. The syllable after Zovp is evidently B a i t ; b u t w e should expect Bet-Zur eYlXTVa) a n d n o t Zur-Bait (rP3""T128). W a s there perhaps a third word after B a i t ? 2

JEWS

OF PALESTINE

IN

THE ZENON

117

PAPYRI

use in t h e T e m p l e of J e r u s a l e m ( N e h . 1 3 . 4 s q q . ) . T h i s v e r y f a c t , a s w e l l as t h e n a m e T u b - j a h , is a sufficient proof of t h e J u d a e a n (not A m m o n i t e ) p r o v e n a n c e of t h e f a m i l y . A n e v e n m o r e a n c i e n t T o u b i a s is m e n t i o n e d

in Z e c h . 6. 10

(c. 520 B . C . ) , a n d a w h o l e b r a n c h of t h e f a m i l y of T o u b i a s ( i T ' S I O *X2) a p p e a r s a m o n g t h e J e w s r e t u r n i n g f r o m t h e B a b y l o n i a n e x i l e ( E z . 2. 59-60 =

N e h . 7.

6 1 - 6 2 ) . S o , in s e a r c h i n g for t h e origin of t h i s f a m i l y , w e c o m e u p o n t h e p r e e x i l i c t i m e , a n d w e are n o t surprised t o find a T o u b i a s , p e r h a p s t h e g r a n d f a t h e r of t h e T o u b i a s m e n t i o n e d b y Z e c h a r i a h (Maisler, 121), i n t h e o s t r a k a of L a c h i s h , h o l d i n g t h e v e r y h i g h p o s i t i o n a t c o u r t of a ' s l a v e of t h e k i n g ' a n d t h e ' a r m of the king'

11)3

t

>

3

, lf?'!2fc 1511).

I t remains an open question whether T o b a l

(1. T o b - e l ) in t h e e i g h t h c e n t u r y (Is. 7. 1 s q q . ) b e l o n g s t o t h e s a m e f a m i l y (cf. M a i s l e r , 122). S o w e see t h a t t h e T o u b i a s of t h e Z e n o n P a p y r i w a s t h e offspring of a v e r y o l d f a m i l y , a n d c o u l d t r a c e his d e s c e n t for as m u c h as 500 y e a r s . I t w a s p o l i t i c a l w i s d o m o n t h e p a r t of t h e g o v e r n m e n t t o w i n t h e s y m p a t h y of m i g h t y 'sheikhs', like T o u b i a s , in s o u t h e r n S y r i a . W i t h o u t t h e i r a i d t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of t h e c o n q u e r e d l a n d w o u l d n e c e s s a r i l y b e c o n f r o n t e d w i t h g r e a t difficulties. H o l d i n g t h e p o s i t i o n of t h e h e a d of a m i l i t a r y c l e r u c h y w h o s e c e n t r e w a s in a ' b i r t a ' ( o b v i o u s l y t h e h e r e d i t a r y s t r o n g h o l d of t h e f a m i l y b u i l t a g a i n s t

the

i n v a s i o n s of t h e b e d o u i n f r o m t h e desert), T o u b i a s w a s a t o n c e t h e chief of a l o c a l 'tribe' a n d a n official of t h e E g y p t i a n k i n g . T h e p o s t t h a t w a s g i v e n t o h i m w a s c e r t a i n l y a responsible one, t h e l a n d of A m m a n i t i s b e i n g s i t u a t e d o n t h e b o r d e r of t h e desert a n d s e r v i n g as a n e a s y t a r g e t for t h e u n r u l y A r a b t r i b e s , w h o w e r e a l w a y s r e a d y t o i n v a d e t h e c u l t i v a t e d l a n d (cf. N . G l u e c k , The

Side of the Jordan,

Other

1940, 49).

T h e p o s t e r i t y of T o u b i a s is n o less i n t e r e s t i n g t h a n his a n c e s t r y . H i s son w a s J o s e p h , t h e w e l l - k n o w n t a x - f a r m e r w h o f a r m e d t h e w h o l e of t h e t a x e s d u e t o t h e P t o l e m a i c k i n g f r o m s o u t h e r n S y r i a , a n d r e a c h e d a p o s i t i o n in J e r u s a l e m s e c o n d o n l y t o t h a t of t h e h i g h priest (ant.

1 2 . 160 s q q . ) . H e w a s e v e n m o r e

c l o s e l y c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e E g y p t i a n g o v e r n m e n t t h a n his f a t h e r , since his w h o l e w e a l t h d e p e n d e d on his affairs in A l e x a n d r i a . H e d i e d p r o b a b l y a b o u t t h e t i m e w h e n P a l e s t i n e b e c a m e once a g a i n a b o n e of c o n t e n t i o n b e t w e e n t h e P t o l e m i e s a n d t h e S e l e u c i d s (201 B . C . ) . H i s y o u n g e r son, H y r k a n o s , f o l l o w e d in his f a t h e r ' s footsteps.

I t s e e m s t h a t h e w a s a l o y a l s u p p o r t e r of t h e P t o l e m i e s , b u t , o n

s e e i n g t h a t h e h a d n o m e a n s of influencing t h e r u l i n g classes in J e r u s a l e m , l e f t t h e c a p i t a l for T r a n s j o r d a n . H e r e b u i l t t h e o l d f a m i l y s t r o n g h o l d in

f

Arak

e l - E m i r a n d t u r n e d it i n t o a l a r g e s y s t e m of fortified b u i l d i n g s (part of t h e m s u b t e r r a n e a n ) , fit a l i k e for d e f e n c e a n d for l u x u r i o u s l i v i n g . H e p a s s e d h i s t i m e in p e r p e t u a l w a r a g a i n s t t h e A r a b s , a n d c o m m i t t e d s u i c i d e w h e n a n e w a n d e n e r g e t i c ruler, A n t i o c h o s I V E p i p h a n e s , a s c e n d e d t h e t h r o n e of S y r i a (ant.

12.

229 s q q . ) . H i s older b r o t h e r s f o l l o w e d a different p o l i t i c a l p a t h a n d w e r e d e v o t e d p a r t i s a n s of t h e S e l e u c i d s . T h e y are k n o w n i n J e w i s h h i s t o r y a s t h e first a n d m o s t r a d i c a l a d h e r e n t s of G r e e k c u l t u r e , m e n w h o t r i e d h a r d t o c h a n g e t h e t r a d i t i o n a l f o r m of J e w i s h life i n t o t h e p a t t e r n of a superficial o r i e n t a l H e l l e n i s m . I n t h e t i m e of t h e H a s m o n a e a n s t h e r e v i v a l of n a t i o n a l s e n t i m e n t s p u t a n 3

Torczyner, The Lachish

Ostraka,

Hebrew ed.,

90 a n d 135. I n t h e English edition (The Lachish

Letters,

51) the n a m e l i P S T ! should be c h a n g e d to

(Tubiah).

n8

SECTION

I: N O . 1

end to the Hellenistic m o v e m e n t , a n d w e h a v e no further information on w h a t m a y b e c a l l e d ' t h e decline a n d fall' of t h e o l d a n d m i g h t y f a m i l y of t h e T o u b i a d s .

4

T h e r e are, in a d d i t i o n t o T o u b i a s , s o m e o t h e r J e w s in t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p a p y r i of Z e n o n , s u c h a s J e d d o u s in N o . 6, a t l e a s t t h r e e p e r s o n s in t h e list of G r e e k s a n d S e m i t e s in N o . 3, a n d , p e r h a p s , S i m o n in N o . 2 e . T h e r e are also s o m e p e o p l e m e n t i o n e d in t h e l o n g lists of t r a v e l l e r s w h o w e r e p o s s i b l y of J e w i s h origin, b u t a c c o r d i n g t o t h e p r i n c i p l e s l a i d d o w n a b o v e in t h e I n t r o d u c t i o n , w e h a v e n o r i g h t t o i n c l u d e t h e m in t h e C . P . J u d . I s h o u l d l i k e , n e v e r t h e l e s s , t o m e n t i o n t h e m here, in v i e w of t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of t h e i r b e i n g J e w s . T h e n a m e s A b b a i o s (XnK

or

( P C Z 590090), Z a b e i n a s

(ib. 59004, 1. 69), a n d R a b b e l o s

( * ? K m ) (ib. 59004,1. 4 6 ; P . L o n d . i n v . 2358 A ) are S e m i t i c , b u t n o t s p e c i f i c a l l y J e w i s h (the first t w o n a m e s are c o m m o n A r a m a i c ; as t o t h e l a s t , it o c c u r s 1

a m o n g t h e N a b a t a e a n s ; cf. iO ?^ b a r s k i , Ephem.

t h e k i n g of t h e N a b a t a e a n s , L i d z -

i. 330; ii. 252; iii. 295). Y e t it m u s t b e r e m e m b e r e d t h a t A b b a i o s

a t l e a s t is a v e r y c o m m o n n a m e a m o n g t h e J e w s of t h e T a l m u d i c p e r i o d (Jast r o w , s.v.

fcOX, I I ) .

If t h e J e w i s h o r i g i n s of t h e s e p e r s o n s c o u l d b e p r o v e d , all

t h e m e m b e r s of t h e i r f a m i l i e s w o u l d b e J e w s as w e l l : so *Qfiavt)s,

t h e b r o t h e r of

R a b b e l o s ( P C Z 59006,1. 5 9 ; P . L o n d . i n v . 2358 ( A ) , C o l . V I I , 1. 5), a n d Z e n o d o r o s , t h e f a t h e r of A b b a i o s ( P C Z 59009a; P . C o l . Z e n . 2 , 1 . 4).

N o . 1 . Sale of a slave girl Transjordan. 2 9 - 5 x 2 1 c m . April-May 259 B.C. P . Edgar 3 (Ann. d. Serv. xviii, 1 9 1 8 , 1 6 4 ) . S B 6709. PGZ 59003. S P 3 1 . Harper, A . J. Ph. x l i x , 1928, 6. M o m i g l i a n o , Atti LIT. : W i l c k e n , Arch. 663 s q q . Willrich, Arch.

d. r. Accad.

v i . 449.

di Torino,

lxvii, 1932,168.

V i n c e n t , RB x x i x , 1 9 2 0 , 1 8 2 s q q . G r e s s m a n n , Sitzb.

v i i . 61 s q q . D e i s s m a n n , Byz.-Neugr.

Jahrb.

Akad.,

1921,

ii, 1 9 2 1 , 275 s q . V i n c e n t ,

Berl.

JPOS

iii, 1 9 2 3 , 3 5 sqq. B e v a n , 12 sq., n o sq. Kraemer, TAP A lviii, 1 9 2 7 , 1 5 9 n . 3 , 1 6 6 . Harper, A . J. Ph. x l i x , 1928, 6-8. J . Herz, Paldstinajahrbuch, x x i v , 1928,108. Tscherikower, Tarbiz, i v , 1933, 354 sqq. (in Hebrew). Bilabel, Aegyptus, v , 162, n. 2. Tscherikower, Mizraim, i v - v , 1 9 3 7 , 3 7 , 5 0 , 5 2 . Peremans, Vreemdlingen

en Egyptenaren,

P r i n g s h e i m , Greek

1937, 168.

Law of Sale,

Seider, Beitr.

z. ptolem.

Verwaltungsgeschichte,

1938,

66.

1950, 22 n. 3 , 1 0 5 , 1 1 6 n. 2 , 1 9 4 n . 4, n . 7 , 1 9 5 n . 3, 223 n. 7, 437 n . 6,

470 n . 1, 481 n . 1, 5 1 7 . W e s t e r m a n n , RE Suppl. v i , col. 935. H . J . Wolff, Aeg., xxviii, 1948, p . 25. 4

T h e discovery of t h e Zenon Papyri stimu lated t h e writing of a series of special articles devoted t o Toubias and t h e family of t h e T o u biads, a s well a s t h e detailed discussion of this question in general works o n J e w s in the Hellen istic period. Here are t h e m o s t important of t h e m : Vincent, RB x x i x , 1920, 161 sqq., 186;

CAH

Wilcken,

Accademia

Berl.

Ah..,

Arch.

vi.

449 s q . ;

1921, 663 s q q . ;

Gressmann,

Willrich,

61 s q q . ; D e i s s m a n n , Byz.-Neugr. 275; Christ,

Ed.

Meyer,

Ursprung

Arch.

Jahrb. und

Anfdnge

4

v. Osten,

3 s q . , 128 s q . ; Tscherikower, Mizraim, 37 s q . , 49 s q . , 52; id. Tarbiz,

vii.

ii, 1921,

ii, 1921, 128 s q q . ; 462; V i n c e n t , fPOS

1923, 55 s q q . ; D e i s s m a n n , Licht

Sitzb.

1746 ( I n d e x ) ; Harper J . , A . f. Ph. xlix, 1928, 7 s q q . ; C. W a t z i n g e r , Die Denkmdler ii,

1935,

Aristea

HTR,

13 s q q . ;

Tramontano,

a Filocrate,

1931, 32 s q q . ;

viii.

Zeitlin,

of Israel,

500 s q . ; di

Second

Torino,

lxvii,

Jewish

della

66; Spiro, Proc.

1933,

Inst.

2. ptolem.

Amer.

r.

165 s q q . ;

Commonwealth,

12 s q q . ; B e v a n , 72 s q . ; B i k e r m a n , 1938, 171 s q . ; R . Seider, Beitrdge

H e b r e w ) ; Maisler, Tarbiz, x i i , 1940-1, 109 sqq. (in H e b r e w ) ; Rostovtzeff, SEHHW, 1941, 227,

Atti

1932,

waltungsgesch.,

i v - v , 1937,

di

Finkelstein,

ii. 1932, 200, 208; B e v a n ,

Momigliano,

iii,

i v , 1933, 243 s q . (in

Lettera

x x x v i , 1943, 31 s q q . ; Oesterly and Robin

s o n , A History

des

1923,

Paldstinas,

La

Acad.

Seleuc. VerJew.

Res. x x , 1951,314, n. 72; ibid. 336 s q . ; H . L. Gins berg, Alexander

Marx

Jubilee

Volume,

a n d n. 33; J. Klausner, A History fewish

Commonwealth,

(in Hebrew).

5709 [ =

1950, 136,

of the

Second

1949], ii. 124 s q q .

JEWS L a u n e y , Recherches

OF PALESTINE

sur les armies

IN T H E ZENON

hellinistiques,

PAPYRI

i, 1949, 544, 5 7 1 . A b e l , Hist,

119

de la Palestine,

1952,

58, 67 sq.

A deed of sale drawn u p in 'Birta of the A m m a n i t i s ' . T h e t e x t is written in duplicate, in t h e usual form of a avyypajyq testified b y six witnesses (cf. Wilcken, Arch. v i . 387 ; Mitteis, Grundz. 53 sqq.). A y o u n g slave girl, Sphragis, is sold b y Nikanor, 'in t h e service of Toubias', t o Zenon, acting as representative of Apollonios t h e dioiketes. T h e left side of t h e p a p y r u s is missing, y e t t h e restoration is comparatively easy t h a n k s t o t h e t w o copies of the t e x t . I g i v e t h e fully restored t e x t of the second c o p y (11. 1 1 - 2 1 ) , in accordance w i t h P C Z 59003 a n d S P 3 1 , a n d restore t h e first c o p y (11. 1 - 1 0 ) in accordance w i t h t h e second. [BaoiXevovTos

UToXepLalov

ipSofjiov [eVU)V

5 [TOV

SioiKrjTrjv

TTaihtcrKTjv [[

hpa")Ql,G)V

]^t]] ovopba E<j>payls

OJS errojv

emd

7T€VTT]KOVTa. os

K\r]povx

[fief$aiojT7)s

os

Avaviov

ireojv KXr)povxos]\.

Ilepcnjs]

TOJV

[

] TOJV

IJoXefxajv

Tovftiov

[[TOJV

Tovftiov

ITT-

fxdpTvpes' TovfiLov

vmrioiv

KXrjpovxos]\,

UTpaTOjvos

TovfiLov vmreojv Kkt]p\ovxps, TIJJLOTTOXLS BOTCOJ MiXtjcrios, 'HpaKXeiros OIXLTTTTOV Adrjvatos, [Ziqvojv Tcpidpxov KoXoa)vios, Ar)(i6aTp]aros Aiovvoiov AcrirevSt [MaKeScbv

TWV

Teaaapes 10 [TCOV

7T€pl

AlToXXoiVlOV TOV

[BaaiXevovTos €TOV$ [KOL

[TWV

i7roAe]/xatoi/

SLOLK7]T]T]V.

TOV

ZTroAe/Aatou / c a t T O V

vlov

/TroAe/xatou

ifSSopLOV

i* lepeojs AX\e£dvhpov KOL Beojv A8eX6jv, Kavr)< Apacvorjs &iXaheXov, OVTOJV ev AXejtjavSpetaL, pirqvos SavhiKov, ev Biprai TTJS AfifiavLTiSoS' eiKOGTov,

irepl Tovfiiav [aVeSoTO NiKavcop 1 5 [ZTJVOJVL

S]evoKXeovs

Aypeo(j>a)VT\os

[VatSt'cr/c^v ULSOJJVLOV [fSefiaLOJTTjs (J

Kavvioji

TOJV

rji 6 V o / A a Epayls

]os Avaviov ,a»va

[fidpTvpes

KVLSLOS

IJepar)S

T L O [ V \ [[Tovftcov Trepl OJ[S [TOJ]V

vmreoiv

ATTOXXOJVLOV

TOV

eTJcov eiTTa hpaxpojv TovfiLov

KAr]pov)(os]\ 8t,OLK7)Tr]v

TrevTrjKOVTa.

[[i7T7recuv]]

KXrjpovxos.

IJoXepLOJV HrpaTOivos

MaKehojv,

oiKaorqs

]. os Ayddojvos

Tleparfs^,

120

SECTION

[ J o t S u o J rwv Tovftiov

20 ['HpaKXeiTos

I: N O S .

ijiTnecov kXtjpovxol,

(PlXlttttov AdrjvaTos,]

1-2

TLfj,[6rroXis Botcoj MiXrjaios, [Ko]Xoa>vios, Arîo-

Zrp/oov TipLapyov

arparos [Aiovvaiov

Ag7T€v8los ol] rearaapes

rdv Trepl AttoXXwvlov tov

}

SioiKrjrrjv.

Verso: TTaihL<JK7)\s

WVrj

16 (Translation.)

ua

in

ovoua

a b o v e the line.

I n t h e 2 7 t h y e a r of t h e r e i g n of P t o l e m y , son of P t o l e m y , a n d of

his son P t o l e m y , t h e p r i e s t of A l e x a n d e r a n d of t h e g o d s A d e l p h o i a n d t h e k a n e p h o r o s of A r s i n o e P h i l a d e l p h o s b e i n g t h o s e in office in A l e x a n d r i a , in t h e m o n t h X a n d i k o s , a t B i r t a of t h e A m m a n i t i s . N i k a n o r son of X e n o k l e s , K n i d i a n , in t h e s e r v i c e of T o u b i a s , s o l d t o Z e n o n s o n of A g r e o p h o n , K a u n i a n , in t h e s e r v i c e of Apollonios t h e dioiketes, a Sidonian girl n a m e d Sphragis, a b o u t seven

years

of a g e , for fifty d r a c h m a i . G u a r a n t o r . . . son of A n a n i a s , P e r s i a n , of t h e t r o o p of T o u b i a s , k l e r u c h . W i t n e s s e s : . . . j u d g e ; [ [ . . . son of A g a t h o n , Persian]] (can celled) P o l e m o n son of S t r a t o n , M a c e d o n i a n , of t h e c a v a l r y m e n of T o u b i a s , k l e r u c h ; T i m o p o l i s s o n of B o t e s , M i l e s i a n , H e r a k l e i t o s son of P h i l i p p o s , A t h e n i a n , Z e n o n son of T i m a r c h o s , K o l o p h o n i a n , D e m o s t r a t o s ,

son of

Dionysios,

A s p e n d i a n , all four i n t h e s e r v i c e of A p o l l o n i o s t h e d i o i k e t e s . [ E n d o r s e d ] D e e d of sale of a girl. 1 ( = 11).

TOV

266-258; cf. M.

vlov

IlToXeualov.

Cary, A

' P t o l e m y the son', the co-regent of P t o l e m y Philadelphos in the years

History

of the

Greek

World

from

323

to 146

2

B.C..

195T,

390

sqq.

2 ( = 13). ratv ovroiv iv AXegavSpeicu. The names of the priests of Alexander and the deified Ptolemies of this year were, apparently, u n k n o w n in the cleruchy of Toubias. 3 ( = 13). iv Blprai. See a b o v e , p. 1 1 6 . 4 ( = 14). TCDV irepl Tovfilav. I n 1 . 14 Trepl Tovfttav is inserted above the line instead of the cancelled Tovfilov Iniritav KXypovxos. T h e word imricov is cancelled in 1. 17 t o o , b u t remains untouched i n 1 . 19. So it appears t h a t there were t w o groups of military settlers i n t h e cleruchy of Toubias—horsemen and simple kleruchs. 5 ( = 16). JSdviov fji inserted above the line. I n 1 . 16 only ]viov remains. Edgar restored in P . E d g . 3 n v ] o CJVIOV, and in PCZ 59003 TraxhlaK-qv Baj8u]Awviov. T h o u g h the latter restoration has been generally accepted, it does n o t seem t o b e probable, since Babylonia w a s far a w a y from Transjordan and a t t h a t time under the rule of a d y n a s t y hostile t o the Ptolemies. The restoration ZijBwvtov seems to be more suggestive. I n Palestine t h e Phoenicians were k n o w n either a s Sidonians or a s Canaanites (D^yiD); in L X X QOIVIKT) is used sometimes for Canaan (e.g. E x o d . 16.35), sometimes for Sidon (e.g. Is. 23. 2); cf. for other numerous instances Abel, La Geographie de Palestine, i. 254 sq. A slave-girl in Transjordan, coming from the environs of Tyre or Sidon, could be called either Xavavala or Ei8u>via. For t h e use of t h e latter term, especially i n t h e Hellenistic epoch, see t h e 'Sidonians in Marissa' (Peters a n d T h i e r s c h , The Painted

Tombs

of the Necropolis

of Marissa,

1905) a n d t h e 'Sidonians i n

Sichem' {ant. 12. 258). A s t o the possibility of reading Ei]8u>viov in the papyrus, M. 0 . Gueraud w a s good enough t o give m e the following valuable i n f o r m a t i o n : ' ]Aa>viovet ]§a>wovsont tous d e u x possibles et tous d e u x douteux. D e la lettre prec^dante Yta il subsiste seulement i au bord de la lacune . . . . E t c o m m e il s'agit d'une addition a u dessus de la ligne, l'etendue de la partie perdue ne permet p a s d e choisir une restitution plut6t que l'autre. A la 1 . 1 6 il ne reste que ]viov, et ici non plus l'etendue de la lacune n e permet d e rien affirmer . . . . J e n e vois done pas d e critere objectif, materiel pour choisir entre BapvXwviov e t ZiStoviov, la difference n'^tant que d e d e u x lettres. Par ailleurs, je reconnais la valeur de votre remarque, e t ZiSwvtov est peut-etre, en soi, plus vraisemblable.' 2i8s (like B o j S w Xwvios) is an adjective w i t h three endings, y e t in the Koiv-q the form w i t h t w o endings for adjectives on -10s is possible a s well (Mayser, Gramm. d. Griech. Pap. i. 290 sq.).

JEWS

OF PALESTINE

IN T H E ZENON

PAPYRI

121

5 ( = 16). EpayU. Perhaps t h e same girl is mentioned some years later in the F a y u m , where she w a s engaged, i t seems, i n wool-spinning (PCZ 59145); cf. Prâux, Chr. d'ltg. v i , 1931, 363. For t h e slavetrade b e t w e e n E g y p t and Palestine and t h e prices paid for slave-girls see Mizraim, i v - v . 16 s q q . ; cf. Westermann,

Upon

Slavery

in

Ptolem.

Egypt,

60 s q . ; H e i c h e l h e i m , Wirtschaftliche

Schwankungen,

1 1 2 ; Wiirstle, Journ. Jur. Pap. v . 65 sq. 6 ( = 17). ]os Avavlov Tlepcrrjs. T h e n a m e of this m a n is placed before the n a m e s of the w i t n e s s e s ; he might h a v e been, therefore, t h e guarantor ( j S c / S o i w r ^ s ) of t h e deed (so i n S P ) . For t h e c u s t o m of guaranteeing contracts see below, N o . 23, note t o 1. 21. T h e n a m e of t h e father is Hebrew (rPIin); it follows t h a t the m a n was a J e w , and his demotikon, nepa^s, stands in n o connexion w i t h his national provenance, designating only that h e belongs t o a military unit (see a b o v e , p p . 13-14). 6 ( = 18). Out of s i x witnesses, t w o belong t o t h e cleruchy of T o u b i a s : a judge (81/cao-njs), whose n a m e was inserted in place of the cancelled os Ayddcwos IJeparjs, a n d IloXdutov Zrpdrtovos, a Macedonian. T h e persons n a m e d , i n addition t o t h e seller of Sphragis, Nucdvcap ECVOKXCOVS KvtSws, g i v e u s a n idea of the very m i x e d composition of the cleruchy of T o u b i a s : a Greek from K n i d o s , a Macedonian, and t w o 'Persians', one of w h o m was a J e w . 18 cava SiKaorys. 'The letter before cava seems t o be 1 or v. T h e space is scarcely sufficient for o S e t v a TOV Setva rcov nepl A]iwva, b u t t h e patronymic m a y h a v e been o m i t t e d ' (Edgar). N o judge is mentioned in t h e military Karouciai of Ptolemaic E g y p t ; t h e juridical questions between t h e katoikoi are settled through t h e mediation of either an imardrrjs KO.1 ypauuarevs KCLTOIKCOV linr4u>v (cf. Zucker, Beitrage, 112 sqq.) or a n official npos rfj owrdgei (Wilcken in P . Wiirzb. 4). Y e t i t m a y b e t h a t special Greek judges 'with jurisdiction in cases i n which members of t h e Greek c o m m u n i t y were concerned' (Edgar) were appointed in t h e Palestinian garrisons, since i n Palestine it was difficult t o find officials w h o would b e able t o settle such varying juridical questions as might arise a m o n g t h e numerous m e m b e r s of t h e g a r r i s o n s ; cf. Noooos

SiKaorys

i n P C Z 59006,1. 25.

Palestinian lists F r o m his journey in Palestine a n d Transjordan Zenon brought home some lists containing valuable information about the agents of Apollonios a n d other persons travelling in Palestine and visiting various places (cf. Mizraim,

i v - v . 57 sqq.). I quote

here some small fragments of these lists mentioning Jews, a n d especially concerning Toubias. T h e fourth fragment (2d) is published w i t h the kind permission of Mr. T . C . S k e a t of t h e British Museum.

No. Palestine.

18 x 16 cm.

2a. 259 B.C.

PCZ 59004 The

following list of eleven towns contains the itinerary of Zenon a n d his fellow

travellers through Palestine a n d Transjordan. I n e v e r y place a q u a n t i t y of fine w h e a t flour

(dXevpa) w a s distributed among the travellers. T h e itinerary mentions Sura-

b i t t . . ., the stronghold of T o u b i a s (see above, p . 1 1 6 ) ; note also the mention of Jerusalem, the capital of J u d a e a .

Col.

I a\evp[<x)V

5

122

SECTION

I: N O . 2

dp(rdfSas) 6

EovpafiiT. . OLS

IO

(Translation.)

AaKOLGOlS

IO

N6-qi

i

EItovl

I

Bavriaydrgis

tS

Kvolgcol

p

iv U T o A e / x a i ' S i

8

flour In Straton's T o w e r

5 artabai

Jerusalem

6

I n Jericho

5

In Abella

3 9 artabai

Surabit . . . Lakasa

14

Noe

IO

Eitoui

7

Baitianata Kydisos

2

In

4

Ptolemais

For t h e topographical questions cf. Abel, RB x x x i i (1923), 409 s q q . ; x x x i i i (1924), 566 s q q . ; x x x v i (1927), 145 sq., 475 s q . ; A l t . Arch. v i i . 293; Tscherikower, Mizraim, i v - v , n. 80 (p. 84) a n d 97 (pp. 87 s q . ) ; Seider, Beitrage, 51.

No. 2b. Palestine.

5-6 x 6-5 c m .

259 B.C.

PCZ 59005

0]tAcOV

0rtTO77O(,OS'

Aa\lA€00)V

'IepoaoX\vpiois dXevp(ojv) 7ra]p<x Tovfiiov

(Translation.)

dp(rdf8as) j8 dpfrdfi'qv) a dp(rd^-qv) a (TJpucrv) (riraprov)

Philon the baker Lamedon In Jerusalem

wheat-flour

2 artabai

from Toubias

1 artabe

To . . .

if

artabai

8. ira]pa. TovflLov. On their journey Zenon and his companions visited the 'Land of Toubias' ( N o . 2d) and perhaps on this occasion got from h i m one artabe of wheat-flour (dXevpa).

JEWS

OF PALESTINE

IN

No.

THE ZENON

PAPYRI

2C.

Palestine.

259 B.C.

PCZ 59802 T h e p a p y r u s (44 lines) contains a list of the distribution of fodder to horses, donkeys, & c . I t follows from 11. 2 and 1 8 t h a t T o u b i a s furnished Zenon and his fellow-travellers with beasts of burden. 2

[rots

Trapd

TojvfiLov

[

OVOLS

1

18

[TJots irapa (Translation.)

ToVfSlov

y.

ITTTTOLS

T o Toubias' donkeys T o T o u b i a s ' 3 horses

No.

2d.

Palestine.

259 B.C.

P . L o n d . inv. 2358 (A) (unpublished) C o l . I l l , 1. 17 a

x{°^)

L7r7TOK6[JLOLS TovfilOV

Col. I X , 11. 1 0 - 1 6 *°

\[ev

ev AfieXXois

/

els dvBpcova

/cep(dViov) a

rraialv

xep(

TTJL

Sceoodr)

Apreiuocbpaji J

Toi/fl

KH

5

ev K& /

ev

)

[KO(TUACU)

y]

Ua)pa^LTT[oLS TTJL

TOV^LOV

S[ieo66r]

UifxvXcoL 7ra[iSt

(Translation.) Col. iii, 1. 1 7 : t o t h e g r o o m s of T o u b i a s : 1 c h o u s

Col. i x , 11. 1 0 - 1 6 : 28th I n A b e l l a for t h e m e n ' s a p a r t m e n t : 1 k e r a t i o n to the servants have been distributed to Artemidoros

(ker .

.)

(3 k o t y l a i )

In Sorabitt . . . Col. I l l , 1 . 1 7 . IITTTOKOHOIS. There is no strict evidence of Toubias himself participating in the journey of Zenon and his fellow travellers, but his men (in this case grooms) were a t a n y rate members of the party, or, more correctly, of its staff. Xovs is a liquid measure. Col. I X , 1. 10: 'The erasure in Col. I X , 1. 10, is probably eV rrji Tov i.e. the scribe began t o write eV Ti)i Tovfilov, but realised his mistake while he was in the middle of writing it' (Skeat). For 'the land of Toubias' see a b o v e , p . 1 1 6 .

124

SECTION

I : N O S . 2-4

2 9 t h I n t h e l a n d of T o u b i a s h a v e b e e n d i s t r i b u t e d T o Simylos the servant

No. Palestine,

2e.

n X 4 0 cm.

259 B.C.

P . Col. Zen. 2 A c c o u n t of the earnings of a camel c a r a v a n p l y i n g between Palestine and E g y p t , or within Palestine itself (see the detailed c o m m e n t a r y of the editors). Here I quote only some lines concerning a certain Simon. Simon, as explained a b o v e (Introduction) m a y be a Greek name, as well as a Jewish one. B u t in this case, when we are concerned w i t h a m a n engaged in regular work in Palestine, the latter possibility seems to be more likely.

Col.

Ill

e£ UiSio]y[o]s

[els] jT[aAtAav

aiTiqyrjaavTes

aXXrjs

aiTqyias

eA[aj8ov] (S/aa^/xds") p>f)

e/c TOV

CLVTOV

(SpCLXfJLas)

TOTTOV

[AT)

[i€Ta HifjLcovos iy PaAi'AJajjAas' ( S p a ^ / a a ? ) pv

GLTrjyrjoavTes

(Translation.)

Col. 3

F r o m Sidon into Galilee carrying grain, t h e y received F o r another grain transport from the same place W i t h Simon, from Galilee, carrying grain

48 d r a c h m a i 48 d r a c h m a i 150 d r a c h m a i

No. 3. A list of Greeks and Semites in Palestine Palestine. P. l a n d . inv. 413 verso (unpublished).

259 B.C.

T h e verso of this p a p y r u s contains a list of people whose names are p a r t l y Greek, p a r t l y S e m i t i c ; some of the Semitic names are Hebrew. T h e recto records some other names (Ayddwv, Aplp,vXos aw[daX-

7T€pLT€r[Xr)lX€V05'

\

» 1

\

ocppvv

Se£tdV,

p,6v Sc^tov,

airepl-

t

V7rep

dVept-

7T€piT€Tp/qyi€.V0S.

Tpvqros.

Tfl7)TOS* Verso: 15 Tovfilas

A[ttoXXcovIcol].

Trepl evvovx

ov

8 tcov

/cat iraiSapicov direaraXyievcov

("Etovs) kB,

avrcoi. Apre\iialov

(Translation.) are flourishing,

is", ev

AXe£(avopeLai).

T o u b i a s t o A p o l l o n i o s g r e e t i n g . If y o u a n d all y o u r affairs a n d e v e r y t h i n g else is as y o u w i s h it, m a n y t h a n k s t o t h e

g o d s ! I t o o h a v e b e e n w e l l , a n d h a v e t h o u g h t of y o u a t all t i m e s , as w a s right. I h a v e s e n t t o y o u A i n e i a s b r i n g i n g a e u n u c h a n d four b o y s , h o u s e - s l a v e s a n d of g o o d s t o c k , t w o of w h o m are u n c i r c u m c i s e d . I a p p e n d d e s c r i p t i o n s of t h e b o y s for y o u r i n f o r m a t i o n . Goodbye.

Y e a r 29, X a n d i k o s 10.

JEWS

OF PALESTINE

IN

THE ZENON

PAPYRI

H a i m o s . A b o u t 10

Atikos. About 8

A u d o m o s . A b o u t 10

Okaimos. A b o u t 7

D a r k skin

L i g h t skin

B l a c k eyes

R o u n d face.

Curly hair

C u r l y hair

C u r l y hair.

B l a c k eyes

Nose

Rather big jaws w i t h moles on the right j a w Uncircumcised.

somewhat

flat B l a c k eyes, scar below the

N o s e flat

Nose

flat.

G r e y eyes

P r o t r u d i n g lips

Fiery

complexion

Scar near the right

L o n g straight hair

eyebrow Circumcised.

right eye

Scar on forehead above the right eyebrow

Uncircumcised.

Circumcised.

(Addressed) T o Apollonios ( D o c k e t e d ) T o u b i a s , a b o u t a e u n u c h a n d 4 b o y s h e h a s sent. Y e a r 29, A r t e m i s i o n 16, a t A l e x a n d r i a . 1. Tovfiias ftnloXXttivtoH xcup«v]. I t is sometimes assumed (cf. Wilcken, Arch. xiii. 135) t h a t i n t h e greetings formula of a letter t h e more important person is named first; if it were s o , Toubias would be considering himself a s a personage of more importance t h a n t h e m i g h t y minister of t h e king. Y e t t h e above-mentioned opinion is n o t attested b y papyrological evidence. I n t h e Zenon Papyri, a t a n y rate, n o such rule is t o b e found. Out of 23 letters sent t o Apollonios, 17 ( P S I 328, 330, 496, 610, 633; PCZ 59027, 59031, 59033, 59046, 59063, 59064, 59075, 59076, 59427, 59547, 59576; P . Zen. Mich. 24) m e n t i o n t h e n a m e of t h e minister in t h e second place, and i n 6 cases o n l y ( P S I 435, 488; PCZ 5902, 59034, 59391; P . Zen. Mich. 100) does his n a m e appear o n t h e t o p of the letter. For letters addressed t o t h e king see N o . 5, note t o 1. 9. 2.

xo-pcs rots Oeots. This is a usual formula in Greek, used often in letters; cf. Epistolographi ed. Hercher, p . 408: iroXXd xdpis ra> IJvdot AiroXXwvi (Epist. Periandri 1). Instances from papyri of the Hellenistic period: W i t k o w s k i , Epistulae privatae Graecae, N o s . 13, 1 8 , 1 9 , P . T e b t . 946; of the R o m a n p e r i o d : P . Giss. 1 7 ; cf. Bell in JEA x x x i v , 1948, p . 92 n. 5. Y e t w e d o not expect t o find this pagan formula in a letter written b y a J e w . Of course, t h e letter w a s actually written b y a Greek secretary, b u t Toubias was responsible for its contents. W e m a y call t o mind that Toubias was t h e father of Joseph, whose sons were t h e champions of t h e Hellenistic m o v e m e n t a m o n g t h e J e w s in Palestine (see a b o v e , p . 1 1 7 ) . 4. irai8d[pia OIKCJTIKCI T C Kal TOJV evyevciv. Edgar leaves . . . . ] r t K a w i t h o u t restoration; y e t iraibdpia olKeriKa is just t h e same a s aojfiara oiKeriKa and of the latter w e h a v e some instances in t h e p a p y r i : S B 8008, Col. I I . 46 (3rd cent. B . C . ) , P . Grenf. 1. 21 ( = M. Chr. 302), and P . L o n d . 401 (both 2nd cent. B . C . ) . T h e purpose of r e /cat is t o emphasize the high standard of the s l a v e s : 'house-slaves and of good stock'. Cf. Edgar (Ann. d. Serv. xxiii. 202): 'These black-eyed boys from Coele-Syria were n o t destined t o lead a life of toil i n t h e quarries or factories of t h e F a y u m . Slaves of this sort were luxuries for t h e rich . . . ' T h e eunuch w h o accompanied t h e m was probably their 'instructor'. iroXXr)

Graeci,

5. T w o of the boys were circumcised, b u t that does n o t signify t h a t t h e y were J e w s : according t o Jer. 9.24-25 ( L X X : ix. 25-26) m a n y peoples in Palestine and around i t were circumcised, and Hieronym o s writes in his c o m m e n t a r y o n this v e r s e : 'multarum e x q u a d a m parte g e n t i u m , e t m a x i m e quae J u d a e a e Palestiniaeque confines sunt, usque hodie populi circumciduntur, et praecipue A e g y p t i i e t Idumaei,

Ammonitae

et Moabitae

. . . . ' Cf. E p i p h a n . Panar.

30,33.

8. T h e names of the slaves seem t o be neither Greek nor Semitic. For Alfios Edgar refers t o J u v e n a l 3. 99; w e m a y add a graffito of u n k n o w n p r o v e n a n c e : [AovXos] TOV Uapdmos KOI 3 m o f Alp.os ( S B 7898). For ATLKOS cf. "ATIK in P . Cairo Masp. 2. 67143,1. 17 (6th c e n t . ) ; according t o L i t t m a n n (in N B 507) t h e n a m e is Arabic. Klausner (op. cit. ii. 125), considers t w o n a m e s o u t of four a s H e b r e w : "OKaifios = D^pT, and ATIKOS = pTlN or pT)S7. Edgar suggests that the names 'may perhaps serve t o indicate t h e region from which t h e b o y s came'. If s o , Av8op.os m a y perhaps be interpreted a s 'Edomite' CBTTX). Another suggestion for AvSopos m a y b e 'red-haired' (DVTN). I t ought t o b e remembered t h a t the names of slaves were usually g i v e n t o t h e m b y their masters, and one cannot i n every case expect t o guess w h a t , precisely, t h e y had in mind. 18. T h e t w o letters of Toubias, written o n 10th X a n d i k o s , were filed in Alexandria o n 16th A r t e m i s i o n ; it follows t h a t t h e little caravan sent b y Toubias took 36 d a y s from Transjordan t o Alexandria.

128

SECTION

I : N O S . 5-6

No. £, Letter from Toubias to Apollonios Transjordan.

2 5 x 3 5 cm.

12th May, 257 B.C.

P . E d g . 13 (Ann. d. Serv. xviii, 1918, 231). S B 6719. PCZ 59075. Harper, A.J.Ph. Momigliano, o p . cit. 169. L I T . : See a b o v e , p . 1 1 8 , n . 4, a n d a l s o C o l l o m p , Recherches V i e r e c k , Philadelpheia, Palest.,

28 s q .

Leider, Der

Handel

von

sur la Chancellerie

Alexandreia,

1933,

xlix, 1928, 14.

des Lagides, 52.

1926,71.

A b e l , Hist,

de

la

68.

T h i s second letter from T o u b i a s to Apollonios was written, like the first, 'in a beautiful, large hand, no d o u b t b y a Greek scribe' (Edgar), and sent on the same d a y as N o . 4. T h e letter is followed b y a c o p y of a brief note to the king. O n the request of Apollonios, T o u b i a s sends the king some animals, probably rare ones: it was known t h a t Philadelphos h a d a special interest in rare animals, see D i o d . 3. 36. 3 sqq. K a l l i xenos ap. A t h e n . 5. 201 c (cf. 200 F ) . Cf. T a r n , JEA x i v , 1928, 247.

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84 [/u.ei' avrwi. T h e irapdSeitjis of t h e pledged objects (ivexvpa) is always part of the measures t o be taken against the debtor w h o has not fulfilled his obligation. For the P t o l e m a i c period the procedure is attested b y m a n y instances. 'The creditor was t o request t h e debtor through the officers of the administration t o redeem the pledge. I n the event of non-compliance the debtor was deprived of his right of redemption and the pledge was adjudged to the creditor' (Taubenschlag, Law, i. 216). T h e best parallel t o the case of Jeddous is P . H i b . 46 (258/7 B.C.): I 8 « 8 e ndXai rd ivexvpa aurcDv c S 8 e e i v [ a i ] / c a t neirpdodaf

en

ovv

KOA. VVV 17 T O dpyvpiov

eladyere

17 T O ivexvpa

avrdiv

diroareXXere

oircos

For the R o m a n period see Schwarz, Hypothek und Hypallagnta, p p . 95 sqq., and passim. Under t h e R o m a n s t h e pledged object was, a s a rule, t h e land (see t h e numerous instances in Schwarz, op. cit., passim). Y e t it was quite different under the Ptolemies. A m o n g s t all the instances of ivexvpa in the Ptolemaic period quoted b y Taubenschlag, i. 215, n. 56, there is no one aiming a t the pledge of land, but all are concerned w i t h movable objects, such a s clothes ( P . E n t . 32; PCZ 59379, 59507; P S I 443; P . F a y . 12), articles of jewellery (PSI 369; PCZ 59327,11. 2, 8 1 ; E n t . 33), wine (PCZ 59373, 59626), animals (PCZ 59324), and tools (SB 6997; P . Petr. 2.13(1); PCZ 59626). Cf. also the citation from P . H i b . 46 above (w8e elvai attests a movable object). I t m a y be assumed that the pledged goods of Jeddous belonged also t o this class of movable objects. trpad^.

5. [dppcoo-TJos irvyxo-vov. T h e illness was perhaps 'diplomatic', Alexandros preferring t o remain a t h o m e and n o t t o be involved in a conflict w i t h a powerful person in t h e village. Cf. for similar situa tions P . T e b t . 39 ( = S P 276), 1 . 1 3 (114 B.C.); P S I 502,1. 24 (257/6 B.C.). 8. iyfiaX[ei']v e«r TTJS xtbu-qs. Incidents like these were v e r y rare in E g y p t i a n villages amongst t h e humble fellahin, accustomed as t h e y were t o t h e strict rule of the officials (see nevertheless P . Tebt. 39 ( = S P 276) and P . Tebt 768). W e m a y infer t h a t t h e native 'sheikhs' of Palestine had a far more independent attitude towards t h e representatives of t h e State t h a n h a d t h e villagers in E g y p t , an attitude which was based o n their possession of land. Cf. o n this question Mizraim, i v - v . 49 sqq. 8. After yeypaa ovv 001 one would expect the usual ending iva el8ijis (Wilcken).

S E C T I O N II

JEWS OF THE F A Y U M IN THE Z E N O N PAPYRI T H E p r e v i o u s section d e a l t w i t h t h e a c t i v i t y of Z e n o n d u r i n g his j o u r n e y in P a l e s t i n e ; n o w w e t u r n t o his career in E g y p t . R e t u r n i n g h o m e , Z e n o n r e m a i n e d a t t a c h e d t o t h e p e r s o n a l suite of A p o l l o n i o s as his ' p r i v a t e s e c r e t a r y ' (to use t h e m o d e r n t e r m ) till 256 B . C . I n t h a t y e a r he b e c a m e chief a d m i n i s t r a t o r of a l a r g e e s t a t e n e a r P h i l a d e l p h e i a in t h e F a y i i m , a n e s t a t e g i v e n t o A p o l l o n i o s as a r o y a l gift

(Scoped). A c t i n g as p r i v a t e a g e n t of t h e m i n i s t e r

olKov6p.os),

Z e n o n carried o u t a t t h e s a m e t i m e t h e d u t i e s of a n official of t h e

(perhaps as

his

S t a t e , b u t d i d n o t f o r g e t his p r i v a t e interests as well. T h a n k s t o his e n e r g y he b e c a m e t h e c e n t r a l figure of t h e w h o l e d i s t r i c t ; m e n of all s t a t e s a n d o c c u p a t i o n s , w o r k i n g u n d e r his direction, or a c t i n g as his a s s i s t a n t s a n d s u b s t i t u t e s ,

are

m e n t i o n e d in his a r c h i v e s . T h e d e a t h or d i s g r a c e of t h e m i g h t y m i n i s t e r p u t a n e n d t o Z e n o n ' s career as a m a n of r a n k , b u t d i d n o t d i m i n i s h his i m p o r t a n c e in p r i v a t e l i f e : u n d e r t h e n e w reign ( P t o l e m y I I I E u e r g e t e s ) he w a s a w e a l t h y m a n e n j o y i n g a c o n s i d e r a b l e i n c o m e f r o m his e s t a t e s a n d v a r i o u s

business-

affairs. F o r his f u r t h e r a c t i v i t y in t h e F a y i i m see t h e literature on t h e Z e n o n P a p y r i c i t e d a b o v e in S e c t i o n I (p. 1 1 5 ) . The

Z e n o n P a p y r i are a m o n g t h e oldest d o c u m e n t s m e n t i o n i n g J e w s in t h e

F a y u m . Y e t it m a y b e s u p p o s e d t h a t P h i l a d e l p h e i a w a s n o t t h e first p l a c e in t h e F a y i i m where J e w s settled under the Ptolemies. P r o b a b l y there were J e w s dwell i n g in t h e F a y u m f r o m t h e b e g i n n i n g of t h e t h i r d c e n t u r y (we m a y e v e n s u p p o s e t h e y h a d b e e n s e t t l e d t h e r e f r o m t h e P e r s i a n period) till 'the f a m e of t h e c i t y ' ( P S I 341) r e a c h e d t h e m . L i k e m a n y others, t h e y left t h e i r h o m e s in t h e n e i g h b o u r i n g v i l l a g e s a n d m o v e d t o P h i l a d e l p h e i a , a t t r a c t e d b y t h e p r o s p e c t of e a r n i n g t h e i r l i v i n g in a n e w p l a c e , w h i c h offered far m o r e o p p o r t u n i t i e s of v a r i o u s k i n d s of w o r k a n d b u s i n e s s (cf. P S I 599). If t h e y w e r e g u i d e d , h o w e v e r , b y s u c h c o n siderations, m a n y of t h e m , p r o b a b l y , suffered a b i t t e r d i s a p p o i n t m e n t , for s u c h w a s t h e f a t e of m a n y n e w settlers in P h i l a d e l p h e i a (cf., for e x a m p l e , P S I 407). T h e J e w s in t h e Z e n o n P a p y r i are n o t persons r a n k i n g a m o n g t h e w e a l t h y or e v e n t h e w e l l - t o - d o ; a s h e p h e r d , t w o p o o r l a n d - l a b o u r e r s b e g g i n g for assistance in order t o c a r r y o u t t h e i r w o r k , a g u a r d w h o s e w a g e s are n o t sufficient t o s u p p o r t his c h i l d r e n — s u c h are t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of t h e J e w i s h p o p u l a t i o n in a n d a r o u n d P h i l a d e l p h e i a . O f all t h e J e w s m e n t i o n e d in t h e Z e n o n P a p y r i t w o vine-dressers, w h o l e a s e d t h e v i n e y a r d of Z e n o n a n d his p a r t n e r , are, p e r h a p s , t h e w e a l t h i e s t . S o it is o b v i o u s t h a t t h e J e w i s h p o p u l a t i o n in P h i l a d e l p h e i a e a r n e d t h e i r l i v i n g in t h e s w e a t of their b r o w . Y e t it m u s t b e r e m e m b e r e d t h a t t h e Z e n o n P a p y r i d o n o t m e n t i o n J e w i s h m i l i t a r y settlers a n d soldiers, either b y c h a n c e or b e c a u s e J e w i s h soldiers w e r e n o t s e t t l e d in P h i l a d e l p h e i a . M i l i t a r y settlers, J e w s a n d n o n - J e w s alike, l i v e d u n d e r far b e t t e r c o n d i t i o n s t h a n simple p e a s a n t s s h e p h e r d s (see t h e n e x t S e c t i o n ) .

and

132

SECTION

I I : N O S . 7-8

I n a d d i t i o n t o J e w s , s o m e o t h e r S e m i t i c p e o p l e s w e r e r e p r e s e n t e d in

the

F a y i i m ; m e n t i o n of S y r i a n s a n d A r a b s is f r e q u e n t in t h e Z e n o n P a p y r i . S i n c e it is difficult t o d e c i d e w h e t h e r a p e r s o n m e n t i o n e d in t h e p a p y r i is a J e w or a S y r i a n , it is n e c e s s a r y , as in S e c t i o n I , t o e x a m i n e e v e r y S e m i t i c n a m e s e p a r a t e l y . O n l y in t h e case of Xavowatos

( N o . n ) h a v e I d e c i d e d p o s i t i v e l y ; in all o t h e r

cases I preferred t o b e c a u t i o u s .

1

I h a v e t r i e d t o a r r a n g e t h e p a p y r i in c h r o n o l o g i c a l o r d e r : first t h e d a t e d d o c u m e n t s f r o m t h e t i m e of P h i l a d e l p h o s ( N o s . 7 - 9 ) , t h e n t h e u n d a t e d w h i c h I w o u l d incline t o a s s i g n t o t h e s a m e t i m e ( N o s . 1 0 - 1 3 ) ,

a n (

i

finally

t w o p a p y r i of t h e

r e i g n of E u e r g e t e s ( N o s . 1 4 - 1 5 ) . T w o s c r a p s of o b s c u r e m e a n i n g ( N o s .

16-17)

close t h e list.

No. 7. From an account of lamp-oil Berenike Hormos ( F a y u m ) .

257 B.C.

Class. Philol. x i x , 1924, 230 sqq. (Westermann). S B 6796. P . Cornell 1. L I T . : Wilcken, Arch. viii. 69 s q q . ; ib. 294 s q . ; U P Z i. 451 s q . Edgar, Introduction pp. 20 sq. Preaux, 92, 193, 561.

to P. Zen.

Mich.,

T h e p a p y r u s contains a long account of lamp-oil given out to various members of the staff of Apollonios during his long journey in the F a y u m and other places in northern E g y p t . T h e account runs from 1 Apellaios to 30 A y d n a i o s of the year 28 of Phila delphos, i.e. from the 6 J a n u a r y to the 4 March 257 ; it is drawn u p in Berenike Hormos, an unknown harbour in the F a y i i m or elsewhere. I quote here lines 1 5 9 - 6 8 of this account, referring to Johanna, probably a Jewish slave-girl, working in the household of Apollonios. I t m a y be suggested t h a t J o h a n n a w a s b o u g h t in Palestine b y a travel ling agent of Apollonios and sent b y him into E g y p t ; cf. 11. 223 sq. of the same p a p y r u s , where 'slaves sent from Syria b y Nikanor' are mentioned. O n the trade in slaves between Palestine and E g y p t see Mizraim,

rots

e 160

avrots

'Itodvcu

Ko(rvXai)

€ttl

Ko(rvXrj)

>

Eeau)L

(ytvovrat)

Ko(rvXrj)

1

1211). Nanvas

(PCZ 59406) is a H e b r e w

name (J713 or a n abbreviation from *irP3fl3), b u t a c o m m o n Semitic name as w e l l : MCKKOS Ne9dvecas

(SB

Nadivaros

720),

'HpaKX€i8r)s

Nadivdros

(Zucker in Abh. Preuss.

(tJimictv) (riraprov)

KO(TUACU) e (^/xtcru)

Bawaios (P. Corn. 1 ; PCZ 59087,59674,59676) might be an Aramaic form 033, '£33) from t h e Biblical "irP33 (cf. ^ 3 3 and rp"»33 in the Talmud, Jastrow, s . v . ) ; y e t t h e name occurs a m o n g nonJ e w s t o o , s o in Palmyra a n d in Arabia (cf. Lidzbarski, Ephem. ii. 331, 86; SEG v i i , N o s .

1058,

e.

XafJLTrrrjpa

Zrjvtovi kol

i v - v . 1 6 sqq.

and

i'Ao>v

Ak. 1937, N o . 6,

p. 5, Col. I l l , 11. 174 and 181) were not Jews. Gad is a Biblical n a m e ; y e t Bapydd-qs (PCZ 59690) is probably a Syrian, the name 13 "13 meaning 'son

re(raprov).

of (the god) Gad' or 'a lucky man'. T h e name occurs frequently in Dura-Europos (e.g. SEG vii. 374, 442, 452, 483, 580, 708, 800; Baur a n d Rostovtzeff, Excavations

at Dura-Europos,

ii, v i ,

v i i - v i i i passim). ZajSSu ( P . Mich. Zen. 67), or Zafloaios (PCZ 59701), is a common Aramaic name, used b y J e w s and non-Jews alike. F o r Simon see above, Introduction. In two documents (SB 6762 = S P 253 and S B 6763 = PCZ 59347) a family is mentioned in which the father is called AvriTtarpos (a Greek name frequently used b y Jews), t h e mother Zip,ov (a feminine form of Ztfioiv), and the son ©eoBoaios. The family might have been a Jewish one.

JEWS f 165

OF THE FAYUM rots'

a v r o t s

[xevov TOS

TO IS

THE ZENON

PAPYRI

133

dcupov-

t o v

Sodev-

'ItOoivai

TTTrjpa

IN

Aafl-

€7Tl

KCLL

eaoot

XoLTTOLS

Ko(tvXcLl)

€.

(Translation.) 5th.

T o the same.

5 kotylai.

T o J o h a n n a for t h e l a n t e r n for Z e n o n , \ k o t y l e . And

to Ephesos,

\ kotyle. total 5f kotylai.

6th.

T o the same, deducting t h a t given to J o h a n n a for t h e l a n t e r n a n d (that)

to

E p h e s o s , t o t h e rest,

5 kotylai.

159. 5 Aydnaios corresponds t o 5 February. 160. 'Icodvat.: NUTT or *1T]V, as a feminine form of Johannes, is mentioned in the Talmud (Jastrow, s.v.) a n d in t h e N e w Test. (Luc. 8. 3). T h e name appears also o n a n ossuary found in a cave near Jerusalem (CIJ 1281). The name occurs again i n N o s . 133 and 424. 'Iwdwa Evfooovvr) is mentioned o n an inscription from Alexandria ( S B 457 = CIJ 1429). 160. em Xauirrrjpa Zfyuyvi. I t was the d u t y of Johanna t o take care of the lamp of Z e n o n ; so it m a y be supposed that during the journey she was in personal attendance on Zenon.

No. 8. A fragment of an account Philadelpheia (Fayum). P . Zen. Mich. 30.

27 x 3 4 cm.

256 B.C.

T h e p a p y r u s contains various accounts; fragment (a), referring to the years 29 and 30 (of Philadelphos), fixes approximately the chronology. F r a g m e n t (b), g i v e n below, is the only one which refers to Jews. T h e t e x t was printed b y E d g a r from a photostat according to a revision made b y A . E . R . B o a k . Professor H . C. Y o u t i e was good enough to revise the t e x t again for the present edition. I g i v e the t e x t according to his reading and with notes b y him. T h e meaning of the fragment is not clear.

OL.y St'

fJL €TL

0€

ApLCTTOKpaTOVS vaev

Kev 5

KCLl

ov

v)\xiv

TTpoocxKp'eiXe

AvTiyovrjs

€K

OLVOV Aap,d\s .v

'IovSaios

0lXlvIs evj3... (Translation.)...

dAAo

.vvps

TOV Ke(pdfJLLOv)

.[

eW-

j8— Ke(pdfXLa) Ke(pdfjua)

kyj .[

40, a n d also a n o t h e r j a r of t h e w i n e (obtained) b y A r i s t o k r a t e s

( P a i d to) u s b y D a m a s , for w h a t h e still o w e d . . . . A n t i g o n e s t h e J e w , 28 j a r s . P h i l i n i s son of P h e n b . . . j a r s . . .

SECTION

134

I I : N O S . 8-9

1. a.y fi: 'possibilities are d y y ( e f a ) a ? y ( a ? ) ft, aoy(ypiov) ft. The numeral m a y be A rather than n; A was read b y Edgar and Boak' (Youtie). 2. 'The broken letter at the end, perhaps a numeral, seems t o be a or 8 ' (Youtie). 3. 'A possible reading a t t h e beginning of t h e line is $Trlorevoev' (Youtie). 4. . v: 'this of course suggests /xv(ds), but ev is easier t o read' (Youtie). 5. AvTiyovrjs. 'Probably a mistake for Avriyovos or Avnyevr/s ' (Edgar). Jews of Palestine used t h e name Antigonos frequently; cf. Antigonos of Socho (1D10 OIIP&SK), a pupil of Simon t h e Just (M. A b b o t h 1.3), Antigonos, a member of the H a s m o n e a n family, &c. The name took root among J e w s probably after t h e reign of Antigonos Monophthalmos over Palestine (315-302). Neither t h e name Antigonos nor Antigenes is c o m m o n in t h e correspondence of Zenon (cf. P S I 632; PCZ 59088, 59281; P. Mich. Zen. 34). There is n o t sufficient ground for t h e identification of our 'Antigones t h e J e w ' w i t h someone else bearing t h e name. 6. 'The numeral at the end looks like a or 8 ' (Youtie).

N o . 9. Pasis the Jew The

t w o documents printed below refer to the same person designated as Tldais

'IovSalos,

'Pasis the Jew'. T h e first document (9a) is a letter from Zenon advising

K r o t o s to order a mattress from A r t e m i d o r o s ; the wool for the mattress is to be obtained from 'Pasis the Jew'. T h e second (gb) is a line from a long corn account of 666 lines (PCZ 59292) dealing w i t h the expenditure of grain on the estate of Apollonios; this line (1. 6 1 1 ) , too, mentions 'Pasis the Jew'. F o r the E g y p t i a n name Pasis see note to ga, 1. 2 ; cf. above, p. 4 3 . Discussing the contents of the account in P C Z 59292 E d g a r differentiates between the IhiooTropos

yrj, which was cultivated, according to him, ' b y means of paid employees',

and the land called by

-i) Std ratv Xad>v, which was leased to n a t i v e peasants or c u l t i v a t e d

them. 'These peasants came from m a n y of the villages in the neighbourhood,

chiefly or wholly from those in the Memphite nome, such as K e r k e , Pitos, and Boutos.' If this distinction of E d g a r ' s is sound, Pasis the J e w in 1. 6 1 1 must h a v e been a peasant from the v i c i n i t y of Philadelpheia, nearly all the people mentioned before and after 1. 6 1 1 being men from the neighbouring villages (11. 604, 6 1 3 , 6 1 4 1. 608

BOVTOV;

KepKTJ;

IJITOV;

11. 606, 6 1 5

1. 6 1 0 AKav9oTToXira(s) etc.). This, together w i t h the fact t h a t

Pasis had at his disposal a q u a n t i t y of wool (ga), leads us to conclude t h a t he was not only a peasant b u t a shepherd as well: it is known t h a t the shepherds in E g y p t were usually the owners and the sellers of wool (cf. P . E n t . 1 : [TO, e p ] i a 7roi]p€va>v).

XafSelv

7r[apa\

TCO[V

I t m a y be inferred from some passages in ga (1.2 : 'get the wool from Pasis';

1. 6 : T h a v e written to Pasis to give y o u the wool') t h a t Pasis was dependent on Zenon and had to carry out orders given b y his master. If this suggestion is acceptable we m a y assume t h a t the livestock in his care was not his own, b u t belonged—at a n y rate p a r t l y — t o the estate of Apollonios.

9a. Philadelpheia ( F a y u m ) . P . E d g . 108 (Ann.

d. Serv.

L I T . : Wilcken, Arch.

Zrjvtov

KportoL

12-5x33 cm. x x i v , 1924, 45).

viii. 68, 293. Heichelheim, Arch.

xatpeiv.

AajSe Trapd

Ildairos

otbptoi

KaracTKevdarjL

iva

17 September 253 B.C. S B 6991.

rov

PCZ 59241.

i x . 50. P r e a u x , 109.

tbs dv raîOTa Xdfirjis

*Iovhalov

iptcov

dTpcofxaTLOv,

p,v(as)

coare

TLOL

rrjv Ke

eTnarToXrjv, KOL

/xTy/cct

drreySos

errl

SteSpov

Aprepn-

JEWS

OF THE FAYUM

IN

THE ZENON

eppwcro.

PAPYRI

Ay,

("ETOVS)

'i?Tret(f>L Xavovvaicoi

75

II: NOS. 11-12

els Kvvas jS

els 7TTLordvrjv (xpiviKes) els

K a r d V A a c r / x a (xolviKes)

(Translation.) 41

(reraprov)

e rj

Col. I l l

T o K h a n o u n a i o s . . . o n t h e t h i r t e e n t h , of b a r l e y 1 . . . of b a r l e y 2. s u m t o t a l 3. Col.

V

66

T o K h a n o u n a i o s for t h e d o g s o n t h e 1 9 t h 1.

75

P h a o p h i . T o K h a n o u n a i o s for t h e d o g s 2 \ . for b a r l e y - g r u e l five c h o i n i k e s . for g r e a s e e i g h t c h o i n i k e s .

41. The name Xavowatos does not occur either in NB or in W u t h n o w . It can be derived either from (Xavdav in L X X , Xavavala in Jos. ant., book 1 , passim, cf. Matt. 15. 22), or from The usual transcription of the latter name is Avavlas, or something similar, y e t the Greek x is frequently used for the Hebrew fl as w e l l ; s o , for e x a m p l e , in t h e names XCXKUS, Xdp., Xdpav, Xaprjfi, Xefipwv e t c . ; cf. Xavowatos in i Esdr. 8. 47 (49) and Xawatos i n D i o Cass. 49.19. 2. Since was a c o m m o n J e w i s h name in E g y p t from the Persian period onwards (cf. Cowley, Index, s.v. ''3211, whereas ''35733 is no name a t all and a t m o s t could be used as a nickname, I should prefer the first possibility.

rP33n.

rP33n

iT33n),

N o . 12. Letter from Somoelis to Zenon Philadelpheia ( F a y u m ) .

19 x 19 cm.

Probably reign of Philadelphos.

PCZ 59509.

LIT.: P . T e b t . 848, note t o 11. 1 - 3 ( p . 52). Peremans, Vreemd. en Egypt., p . 87. Heichelheim, RE, Suppl. v i , s.v. 'Sitos', 868. Preaux, 46, 120, 128, 132 sq., 137. Rostovtzeff, SEHHW, 1416. A letter to Zenon from Somoelis, a guard {fivAag) at Philadelpheia. 'The t e x t . . . is written in a good hand, evidently b y a practised scribe' (Edgar). T h e Jewish guard reports on some business affairs carried out b y him for Zenon. H e hardly earns a living and is on the look-out for a means of supplementing his income, his present salary being insufficient even to keep his children from hunger. T h e letter, like most private letters, is full of obscure allusions, the sense of which cannot be grasped b y the uninitiated reader. xaipew

[Zrjvco]vi

[[iev

TT)\V Trjvec dpr(dâi)

[els

[TOV

] VTrdpxovcnv

AfiavSe.[

V\LOV

8t[a

TTCLVTOS-

rrpos av[r6v,

[jLfr)] dhiKcbfieOa.

Swa[jLta]t

[dvTtjAeynt. [6

ovv 001 Trap* ep.ov

/cat fir) dSitcqdcb

\vr\re [/car' a]AAo pirjdev.

TOVTO

dvyapevcov

TCOV

/careoTrdp/ca-

Trv(pov)

K

[jitot ejmcrToXrjv [7rap]d 10

vX\a£; e/c ( P t A a S e A ^ e t a ? .

OTTopov. dvaepco [be 001 rav\ra'

TO]V

[ju/rjre] / c a r d 5

UofjiorjX[LS

/cat el

8VVCLT[6V IKOV[6S

r)[fx\cov 7roirJTa[t

Se crot /cat avvayopdaai

iTTTreicov, 7j[a]/pa he yecopyov

yap v]7rdp)(cov o u ^

dv ov]y [TroirjaraLS

KCLXLOS

tVa] rrpoyoiay

ovdevos,

Êredpôv

VTTO

e7re/cAa[crev y a p ]

Kp(u6rjs)

JJLOV

ypa\iffas /cat] dpr(df3as)

tVa pvqOels

eo*rt]v, irpooKaTaaKevaaov

Orjoavpov

c o r t ] ^copetv

eviavTov

TOV

OZTOV

TOV

A

JEWS

\tov\tov. [ol

OF THE FAYl)M

cpvXdcraco Se /cat

S]e e/c &i\aSe\€ias t/cavov

[ecrrjtv ovSe

t[6v\

IN

rrjveL

SlS[ovo]ljj,

THE ZENON

Qr]oavp6v

p,oi Trv(pov)

PAPYRI

139

XapLJ3dvtov ovOev,

apr(d 8as) l

a

(rj/juov).

ox>x

ovv rd

7ratSd/>ta [8taj8d]p7ceti>, et (JLT) avros

tl

Trpooepydô-

[jLtai]. €l

€VTVX "

15 2.

(Translation.)

u7rdpxouffii': o w above the

line.

T o Zenon from Somoelis, the g u a r d at Philadelpheia, greeting.

W e h a v e s o w n t h e p i e c e of g r o u n d here c a l l e d A m a n d e . . . ; so I a m k e e p i n g 20 a r t a b a i of w h e a t for y o u for s o w i n g . I h a v e the following report to m a k e ; a n d I hope E t e a r c h o s will not w r o n g me any

m o r e , e i t h e r in t h i s or in a n y o t h e r m a t t e r . H e h a s b e e n v e r y h a r d o n m y

son, p u t t i n g h i m t o all sorts of f o r c e d l a b o u r . S o please b e g o o d e n o u g h t o w r i t e h i m a l e t t e r for m e , so t h a t he w i l l b e c a r e f u l of m e a n d I w o n ' t b e i l l - t r e a t e d a n y m o r e . I c a n b u y also 1,000 a r t a b a i of b a r l e y for y o u f r o m t h e c a v a l r y m e n , b u t n o t f r o m a n y of t h e f a r m e r s , so t h a t n o b o d y c a n s a y a n y t h i n g a g a i n s t m e . A n d if possible, h a v e a n o t h e r g r a n a r y m a d e ; t h e p r e s e n t one is n o t b i g e n o u g h t o h o l d t h e y e a r ' s corn. I g u a r d t h e (village) g r a n a r y here, t o o , a n d g e t n o t h i n g for i t . T h e p e o p l e f r o m P h i l a d e l p h e i a g i v e m e i f a r t a b a i of w h e a t , a n d t h a t isn't e v e n e n o u g h t o feed t h e k i d s unless I d o s o m e e x t r a w o r k for myself. Farewell. 1. On Jewish guards see above, p . 17. 2. Trjvei is a Doric form for evravda. The responsibility for this Doricism lies, of course, w i t h the scribe, not with Somoelis, w h o was hardly an expert in classical Greek. Ap.avhe\ ] : 'Perhaps a proper name followed b y yrjv ' (Edgar). 3. Etearchos was a nomarch whose name occurs frequently in the Zenon Papyri. Cf. Seider, Beitrdge, 25 sqq., 41. 4-5. [ T O V V]16V restored b y m e . 'The verb might be e V e V A a [ o - e v or e V e / c d A f e o - e v and the letter after the lacuna in line 5 might be t or v . [ T O V V]16V or [TOV d ] v o v would suit the space' (Edgar). The restoration t h a t gives a sensible reading is n o doubt TOV vlov and the whole sentence can b e translated as follows: 'he oppressed m y son with hard service'. 8. irapa. TOJV lirireiMv. Mention of military settlers in Philadelpheia, and especially horsemen, occurs frequently in the Zenon P a p y r i ; see, for example, P S I 391,536,632, PCZ 59151,59236,59245,59394 (1.22). Somoelis is willing t o b u y barley from t h e horsemen, b u t n o t from t h e p e a s a n t s ; t h e reason might be that Somoelis has in mind peasants settled on the land of the military cleruchs (PCZ 59245,59315), whose corn-producing was certainly controlled b y their masters. Y e t t h e sense remains obscure. 9-12. The first impression on reading 1. 9 is that Somoelis suggests that Zenon should build a second public granary in Philadelpheia. Y e t w e have m a n y instances in the papyri attesting the existence of only one public granary in each village. See for Philadelpheia itself P . Col. Zen. 54 = S P 39 ( e v TtDt e / i 0 t A a S e A < £ e i < u 9r)oavpa>i, 256 B . C . ) , and S B 7621 ( e v 9-qoavpa> Kcofir/s 0iXaoeXetas, A . D . 310-24). Other instances from the Hellenistic period: PCZ 59497 (els TOV ev Zvpuyv K<x>p,7][t Brjoavpov]); cf. ib. 59570; and m a n y instances in P . T e b t . , e.g. els T O V eV BovfiaoTcoi d-qoavpov ( P . T e b t . 813, 186 B . C . ) ; els TOV e'v . M A a j 3 a v 0 i c k di)(oavpov) (ib. 837, 177 B . C . ) , and o t h e r s ; instances from the R o m a n period: K n u d t z o n , Bakchiastexte, 1 3 : e'v 9i)oavpa> Kdî-qs Nap[iov9eco(s) (third c e n t u r y ) ; P . O x y . 276: Srjfiooios 9r]oavp6s (A.D.

7 7 ) ; v . G r o n i n g e n , A Family

Archive

from

Tebtunis,

Nos.

44, 45, 47, a n d

o t h e r s . Cf.

Calderini,

1924, 21 sqq. I t m a y be doubted also whether it was the d u t y of a poor guard to point out the necessity of erecting n e w public buildings in a village. In fact, a more attentive reading reveals that t h e public granary of Philadelpheia is mentioned in 1. 11 only, a n d t h e Kal used b y Somoelis (vXaoaoi he Kal TOV Tr/vet 9rjoavp6v) asserts clearly that t h e 9rjoavp6s mentioned before w a s not the granary of the village. Hence it was a private granary of Zenon (or, more likely, of Apollonios), a n d 0HZAYPOI,

140

SECTION

II: NOS. 1 2 - 1 4

since it w a s t o o small t o hold t h e previous year's crop, t h e guard of i t , Somoelis, proposed t o h i s master that a n e w one should be built. T h e existence of private granaries is attested for the R o m a n period (cf. P . Princet. 1 1 7 ; P . R y l . ii. 231 = Olsson 27; P . F a y . 122 = Olsson 64; P . Mich. 226, 396; O. Skeat 2, ed. H . C. Y o u t i e , T A P A Ixxxi, 1950, 102 s q . ; Calderini, o p . cit. 41 sqq.), a m o n g t h e rest for Philadelpheia itself ( N o . 411, 1. 19); and it is likely that they were in existence in t h e Ptolemaic period as well. W e k n o w from t h e excavations in Karanis w h a t t h e private granaries were like (see Boak and Peterson, Karanis, 1931, 18 sqq., 64): n o t large buildings, but rather a system of separate chambers connected w i t h t h e living-rooms of a house. Something like this might have been t h e drjaavpos of Zenon t o o . There is reason t o assume that Zenon followed the advice of Somoelis: a n undated papyrus from Philadelpheia (PCZ 59592) records a supply of bricks needed for t h e con struction of granaries (nXlvdov rrjs Trpoar)yp.evr]s els T[OVS] 9-qaavpovs). This plural number is t h e best evidence a s t o t h e existence of private storerooms owned b y Zenon (PCZ 59592 is a letter addressed t o h i m ) , whereas the public granary (of Philadelpheia), frequently mentioned in Zenon's archives, appears always i n t h e singular. T h e result of this brief investigation is that Somoelis w a s n o t a drjaavpovXa$ (cf. PCZ 59292, 1. 155), i.e. a m a n attached t o the regular staff of g o v e r n m e n t officials serving a t t h e granary (cf. P . Tebt. 848, Col. I, 11. 1-3), b u t a private guard, employed b y Zenon, and willing t o perform various business affairs for him and for others also. So w e understand w h y he was guarding the public granary of Philadelpheia t o o , y e t without salary (Xapfldvaov ovdev): he w a s n o t authorized t o d o s o b y the local authorities. T h e i \ artabai of wheat paid t o h i m b y t h e inhabitants of Philadelpheia was n o t a salary b u t something like a modern 'baksheesh': the regular salary of ^vXaKirai in Philadelpheia was 6 drachmai a m o n t h (PCZ 59296), or 4 artabai of wheat ( i b . 59745); it even happened that an Arab guard w a s earning 6 artabai a m o n t h (ib. 59745,1. 86). W h e t h e r Somoelis was regularly paid b y Zenon or not cannot be inferred w i t h certainty from the letter, but it m a y be supposed that t h e vXa£ did n o t work for n o t h i n g ; y e t his economic circumstances were straitened, as is evident from his lamentations at the end of the letter. 2

N o . 1 3 . A memorandum to Zenon Philadelpheia ( F a y u m ) . PCZ 59377.

14 x 17*5 c m .

Probably reign of Philadelphos.

A memorandum to Zenon from t w o peasants, Alexander and Ismaelos. One of them, Ismaelos, was certainly a J e w ; as to Alexander, the name was not uncommon among the E g y p t i a n Jews (Nos. 1 4 , 1 8 , 36, 1 4 2 - 3 , 4 1 8 - 2 0 ) . T h e portions of land c u l t i v a t e d b y them (probably from the estate of Apollonios) are not b i g : one of 3 ! arourai, and the other, as it seems, of some minor size (since it is mentioned as an additional plot). W e m a y infer t h a t the social position of A l e x a n d e r and Ismaelos was not a privileged one. W h e t h e r t h e y were farmers who leased land for a long time, or agricultural workers cultivating parcels of land upon contracts renewed from year to year, we cannot tell. T h e Greek of the letter is confused.

2

There are, of course, d-qaavpol mentioned in the plural in t h e papyri, b u t as far as I can see, the reference is always t o granaries in various

villages mentioned 859, 31.

together, as in P . T e b t .

JEWS

avros

OF T H E FAYUM

IN T H E ZENON

yap kirLorr) ore ovOkv yevrjpia

Trapd TO rr)v dvvhpiav

yeveadat

PAPYRI

141

ydyovev

real els TOV errep-

^D/XEVOV xpovov TreTTovrjKev. vvvl ovv airofyavov

10

rj/jLcv o dv aoi S O / 0 7 1 , iva p,r) 6. Kara: T O above t h e line.

(Translation.) We

KaTacf>9etpc6jjL€a9a.

11. KaraÔeiputfieoOa:

t above t h e line.

M e m o r a n d u m t o Zenon from A l e x a n d e r a n d Ismaelos.

require y o u , since l a s t y e a r w e c u l t i v a t e d 3 ! a r o u r a i , a n d n o w w e h a v e

c u l t i v a t e d t h e s a m e g r o u n d a n d a n o t h e r in a d d i t i o n , ( a n d b o t h ? ) h a v e g o n e d r y because y o u h a v e n o t p r o v i d e d w h a t y o u r c o n t r a c t said y o u w o u l d — n o w , there fore, w e require y o u t o d o as y o u p r o m i s e d , a n d g r a n t u s a l o a n . F o r y o u k n o w y o u r s e l f t h a t n o c r o p h a s g r o w n o n a c c o u n t of t h e l a c k of w a t e r , a n d i t h a s b e c o m e p o o r e r for t h e t i m e b e i n g . N o w , therefore, l e t u s k n o w y o u r o p i n i o n , so that w e m a y waste no time. 2. ' I o p . a r j X o v :

T h e w r i t i n g in L X X is

'Io^X.

5-6. T h e farmers complain of suffering through Zenon's failure t o give them the xopyyla stipulated in the contract, and the land suffered from lack of water. See a similar case in P . Mich. Zen. 87, where a cultivator leased a parcel of land relying o n the support of Zenon. The x°PVy^ t i- lp cultivators o n the part of Zenon or some other high official, is frequently mentioned in t h e archives of Z e n o n ; cf. P S I 422, 432, 499, 5 7 1 ; PCZ 59073. 7. irpobavlêtv. The farmers ask for a loan which will enable t h e m t o cultivate the land in the future. 10. ircirovTjKev: sc. 17 yrj (Edgar). 11. tva fir) KaTa9eipwp,€ada. T h e usual translation r u n s : 'in order that w e shall not perish'. Y e t we m a y interpret t h e verb KaraÔetpeadai. in t h e sense of 'to waste time' as well. Cf. Gueraud, P . E n t . , p. 7 7 : 'rester longtemps, trainer quelque part, perdre son t e m p s , etre condamne a l'inaction'. A d d t o the instances cited b y Gueraud, PCZ 59462. a

e

t

n

e n e

t

o t

n

e

No. 14. A declaration to a police-officer Philadelpheia ( F a y u m ) .

9 x 2 0 cm.

7th March, 241 B.C.

P S I 3 9 3 - f P S I v i , p . xiii (Addenda et Corrigenda). LIT. : Edgar, Introduction to P. Mich. Zen. 44. F u c h s , 53. Viereck, Philadelpheia, Die

Landwirtschaft

cazione

del vino

im nelV

hellenist.

Egitto

Agypten,

Greco-Romano,

240 n . 3, 256.

C. R i c c i , La

1924, 3 , 1 6 , 34.

cultura

P e r e m a n s , 136.

della

46. Schnebel, vite

e la

fabri-

Preaux, 170.

A declaration delivered t o the head of t h e police of Philadelpheia concerning a robbery in the v i n e y a r d of Zenon and Sostratos. T h e v i n e y a r d w a s farmed b y t w o vine-dressers, Samoelis a n d Alexander. Samoelis w a s certainly a J e w ; as t o the name Alexander, see N o . 1 3 . I t seems that the vineyard was formerly a part of the great estate of Apollonios and became the property of Zenon and his partner Sostratos after the fall (or the death) of the m i g h t y dioiketes, when the estate of the latter w a s con fiscated b y the new king P t o l e m y Euergetes (cf. P C Z 59366, 59372). W o r k in vineyards is mentioned frequently in the Zenon P a p y r i . T h e cultivation of grapes w a s carried out in E g y p t as early as the time of the Pharaohs, y e t the Greek immigration in t h e third century g a v e an impetus

to this branch of agriculture. Cf. Rostovtzeff,

Large Estate, 93 sqq.; SEHHW, 353 sqq.; Viereck, Philadelpheia, Landwirtschaft, 239 sqq.; Preaux, Les Grecs en Egypt, 22 sqq.

A

46 sqq.; Schnebel,

142

SECTION

("ETOVS)

Tvfii

S",

djjnreXovpycov apVTreXcova.

TTapd UapLoijXios e£eiXy)6TCov

TCOV

TTJL

irpo

5 e/c TOV [[e/c TOU]] Zr\vcovos

KOL

xdpaKos

TT\I

VVKTI

TTJS

TTJL

[

TTapd

TOV QTpaTrpyov

IS" KOL

pi pLvptov Spaxpids fJifS.

ovv

KeXer]\o\ios âA/cou

TO

[S*], Tvfii

("ETOVS)

15 Eap,or\Xios ycov

etjeiXrjcfroTcov

TCOV

TTJS

TCOV

ovvairooTaXevTi

dpnreXcdvi. tS,

Tificopiev eivai

COOT

ya^Kov

Avhpopidxcoi

7ra/od

apvneXovp-

TOV

ZTJVCOVOS

Kal UcooTpaTov dpnreXcova. {rrji TS rov Tvfii VVKTOS Trapayevofjievoi Trji {irpo

Se

TTapOVTCOV

it,. TrploodyjyeXfjia

/cat JlAe£dV8/>ot>

dpiTTeXcovos

[TOVTO

(Spaxpias)

dpxuf>vXaKiT7]i &iXa$eXeias

Kal UcoarpaTOV [[/cat]]

diroXcoXe

IS"

]t TW(I)

/Cat ©eOTTOfJLTTCOL TCOt (f)vXaKLT7]L, TCOI

AXetjdvSpov

EcooTpdrov

eVe8et£a/u,eV crot

Hyr/vopos

Kal Zr\vcovos

TOV

[xvpidhes rpeis.

KaXapiivov

i o /cat dXXcov ev

dpx^vXa-

it,. Trpoodyy eXpia AvSpopidxcoi

0iXaSeXelas

KLTT]L

I I : N O S . 14-15

VVKTI} KXenrai

aTToXcoXe e/c T O U }

^

Ttês" CUIXOVTO exovTes

e/c rot?

20 -Z^vajvos" /cat 27[a»]aT/)dTou dpiTTeXcovos

(etjrjKovTapovpov)

@iXa$eX€iav d£iov

irepl

TOV

[

TOV

jx(vpiov)

(S/aa^jLtd?) tS

] . . . . p e p . . .

[

(

t ? /cat)

] TT]I

[

Ay]rjvopos

25 [oTparrjyov [ SeoTTOpvncoi

cf>vXaKirrji,

TCOI

povTcov Kal dXXcov ev apnreXcovi. \ivpiov a

30 x ^Kov

TOV

ovvaTTOGTaX\evTi /ca[t

TCOI

ira-]

KeXerjOios

TipLcofxeda ovv TOV

^ a A / c o u (hpaxpds)

(Spaxpids)

tS,

COOT

TeooapaKovTahvo.

3. Z-qvuivos KOI above the line. 28. the beginning and the end of t h e line. (Translation.)

etvai

1. n ^ c D y x e v

30. Traces of brackets on the papyrus a t

Y e a r 6, T y b i 17. D e c l a r a t i o n m a d e t o A n d r o m a c h o s , t h e chief of

police of P h i l a d e l p h e i a , b y S a m o e l i s a n d A l e x a n d e r , vine-dressers, t h e t e n a n t s of t h e v i n e y a r d b e l o n g i n g t o Z e n o n a n d S o s t r a t o s . O n t h e n i g h t of t h e 1 5 t h , t h i r t y t h o u s a n d reed c a n e s d i s a p p e a r e d f r o m t h e v i n e y a r d of Z e n o n a n d S o s t r a t o s . O n t h e 1 6 t h w e r e p o r t e d t h e m a t t e r t o y o u , to

, w h o w a s also sent o u t f r o m a m o n g t h o s e u n d e r t h e c o n t r o l of A g e n o r

the strategos, a n d t o T h e o p o m p o s the p o l i c e m a n ; there were others present

JEWS t o o in

OF THE FAYUM

IN

THE ZENON

Keleesis' v i n e y a r d . W e v a l u e t h e m

at

14 c o p p e r

PAPYRI drachmai

per

ten

t h o u s a n d , m a k i n g 42 c o p p e r d r a c h m a i a l t o g e t h e r . Y e a r 6, T y b i

17. D e c l a r a t i o n m a d e t o A n d r o m a c h o s t h e chief of police of

P h i l a d e l p h e i a , b y S a m o e l i s a n d A l e x a n d r o s , vine-dressers, t h e t e n a n t s of t h e v i n e y a r d belonging to Zenon and Sostratos. O n T y b i 1 6 t h , a t n i g h t , t h i e v e s g o t i n t o t h e 60-arourai v i n e y a r d a t P h i l a d e l p h e i a b e l o n g i n g t o Z e n o n a n d S o s t r a t o s a n d m a d e off w i t h

(reed

canes)

w o r t h 14 d r a c h m a i p e r t e n t h o u s a n d . O n t h e 1 6 t h (we r e p o r t e d t h e m a t t e r t o you, to

w h o w a s s e n t o u t as w e l l f r o m a m o n g t h o s e u n d e r t h e c o n t r o l of)

A g e n o r (the s t r a t e g o s ) a n d t o T h e o p o m p o s t h e p o l i c e m a n ; t h e r e w e r e p r e s e n t t o o in K e l e e s i s ' v i n e y a r d .

others

W e v a l u e t h e m a t 14 c o p p e r d r a c h m a i p e r

t e n t h o u s a n d , m a k i n g 42 c o p p e r d r a c h m a i a l t o g e t h e r . 1. Other instances of irpooayyeXp-aTa in the Zenon P a p y r i : e.g. P S I 396, P . Zen. Mich. 34, P . Col. Zen. 53. 4. dfiireXa>va. The size of the vineyard is given in 1. 2 1 : 60 arourai; it is mentioned again in no. 15 and in PCZ 59701. There were other vineyards o n t h e estate of Apollonios, one of t h e m of 37^, another of 100 arourai (PCZ 59269, 59300, 59752, cf. 59352). T h e vineyards were leased t o vine dressers (diATreXovpyoC); y e t it does not seem that the cultivation of grapes b y itself w a s sufficient t o provide a living for a farmer and his family, perhaps o n account of the hard conditions of the lease. So w e know that in one case t h e vine-dresser, w h o farmed a vineyard of 37J arourai, undertook various other business affairs (PCZ 59269), and in another case, P S I 414, t h e vine-dresser wrote frankly to Zenon : opais yap o n e / z o t OVK eonv, diatrep rots Xoiirots, ovre Xdxavov ovre dXXo ovOev, dXX els T O oifidviov d-rrofiXeTTCD. The vineyards were leased for 10 drachmai per aroura (PCZ 59269); so the rent for the vineyard of 60 arourai must have been 600 drachmai per a n n u m (see N o . 15). A vineyard of 60 arourai (i^r/KovTapovpos) is not t o o large t o be cultivated b y t w o families, with t h e exception of the harvesting period, when additional hands were certainly n e e d e d ; s o it is likely that Samoelis and Alexander were themselves engaged in t h e daily work o n t h e vineyard. W e m a y add t h a t t h e term dfineXovpyos itself designates a m a n w h o is engaged i n t h e work o n a vineyard, sometimes as a salaried worker ( P S I 336, 3 7 1 ; WB, s.v.; cf. for the classical period, for e x a m p l e , Aristoph. Pax 190). Additional work of fioTa.viop.6s o n this vineyard is mentioned i n PCZ 59701, but we d o not know if the vineyard w a s a t that time already farmed b y Samoelis and Alexander. I t i s , perhaps, worth noting that the foreman of labourers in 59701 bears a Semitic n a m e , ZaflSaios, and we m a y suggest that the t w o J e w s were interested in engaging workers coming from Palestine. On Syrian labourers engaged in the vineyards, cf. P . Col. Zen. 87, 23 sqq. 6. x^paKos KaXapivov: canes of reed used b y the vine-dressers in order t o attach the v i n e - s t o c k s ; see N o . 15. [TOCTO 84] suggested b y the editors. 7. Kal [ ] t : a proper name in t h e dative. 27 sqq. T h e following lines were communicated t o t h e editors of P S I b y Edgar, w h o found t h e m on a fragment of papyrus preserved in t h e Museum a t Cairo.

N o . i £ . Drafts of letters from Zenon Philadelpheia ( F a y u m ) .

30x22*5 c m .

20th January, 240 B.C.

PCZ 59367, Col. I I . L I T . : Rostovtzeff, A Large

Estate,

p p . 1 7 1 , 183.

Drafts of letters from Zenon to his partner Sostratos and to Samoelis and A l e x ander. T h e papyrus is v e r y b a d l y preserved and its subject not altogether clear. I t is evident, however, t h a t the m a t t e r concerns the v i n e y a r d of Zenon and Sostratos mentioned in the preceding number. A year has not y e t elapsed since the robbery referred to in N o . 1 4 and the t w o farmers are again troubled, this time apparently b y their neighbours. 'Zenon is alarmed a t the idea t h a t t h e y m a y leave the v i n e y a r d

SECTION

144

I I : N O S . 15-16

and renounce the contract, and he asks Sostratos to take some steps in order to prevent this' (Edgar). All restorations below are given according to E d g a r ' s notes. A s noticed b y E d g a r himself, t h e y all bear a merely hypothetical character. Col. I of the same papyrus (P. E d g . 62 = S B 6768) contains other drafts of letters written b y Zenon which h a v e no reference to our subject.

UcoGrpdrooL.

Ua[xorjX[is

/cat

AXlâvhpos

itro ra>v Tra[

KcoXvofxevoi S t o S e d [ e w did

KTrjfiaTCOv

TCOV

KOX TOV K a A a / x o v . . [

\[£Xr)Xv6acnv

r)U>[iv / c ] a r a . . . . [

vc^

Tcbi.

rjficov £v

7rep(t^c6/xaTt) Trapd

ft

SL(XfJL€fJiapTVpTjfJl,€VOL elolv

3°

oicbpvya

TJ)[V

TTa[

TO KTTJpia, dAA' aTroppr]aiv 7 r o t p [ w r a t S t d TO p,r) S w a o * 0 a t CTepcodev AajSetV,

KTTjp,aTcov S t d TeXovs

35

OV[K

££OV

StoSey[etv.

aalv S e

TCOV TOVS

TOVTCOV KVpiOVS €CO? [X€V yLv\eodai

eTTl€LK€LS,

vvv S e KeKCoXvodai

p6vTiaov

/cat

VTTO

[[0770)?]] /cat aîcoaov

ovv

T\OVTCOV.

7re/3[.]rp[

OTTCos /w.77 [ey/caJraAtVcocrt TO KT[rjp.a, apyvpiov

avTovs

tVa jxr) BiaTrearjL

/cat vvv J)yap[

TOGOVTO,

aiiTcov etjcpydoecrdai 40

Std

(hpaxpids)

Â. [Trvvddvofiai S e

/cat c o t y e y o [ a < £ ] e V a t .

UaixorjXi

/cat

AXet;d\ybpcoi

VTroXap,f$dvovTe\s (itjaKovTapovpov) vofirjaeadaL

Trpg[s

Vfias Kaiirep

etjeiXrjtfroTas

/cat TOV Ka[Xdp,ov rjpidg, yeypdcpapiev

TOV

-xopriyovp.€vov V/XLV

irapa-

iva

VTToXdfir)[T€

45

TO

KT7JfJLa[

v[o]p,rjcraoda[L OVTC

yap

T[

....[ (Translation.) the

T o Sostratos. Samoelis and A l e x a n d e r h a v e been prevented b y

f r o m t r a v e l l i n g t h r o u g h t h e v i n e y a r d s , a n d . . . t h e reed(s) . . . b y u s

in t h e area of t h e s e c o n d d i k e b y t h e c a n a l , t h e y p r o t e s t e d t h a t t h e y . . . t h e v i n e y a r d , b u t w e r e resigning i t since t h e y c o u l d n o t g e t t o it f r o m one side, a n d i t w a s i m p o s s i b l e t o t r a v e l all t h e w a y t h r o u g h t h e v i n e y a r d s . T h e y a d d t h a t for s o m e t i m e t h o s e in c h a r g e of t h i s p a r t w e r e r e a s o n a b l e , b u t n o w t h e y t o o k e e p t h e m o u t . S o t a k e t h o u g h t a n d consider . . . h o w t o p r e v e n t t h e m f r o m a b a n d o n i n g t h e v i n e y a r d , so t h a t so g r e a t a s u m of m o n e y s h o u l d n o t b e lost. A t t h e m o m e n t (I h a v e ) . . . t h e m t o w o r k (for) 630 d r a c h m a i . I g a t h e r t h a t t h e y h a v e w r i t t e n t o y o u as w e l l .

JEWS

O F T H E FAYCTM

IN

THE ZENON

PAPYRI

145

T o Samoelis and Alexander. I u n d e r s t a n d t h a t , t h o u g h y o u h a v e l e a s e d t h e 60-arourai v i n e y a r d w i t h a p l e n t i f u l s u p p l y of reeds y o u are i n t e n d i n g t o d e f a u l t in y o u r a g r e e m e n t w i t h m e . I a m w r i t i n g so t h a t y o u m a y u n d e r s t a n d . . . t h e v i n e y a r d . . . (to b r e a k ) t h e l a w . . . for n e i t h e r . . . . 27. Perhaps iird TCOV TTOJJJOIKOUVTCOV?] KwXvofievoi 8to8fv[ETV. T h e complaint of the t w o farmers w a s probably directed against their neighbours, w h o prevented t h e m from crossing their properties. Cf. P . R y l . ii. 157 and the article of Taubenschlag, 'Das R e c h t auf doooos und e£o8os in den Papyri', Arch. viii. 25 sqq. T h e right t o pass across the neighbouring property was of great importance for the vine-dressers, because the reeds, which t h e y needed for training the vines, were cultivated in special plantations, t h e so-called KAAA/ICIAI (cf., for example, S P 18), situated s o m e t i m e s o n t h e banks of the Nile or its canals, far a w a y from the vineyard itself. Cf. Schnebel, Landwirtschaft, 254 s q q . ; C. Ricci, La

Cultura

delta

vite,

26.

28. 'e.g., T O V Ka.Xafi.ov <j>4pei.v rov 7RAPA8«x0«RA avrois i* r)pa>v ' (Edgar). I would prefer a restoration like t h i s : T O V KaXafiov 4pctv diro ri}s Siwpvyos. 29. On the irepixd>pa.Ta in the Zenon Papyri cf. Edgar, Introd. to P. Mich. Zen., p . 31. 30. 'In the lacuna m a y h a v e stood some such phrase as ira[petXi)ju.ei> T]v\ycov rov

KOIVOV

oiopiai

ovv crov

r[ [ivrevtjccos

T7jv[

Trdv[rcov

acorrjpa

€L

(2nd h a n d ) a V d o r j e t A o v npos r)[j,ds (Translation.)

€v[rvx ]' Trepl rcov

OTTCOS

ey\KaXov\iivcov

. . . n i s a s n a k son of Iosios.

. . . l e t t h e m g e t f r o m . . . ( t h o u g h often) a s k e d for it, (refuses t o p a y . T h e r e fore I b e g y o u ) . . . t o o r d e r Z e n o n . . . l e t u s h a n d o v e r t h e p r o p e r t y m e n t i o n e d in t h e (petition) . . . or t h e v a l u e . . . a p p e a l i n g t o y o u , i m p a r t i a l s a v i o u r of all men. Farewell. (2nd h a n d ) S e n d h i m t o m e so t h a t (I m a y e x a m i n e him) a b o u t t h e a c c u s a t i o n s . B 2909

L

146

SECTION

I I : N O S . 16-17

1. 'The third letter might be £, b u t looks t o m e more like £ corrected t o a. There m a y h a v e been a letter between v and 1; if n o t , w e m u s t read T O U 'Ioolov preceded b y an indeclinable name ending in aovaK. T h e alternative, which seems t o m e preferable, is t o read ] v « r a s NO.KTOV[P]IOS 'Iov[oatos. Nanrovpis is a possible variant of NexOvpis, and w e k n o w t h a t J e w s sometimes bore E g y p t i a n names' (Edgar). M. O. Gu^raud w a s good enough t o read t h e papyrus again, b u t did n o t arrive a t a n y n e w conclusions. 'Je vois e x a c t e m e n t c o m m e Edgar . . . tout en reconnaissant que le facon d e couper les m o t s et de les interpreter e s t obscure. T o u t e conjecture e s t permise . . .' The space between v and t is quite clear on the photostat, and I see no traces of a letter that might have stood there. I think, there fore, that t h e reading TOV 'Ioaiov is more likely t o be correct than that given b y Edgar. T h e tran scription of the name l f P t W in the L X X is 'Iuoetas, 'Icwla, 'Icooias, b u t the use of o instead of o> in t h e papyrus cannot serve a s a n argument against t h e reading. I cannot explain the letters before rov. The spelling NaKrovpis instead o f Nexdvpts does n o t occur in the Zenon Papyri, a n d the name Nex^pis itself occurs only once (PCZ 59292). 3.

84op.au

ovv

oov

restored b y m e .

N o . 17. Fragment of an account Philadelpheia ( F a y u m ) (?).

Mid-third century B.C.

P . Lond. i n v . 2378, frag. 1, verso (unpublished). T h i s little fragment is part of a p a p y r u s in the British Museum and is published here b y kind permission of Mr. T . C. S k e a t . In Col. I (not given here) there is mention of Greek and E g y p t i a n names which do not occur in the Palestinian lists (see a b o v e , N o . 2). So it is likely t h a t the T o u b i a s of this fragment has nothing to do w i t h his namesake from the A m m a n i t i s . T h e p a p y r u s derives probably from Philadelpheia in the F a y u m . Col. I I

Tovfiiai

[ ].. (Translation.)

T o Toubias

t w o . . . one(?) a n d

f.

S E C T I O N III

JEWISH SOLDIERS A N D MILITARY SETTLERS IN THE THIRD A N D SECOND CENTURIES B.C. T H E present section i n c l u d e s p a p y r i d e a l i n g w i t h J e w s in t h e P t o l e m a i c a r m y . A l m o s t all t h e d o c u m e n t s are f r o m t h e F a y i i m : N o . 19 ( K r o k o d i l o p o l i s - A r s i n o e ) , N o . 21 (Kerkeosiris), N o s . 22 a n d 28 ( S a m a r e i a - K e r k e s e p h i s ) , N o . 23 ( A p i a s ) , N o . 24 ( T r i k o m i a ) , N o . 25 ( H e p h a i s t i a s ) , a n d N o s . 26, 29, a n d 30. N o . 18 is f r o m a v i l l a g e in H e r a k l e o p o l i s (a d i s t r i c t in t h e n e i g h b o u r h o o d of t h e F a y i i m ) , a n d N o . 24 m e n t i o n s a J e w i s h soldier w h o s e residence w a s in t h e s a m e district. O n l y one of t h e d o c u m e n t s ( N o . 27) is f r o m U p p e r E g y p t . J e w i s h soldiers, like all foreign soldiers in t h e P t o l e m a i c a r m y (see a b o v e , p p . 12 sq.), m a y b e g r o u p e d as m e n s e r v i n g in t h e r e g u l a r a r m y a n d t h o s e b e l o n g i n g t o t h e E p i g o n e . T h e former w e r e s t y l e d in t h e d o c u m e n t s ' J e w s ' f / o u S a t o i ) , w h e r e a s t o t h e l a t t e r t h e m o r e precise definition rrjs i-myovfjs w a s a t t a c h e d . W h e n a f u r t h e r m a r k of d i s t i n c t i o n w a s n e e d e d , t h e n a m e of t h e e p o n y m o u s officer in c h a r g e of t h e u n i t w a s a d d e d . F r o m N o . 24 w e c a n d r a w t h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t J e w s s e r v e d in t h e i n f a n t r y (1. 12) as w e l l as in t h e c a v a l r y (1. 27). I n t h e p a p y r i there is n o r e c o r d of s e p a r a t e J e w i s h u n i t s , t h e d e t a c h m e n t of Molossos ( N o . 24) a n d t h e 1st h i p p a r c h y (ibid.) b e i n g w i t h o u t a n y d o u b t m i x e d u n i t s . A J e w i s h taktomisthos

is m e n t i o n e d in N o . 24 (and p e r h a p s in N o . 22, see n o t e s

a d l o c , 1. 6 ) ; t h e n a t u r e of t h i s office is still a m a t t e r of c o n t r o v e r s y , y e t i t s e e m s t h a t t h e raKropaadot. were officers p e r f o r m i n g s o m e s p e c i a l f u n c t i o n s in t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of t h e a r m y , p e r h a p s as p a y m a s t e r s (see P r e i s i g k e , s . v . ; L e s q u i e r , Inst,

milit.

99 sq., 348 s q . ; LSJ,

Fachwdrterbuch,

s . v . ; U P Z 3 1 , 1. 3, n o t e (p. 225);

S P 37 (note t o 1. 27)). If D o s i t h e o s in N o . 24, 1. 26, w a s a J e w , w e s h o u l d h a v e a f u r t h e r i n s t a n c e of t h e e m p l o y m e n t of J e w s in a m i l i t a r y c a p a c i t y ; in t h i s case h e w o u l d b e s t y l e d 6 irpds rrji ovvrdgei,

or t h e like (the d u t y of s u c h e m

p l o y e e s w a s t o d i s t r i b u t e l a n d a m o n g t h e m i l i t a r y settlers). Y e t t h e case of D o s i t h e o s is d o u b t f u l . A n o t h e r c a v a l r y officer is t h e iTnaraT-qs

Irnrapxias

in

N o . 27. F u r t h e r , it m a y b e a s s u m e d t h a t e v e r y J e w w h o r e c e i v e d a consider a b l e KXfjpos r a n k e d a m o n g t h e officers of t h e a r m y (as, for i n s t a n c e , t h e t w o J e w s in N o . 24,11. 26 sq., a n d p e r h a p s one or t w o in N o . 28, 11. 4 - 5 ) . I t m a y b e a d d e d t h a t a J e w i s h -qyepuov in t h e F a y i i m is k n o w n f r o m a n i n s c r i p t i o n ( S B 27). T h e J e w i s h soldiers w e r e w e a l t h y m e n in c o m p a r i s o n w i t h their c o m p a t r i o t s d e s c r i b e d in S e c t i o n I I .

L i k e all soldiers in t h e P t o l e m a i c r e g u l a r a r m y t h e y

r e c e i v e d l a n d h o l d i n g s (/cA%>oi), a n d it m a y b e a s s u m e d t h a t in t h e process of time t h e y b e c a m e landowners w h o enjoyed a regular rent from their estates and b e q u e a t h e d t h e m t o their l e g a l heirs w i t h o u t t r o u b l e . I n N o . 23 w e h e a r of a J e w of t h e E p i g o n e o w n i n g a house w i t h a c o u r t a n d all a p p u r t e n a n c e s ; in N o . 24 t h e r e is m e n t i o n of t w o J e w i s h h o r s e m e n o w n i n g e s t a t e s of 80 a r o u r a i

SECTION

148 e a c h (oySorjKovrdpovpoi);

I I I : N O . 18

in N o . 28 w e g e t s o m e i d e a of a n u m b e r of c a t t l e o w n e d

b y m e m b e r s of a m i l i t a r y s e t t l e m e n t w h i c h w a s J e w i s h , p a r t l y or e n t i r e l y . N o w o n d e r t h a t t h e s e m e n , m o r e a c c u s t o m e d t o a p e a c e f u l e x i s t e n c e in t h e i r v i l l a g e s t h a n t o t h e a d v e n t u r o u s life of soldiers, w e r e a n x i o u s t o increase t h e i r i n c o m e s b y e v e r y m e a n s o p e n t o t h e i n h a b i t a n t s of P t o l e m a i c E g y p t . I t is n o t b y m e r e c h a n c e t h a t m a n y of our p a p y r i d e a l i n g w i t h J e w i s h soldiers are l e g a l d o c u m e n t s , s u c h as N o . 18 ( s e t t l e m e n t of c l a i m s b e t w e e n t w o persons, one b e i n g a J e w of t h e E p i g o n e ) ; N o . 20 (a l o a n m a d e b y a J e w of t h e E p i g o n e t o a n o t h e r ) ; N o . 23 (a l o a n u p o n m o r t g a g e , b o t h t h e c o n t r a c t i n g p a r t i e s b e i n g J e w s of t h e E p i g o n e ) ; No.

24 (a b u s i n e s s p a r t n e r s h i p b e t w e e n a J e w of t h e E p i g o n e a n d a

taktomisthos);

Jewish

cf. also N o s . 22 a n d 26. T h e l e g a l a s p e c t of t h e s e d o c u m e n t s w a s

d i s c u s s e d a b o v e in t h e P r o l e g o m e n a (p. 3 3 ) ; h e r e I s h o u l d like t o stress t h a t t h e s e d o c u m e n t s are v e r y i m p o r t a n t for t h e s t u d y of social a n d e c o n o m i c c o n d i t i o n s a m o n g t h e J e w i s h soldiers a n d settlers. The

p a p y r i g a t h e r e d in t h i s s e c t i o n c o n t a i n n e a r l y 90 n a m e s ( i n c l u d i n g t h e

p a t r o n y m i c s ) of J e w s , a m o n g t h e m a b o u t 25 p e r c e n t . H e b r e w n a m e s . O f t h e G r e e k n a m e s , n e a r l y a t h i r d are t h e o p h o r i c . A full s t a t i s t i c a l s u r v e y is i m p o s s i b l e c o n s i d e r i n g t h e f a c t t h a t t h e n a t i o n a l origin of persons m e n t i o n e d in N o s . 30 a n d 31 is s o m e t i m e s o b s c u r e . I t is w o r t h n o t i n g t h a t n o E g y p t i a n n a m e s are r e c o r d e d a m o n g t h o s e of J e w i s h soldiers a n d settlers.

N o . 18. Deed of renunciation Phebichis (Herakleopolites).

F r . (a): 1 0 x 1 1 7 c m .

April 260 B.C.

P . H i b . 96. R o t h , 1 . L I T . : Wilcken, Arch. i v . 183. Bouche^Leclercq i v . 240 n. 3. Rabel, Sav. Ztsch. ibid. 3 4 1 . Schubart, GGA 1907, 282. Berger, Die Strafklauseln BL

i. 1 9 5 .

S e m e k a , Ptolem.

n . 4 ; 266 n . 2.

Prozessrecht

Oertel, Liturgie,

53 n. 3.

i, 1 9 1 3 , 207 s q . A c c o r d i , Studi

x x v i i . 335. Mitteis,

in den Papyri,

Mitteis, Grundz.

della

scuola

1 9 1 1 , 242 ( I n d e x ) .

53 n. 6.

papirologica,

J u s t e r , ii. 67,

iii. 26 n. 1 1 , 28.

Bilabel, Aeg. v . 161 s q . F u c h s , 50, 63, 83. T r a m o n t a n o , 21 s q . Hellebrand, Das " 3 - 395- Taubenschlag, 305 n. 4. L a u n e y , 544, 5 5 0 , 1 2 3 2 .

Prozesszeugnis,

n

A deed of renunciation (avyypa7)

dnoaTaaiov)

between Andronikos, a Jew(?) of the

E p i g o n e , and Alexander, son of Andronikos, a Jewish soldier on active service. W h e t h e r A l e x a n d e r w a s the son of the second p a r t y to the deed cannot be stated. T h e contract is drawn u p in the usual form of Ptolemaic ovyypacfxxl

ditoaraalov,

which

are a Hellenistic adaptation of a special k i n d of demotic contract. T h e p a p y r u s is b a d l y mutilated. T h o u g h the document is written in duplicate, the restoration of m a n y lines remains obscure.

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35

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(Translation.)

[A]lOVVGLOV [NiKOfSlov] [Ti\[Aoorpdrov

I n t h e 26th y e a r of t h e r e i g n of P t o l e m y t h e son of P t o l e m y a n d

his son P t o l e m y , . . . b e i n g priest of A l e x a n d e r a n d t h e g o d s A d e l p h o i , t h e k a n e p h o r o s of A r s i n o e P h i l a d e l p h o s b e i n g . . . , in t h e m o n t h D y s t r o s , a t P h e b i c h i s in t h e K o i t e ( t o p a r c h y ? ) . C o n t r a c t of r e n u n c i a t i o n b e t w e e n A n d r o n i k o s . . . of t h e E p i g o n e , a n d A l e x a n d e r son of A n d r o n i k o s , J e w , w i t h . . . of Z o i l o s ' t r o o p , nikos.

deka-

T h e y a g r e e t h a t t h e y h a v e s e t t l e d all t h e c l a i m s w h i c h t h e y m a d e a g a i n s t

e a c h o t h e r in f o r m e r t i m e s ; a n d A n d r o n i k o s h a s n o r i g h t t o p r o c e e d a g a i n s t A l e x a n d e r nor A l e x a n d e r against A n d r o n i k o s , nor m a y a n y other p a r t y on their b e h a l f b r i n g a n y c l a i m o n a n y p r e t e x t w i t h r e s p e c t t o a n y of t h e c l a i m s w h i c h t h e y m a d e a g a i n s t e a c h o t h e r u p t o t h e 26th y e a r a n d t h e m o n t h D y s t r o s . If e i t h e r of t h e t w o p a r t i e s p r o c e e d a g a i n s t t h e o t h e r , b o t h t h e a c t of a g g r e s s i o n shall b e i n v a l i d for t h e p e r s o n m a k i n g it, a n d t h e a g g r e s s o r shall forfeit t o t h e i n j u r e d p a r t y a fine of . . . d r a c h m a i . T h i s c o n t r a c t is v a l i d w h e r e s o e v e r i t b e p r o d u c e d . . . . T h e w i t n e s s e s are N i k o b i o s , C h a l k i d i a n , D i o n y s o d o r o s , K r o m nian, . . ., all three . . .

. . . of Z o i l o s ' t r o o p , S t r a t o n son of

kles, E r y t h r i a n ( P ) ,

of t h e E p i g o n e , o n s p e c i a l d u t y , . . . son of D i o x a n d e r , B o e o t i a n of t h e

E p i g o n e , o n s p e c i a l d u t y . T h e k e e p e r of t h i s c o n t r a c t is D i o n y s o d o r o s . Verso: (Seals of) ( A n d r o n i k o s , A l e x a n d e r , D i o n y s o d o r o s ) ,

, Philon, Straton,

Dionysios, (Nikobios), Timostratos. 1. T h e usual prescript of t h e Ptolemaic documents mentioning t h e priests a n d priestesses of Alexander and t h e deified kings. S e e above, p . 33. 3. ej3txts is a village of t h e Herakleopolite n o m e (see P . T e b t . 920,21). Whether KOJITTIS is a parallel E g y p t i a n n a m e t o Herakleopolites (it seems so from P . H i b . 78, where Kcjlrrjs is spoken of in the same w a y as 'Oivpvyxirrjs), or a n a m e of a roirapxla of Herakleopolites, is a matter for a special s t u d y . According t o E . v a n ' t D a c k , Chr. d'Egypte, xxiii, 1948, p p . 149 sq., it was a toparchy. 4. T h e lacuna is large enough for the restoration: [AvSpoviKov rod Setva 'Iovoalov TJ)S eiriyovjijs, y e t a name like AaKXr/moSiupov can also fill the g a p b e t w e e n AvhpojvlKov rod and rijs emyovijs, and it would be safer, therefore, t o abstain from a n y suggestion as t o the national origin of Andronikos. I t m a y also be emphasized that i n the case of both contracting parties being J e w s , w e might h a v e expected t h a t at least a number of the witnesses would be J e w s a s well (cf. N o . 22, 1. 6 , note). Y e t in t h e present document all the witnesses seem t o be of Greek origin.

JEWISH

SOLDIERS

AND

MILITARY

SETTLERS

4-5. It results clearly from fierd &c. t h a t Alexander had a partner, w h o served in the detachment of Zoilos (Bilabel, Aeg. v . 161 sq.). H e was a SeKavixos, the holder of a military post, apparently in t h e cavalry. Cf. Lesquier, Inst. mil. 91 sq., 347; P . T e b t . 811. 14; 815, fr. 2, recto, col. I I , 1 ; ibid. fr. 7, 2 8 - 9 5 1 , 1. 9. 'The word following 6ir6\j]epos is not avrcbv . . . It is quite possible t h a t . . . onortpos was written twice over b y mistake' (Edd.). 1 0 . ' aKvpos eoTut would be expected . . . ; but the traces at the beginning of the line are inconsistent with os..: (Edd.). 11. Restored according t o BL i. 195 (cf. Berger, Strafklaus. 50, n. 2). 12. Restored according t o BL i. 195 (cf. Schubart, GGA, 1907, 283). 13 sqq. It was suggested b y the editors (cf. Mitteis, Grundz. 53) that the names of seven witnesses stood in 11.12 sqq. and 29 sqq., instead of the six usually needed for a ovyypa<pr) igap.dpTvpos. W e m a y d o u b t whether t h e y are right. I t is quite usual in the papyri for the signatures, n a m e s of witnesses, t h e s u m m i n g u p , &c. t o be placed at some distance from the left margin of the papyrus, so that t h e t o p of the document is filled only on the right side. From 11. 12 and 29 it m a y be inferred t h a t our docu m e n t , t o o , was written in this w a y . Here the editors estimated the length of the lacuna as containing 24 letters; it is obvious, however, t h a t nothing could stand between im(f>eprirai, which closes the preceding sentence, and p.dprvpes which opens the n e x t . If we suggest, therefore, that lines 12-16, as well as 29-33, written at a distance of c. 25 letters from the left margin, t h e space will be just large enough to include the names of the usual six witnesses. T h e n a m e s of five witnesses and a fragment of a sixth are preserved on the verso, and the editors point out that the n a m e of D i o n y s o doros t h e ovyypo.(j>o(j>v\a£ is not a m o n g t h e m . T h e y restored t h e n a m e of Dionysodoros, a s well a s t h e names of both contracting parties, Andronikos and Alexander, in the left margin. Bilabel, Aeg. v . 161 sq., suggests that the n a m e of the u n k n o w n partner of Alexander stood in the left margin together with the names of the contracting parties, whereas the name of Dionysodoros stood at t h e head of t h e second column of the verso, where the letters e n alone were read b y the editors. T h a t m a y be correct, but it cannot be proved. I reprint, therefore, the verso without changing the order of the n a m e s , according to the editio princeps of the papyrus. w

e

r

e

13. T h e editors take OVTOI as 'the termination of some military title not found elsewhere in these papyri'. I prefer to read O J T O I as referring to the three witnesses, all belonging t o the d e t a c h m e n t of Zoilos and being probably t h e representatives of A l e x a n d e r ; t h e remaining three were invited b y Andronikos t o serve as witnesses. W e h a v e a n instance of such a division of the witnesses b e t w e e n the contracting parties, for example, in N o . 1. Verso. See the c o m m e n t a r y to 11. 13 sqq.

N o . 19. A trial before the Court of Ten Krokodilopolis ( F a y u m ) .

226 B.C.

P . Petrie 3. 21(g). M. Chr. 2 1 . P . Gurob 2. S P 256. L I T . : Grenfell-Hunt in P . H i b . 1, p p . 165-7 and 376 (36). Wilcken, Arch. iii. 514. Bouche-Leclercq iv. 240. Schubart, Arch. v . 67 n. 1, 68 n. 2, 112 n. 3. Mitteis, Sav. Ztschr. x x i x . 470. Fliniaux, Nouv. Rev.

hist, x x x i i i . 535 sq.

x i v , 1912, 521 sqq. u.

ro'm.

Agypten,

1922,

BL

vi. 459 s q q . ; vii. 289 sq.

Zucker, Beitrdge

Dikaiomata,

204 sqq.

z. Kenntnis

Druffel, Krit.

Vierteljahresschr.

der Gerichlsorganisation

Juster, ii. 31 n. 2

inptol.

63 n. 1, 1 1 0 n. 3.

P.

p . 259. N e p p i Modona, Aeg. iii. 38. Segre, Aeg. viii. 293 sqq. Wilcken, Arch.

ii. 2, 72.

127 sq.

x v i . 29.

1 9 1 1 , 43 sqq.

Meyer, Jur. Pap., 69 sqq.

P . M. Meyer, Klio,

J o n e s , JRS

E d g a r , Recueil

F u c h s 5 1 , 83,

91

n.

d'£tudes

1.

egyptologiques

S c h o n b a u e r , Beitr.

dediees

zur

a la

Geschichte

Memoire

d.

de

M.

vii.

Champollion,

Liegenschaft-Rechtes,

1924, 90. B e v a n , 162. Tramontano, 22. Seidl, Ptolemdische Rechtsgesch. 21 n. 5, 25 n. 2, 26 n n . 9, 1 0 ; 34, 85 n. 4. Wolff, TAP A lxxii, 1941, 432 n. 44. Taubenschlag, 9 n. 34, 369 n. 27, 388 n. 1, 397 n. 1. L a u n e y , 545, 1232 sq. T h i s p a p y r u s is the official report of a session of a Greek court, k n o w n as the

'Court

of Ten', in Krokodilopolis-Arsinoe in the F a y u m . T h e report was written twice b y scribe, as were all the protocols of this court (P. Petr. 3. 21 a-f,

cf. M. Chr.

the

3), but till

152

SECTION

I I I : N O . 19

1 9 2 1 only the first c o p y w a s known (P. Petr. 3 . 2 1 g = M . Chr. 2 1 ) , and unfortunately it was the b a d l y written one. T w o fragments of the second copy, preserved as well, were too small to be of a n y help in solving all the complicated questions connected w i t h the interpretation of the t e x t . O n l y the discovery of the greater part of the second c o p y and its publication b y S m y l y in P . G u r o b 2 ( 1 9 2 1 ) prepared the ground for a more detailed interpretation; y e t even now the whole t e x t cannot be reconstructed, the middle part of the document being b a d l y mutilated in both copies. In his publication of P . Gurob 2 , S m y l y enclosed in square brackets all the words lost in the second b u t preserved in the first c o p y , and printed in smaller t y p e the conjectural restorations. T h e t e x t printed below is based on the edition of E d g a r a n d H u n t in S P 2 5 6 , which is a combination of b o t h copies: the conjectural restorations only, i.e. words lost in both copies, are enclosed in square brackets. T h e lines 2 2 - 2 5 , omitted in S P , are printed here in accordance w i t h P . Gurob 2 . T h e late Professor S m y l y w a s good enough to answer some questions as to the reading of some doubtful words; his answers are indicated in the notes b y ' S m y l y , 1 9 4 8 ' , whereas ' S m y l y ' alone refers to his com m e n t a r y in P . G u r o b 2 . I also approached Mr. S k e a t over some chronological difficul ties arising from different dates given in the t w o copies; cf. the note to 1. 1 1 . The whole document m a y be divided into four p a r t s : ( 1 ) 11. 1 - 6 : the date of the session and the names of the j u d g e s ; (2) 11. 6 - 1 2 : the object of the session (a trial between Dositheos, a J e w of the Epigone, and Herakleia, a Jewess, according to a prostagma of the strategos submitting the trial t o the Court of T e n ) ; (3) 11. 1 2 - 3 5 the indictment (ey/cXr^ta) brought b y Dositheos against Herakleia; (4) 11. 3 5 - 4 9 : the examination of the documents handed over to the court b y Herakleia, and the sen tence of the court. F r o m this brief s u m m a r y it is evident t h a t the main interest of the documents is w i t h purely juridical questions, such as the competence of the Court of T e n and the l i k e ; most valuable information is g i v e n in 11. 4 2 sqq., where the king's 8iaypdfxfi,ara, the VOXITIKOI vofioi, and the judges' own yvcop.r} are named as the basic principles for the decisions to be taken b y the court. Since the competence of the Court of T e n and the meaning of ITOXITIKOI vofioi are matters of controversy, it is not at all surprising t h a t the literature on our document should be abundant, as m a y be seen from the rather long (but b y no means complete) list of works cited above. F o r our purpose, the main interest of the document lies in the fact t h a t the trial between a J e w and a Jewess is brought not before a Jewish b u t before a Greek tribunal. O n this question see above, p p . 3 3 sq. :

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154 Kcbs, oaa p,ev eV rots yeypafxfieva

[xrj ear iv £v rots 45 rd TOV? vofiovs, [. .] avvrdaaei, [TOJV

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(Translation.)

IlroXepiaLOV

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[

I I I : N O . 19

[

rr)[v hl,Kr)V.

I n t h e 22nd y e a r of t h e reign of P t o l e m y , son of P t o l e m y a n d

A r s i n o e , g o d s A d e l p h o i , t h e priest of A l e x a n d e r a n d t h e g o d s A d e l p h o i a n d t h e g o d s E u e r g e t a i a n d t h e k a n e p h o r o s of A r s i n o e P h i l a d e l p h o s b e i n g t h o s e officia t i n g in A l e x a n d r i a , t h e 22nd of t h e m o n t h D y s t r o s , a t K r o k o d i l o p o l i s in t h e A r s i n o i t e n o m e , u n d e r t h e p r e s i d e n c y of Z e n o t h e m i s , t h e j u d g e s b e i n g D i o m e d e s , Polykles, A n d r o n , Theophanes, Maiandrios, Sonikos, Diotrephes. Polydeukes, t h e clerk of t h e c o u r t , h a v i n g c o n s t i t u t e d u s in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e order s e n t t o h i m b y A r i s t o m a c h o s , a p p o i n t e d s t r a t e g o s of t h e A r s i n o i t e n o m e , of w h i c h t h i s is a c o p y : ' T o P o l y d e u k e s g r e e t i n g . H e r a k l e i a h a s r e q u e s t e d t h e k i n g in her p e t i t i o n t o f o r m a n d s w e a r in a c o u r t for h e r of all t h e j u d g e s e x c e p t s u c h as either p a r t y may

challenge

in

accordance

with

the

regulations.

Year

21, D y s t r o s

16,

Pachon 19.' W e h a v e g i v e n j u d g m e n t as b e l o w in t h e a c t i o n b r o u g h t b y D o s i t h e o s a g a i n s t Herakleia according to the following

indictment:

' D o s i t h e o s son of . . . , J e w of t h e E p i g o n e , t o H e r a k l e i a d a u g h t e r of D i o s d o t o s , J e w e s s , as y o u in y o u r . . . of y o u r s e l f d e c l a r e d ( P ) , (I state) t h a t on P e r i t i o s 22 of y e a r 2 1 , as I w i t h o t h e r persons w a s e n t e r i n g t h e . . . of A p i o n . . . f r o m t h e soc a l l e d h o u s e of P a s y t i s w h i c h is in K r o k o d i l o p o l i s in t h e A r s i n o i t e n o m e o p p o s i t e t h e so-called h o u s e of P a s y t i s t h e . . ., y o u c a m e t o t h a t p l a c e w i t h K a l l i p p o s t h e . . . a n d a b u s e d m e s a y i n g t h a t I h a d t o l d c e r t a i n p e r s o n s t h a t ( y o u are a . . . ) w o m a n , a n d o n m y a b u s i n g y o u in r e t u r n y o u n o t o n l y s p a t o n m e b u t seizing t h e l o o p of m y m a n t l e . . . m e a n d . . . u n t i l . . . a n d t h e said K a l l i p p o s . . . as t h e people present r e b u k e d y o u a n d K a l l i p p o s . . . y o u ceased y o u r insults . . . t o w h i c h I h a v e b o r n e w i t n e s s . W h e r e f o r e I b r i n g a n a c t i o n of a s s a u l t a g a i n s t y o u for 200 d r a c h m a i , t h e a s s e s s m e n t of d a m a g e s b e i n g . . . d r a c h m a i . A n d as t h e a s s a u l t e d p a r t y I b y t h i s i n d i c t m e n t . . . T h e 21st y e a r , t h e priest of A l e x a n d e r a n d t h e g o d s A d e l p h o i a n d t h e g o d s E u e r g e t a i b e i n g G a l e s t e s son of P h i l i s t i o n , t h e k a n e p h o r o s of A r s i n o e P h i l a d e l p h o s b e i n g B e r e n i k e d a u g h t e r of Sosipolis, t h e 26th of t h e m o n t h P e r i t i o s . T h e case w i l l b e p r e s e n t e d a g a i n s t y o u in t h e c o u r t s i t t i n g in t h e A r s i n o i t e n o m e , of w h i c h P o l y d e u k e s is t h e clerk, o n P e r i t i o s . . . of t h e 21st y e a r , a n d y o u h a v e r e c e i v e d t h e i n d i c t m e n t a n d h a v e b e e n p e r s o n a l l y s u m m o n e d , t h e w i t n e s s e s of t h e s u m m o n s b e i n g . . . p h a n e s son of N i k i a s , T h r a c i a n , official e m p l o y e e , Z o p y r o s son of S y m m a c h o s , P e r s i a n of t h e E p i g o n e . ' W h e r e a s t h i s w a s t h e i n d i c t m e n t , a n d D o s i t h e o s n e i t h e r a p p e a r e d in person nor p u t i n a w r i t t e n s t a t e m e n t nor w a s w i l l i n g t o p l e a d his c a s e ; a n d w h e r e a s H e r a k l e i a a p p e a r e d w i t h h e r g u a r d i a n A r i s t i d e s son of P r o t e a s , A t h e n i a n of t h e

JEWISH

SOLDIERS

A N D MILITARY

SETTLERS

155

E p i g o n e , a n d p u t in b o t h a w r i t t e n s t a t e m e n t a n d j u s t i f i c a t o r y d o c u m e n t s , a n d w a s also w i l l i n g t o d e f e n d h e r c a s e ; a n d w h e r e a s t h e c o d e of r e g u l a t i o n s w h i c h w a s h a n d e d in b y H e r a k l e i a a m o n g t h e j u s t i f i c a t o r y d o c u m e n t s d i r e c t s u s t o g i v e j u d g m e n t in a . . . m a n n e r o n all p o i n t s w h i c h a n y p e r s o n k n o w s or s h o w s u s t o h a v e b e e n d e a l t w i t h i n t h e r e g u l a t i o n s of k i n g P t o l e m y , in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e r e g u l a t i o n s , a n d o n a l l p o i n t s w h i c h are n o t d e a l t w i t h in t h e r e g u l a t i o n s , b u t in t h e c i v i c l a w s , i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e l a w s , a n d o n a l l o t h e r p o i n t s t o follow t h e m o s t e q u i t a b l e v i e w ; b u t w h e n b o t h p a r t i e s h a v e b e e n s u m m o n e d b e f o r e t h e c o u r t a n d o n e of t h e m is u n w i l l i n g t o p u t i n a w r i t t e n s t a t e m e n t or p l e a d h i s c a s e or a c k n o w l e d g e defeat(?) . . . h e s h a l l b e j u d g e d g u i l t y of i n j u s t i c e ; w e h a v e dismissed

t h e case.

2. erovs KJ8. On the chronological question see note to 1. n . 4. Krokodilopolis is another n a m e for Arsinoe, the metropolis of the F a y u m . Cf. P . Tebt. ii, p . 370. 5 sq. Only eight judges (including t h e president) are mentioned, t w o others being presumably challenged b y Herakleia and withdrawn (cf. 1. 10). 8. Ilo\v[oevKei ^ a t ' p e t v ] S m y l y ; TIoXv[8evKei. fierd rd Xonrd] or the like, Wilcken (Arch. vii. 70; cf. BL ii. 2, 72). It m a y be pointed out (against Wilcken) t h a t there is n o evidence that t h e idioms p.erd rd Xonrd or fied' erepa, m u c h in use in t h e R o m a n period, were similarly used in t h e Ptolemaic period. 9. Ka6ia[at avriji Karop.6]oavras. Restored b y m e ; Kadio[ai dfiojaavras S m y l y . My restoration is based on P . Frankf. 7. 18: naOioai p.01 xprjp.a.Tiards. For Karofivvvai see P . E n t . 34. 13. 11. (erovs) KO. Avorpov IJaxdiv id. 'There are a t least t w o mistakes in t h e date' ( S m y l y ) : one in the number of years (here 21st, in P . Petr. probably 22nd; cf. also the 22nd year in 1. 2), the other i n the n a m e of the m o n t h (here TJax^v, in P . Petr. IJavvt). Since t h e date here is D y s t r o s 16, Y e a r 21, whereas the session of the court takes place on D y s t r o s 22, Year 22 (cf. 11. 2 and 4), and since it cannot be assumed that a whole year elapsed between t h e TTp6orayp.a of t h e strategos a n d t h e session of the court, t h e change of t h e year from D y s t r o s 16 t o 22 w a s eventually suggested b y S m y l y (p. 12). I approached Mr. Skeat for t h e solution of this enigma. I n his answer Mr. Skeat drew m y attention t o t h e solution suggested i n Edgar's article in Recueil Champollion, 1922, p p . 127 s q . I give here t h e brief summary of this article a s formulated recently b y Mr. Skeat in JEA x x x i v , 1948, p . 76: 'Edgar has convincingly argued . . . that the true date is (regnal) Year 21, D y s t r o s 16 = P a y n i 19, Year 22 in t h e cursive copy being t h e financial year, a n d P a c h o n in t h e fair copy a slip for P a y n i . T h e correct equation is t h u s : Regnal year 21, D y s t r o s 16 = P a y n i 19 = A u g u s t 3, 226 B.C.' Edgar explains the errors in the numbering of the years b y the fact that the 21st regnal year almost com pletely coincided, a t this period, with the 22nd financial year. I n accordance with Edgar's suggestion and with the very valuable remarks of Mr. Skeat in his letter t o m e , I venture t o reconstruct the whole course of events as follows. (1) T h e clash between Dositheos a n d Herakleia: Year 21, Peritios 22 ( 1 . 1 4 ) . (2) Enklema

of D o s i t h e o s : Y e a r 21, P e r i t i o s 26 ( 1 . 31). (3) Date

originally

fixed

for

trial:

Y e a r 21,

end of Peritios = J u l y 226 B.C. (4) Date of prostagma: Year 21, D y s t r o s 16 = P a y n i 19 = 3 August 226. (5) Date of protocol: Year 21, D y s t r o s 22 = 9 August 226. It seems t o b e strange that t h e court gives its j u d g m e n t 'in t h e action brought b y Dositheos against Herakleia', whereas the rrp6orayp.a of t h e strategos speaks, on t h e contrary, of a plaint of Herakleia against Dositheos. Y e t w e c a n assume t h a t immediately after t h e enklema w a s brought b y Dositheos against Herakleia, accusing her of having caused him a loss of 200 drachmai, a counter charge was laid b y Herakleia against Dositheos, claiming that s h e had been insulted b y h i m . T h i s countercharge was written in the form of an evrevgis and addressed, as usual, t o the strategos. T h e examination of the evrevgis b y the strategos was presumably the reason w h y the date originally fixed for the trial (the end of Peritios) was postponed for nearly three weeks. T h e court was obliged, in t h e end, t o consider t h e claims of both sides a t once, a n d there is n o need t o suppose t h a t there were t w o sessions of t h e court, o n e considering t h e plaint of Dositheos a n d t h e second examining t h e countercharge of Herakleia, with a n interval of 13 m o n t h s (so E . Meyer, Arch. Beiheft ii, 1925, p p . 20-21), or nearly a m o n t h (so S m y l y in P . Gurob 2, p . 13), between t h e m . 13.

dio...rov

( P . Petr. iii. 21^);

Aiodvrov

(Mitteis);

Aioohorov

( S m y l y ) . T h e reading of Mitteis is

SECTION

156

I I I : N O S . 19-21

considered a s 'impossible' b y S m y l y (1948); y e t AIOOSOTOV is regarded a s 'very doubtful t o o ' b y Ed.-H, 14. KaTtjyopijoas S m y l y ; «5irjjyd/>euo-as(?)Ed.-H. imovros S m y l y ; elaiovros E d . - H . 'The writing is so cursive and illegible t h a t correct reading is largely guesswork' ( S m y l y , 1948). 20. atare omitted b y E d . - H . 22-25. These lines are omitted b y E d . - H . 27. Ti/ioD/*ai rrjv vjfipiv (opa-xp-ajv) a: Wilcken, Arch. x . 247 (BL ii. 2, 72). 28. €v[emoKi)ir]TOiiai

Smyly.

31. nyvos [TlepiTiov tcjg. Restored b y m e . T h e restoration necessarily follows from t h e date of the assault (Peritios 22) and t h e date originally fixed for t h e trial (end of Peritios). 34. T h e real meaning of enepyos (assistant? e m p l o y e e ? ) is n o t clear. 36. oi napovros. This non-appearance of D o s i t h e o s a t t h e trial w a s interpreted b y some scholars as referring t o t h e session a t t h e end of Peritios and s o g a v e rise t o t h e suggestion of t w o separate sessions of t h e court (see the note t o 1. 11). Y e t I see n o reason against applying this non-appearance of Dositheos t o the session of Dystros 22. 37. [..]yopevoy T [ . . .]opTjv S m y l y . T h e reading adopted a b o v e is that of E d . - H . S m y l y (1948) re marks o n this reading: 'possible, but fragment of first letter is more like r than A \ 38. I t seems strange that a n 'Athenian of t h e Epigone' is acting here as a KVPIOS of a Jewess, the KvpLoi being a s a rule chosen from a m o n g t h e near relatives of the w o m e n (see a b o v e , p . 34). Y e t it m u s t be remembered that this 'Athenian' belongs t o the Epigone, i.e. was born in E g y p t , and since Herakleia, t o o , probably belonged t o a family connected w i t h t h e a r m y , t h e surprising affinity of an Athenian and a Jewess is d u e , perhaps, t o a long acquaintanceship between t w o families, 41. avvo[r"\t)oai S m y l y ; avvrdaoet E d . - H . ; ' avvrdoaei is possible' ( S m y l y , 1948). 42. For oiaypdfifiaTa see n o t e t o N o . 2 3 , 1 . 20. 44. For noXtTiKol vofiot see literature t o this p a p y r u s ; cf. a b o v e , p . 33, note 85. 48 oprjv S m y l y ; 1} Karriyopelv Ed.—H. oydaodai S m y l y (for avvloTaoOai); •qaro(0)ao6at. Ed.—H. 'The beginning of the line is so smudged that I cannot express an o p i n i o n : in the supposed -r)oo(6)doBcu I think it unlikely that 0, which is t h e clearest letter, could have been inserted b y m i s t a k e : and t h e meaning is n o t w h a t is required. T h e t w o expressions in 11. 36 sqq. show that the three points in t h e law m u s t h a v e been t o be present, t o produce written d o c u m e n t s , and t o p l e a d : b u t t o 'acknowledge defeat' cannot h a v e been part of the law' ( S m y l y , 1948).

N o . 20. A deed of loan Tebtynis ( F a y u m ) .

228-221 B.C.

P . Tebt. 815, fr. 2, R e c t o , Col. I I , 11. 1 7 - 2 2 . L I T . : P r e a u x , Chr.

d'lzgypte,

1 1 , 1936,

129.

P r i n g s h e i m , Greek

Law

of Sale,

375

n.

1.

Launey,

545, 550, 1234. P . T e b t . 8 1 5 is a long p a p y r u s containing a collection of abstracts of contracts from T e b t y n i s . See for such abstracts the introduction of the editors and Wilcken,

Arch.

xi. 1 5 1 . I n most cases the abstracts refer to deeds of loan, sale, and lease. I quote here some lines from fragment 2 dealing w i t h Jews. I t is an abstract of a contract of loan drawn u p between t w o J e w s of the E p i g o n e w i t h the stipulation of the usual interest of 2 per cent, per month.

l£.

€0vXaKos eKopafiovros

erf

avrovs

&IXL-

SECTION

158

avTov

aa[v\res

I I I : N O S . 21-22

erviTTOV els o eTV^pv

fxepos TOV crcofxaTos KOL

dtf>el[XovTO

[dp^neXovpyiKov

\y]ia\Tal

he ol

Trpoyeypapbevoi

ev

KaToiKovvTes.

Ke[p\KeoalpeL OLVOV

Tvy^dvovai

hpenavov.

wa^to

he ret TeTpvyrjpueva

els

fxe (rpYjTds) s"

Verso: ("Ejoys)

ifS 'Eireltf)

t Tjepl

dp.(TTeXcbvos) IleiOoXdov jSa(o-iAt,/co>i)

TeTpvyrj/xevov

yp(apLp.aTei)

TEQI 14. 1. TtpoyeypapLp.€Voi

(Translation.)

Y e a r 1 2 , E p e i p h 10. M e m o r a n d u m t o T e o s t h e r o y a l scribe.

A m o s i s , v i l l a g e scribe of A p o l l o n i a s , t o T e o s g r e e t i n g . I s u b j o i n for y o u r infor m a t i o n a c o p y of t h e n o t i f i c a t i o n p r e s e n t e d t o m e b y H e r a k o n , s u p e r i n t e n d e n t of t h e e s t a t e of P e i t h o l a o s .

G o o d b y e . ( Y e a r ) 12, E p e i p h 9.

N o t i f i c a t i o n t o A m o s i s , scribe of t h e v i l l a g e of A p o l l o n i a s , f r o m H e r a k o n , s u p e r i n t e n d e n t of t h e e s t a t e of P e i t h o l a o s . O n t h e . . . of E p e i p h T h e o p h i l o s son of D o s i t h e o s ,

P h i l i s t i o n son of . . . , a n d T i m a i o s son of T e l o u p h i s , all t h r e e

J e w s of t h e E p i g o n e , r a i d e d t h e f r u i t - g a r d e n of t h e aforesaid P e i t h o l a o s , w h i c h is in t h e b o u n d s of t h e aforesaid v i l l a g e , a n d s t r i p p e d t h e g r a p e s f r o m t e n v i n e s ; and w h e n Horos the guard ran out against them, t h e y maltreated him

and

s t r u c k h i m on a n y p a r t of t h e b o d y t h a t o f f e r e d ; a n d t h e y c a r r i e d off a v i n e dresser's p r u n i n g - h o o k . T h e aforesaid r o b b e r s are l i v i n g in K e r k e o s i r i s . I esti m a t e t h e g r a p e s g a t h e r e d as e n o u g h t o m a k e 6 m e t r e t a i of w i n e . ( E n d o r s e d ) Y e a r 1 2 , E p e i p h 10. C o n c e r n i n g a v i n e y a r d of P e i t h o l a o s s t r i p p e d of i t s g r a p e s . T o t h e r o y a l scribe T e o s . 2. A r r o W c o v i d s : a village in the F a y u m ; see P . Tebt. ii, p. 368. 4. According t o S m y l y , Peitholaos m a y b e identified with Peitholaos, leader of the KwyyoC, recorded in P . Eleph. 28 (see Rostovtzeff, Arch. v . 181; cf. also P y t h o l a o s in Str. 16.774). 'His absence o n active service would account for t h e fact that his property w a s being administered b y a superintendent' (Smyly). 9 sq. All t h e n a m e s are Greek, t w o of t h e m (Dositheos a n d Theophilos) being typical for J e w s . For * lepecos

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SECTION 25 [kol

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TOIS . . .

ytatpt/ois

(Translation.)

added above the line.

1 1 . c y . . [ ] above o7r[o]T€ioroTa>.

I n t h e r e i g n of P t o l e m y son of P t o l e m y a n d A r s i n o e , g o d s

P h i l o p a t o r e s , in t h e 4 t h y e a r , A d a i o s son of G o r g i a s b e i n g priest of A l e x a n d e r a n d the gods Soteres a n d the gods A d e l p h o i a n d the gods E u e r g e t a i a n d the g o d s P h i l o p a t o r e s , P h i l t e d a u g h t e r of A n t i k l e s b e i n g a t h l o p h o r o s of B e r e n i k e E u e r g e t i s , A r s i n o e d a u g h t e r of S o l o n b e i n g k a n e p h o r o s of A r s i n o e P h i l a d e l p h o s , o n t h e 1 5 t h of A y d n a i o s , w h i c h is E p e i p h in t h e E g y p t i a n c a l e n d a r , a t S a m a r e i a i n t h e A r s i n o i t e n o m e . T h e o d o t o s son of K a s s a n d r o s , a P a e o n i a n of P h y l e u s ' t r o o p , t a k t o m i s t h o s , a c k n o w l e d g e s t o H a r y o t e s son of H a r s e u s a n d t o O r s e n o u p h i s son of . . . a n d t o K a t y t i s son of P e t . . . a n d t o a n o t h e r K a t y t i s son of P . . . y m i s , all f o u r A r s i n o i t e s a n d k i n g ' s p e a s a n t s , t h a t h e h a s c e d e d t h e q u a r t e r s b e l o n g i n g t o his f a t h e r in K e r k e s e p h i s . . . a n d t h a t h e will n o t p r o c e e d a g a i n s t t h e m himself or b y a n y a g e n t of his n o r w i l l s u b o r n a n y o t h e r person t o d o so o n a n y p r e t e x t . A n d if h e himself or a n y a g e n t of his p r o c e e d s a g a i n s t t h e m T h e o d o t o s shall forfeit t o H a r y o t e s a n d O r s e n o u p h i s a n d K a t y t i s a n d t h e o t h e r K a t y t i s a fine of 2,000 d r a c h m a i in c o p p e r c o i n , a n d his c l a i m shall b e i n v a l i d . T h i s c o n t r a c t shall b e v a l i d . W i t n e s s e s : T h e o d o t o s son of J a s o n , D i o p h a n t o s son of T h e o d o t o s , H i e r o o u s son of T i m o t h e o s , M i l o n son of Z o s i m o s , D e m o k r a t e s . . . , ( S a b b a t h a i o s ) . . . , all s i x J e w s . K e e p e r of t h e c o n t r a c t H i e r o o u s son of T i m o t h e o s . (Seals of) D e m ( o k r a t e s ) . . . S a b b ( a t h a i o s ) . . . 1. BaaiXevovros IJToXefialov KTX. A usual praescript mentioning t h e priest of Alexander a n d t h e deified Ptolemies. See above, p . 33. 6. Safidpeta: a village in the F a y u m . I t is a n open question whether this village is t o be identified with Kerkesephis, according t o B G U 94 of A.D. 289 (' Zaftdpeiav TJTOI KepKeo-fjfav '), or if there were t w o separate villages adjoining each other (cf. P . Tebt. ii, p p . 383 sq.). A t a n y rate, the present docu m e n t attests that in the Ptolemaic period the t w o places were not identical, since the office where the

JEWISH

SOLDIERS

AND MILITARY

SETTLERS

161

d o c u m e n t w a s drawn u p w a s situated i n Samareia, whereas t h e quarters of T h e o d o t o s belonged t o Kerkesephis ( 1 . 9 ; cf. also P . Gurob 4, 217 B . C . ) . Samareia w a s probably a military settlement of Syrian soldiers (particularly J e w s and Samaritans) located within t h e borders of ancient Kerkesephis, so it m a y b e assumed t h a t part of t h e land formerly held b y t h e villagers of Kerkesephis c a m e into t h e possession of t h e n e w settlers. A s long a s t h e n e w settlement retained i t s military character Kerkesephis w a s overshadowed b y i t s mightier neighbour, b u t in t h e R o m a n period t h e old E g y p t i a n village regained its former importance and absorbed the descendants of the Syrian soldiers, w h o in t h e course of time all became E g y p t i a n s . 6. ©edSoros KaaadvSpov IJalatv. T h e m a n is styled a Paeonian, y e t it m a y be questioned whether he w a s really a n a t i v e of Paeonia (a country in t h e B a l k a n s , north of Macedonia). I t is v e r y strange, indeed, that all the witnesses w h o signed this contract, as well as its-keeper, were J e w s , whereas the con tracting parties were E g y p t i a n villagers and a soldier from P a e o n i a : t h e witnesses were, a s a rule, selected from t h e nation t o w h o m t h e contracting parties (or, a t least, one of them) belonged. See N o . 24; cf., for e x a m p l e , M. Chr. 3 1 1 ; PCZ 59001. Since t h e / W t A i K o i yeatpyol were E g y p t i a n s , w e m a y ask whether t h e Paeonian could h a v e been a J e w . H i s theophoric n a m e m a y strengthen this supposi tion, particularly w h e n w e take into consideration t h a t t w o Jewish witnesses bear this v e r y n a m e , T h e o d o t o s . There is n o evidence, of course, of a n y Jewish settlement in t h e Balkans in t h e third century B . C . ; b u t w e are n o t obliged t o suppose a n y t h i n g of t h e kind in order t o explain h o w a J e w could be styled a Paeonian. T h e ethnic units in t h e Ptolemaic army in t h e course of time became pseudo-ethnic (see a b o v e , pp. 13 sqq.). I t might h a v e happened that t h e father of T h e o d o t o s entered the unit of Paeonians and thereupon changed his Hebrew n a m e into the fair Greek n a m e , Kassandros. W e h a v e , however, n o instances t o prove t h e existence of a Paeonian u n i t ; such a special unit seems e v e n t o be rather improbable, since there were very few Paeonians in the Ptolemaic a r m y (cf. L a u n e y , 1203). Y e t it m a y b e supposed that t h e Paeonians were ranked a m o n g the Thracian hipparchy, all t h e Balkan peoples being styled 'Thracians' during the conquest of Alexander (Berve, Das Alexanderreich auf prosopogr. Grundlage, i, p p . 135, 227). T h a t a n ethnic unit w a s n o t necessarily composed of m e n of one nation only c a n be inferred from t h e Thessalian hipparchy which w a s called t h e 'hipparchy of Thessalians a n d other Hellenes' ( P . E n t . 1 5 ; P . Freib. iii. 36/37); so it m a y b e that in t h e 'Thracian' hipparchy all Balkan peoples, including t h e Paeonians, were mingled together. Kassandros, t h e father of Theodotos, w h e n entering t h e Paeonian subdivision of t h e Thracian hipparchy, w a s styled 'a Paeonian', a n d this ethnikon passed t o h i s s o n , notwithstanding t h e fact that T h e o d o t o s did n o t remain a soldier of a n ethnic hipparchy, b u t served a s a taktomisthos in a m i x e d unit (ru>v &v\4a»s). I t goes without saying t h a t all these arguments make n o pretence of proving t h e matter b u t only of suggesting a reasonable answer t o t h e question w h y a Paeonian should choose all h i s witnesses from among the Jews. 7. raKTOfiiodos.

See a b o v e , p . 147.

9. F o r 0Ta.dp.6s see W i l c k e n , Grundz.,

386; P . E n t . n - 1 4 ; L a u n e y , 699 s q q . ; L e n g e r , Chr.

d'ligypte

53, 234 sqq. I t is worth noting t h a t apparently T h e o d o t o s g o t h i s 0Ta.dp.6s b y inheritance, since t h e oTa.0p.6s w a s owned b y his father. S o it seems that a t t h e e n d of t h e third century t h e principle pro c l a i m e d b y P h i l a d e l p h o s : ol ydp [oradp]ot

e[loi]

ftaoiXiKol

( W . Chr. 450), w a s n o m o r e o b s e r v e d .

9. T O awTo 'is meaningless here, a n d t h e other c o p y evidently h a d about t e n letters more a t this point. Possibly TOV airov vopov should b e restored, t h o u g h t h e supplement is somewhat short' ( E d d . ) . 9. F o r KepK€oi}is see n o t e t o 1. 6.

14-15. All t h e preserved n a m e s of t h e Jewish witnesses are Greek; t h e typical theophoric n a m e s occur three times. Y e t t h e editors rightly suppose that in t h e lacuna in 1. 15 there stood t h e n a m e Zafifiadaios, since there is n o other explanation w h y this name should appear o n t h e verso. I h a v e therefore supplied t h e n a m e here and in 1. 36. W e d o n o t k n o w whether t h e witnesses belonged t o t h e unit of P h y l e u s , as did Theodotos t h e Paeonian, b u t a t a n y rate t h e y all belonged t o t h e army. Verso. Restored conjecturally b y t h e editors.

B2909

M

l62

SECTION

I I I : N O . 23

N o . 23. Loan on mortgage Krokodilopolis ( F a y u m ) .

24-2 x 18-9 c m .

4th November, 182 B.C.

P. Tebt. 817. L I T . : W i l c k e n , Arch. d. Altertums,

x i . 1 5 2 ; x i i i , 219. S c h o n b a u e r , Arch.

1938, 4 3 0 ; i d . , Adler

Papyri,

I n t r o d . , p . 5.

x i i . 207 s q . H e i c h e l h e i m , T s c h e r i k o w e r , HTR

h e i m , i b i d . , 38.

T a u b e n s c h l a g , 210 n. 32, 260 n . 7, 2 6 2 ; i d . , Atti

Rechtsgeschichte,

66. L a u n e y , 5 4 6 , 5 5 0 , 1 2 3 2 , 1 2 3 4 . B a r o n , SRH

2

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3 5 , 1 9 4 2 , 28.

Congresso,

Heichel

2 7 1 . Seidl,

Ptol.

1,261. Neufeld,/().Rxliv, 1954,196.

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(Translation.)

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and the

gods

E p i p h a n e i s , a n d t h e a t h l o p h o r o s of B e r e n i k e E u e r g e t i s , a n d t h e k a n e p h o r o s of A r s i n o e P h i l a d e l p h o s a n d t h e priestess of A r s i n o e P h i l o p a t o r b e i n g t h o s e officia t i n g a t A l e x a n d r i a , o n t h e t w e n t y - e i g h t h of t h e m o n t h of D y s t r o s , b e i n g T h o t h t w e n t y - e i g h t h , in K r o k o d i l o p o l i s in t h e A r s i n o i t e n o m e . A p o l l o n i o s son of P r o t o g e n e s , J e w of t h e E p i g o n e , h a s l e n t t o S o s t r a t o s son of N e o p t o l e m o s , J e w of t h e E p i g o n e , t w o t a l e n t s t h r e e t h o u s a n d d r a c h m a i of c o p p e r m o n e y w i t h o u t i n t e r e s t for o n e y e a r f r o m t h e d a t e a b o v e w r i t t e n o n t h e s e c u r i t y of t h e h o u s e b e l o n g i n g t o h i m a n d c o u r t a n d all a p p u r t e n a n c e s s i t u a t e d a t A p i a s in t h e d i v i s i o n of T h e m i s t e s , of w h i c h t h e m e a s u r e m e n t s are, f r o m s o u t h t o n o r t h t w e n t y c u b i t s , f r o m w e s t t o east t w e n t y c u b i t s , a n d t h e a d j a c e n t areas, o n t h e s o u t h t h e h o u s e of S o p a t r a , on t h e n o r t h a n d e a s t streets, on t h e w e s t t h e h o u s e of H a r p a l o s a n d Sostratos (belonging?) t o t h e m a t the d a t e a b o v e written. Sostratos shall r e p a y t h i s l o a n t o A p o l l o n i o s w i t h i n t h e y e a r , a n d if h e d o e s n o t r e p a y i t as s t a t e d , A p o l l o n i o s s h a l l h a v e t h e right t o l a y c l a i m t o t h e s e c u r i t y in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e edict. Sostratos shall guarantee t o Apollonios this security a n d shall produce it u n e n c u m b e r e d , u n p l e d g e d , u n l i a b l e for a n o t h e r d e b t , a n d free f r o m r o y a l t i e s . If h e d o e s n o t g u a r a n t e e it or p r o d u c e i t as s t a t e d or if a n y risk o c c u r s w i t h r e g a r d t o t h i s s e c u r i t y in w h o l e or p a r t i n a n y w a y , S o s t r a t o s s h a l l r e p a y t h i s d e b t t o A p o l l o n i o s f o r t h w i t h w i t h i n t h e y e a r ; a n d if he d o e s n o t r e p a y i t a s s t a t e d , S o s t r a t o s s h a l l f o r t h w i t h forfeit t o A p o l l o n i o s t h e l o a n i n c r e a s e d b y o n e half a n d for t h e o v e r t i m e i n t e r e s t a t t h e r a t e of t w o d r a c h m a i p e r m i n a p e r m o n t h . T h i s c o n t r a c t shall b e v a l i d e v e r y w h e r e . T h r o u g h B o u b a k e s also c a l l e d Stheneus. A p o l l o n i o s , a g e d a b o u t 3 5 , t a l l , fair, w i t h r a t h e r b r i g h t e y e s a n d p r o t r u d i n g ears. S o s t r a t o s , a g e d a b o u t 3 5 , of m i d d l e h e i g h t , fair, . . . , w i t h a s c a r o v e r h i s right

eyebrow. KTX. : t h e usual prescript, see a b o v e p . 33.

I . BaoiXevovros

8. F o r Krokodilopolis see N o . 19, 1. 4, note. I I . aroKa.

See a b o v e , p p . 35 sq.

12. inl iirodyKiji.

On loans u p o n mortgages in t h e papyri cf. Schwarz, Hypothek

und

Hypallagma,

1911; Mitteis, Grundz. 141 s q q . ; Meyer, Jur. Pap. 222 sqq. Instances of loans on mortgage are gathered b y Taubenschlag, i. 209 n. 30. 14. Amds: a village in the F a y u m ; cf. P . Tebt. ii, p . 368. 17. 'Some words h a v e evidently dropped out before a u r e u s . Sense can be restored b y the insertion of at irrdpxovacu or a t virdpxovotv, referring t o the o i # a ' a i ; such a qualification of the yeiroves, though unusual, is intelligible enough' (Edd.).

164

SECTION

I I I : N O S . 23-24

19-20. T h e iniKaTafioXrj is t h e juridical a c t of handing over the pledged object t o t h e creditor. Cf. Schwarz, 114 sqq., 119 s q q . I n t h e Ptolemaic period t h e imKaTafJoXrj is mentioned in P . E n t . 14 a n d 15. 20. T h e Stdypafifia is a proclamation of the king regulating s o m e juridical or administrative question on a grand scale. W e k n o w of oiaypafipara bearing o n questions of t h e oil m o n o p o l y (Rev. Laws, 39. 17 and passim), banks (ib. 7 3 . 1), slaves ( S P 205), t h e interest rate ( P . Zen. Col. 83), a n d others. Here a 8idypapt,p.a is m e a n t concerning s t e p s t o b e t a k e n against a debtor w h o failed t o fulfil h i s obligations. See o n t h e 8iaypdfifiara in general D i k a i o m a t a , p p . 42 s q . ; U P Z 1 1 2 . 1 . 6-8; P . T e b t . 703, 1 1 . 1 3 1 - 3 ( c o m m e n t a r y ) ; Ehrenberg, Hermes, l x v , 1930,337 s q q . ; B i k e r m a n , Rev. de Phil, x i i (64), 1938, 295 s q q . ; W e n g e r , Arch. xiii. 294 s q . ; Welles, A J A, xiii (1938), p p . 245 s q q . ; Lenger, Chr. d'£gypte, x x x v i i , 1944, 108 s q q . 21. / 3 e j 8 a i o u r o ) : o n t h e usage of warranting contracts (jSe/Scu'ojcus-clause) cf. Berger, Die Strafklauseln in den Papyrusurkunden, 1911, p p . 8 3 , 1 3 1 ; Schwarz, Hyp. und Hypall. 5 5 ; H . J . Wolff, Journ. Jur. Papyr. i, 1946, 63 s q q . ; Taubenschlag, i. 186, n. 8. 29. For t h e term irapaxprjP'O. in t h e contracts see Berger, o p . cit. 78 sqq. For L e w i s , TAP A l x x v i , 1945, 126 sqq.

•qp.ioXiov

see ib. 14 s q q . ;

30. T h e interest t o be paid for t h e overtime is 2 drachmai from 1 m i n a every m o n t h , i.e. 24 per cent, in a y e a r : this is t h e usual rate o f interest throughout t h e Ptolemaic period, fixed i n t h e third cen tury B.C. b y a royal diagramma. Cf. P r e a u x , 282; P . Col. Zen. 83 (and especially t h e c o m m e n t a r y of the editors o n p . 80). 32. B o u b a k o s , otherwise styled Stheneus, is t h e agoranomos in whose office t h e contract w a s drawn u p ; so W i l c k e n , Arch. x i . 152. T h e denotations '2nd hand' a n d (in t h e n e x t line) '3rd h a n d ' are Wilcken's. 33-36, T h e s e descriptive details of t h e t w o J e w s provide o n e of t h e rare instances of a n a c c o u n t of the physical appearance of E g y p t i a n J e w s 2,000 years a g o . Y e t e v e n if w e use t h e descriptions of J e w s preserved in other d o c u m e n t s ( N o . 417, a n d perhaps N o s . 4 a n d 26), t h e material remains insuffi cient, a n d there is n o possibility of forming a clear idea of w h a t the E g y p t i a n J e w s looked like in t h e Hellenistic-Roman period. 3 4 . ' 'Yiroxdpo(i(i): cf. P . T e b t . 8 1 6 , 1 . 14; b u t t h e form xapo(nos) is also possible' (Edd.). 35. 'Possibly iir[i.xdpo(ifi)' ( E d d . ) ; cf. Arch. i v . 143 ( E d d . i n t h e c o m m e n t a r y t o P . T e b t . 8 1 6 , 1 . 14.)

N o . 24. Renewal of a loan Trikomia ( F a y u m ) .

19-2 x 16-5 c m .

16th April, 174 B.C.

P . T e b t . 818. L I T . : Wilcken, Arch. x i . 1 5 2 ; xiii. 2 1 9 . Heichelheim, Wirtschaftsgesch. d. Altertums, 430; id. Adler Papyri, Introd., p . 5. Tscherikower, HTR x x x v , 1942, 28, n. 10. Heichelheim, ibid. 38. J. R a b i n o w i t z , HTR x x x v i i , 1944, 58. Taubenschlag, i. 296 n . 1 5 . Seidl, Ptol. Rechtsgesch. 7 1 . Pringsheim, Greek Law of Sale, 30 n . 2, 75 n. 2, 253 n . 6. L a u n e y , 546, 550, 797, 1232 s q q . Baron, SRH i, 261. Neufeld, JQR x l i v , 1954, 196. 2

A contract of loan drawn u p in T r i k o m i a , a village in the F a y u m . B o t h the contract ing parties are Jews, as well as the witnesses. T h i s document is as y e t the best evidence of the a c t i v e share taken b y J e w s in the a r m y of the Ptolemies. I t is worth noting t h a t the p a p y r u s belongs t o the reign of Philometor, w h o did not conceal his liking for J e w s and g a v e t h e m an important role to p l a y in the a r m y . See above, p . 20 sq. [BaoiXevovros [decbv

iTroAe/xatot;

'EiTLcfravcbv

[TOV

TOV IlroXepiaLov

y

Kal

E7Tiavcbv

Evep-

d[ecbv

ecf> iepecos KOL decbv

Evep]ye[r]cbv

/ c [ a t decbv

Kal

>

efihopiov,

-MAetf dvhpov

[Ahey\cj>cbv decbv

erovs

Eco\rr)pcov

KOL decbv

6pov

decbv /cat BepeviKrjs

JEWISH

SOLDIERS AND MILITARY

yeTiSos

Aorraoias

Trjs Xpvoeppov,

SETTLERS

Kavrjtf>6pov

165

Apoivorjs

ocf>vXa£ (2nd h a n d ) AyaOoKXrjs' 3°

y

ol Svo IovSaToi

TCOV

Sid

Acooideov

oySorjKovrdpovpoi. Aeivias

].[

e^co r a Svo r a A a [ v T a Kal Tas rrevTaKooias

TOV âA/cou TO rrpoyeypappievov

Sdvei\o\y,

T\e\6eipai

Spa%pds rr)v

ovv-

ypatf>r)v Kvpiav 31.

(Translation.)

rrapd ovvypacpocpvXaKi

The second

a

Aeiviai.

(or a A) of ovvypaovXa.Ki

added above the line.

I n t h e s e v e n t h y e a r of t h e reign of P t o l e m y son of P t o l e m y a n d

K l e o p a t r a , g o d s E p i p h a n e i s , w h e n P h i l o s t r a t o s son of . . . w a s priest of A l e x ander and the gods Soteres and the gods A d e l p h o i and the gods E u e r g e t a i a n d the gods Philopatores and the gods Epiphaneis and the gods

Philometores,

A s p a s i a d a u g h t e r of C h r y s e r m o s b e i n g a t h l o p h o r o s of B e r e n i k e E u e r g e t i s , I s i d o r a d a u g h t e r of A p o l l o n i o s b e i n g k a n e p h o r o s of A r s i n o e P h i l a d e l p h o s , a n d E i r e n e d a u g h t e r of P t o l e m y b e i n g priestess of A r s i n o e P h i l o p a t o r , o n t h e t h i r t e e n t h of t h e m o n t h of G o r p i a i o s , b e i n g P h a m e n o t h t h i r t e e n t h , in T r i k o m i a in

the

d i v i s i o n of T h e m i s t e s in t h e A r s i n o i t e n o m e . J u d a s son of J o s e p h o s , J e w of t h e

i66

SECTION

I I I : N O S . 24-25

E p i g o n e , h a s l e n t t o A g a t h o k l e s son of P t o l e m y , J e w , of t h e d e t a c h m e n t of M o l o s s o s , t a k t o m i s t h o s , s t a t i o n e d in t h e H e r a k l e o p o l i t e n o m e , t w o t a l e n t s five h u n d r e d d r a c h m a i of c o p p e r m o n e y for t w e l v e m o n t h s f r o m t h e d a t e a b o v e w r i t t e n w i t h i n t e r e s t a t t w o d r a c h m a i p e r m i n a p e r m o n t h . T h i s l o a n is t h e a m o u n t w h i c h A g a t h o k l e s still o w e d t o J u d a s o u t of five t a l e n t s w h i c h h e h a d r e c e i v e d f r o m J u d a s as a n a d v a n c e t o w a r d s a r e t a i l t r a d e b u s i n e s s in p a r t n e r s h i p a c c o r d i n g t o a w r i t t e n a g r e e m e n t , of w h i c h A n a n i a s son of J o n a t h a n , J e w of

the

E p i g o n e , is t h e g u a r d i a n . A g a t h o k l e s s h a l l r e p a y t o J u d a s t h e aforesaid l o a n a n d t h e i n t e r e s t in t h e m o n t h of M e c h e i r of t h e e i g h t h y e a r ; b u t if h e d o n o t r e p a y it as s t a t e d , h e s h a l l p a y i t i n c r e a s e d b y a half. T h i s a g r e e m e n t is v a l i d . W i t n e s s e s : D e i n i a s son of A i n e a s , T h r a s e a s son of Sosibios, T h e b o n son of P h a n o k l e s , S a m a e l o s son of J o a n n e s , all four J e w s of t h e E p i g o n e ; T h e o d o r o s son of T h e o d o r o s , w h o is also k n o w n as S a m a e l o s , N i k a n o r son of J a s o n , b o t h J e w s , 8o-arourai h o l d e r s , of t h e first h i p p a r c h y s e t t l e d b y D o s i t h e o s . I , A g a t h o k l e s , h a v e r e c e i v e d t h e t w o t a l e n t s a n d t h e five h u n d r e d d r a c h m a i , t h e a m o u n t of t h e l o a n a b o v e w r i t t e n , a n d h a v e d e p o s i t e d t h e a g r e e m e n t , w h i c h is v a l i d , w i t h D e i n i a s as its k e e p e r . 1. [BaaiXevovros KTX.]—the usual prescript, see above p. 33. 2. The year is reckoned b y the editors according t o P . T e b t . 979 where the same eponymous priest esses are mentioned. 9. TpiKojula: a village in t h e F a y u m ; cf. P . T e b t . ii, p . 405. I I . rcov MoXoaa{a}oC. The reading of the final letters of the name is not sure. 'The second a looks like € . . . ; it would also b e possible, t h o u g h less satisfactory, t o read -to[v for - o v . Neither of the forms MoXooeov or MoXoo(o)etov is a t all likely' (Edd.). Molossos is probably the eponymous commanding officer of the unit of infantry stationed in Herakleopolis, or a t any rate the commander of the detach ment in which Agathokles served a s taktomisthos. The name is new and does not appear in the list of e p o n y m o u s officers drawn u p b y Lesquier, pp. 337 sqq. 12. F o r taktomisthos

see a b o v e , p .

147.

15. Judas lent his m o n e y t o Agathokles a t the usual rate of interest of 24 per cent, (see note t o N o . 2 3 , 1 . 30). There are not sufficient grounds for supposing that the former loan, mentioned in 1. 17, was CLTOKOS, and that the interest in the present agreement is to be regarded as a fine for the non-repayment of the former loan when it fell due (cf. HTR x x x v , 1942, 28 n . 10). For Jews lending m o n e y o n interest cf. N o . 20. 18. B o t h Judas and Agathokles were engaged in a business in partnership designated a s KOIVTJ ipyaota /LterajSoAiKi?. According to the editors, the meaning of p-erafioXiKi] 'is ambiguous, since fierafloXos and fierafSoXt) m a y be concerned either w i t h money-changing or small retail trade'. N o w , it is hard t o admit t h a t in Ptolemaic E g y p t money-changing could h a v e been p u t into t h e hands of private persons; i t was certainly a royal monopoly entrusted b y t h e king t o bankers or high officials. A s t o gold, this monopoly of t h e king's is attested b y PCZ 59021 = S P 409 (cf. Rostovtzeff, SEHHW i. 402; Preaux, 271 sq.). For money-changing in general cf. Rev. Laws ( = W . Chr. 181), Col. 74. 5 s q q . : dAAau Se [/iijflevi] i£[eorco

p/qre

irtoXetv

p/qre

dy]opd£eiv [/xifre KoAAuJ/Ji'^feiv dpyvpiov

] . So it

is

not

very likely t h a t t h e ipyaola p-erafioXiK-r) of t w o Jewish soldiers had anything t o do w i t h m o n e y changing, a n d it seems that t h e y were engaged i n retail trade (perhaps b y opening a shop in t h e military c a m p in Herakleopolis). 19. E v i d e n t l y t h e former contract w a s also signed b y Jewish witnesses, since t h e keeper of t h e contract was a Jew. 24. 'The name ©rjfltov is n o t otherwise k n o w n ; w a s it an inadvertence for 0-qpcov}' (Edd.) 26. rwv Sid Atooideov. The Sid testifies t h a t Dositheos was a military functionary whose d u t y it was to supervise the settlement of the soldiers, such as the officials called irpos rrji owrdgei (see Lesquier, 196, 306, 311, 314 s q q . ; cf. P . Tebt. 6 2 , 1 . 39, commentary). I t is very tempting t o take Dositheos for a J e w , since the t w o horsemen settled b y h i m were J e w s t o o (cf. L a u n e y , 546); yet the name alone is not a sufficient proof.

JEWISH

SOLDIERS

AND MILITARY

SETTLERS

167

27. I s i t only b y chance t h a t t h e first hipparchy is almost absent from our papyrological sources? Lesquier (p. 309) quoted only one instance ( P . Tebt. 382), and t h e present papyrus is t h e second one k n o w n t o m e . I t m a y b e suggested that in the course of time t h e first hipparchy, founded as i t w a s before t h e others, lost m a n y of its members, s o that its membership greatly declined. 28. Supplied b y Wilcken.

N o . 2 £ . Contract of a loan Hephaistias ( F a y u m ) .

24th September, 173 B.C.

B G U 1272 (ed. Schubart). L I T . : Fuchs 63, 68. A contract of a loan drawn u p between t w o military settlers, one of w h o m is styled a Thracian. W e do not k n o w to w h a t nationality the second p a r t y belonged, b u t it may

be t h a t he was a Jew, since one of the witnesses is a Jewish policeman. T h e

p a p y r u s is v e r y b a d l y preserved, so t h a t the sense cannot be satisfactorily restored; this m u c h can be guessed, t h a t the main contents of the document h a d a bearing on a loan of 1 8 artabai of wheat. I give the p a p y r u s according to the reading of the editor, w i t h no a t t e m p t to reach a more satisfactory restoration.

[BaoiAevovros IlroAepiaiov TOV 7 7 r o A e / u a t o u /cat KAeoTrdrpas decbv *Emc\>avcbv erovs oyhoov ecfS lep]ecos ['HpaKAeoBcopov TOV AiroXAocfcdvov AAe£dvSpov /cat decbv Z,corr\pcov /cat decbv ASeAcf>cbv /cat decbv Evepyercbv /cat decbv 0 t A o 7 r a ropcov KOL decbv E7Ticf>avcbv KOL decbv &iAop/r)r6p\cov, ddAocf>6pov Be[pevLK7]s Evepyerihos Eapamdhos TTJS ATTOAACOV]IOV , Kav7]tf>6pov Ap[orivor]s 0iAa~ SeAcf>ov i

ApiaroKAelas TTJS Arjfxrjrjpiov, lepelas Apcrivorjs [tPiAoirdropos Elprjvrjs rrjs UroAepial]gy, p,7]vds IJepiriov Tj\ep/nr'r\i /cat et/cdSt Mecropr) TTep/nriqi /c]at et/cdSt ev ''Hqi[crridSi rov Apoivotrov vopiov. eSdveiae] FJroAepiaios 'Haiar[icovos • • . at]a)t ©paiKi rcbv Kiveo[v . . . ajpgvpcoi TTvpcbv dpr[df8as Se/ca /cat OKTCO] dirodorco Se d S e t V a ravras ras SeJ/ca /cat OKTCO dprd^[as rcbv rtvpcbv edv Se r t rrpaydrji 6 .. .]aios virep 7 7 T o A e / x a t o [ v ets* ra ev TCOI T6]TJCOI jSaatAt/cd TOV 6yb\6ov erovs, VTToAoyeirco 6 Seiva . . .]o yecopyos yrjs dpovp[ .] IlroAeixaios rrapa II[ .].os IJroAepiaicoi T [ a7ro rov d y ] S o o u erovs ecos rgy[. . . erovs . ras Aot7rd]s" OKTCO dprdftas rcbv [rrvpcbv pir) e£eivai avjrcbi TTJS pnadcoaecos [eK)(copeiv edv Se pirj aTroBcbi Kadcos yeypa]irrai, eêcrrco IIroA[ep,aicoi edv re fiovAyirai irpatjai [ a u r d v . edv re alprjrai e7Tiyecop]yeiv TT)V avrr)v yrjv TJ)[V

SECTION

i68 ..

dpovpjtov

..

p.d]prvp€S-

. . ]rcbv

7T€VT€ Kal TO Sco8e/c[aTOV IIroX€paLOs[

Kweov

rrjs SeyjVepas'

iTnrapxias

vXaKLTTjs cr[

. .~]ips *Iovoaios . . ]an> EirdpraKos (Translation.)

I I I : N O S . 25-26

AXc^[dvopov

I n t h e e i g h t h y e a r of t h e r e i g n of P t o l e m y son of P t o l e m y a n d

Kleopatra, gods Epiphaneis, when

H e r a k l e o d o r o s son

of A p o l l o p h a n e s

was

p r i e s t of A l e x a n d e r a n d t h e g o d s S o t e r e s a n d t h e g o d s A d e l p h o i a n d t h e g o d s Euergetai and the gods Philopatores and the gods Epiphaneis and the

gods

P h i l o m e t o r e s , S a r a p i a s d a u g h t e r of A p o l l o n i o s b e i n g a t h l o p h o r o s of B e r e n i k e Euergetis,

A r i s t o k l e i a d a u g h t e r of

Demetrios

being

kanephoros

of

Arsinoe

P h i l a d e l p h o s a n d E i r e n e d a u g h t e r of P t o l e m y b e i n g priestess of A r s i n o e P h i l o p a t o r , on t h e t w e n t y - f i f t h of t h e m o n t h of P e r i t i o s , b e i n g M e s o r e t w e n t y - f i f t h , in H e p h a i s t i a s in t h e A r s i n o i t e n o m e .

P t o l e m y son of H e p h a i s t i o n l e n t . . . t o

. . . aios, a T h r a c i a n of t h e d e t a c h m e n t of K i n e a s . . . — a r o u r a i (holder) e i g h t e e n a r t a b a i of w h e a t . . . — s h a l l r e t u r n t h e s e e i g h t e e n a r t a b a i of w h e a t ; a n d if a n y ( d a m a g e ) b e d o n e . . . — a i o s . . . o n b e h a l f of P t o l e m y i n t o t h e t r e a s u r y of t h e d i s t r i c t for t h e e i g h t h y e a r . L e t — d e d u c t . . . t h e f a r m e r . . . a r o u r a i of l a n d . . . P t o l e m y f r o m P . . . o s t o P t o l e m y . . . f r o m t h e e i g h t h y e a r till t h e . . . y e a r . . . t h e r e m a i n i n g e i g h t a r t a b a i of w h e a t . . . h e s h a l l n o t b e a l l o w e d t o w i t h d r a w f r o m t h e l e a s e ; a n d if h e d o e s n o t p a y as is w r i t t e n , P t o l e m y m a y enforce p a y m e n t f r o m h i m . If h e c h o o s e s t o c o n t i n u e c u l t i v a t i n g t h e s a m e l a n d . . . of five a r o u r a i a n d a t w e l f t h . . . . W i t n e s s e s : P t o l e m y . . . of K i n e a s of t h e

second

h i p p a r c h y . . . a J e w , p o l i c e m a n . . . S p a r t a k o s son of A l e x a n d r o s . . . . 1-5. Restored b y Schubart according t o P . Giss. 2. Schubart did n o t succeed i n establishing t h e length of the lines. 5. Hephaistias: a village i n t h e F a y u m ; cf. P . Tebt. ii, p . 378. 5. JlroXefiaios 'H>f>aior[ii (Schubart). 21. . . . @pai£?] Schubart. 22. On Jewish policemen see above, p . 1 7 .

N o . 26. Contract of a loan Fayum.

172/171 B.C.

P . Freib. 12 b . L I T . : W i l c k e n , P. Freib.,

A n h a n g , p p . 47 s q q . P r i n g s h e i m , Greek

Law of Sale,

72 n. 3, 5 1 5 .

A contract of loan from the F a y u m . W i l c k e n suggested t h a t the document m i g h t h a v e come from Philadelpheia, since its formula is modelled on those issued b y the offices of Philadelpheia. Y e t this suggestion is now obsolete, the third v o l u m e of P . T e b t . proving the use of almost the same formula of agoranomic contracts in the office at T e b t y n i s . T h e contracting parties are u n k n o w n to us, b u t it is possible t h e y were Jews, since the warrant of the debtor is a Jewish l a d y , Sara, represented b y her son, a 'Jew of the Epigone'. O n l y the lower end of the document is preserved.

JEWISH

[

(

[

drro

[cos

/cat

TOVTO

AND MILITARY S E T T L E R S

^ TOV

,

TOV

Trji pvai

^Jpovou TOV

vrreprreaovTos

[

TO pev Sdveiov

d Setva

yiyparrTai,

rjpLoXtov,

]OV

Savelov

J^tAuov /cat T 7 7 a[

[

perd

Kvplov

[

Edpa

TO]V iavTrj(s)

?) avyypacpr)

rjSe

Kvpia

[eTTtêpeTat

]

ATTO\X\-

vlov

' 7 o ] u S a t O U T7JS 7r]avTaôu,

CTTtov dv

] (2nd h a n d )

(3rd h a n d ) [6 Setva cbs (eVcDv) . .

] J t d ZCOOTpdrov. evp]eyedr)s,

[ Kal

Trapd

d Setva cbs (eVdiv)

[

TO

y]evetov

iy

[

]

p,e\lx[p{cos)]

oi]vXr) Trap*

(Translation.)

a7rA[ouv],

irpoyey[papi\-

TOV

els eK\reiaiv

eyyvos

[dpucTTepov

TOKOV

Ka9aTre[p]

T]OVTOU SLKTJS

[

[

TO]V Se

~\coi 7T/)dcrcrovT[t]

[

[yovfjs-

Trapaxpr^Jpo^

dTTOTetJcrdVa)

[ K O I r) Trpd^cs eoTto

15

iSa[v]-

SJefCCtTOV €TOVS. Kadd

[pevov

Se S [ d ] -

TO

TOKOV

] a n ev prjvl

[edv Se pur) drroScbi

[iy

TOKCOV

e/caaJTOv,

xp\9Y

[St/cdil

10

p,f}va ov

[ttTToSoTtt) d Setva rcbi

169

;••[

]••

rrpoyeypappevov

iy Svo 8p(axp,cbv)

[vetov 5

(

SOLDIERS

6tf>6aA(pdv)

Se(ftd)t). ]

] . . . i n t e r e s t f r o m t h e a b o v e - w r i t t e n d a t e a t t h e r a t e of t w o

d r a c h m a i per m i n a per m o n t h , a n d this loan a n d t h e overtime interest X shall r e t u r n . . . i n t h e m o n t h X a n d i k o s . . . of t h e t e n t h y e a r ; a n d if h e d o e s n o t r e t u r n i t a s s t a t e d , X . . . s h a l l f o r t h w i t h forfeit t h e l o a n i n c r e a s e d b y o n e half b u t t h e interest unincreased. T h e execution will r e s t . . . w i t h t h e e x e c u t i n g . . . a s if i n v i r t u e of l e g a l a c t i o n . . . of t h e a b o v e - w r i t t e n l o a n . . . t h o u s a n d . . . . S a r a t h e d a u g h t e r of A p o l . . . w i t h h e r g u a r d i a n , h e r son, . . . a J e w of t h e E p i g o n e is t o b e s u r e t y f o r t h e p a y m e n t . T h e c o n t r a c t is v a l i d w h e r e v e r p r o duced. (2nd h a n d ) T h r o u g h S o s t r a t o s . (3rd h a n d ) X , a g e d a b o u t . . . y e a r s . . . , t a l l , fair . . . a s c a r n e a r t h e left e y e a n d a n o t h e r n e a r t h e c h i n , o n t h e r i g h t side. Y , a g e d a b o u t . . . y e a r s . 2. Restored b y m e according t o P . Tebt. 817. 12. 3. Restored b y m e according t o P . T e b t . 817. 30 and 818.15. 4. virep(?) TO]VTOV Wilcken. My restoration is based on P . Tebt. 817. 29, but, of course, the reading Xp]oyov instead of TO]VTOV can be adopted only after a renewed examination of the papyrus. 5 sqq. All t h e restorations t o t h e end are Wilcken's. 13 sq. 'Die Lesung 2dpa ( m i t einem merkwiirdigen Schluss-Alpha) M.7ro[X](?) gelang mir erst, n a c h d e m ich in Z. 15 durch das neue Fragment ['Io]v8alov gewonnen h a t t e . Biirgin ist also eine Jiidin Edpa, deren Vater einen griechischen N a m e n tragt, die mit ihrem Sohn als xvpios auftritt, der seinerseits als ein 'IovSatos rijs imyovijs bezeichnet wird' (Wilcken).

170

SECTION

I I I : N O S . 27-28

N o . 27. A Jewish cavalry officer Diospolis Magna.

12th June, 158 B.C.

P . H a u n . 1 1 (ed. T . Larsen). L I T . : L a u n e y , 555, 1243. A receipt for p a y m e n t t o the Idios logos effected through the b a n k at Diospolis M a g n a . The

p a y m e n t of 1300 drachmai w a s m a d e b y one D a m o n for a house in Diospolis

M a g n a . D a m o n w a s a soldier (Col. I I . 1 ) , and a m o n g those arranging the auction a t which t h e house was b o u g h t some officers are mentioned. O n e of them bears t h e H e b r e w name 'Iaoifiis. I print t h a t part only of the p a p y r u s in which Iasibis is men tioned. Col. I I (...

Tiyur) e r o v s

OIKLCLS) Ky

TTJS

TrpoTeOelcrrjs

e l s n p d a i v

ev

A i d s

TroXei

rrji

pbeydXrjt

X o l a x KTJ

5 S t d TTroAejitatou

r o v eirl

TCOV

/card

rr)v

/cat

©rjftatha

Oecovos

TOV

fiaoiXiKov

ypapipiarecos,

avvrrapovTCOv /cat avrov 'IpiovOov

A

lovvalov

/cat Apvovios

TOV TOTToypapniarecos

Kal

Kcop,oyp(ap,pLarecos),

M e y i a B e v o v s

tppovpdpxov,

t

lTnrdXov

A i \ a dpx^vXaKirov,

rjyepiovcov,

Apitrroyevovs

rcbv

pied*

'Iaaifiios

Col. I l l e n i O T d r o v

imiapyLas

orpaTicoTcbv

(Translation.)

/cat

dXXcov

irXeiovcov,

Std

KrjpvKos

Tifidpxov

rcbv

KTX.

( T h e p r i c e of a house) p u t t o sale i n D i o s p o l i s M a g n a o n t h e

28th of C h o i a c h of 23rd y e a r t h r o u g h P t o l e m a i o s t h e s u p e r i n t e n d e n t

of t h e

r e v e n u e s i n t h e T h e b a i s a n d T h e o n t h e r o y a l scribe i n t h e p r e s e n c e of D i o n y s i o s himself

a n d Harnouphis

the topogrammateus,

Imouthes

t h e village-scribe,

M e g i s t h e n e s t h e p h r o u r a r c h o s , L i c h a s t h e a r c h i p h y l a k i t e s , A r i s t o g e n e s o n e of t h e officers s e r v i n g w i t h H i p p a l o s ,

I a s i b i s t h e e p i s t a t e s of a h i p p a r c h y , a n d

m a n y o t h e r s , t h r o u g h T i m a r c h o s t h e h e r a l d of t h e soldiers, e t c . I I . 7—III. 1. T h e form 'Iaatf3is is unattested. I t is probably t o b e identified with the Hebrew n a m e 3 F or yW; cf. ( L X X ) Gen. 4 6 . 1 3 ; N u m . 26. 20; 1 Chron. 7. 1 ('Iaoovfi); 1 Ezr. 9. 30 ('Idoovflos); J o s . 17. 7 ('Iaaaelf3,'Iaoorjf}); Isa. 7. 3 ( ' / a a a o v ^ ) . Cf. also Cowley, N o s . 81, 9, 109; 22, 24, 51, 59, 130; 7, 2 ; 3 8 , 1 . T h e n a m e 2W, is probably a short form of the theophoric names I W V N or ^ W I R R . 'EmoTaTTjs i-rrTrapxlas is otherwise u n a t t e s t e d , a n d t h e e x a c t rank a n d functions of this cavalry officer cannot be stated w i t h certainty. 'Emo-Tartu TIOV linTapxtov are mentioned in P . O x y . 790, of the second century B.C., and d KO.0' Imrapxtav iTnardr-qs occurs, for example, in P . Petr. 3. 72(d), 10, of the third century B.C.; h e sends a n account of t h e KXrjpoi of cavalrymen, a n d seems t o b e a 'returning officer'; cf. Mahaffy, a d l o c . ; Lesquier, 192 sq. A. F.

JEWISH

SOLDIERS

AND MILITARY

SETTLERS

171

N o . 28. A list of sheep and goats Samareia ( F a y u m ) .

Fr. 1 : 28 x 17 c m .

155 or 144 B.C.

P . T e b t . 882. L I T . : W i l c k e n , Arch.

2

xiii. 207. L a u n e y , 547, 1232 s q q . B a r o n , SRH

i. 266.

A list of sheep and goats drawn u p b y a village authority (presumably the scribe) of Samareia. N e a r l y all the owners of cattle are Jews. A separate list (fr. 2) registers the cattle belonging to women, some of w h o m also h a v e Hebrew names. One wonders whether the whole population of Samareia at this time was Jewish (cf. W i l c k e n , Arch. xiii. 2 1 7 ) or whether the present list concerns only one group of settlers, n a m e l y the Jewish one. In the latter case it m a y be supposed t h a t the inhabitants of Samareia, like those of Psenyris (No. 3 3 ) , were divided into separate national groups. Cf. for Samareia-Kerkesephis above, N o . 22, note to 1. 6. T h e settlement was composed of officers, owning either 80 or 30 arourai (11. 4 - 5 ) , and of common soldiers (1. 6).

F r a g . 1. "Erovs

KS" Tvfii.

Sapapeias. KO)pr)L

Trapd

Ktopoypapparetos

ypar){i} Karav[epopevcov

TrpOfSdrojv KaBori

(6yhor)Kovrapovpa)v)'

rrjt

[vTroKeirai.

Urjvevs

5 (rpiaKovrapovpu>v)'

ev

rov

©eohcopos

Uiaivov

rrp(6 8ara) t

Trp(6fiara)

Aajoideov

[ p,[

arparioircbv Trp(6f8ara)

[ . . . ] . .Xis Uvpia>vos [Aojoi]deos

[. . . .J.fps" EapfiaOaiov 10 [

K,

Trp(6f3ara)

NeoTrr7]oXepov

[ — 1 5 lett.—~\. .oy

A , dp(ves)

Trp(6(3ara)

©eodorov

le, [

Trp(6j3ara)

Trp(6f$aTa) p,

[

[

dp(ves)

ap(ves)

o, (yivovrai)

ie, (yivovrai)

is"

y[e.

T r a c e s of 1 line. Trp(6âra)

[ — 1 0 lett.—]oi<Xeia)vos

£r), ap(ves)

f, alyes

t, rpd(yos)

T r a c e s of 1 line. iÂcoaideos

'Idoojv

Oeohwpov

Mvdaa)vos

Acocrideos Ayyais 20 'IwQVyys

le, ap(ves)

rrp(6âra)

Trp(6f$ara)

e, ap(ves)

TTp(6f$ara)

1, dp(ves)

Arjprjrpiov

Trp(6âra)

T), ap(ves)

Avrvnarpov

Trp(6fiara)

UrpariiTTrov

'IaKovftis

K , aiyes

e. 0. te, A i f a , epioi j8.

i£, ap(ves)

Trp(6âra)

a.

/3, epioi j6\

y.

A , ap(ves)

rrp(6âra)

'IaKovfiios

1, c u f a, epitpos

A , ap(ves)

Tvxojvos

UrpdriTTTros avXrjrrjs

] y Trp(6ftara)

[

UapfiaOaios

iy,

1, c u f a .

dp(ves)

£, c u f A .

a

172

SECTION

I I I : N O S . 28-29 F r a g . 2.

T r a c e s of i line. 24 €pitf>oi fS.

Uialvov

Trp(6âra)

yy(vrj?) ©eotjeva

yv(vaiKtbv).

Trp(6âra)

ACVKLOV

A, dp(ves)

t€, alyes

j8,

€pitf>OL 2JapL^d6tov [M]dpuov

'Itovddov

t e , [dp(v€s)]

' ' I a K o v f i i o s Trp(6âra)

IT, dp(v€s)

e, alyes

. , epLtf>os a,

A, . . .

1

. . acrtos . . .

ATTOAXCOVLCL

(yLvovrtu) 30 epicj)OL

irp(6fiaTa)

7rp(djSaTa) TKC, dp(ves)

rfd,

Aj8, T p d ( y o t ) y , ( y t V o v r a t )

(oydorjKovTapovptov?) rpd(yoL)

alyes

/xe.

AvS.

7rp(ojSara)

/>KT, d p ( v e s )

/x,

at(ye?)

t,

epi(oi)

e,

j8.

[ ( T / o t a / c o v T a / o o u p c o v ? ) ] Trp(6âra)

[ ] a , dp(ves') K , a t ( y e s ' ) jS, e p t ( ^ o t ) j8.

T r a c e s of a n o t h e r line. Fr. 1 : 10. ij8 above a n erasure 22. ys of a u A i j n j s above t h e line. Fr. 2 : 25. 7rp(oj3aTa) yu(vai*fa)v) written o n t h e left edge of t h e papyrus. (Translation.)

Y e a r 26, T y b i . M a d e b y A b . . . , t h e v i l l a g e scribe of S a m a r e i a .

A list of c a t t l e g r a z i n g in t h e v i l l a g e , as f o l l o w s : 80-arourai

holders:

S e n e u s son of Sisines. — c a t t l e .

30-arourai

holders:

T h e o d o r o s son of D o s i t h e o s . 40 c a t t l e .

Soldiers: — l i s son of S y r i o n . 30 c a t t l e . —

sheep.

D o s i t h e o s son of T h e o d o t o s . 20 c a t t l e . — e o s son of S a m b a t h a i o s . 15 c a t t l e . — son of N e o p t o l e m o s . 12 c a t t l e . 4 s h e e p , (total) 16. —

son of — o s . 40 c a t t l e . 15 s h e e p , (total) 55.

—

son of — k l e o n . 68 c a t t l e . 60 s h e e p . 1 0 s h e - g o a t s . 1 h e - g o a t .

D o s i t h e o s . . . 15 c a t t l e . 10 s h e e p . 1 s h e - g o a t . 1 k i d . S a m b a t h a i o s son of T h e o d o r o s . 30 c a t t l e . 20 s h e e p . 2 s h e - g o a t s . 2 k i d s . J a s o n son of M n a s o n . 5 c a t t l e . 3 s h e e p . D o s i t h e o s son of T y c h o n . 1 0 c a t t l e . 5 s h e e p . A n g a i s son of D e m e t r i o s . 8 c a t t l e . 4 s h e e p . J o a n n e s son of A n t i p a t e r . 30 c a t t l e . 15 s h e e p . 1 s h e - g o a t . 2 k i d s . S t r a t i p p o s son of S t r a t i p p o s . 1 7 c a t t l e . 1 0 s h e e p . 1 s h e - g o a t . J a k o u b i s son of J a k o u b i s , a flute p l a y e r . 13 c a t t l e . 7 s h e e p . 1 s h e - g o a t . F r a g . 2. 2 kids Women's

W i f e (?) of

Sisines.

cattle:

T h e o x e n a d a u g h t e r of L e u k i a s . 30 c a t t l e . 15 s h e e p . 2 s h e - g o a t s . 2 k i d s . S a m b a t h i o n d a u g h t e r of J o n a t h a s . 15 c a t t l e . 5 s h e e p . — s h e - g o a t s . 1 k i d .

JEWISH

SOLDIERS

AND MILITARY

SETTLERS

M a r i o n d a u g h t e r of J a k o u b i s . 80 c a t t l e . 30 s h e e p . . . A p o l l o n i a d a u g h t e r of — a s i s . . . (total) 925 c a t t l e . 399 s h e e p . 45 s h e - g o a t s . . . 32 l a m b s . 3 h e - g o a t s , Of

(total) 1,404.

these there b e l o n g :

T o t h o s e w i t h 80 a r o u r a i : 120 c a t t l e . 40 s h e e p . 10 s h e - g o a t s . 5 kids. 2 he-goats. T o t h o s e w i t h 30 a r o u r a i : — 1 c a t t l e . 20 s h e e p . 2 s h e - g o a t s . 2 k i d s . 1. Perhaps Qfrfflaiov. 4 . ' TOV i s probably a n inadvertence, a s if preceded b y Zr/vecas ' (Edd.). The father's n a m e , 27«w'i^s, is P e r s i a n ; see Justi, Iran. Namenbuch, s.v. A Persian satrap Sisines is recorded in Ezra 5. 6 e t c . C^nn). Cf. P S I 389: i) S e t v a ] ZioLvov Ilepoivt). Sr/vexis seems also t o be a n Iranian n a m e : see Justi, s.v. 'Sennes'. Since there were Jewish settlers in E g y p t under the Persian domination, Iranian n a m e s d o n o t exclude t h e possibility of their bearers being J e w s . I t m a y be recalled that a Jewish writer in E g y p t , presumably in the second century B.C., was k n o w n under the Persian n a m e of Artapanos. 7. 'Perhaps ZafiorjXis ' (Edd.). 9. Perhaps [Aa>oC]0fos. 19. Ayyihs, t h e Hebrew ''511, does n o t occur elsewhere i n t h e papyri. 22. avXr}T-qs: written in minuscules o n the left edge of t h e papyrus. 24. ' Zioivov yv(yrj) m a y be a n interpolation referring t o Oeogeva' (Edd.). 31. If the reading (oyho^KovTapovptav) is right, it m u s t b e t h a t fr. 2 deals only with wives of military settlers owning 80 or 30 arourai, i.e. of officers (cf. 11. 4-5 and 24).

N o . 29. A list of military settlers Fayum. 1 4 x 2 1 cm. P . T e b t . 1019.

Mid-second century B.C.

A list of persons w h o appear to be military settlers of Greek and Jewish origin. A similar list is P . T e b t . 1 0 1 8 , b u t the persons mentioned there are n a t i v e fellahin, as may

be inferred from their E g y p t i a n names. B o t h lists note the size of the plots of

land owned b y the cultivators and the rate of t a x a t i o n due to the g o v e r n m e n t on these plots. T w o particular features strike our a t t e n t i o n : the v e r y small size of the plots (generally 1 or 2 arourai), and the specification of a part of the land as eprjfios (desert). Since there were no plots in E g y p t of 1 or 2 arourai which could support a family even of poor E g y p t i a n peasants, to s a y nothing of military settlers, we are led t o the conclusion t h a t the present list does not include the t o t a l size of holdings owned b y the members of the settlement. T h e y are, probably, supplementary plots, p a r t l y desert, the cultivation of which was pressed on the settlers b y the Ptolemaic government in order t o enlarge the area of arable land. Cf. on the question of com pulsory farming in the second century B . C . Rostovtzeff, Kolonat, 30 s q q . ; id., n

I

e

7 1 8 , 1495 ( - 3 ^ ) » Kiessling, Actes du V

Congres,

SEHHW

2 1 8 sq.; P r e a u x , 504 sqq. There is

no w a y of distinguishing between Greek and Jewish settlers in the present list, only one being called b y a pure H e b r e w name (Ezekias), y e t it seems t h a t persons n a m e d in 11. 1 , 6, 8, 1 0 , 1 1 , and 22 were Jews. Col. ©epyivqs 'E^CLKLCLS

EvfjLaxos

©e[o]ye[vovs] ,

E^ €(LKLOV) >

Evfxdxov

I

j8[ ] . [ — ] q, e i / c a ( o x a ) d v ( d ) j3.

jS, (tov)

iprj(pov)

a, gi(Totf>6pov)

a , [et/ca(o"ta) dv(d)

.].

174

SECTION

6pov)]

a,

[et]/ca(ata)

ft. ) a (r)piLov), €t/ca((t)

ypdifj[as

6. Trapd: the second a written over a cancelled e. (Translation.)

. . .s t o A s k l e p i a d e s , greeting. . . . to b e collected from all those

w h o l i v e in P s e n y r i s , for t h e v i l l a g e g r a n a r i e s , f r o m t h e J e w s a n d t h e G r e e k s , J d r a c h m e p e r p e r s o n . C o l l e c t e d t h r o u g h D i k a i o s t h e e p i s t a t e s . If y o u a g r e e , please write t o Apollonios . . . . 2. Possibly a v [ a y * a f o ] p (Reid). 4. suggested b y R o b e r t s . Wevvpts: a village in the F a y u m ; see P . Tebt. ii, p p . 410 sq. 5. Cf. P . Col. Zen. 5 4 , 1 . 36 (250 B . C . ) : els T O diroSoxlav ( 1 . d w o S d x i o v ) . R e v . L a w s , col. 3 1 , 1 1 . 18 s q q . : h> eKa[a]r[rii] Kio(ii)i d f l - o S o x t a . Cf. o n the d w o S d ^ t a Calderini, &H2JAYP01,17 sq. T h e t a x is not mentioned elsewhere. Perhaps a repair of the granary building is m e a n t . 6. T h e second a in w a p a is written above a cancelled e. 'The scribe perhaps began t o write w o p ' eKaoTov (Reid). 6-7. W h y are t h e E g y p t i a n s not m e n t i o n e d ? Psenyris w a s certainly, primarily, a n E g y p t i a n village. W h y was the t a x 'for t h e granaries' exacted from J e w s and Greeks alone? Were t h e y military settlers? 7. eKaoTov oibfiaTos means n o t 'for every slave', a s supposed b y some scholars (cf. Schiirer, Juster), b u t 'from each person'. See, for e x a m p l e , P . Gurob 27, where awfiara is used for a free village population. Cf. Wilcken in h i s c o m m e n t a r y t o W . Chr. 55. 9. At.Kalov (Roberts). F o r t h e office o i eTnorarqs rrjs KcofiTjs cf. W . Grundz. 412; B e n g t s o n , Die Strategie

in der hellenist.

Zeit,

iii, 1952, 8 1 ; L a v i g n e , De Epistates

van

het Dorp

in Ptolemaeisch

Egypte,

1945-

N o . 34. A fragment from a census-paper Fayum. P . Petr. iii. 59c.

Third century B.C.

A census-paper from the F a y i i m . I quote here only one line referring to a Jewess. (3), R e c t o , translation.)

1.

4:

Eafiadls

yvvrj.

S a b a t h i s , wife (of. . .).

UafSaOls (more correctly ZafifSadts) is a feminine form of Zafifiadaios. Cf., for e x a m p l e , CIJ , I n d e x , s.v. Zaârls, Zaf3aris, Sabbatis. I t corresponds t o t h e Hebrew nTOfl? or TQtt?, a n a m e i n c o m m o n use a m o n g Jewish w o m e n i n Elephantine (see Cowley, I n d e x ) . Zaffiaris can also b e a m a s c . form, cf., for e x a m p l e , CI J 397.

JEWISH

PEASANTS,

SHEPHERDS,

AND ARTISANS

181

N o . 3£. Distribution of seeds F a y u m . 55 x 17 c m . 259/8 B.C. P . Lille i. 5 (ed. P . Jouguet and J . Lesquier). L I T . : R o s t o w z e w , Kolonat 52. Wilcken, Arch. v . 224. Juster, ii. 67 n . 4 ; 295 n . 2. Schnebel, 20 n. 3, 2 2 , 1 3 8 , 1 5 5 , 1 5 7 , 214. F u c h s , 52, 63. Tramontane*, 28. Preaux, 120. Orders for the distribution of seeds a m o n g various persons, some of w h o m seem t o h a v e been fiaoiXiKol yewpyol. O n e of the recipients is 'a Syrian' (1. 1 4 ) : a proof t h a t a m o n g the cultivators were people of Syrian origin. W h e t h e r Simon (11. 4 , 3 9 ) , T h e o philos (1. 6), and Theodoros ( 1 1 . 1 9 , 2 5 , 62) were J e w s is uncertain. F r o m the whole list I q u o t e only t w o lines in w h i c h H e b r e w names are mentioned. 13

IJroXepLalan puepos yfjs

avrov

ri

A[v]av[lov],

[els rr)v ev] rd)t

4

[TOV £K T O V K S (erovs),

Aapeioii rov

(Translation.)

Sid rd

npoooeiadai,

rrjs

TraioXoylas,

1 8

MeveXdov,

opvp.tx)i,

£K rov

Ke (erovs)

(dprdfSas)

*Ia>vdrps

/u,.]

Kal

Hior&i

o

T o P t o l e m y son of A n a n i a s , for t h e l a n d in t h e t h i c k e t , b e c a u s e

s o m e of his l a n d requires e x t r a m o w i n g ; for y e a r 26, 40 a r t a b a i . T o D a r i o s s o n of I o n a s a n d P i s t o s s o n of M e n e l a o s ; for y e a r 25, 200 ( a r t a b a i ) . 13. ^ [ v ] a » < [ t o s ] E d d . Y e t the usual transcription of the Hebrew W11T\ is Avavias, and n o t Avavis. 14. ncooXoyla = iroioXoyla (mowing). 18. 'lavas is probably an abbreviation of 'Iatvadds rather t h a n a transcription of the rare name i W V .

N o . 36. A fragment of a property-declaration Boubastos (Fayum). 23rd J a n u a r y , 240 B.C. P . Alexandrin., e d . Mahaffy (BCH xviii, 1894, 145 sqq.). WO i, p p . 436, 823. Wilcken, Arch. i . 173 sq.

W a c h s m u t h , Hildebrands

L I T . : W i l c k e n , GGA,

1895,

T

Jahrb.

f.

Nat.

4-6 n. 1 ; i d . , Berl.

u. Stat, Phil.

x i x (74), Woch.

777 s q .

1896,

W . Chr.

1492;

WO

198.

i, p p . 436,

456,

823.

Bouch^-Leclercq, iii. 291. Bludau, 29. P . M. Meyer, Heerwesen, 33 n . 123. Schurer, iii. 38. Wilcken, Ant. 789 n. 3. Juster, ii. 295 n. 3. Fuchs, 53. Preaux, 134, 224 sq., 251, 381. A declaration to the authorities concerning the composition of a family and its property (cf. for similar declarations A v o g a d r o , Aeg. x v , 1 9 3 5 , 1 3 1 sqq.). I n 11. 1 8 sq. the king's granary in B o u b a s t o s is mentioned, a n d so it m a y be inferred t h a t the author of the declaration w a s domiciled in this village (according to W i l c k e n , Chr., a village in the F a y u m is meant, not the metropolis of the B o u b a s t i a n district in the Delta). I omit the second part of the declaration (11. 7 - 2 1 ) dealing w i t h property a n d quote here only the introduction w i t h the names of the members of the family fol lowed b y the names of the field-hands (yecopyol pio6a>t). Some names of the latter reveal their Syrian origin; and one or t w o of t h e m were Jews. The

first reading of the document b y Mahaffy w a s rather unsatisfactory. T h e

present reading was established b y B o t t i and W i l c k e n after a revision of the t e x t

(Arch, i. 1 7 3 ) .

182

SECTION ("ETOVS) vlos

£ Xolax

KocrpLLa, 'Iedfi,

5

S . AaKXy)mdhr)s,

A7roXXo<j)dv7)s

ApTepiihcopos

(Translation.)

yvvr)

paadcbL Xdt,apos,

yecopyol

UtrdXKes,

ftovKoXos

TIaTpotXa,

cos (eTcbv) t e , HiToXAohcopos

cos (CTOJV) t, IlToXepLaLos

Kpdrepos,

IJoTapicov,

I V : N O S . 36-37

"QpoSt

vy,

Tpo6s

*Pay€oof$daX,

NaTavfidaX, (yivovTai)

cos (iTCov)

obs (ercov) e,

rroLpir)v aco(p,aTa)

te.

Y e a r 7 C h o i a c h 4 . A s k l e p i a d e s , w i f e P a t r o p h i l a , son A p o l l o -

p h a n e s a b o u t 15 y e a r s o l d , A p o l l o d o r o s a b o u t 13 y e a r s o l d , A r t e m i d o r o s a b o u t 10

y e a r s old,

Ptolemy

a b o u t 5 y e a r s old, nurse

K o s m i a , hired

field-hands

Khazaros, Ragesobaal, Ieab, Krateros, Sitalkes, N a t h a n b a a l , shepherd P o t a m o n , c o w h e r d H o r o s , 15 p e r s o n s . 4. yetopyol fuodcoi, 'peasants for p a y ' , i.e. hired field-hands. I t is worth noting t h a t , save one (the cowherd Horos), t h e y were n o t E g y p t i a n s . T h e majority of t h e m came from Syria. Mahaffy con nected this fact w i t h the third Syrian w a r ; this suggestion m a y be sound (cf. the alxp-dXtoroi dwo rfjs Aaias in W . Chr. 334 of 244/3 - C . ) , y e t it m u s t b e remembered that Syrians working in the fields are frequently recorded in the d o c u m e n t s (e.g. PCZ 59292,52 sq., 464 s q . ; P . Zen. Mich. 49), and there is no reason w h y their sojourn in E g y p t should always b e explained as resulting from a war. On Syrian emigration into E g y p t cf. above p p . 4 sq. B

Xd£apos. T h e name seemed t o Mahaffy t o b e of Persian origin. W e find i t , indeed, in Justi, Iran. NB, s.v. 'Hazar'; y e t Justi quotes t w o instances only, and it seems that t h e n a m e was n o t a usual one. T h e Hebrew n a m e TTn i s , perhaps, a better explanation. T h e family of Hezir (T'Tfl ''33) w a s one of the twenty-four sections of the priesthood in Jerusalem (1 Chron. 2 4 . 1 5 ) ; its n a m e i s referred t o in an inscription from the environs of Jerusalem, presumably from the time of Herodes (CIJ 1394), and later Talmudic sources m e n t i o n it as settled in Galilee (Klein, Beitrage zur Geograph. und Gesch. Galildas, 16 sqq., 73 sq.). W e d o n o t know, of course, whether our Xd apos belonged t o this f a m i l y , but it is important for u s t o realize that a J e w could be called b y this n a m e . 'PayeaofldaX: for the n a m e see W u t h n o w , s.v. Cf. note t o 1. 5 (Natanbaal). 5. 'hdfS = 3X1JV. Cf. N o . 5 1 1 . N o doubt a Jew. NaravpdaX: probably a Syrian, since t h e J e w s abstained from calling themselves b y names derived from Ba'al. r

concerning a contract of lease Herakleia ( F a y u m ) . 9 x 32 c m . 2 8 t h January, 222 B.C. P . Magd. 3 (ed. Jouguet and Lefebvre) (BCH x x v i , 1 9 0 2 , 1 0 4 sqq.). P . Lille ii. 3 (ed. Lesquier). R o t h 4 . P . E n t . 5 9 (ed. Gueraud). LIT. : BCH, I.e.; Wilcken, Arch. ii. 3 9 0 ; id. Arch. i v . 4 8 . Juster, ii. 295 n. 2 . Cronert, REG, x v i , 1 9 0 3 , 1 9 4 . F u c h s , 6 3 . T r a m o n t a n o , 28. Seidl, Ptol. Rechtsgesch. 7 1 n. 3 , 7 3 n. 1 6 . Berneker, Sondergerichtsbarkeit, 1 6 6 . Taubenschlag, 2 7 1 n. 1 9 , 304 n. 1 , 3 7 2 n. 5 8 . T h i s document belongs t o the well-known collection of petitions from Magdola, first edited b y J o u g u e t a n d Lefebvre, reprinted b y Lesquier, and edited again, with • the addition of n e w t e x t s , b y Gueraud. A n evrev&s is a complaint addressed t o the k i n g ; y e t it does not reach the court in Alexandria, b u t stops in the office of the strategos (the head of the nome), w h o orders an examination of the plaint in one of the various judicial offices of the district. T h i s m e t h o d of bringing complaints before the authorities was especially used in the third century B . C . ; afterwards the evrevgis

was supplanted b y the \m6[ivy]\i.(x (cf. Collomp, Recherches, 5 1 sqq.; Bickermann, ix.

Arch.

1 5 5 sqq.). T h e largest collection of such petitions was preserved b y chance in a

government office of M a g d o l a ( F a y u m ) . T h e documents stored there were not restricted

JEWISH

PEASANTS,

SHEPHERDS,

AND ARTISANS

183

to this place only, b u t were collected from various villages of the F a y u m . Jews are mentioned in four documents (apart from the present document, see Nos. 3 8 , 1 2 8 - 9 > f« also 127 b ) ; no great percentage if we take into consideration t h a t the entire number of the ivrevgeis from Magdola and Ghoran published b y Gueraud reaches 1 1 3 . The present document is a complaint against a certain Demetrios m a d e b y three farmers, Theodotos, Gaddaios, and Phanias. Since the last name was formerly read as Onias, no doubt could arise as to his Jewish origin. Y e t even on the new reading there are reasons for supposing t h a t the persons mentioned in our p a p y r u s m a y be of Jewish origin (see note to 1. 1 ) . T h e subject of the complaint is not clear enough. Demetrios, the supervisor of the plots of land leased b y the three farmers, refused, when requested b y the farmers, to admit the b a d condition of a part of the leased land, a condition due to the lack of irrigation, though Demetrios h a d promised t h a t this should be remedied. According to Gueraud, the farmers sought, perhaps, a reduction of the rent (cf. the similar situation in N o . 1 3 ) . c

BaoiXei IlToXepaiOJi ArjprjTplov aas

ydp

rjpeiv

TOV

e^pvaiv

Trjv (rrvptov)

arraprjvai

OTTOS

4oxr)K€v

ovs

( e r o ? ) (rrvptbv)

(rjpiov),

(dprajStDv) y

Siayopevovarjs

SvvaTr)

6 £v r a i t e/c

e/cdcr-

"

arraprjvai

aKivovvov

ecu? Xolax

t,—Tr)v S e

ea>? t Ar\pr\Tpiov

TTapaoelâipev

r)pd)v,

/cat dAAou?

dvopas

KOIVOVS

y",

r)prjv

Se

dpta

Seopedd

Aio^dvrji

TTJS

TT)V

pur) 8vvaTr)v

r)petv

arraprjvai,

ov

rrpoa-

a rrapeoeiêv

e€iv, ypdppueda

ra

d arropos

(dpovpav)

TTJV

piodwoeais

Kal KaTafipoxov,—r)

rrapaXa^6vTa(s)

Ar\pryrpiov

fiaoiXev,

Trjs

(TpiaKovTapovpojv)

rrapaXapfiavovTOiV

Se

pevos

VTTO

©eplar-

Trjs piodtbaeajs

y, T O hevTepov

avyyparjs

p,r) ovvaTrjv Xolax,

Trjs

'HpaKXeav,

( e r o ? ) , eK<j>optov

S"K

(dpTaâ>v)

Trjs

5 rrXr)v dfipoxov

TOV

KXrjpov /cat AoKXrjTndSov

NLKLOV

e t ? ( e r ^ ) jS, £' cot dp£i

(erei) e t ? TO

doiKovpeda

picr9u>-

Trepl Kwprjv

T O V peplbos,

Kal

^ a t p e t v ©eoooTOS, j T a S S a t o ? , Oavlas.

TWOS.

ypd^sai MeXedypa

TCOL

eVt-

arroa-

erri Ai\o\dvr)v TOV OTpaTrjyov

Kal,

edv

evoei£djpe6a

evTevge-

cos ovTa dXrjdrj, erravayKaaai

avTOv

TO

St/catov r)petv

vrroax^tv.

TOVTOV

Se

yevopevov, eaopeda

T O V St/catou T e r e u ^ d r e ? .

evrdêt. Verso.

(2nd h a n d ) MeXedypaii.

pdXiOTa

a7rd(crTetAov) o7r(cu?)

pev

S[tdA]vcroi^ avTovs'

et S e pr], rrpos

r)pds

eTri(aK€ifja)peda). (erovs)

Ke, A(a>i)ov

Kg,

Xolax

i>y*

184

SECTION

(erovs)

Ke,

©eoSoros, rrpos

I V : N O S . 37-38

ACOLOV

KS", Xolax

jTaSScuos',

Af][iiyrpiov

irepl

iy

&avlas pnadooaeoos

KArjpov. 2. 1 . 'Hpai<Xetav

(Translation.)

3. 1. a / > £ e i

6. 1. 17/xtov

9. 1.

Me/Xeaypcoi

T o K i n g P t o l e m y from Theodotos, Gaddaios and

Phanias,

greetings. W e are b e i n g w r o n g e d b y a c e r t a i n D e m e t r i o s . H e let u s t h e h o l d i n g s of N i k i a s a n d A s k l e p i a d e s , t h e 30-arourai h o l d e r s in t h e v i l l a g e of H e r a k l e i a in t h e r e g i o n of T h e m i s t e s , for 2 y e a r s , o n c o n d i t i o n t h a t p a y m e n t s h o u l d s t a r t w i t h t h e c o r n s o w n in t h e 2 5 t h y e a r for t h e 26th, a n d t h a t t h e r e n t s h o u l d b e 3 a r t a b a i of w h e a t for e a c h a r o u r a , a n d 3 ! a r t a b a i of w h e a t for t h e s e c o n d y e a r ; a n d t h e c o n t r a c t s t a t e d : ' G u a r a n t e e d a g a i n s t risks, e x c e p t t h o s e of d r o u g h t or f l o o d — t h e p a r t w h i c h c a n b e s o w n before C h o i a c h 1 0 — ( t h e y s h a l l i n s p e c t ) t h e p a r t w h i c h c a n n o t b e s o w n before C h o i a c h 10, t a k i n g w i t h t h e m D e m e t r i o s three impartial witnesses.'

and

So w e took Demetrios along to show h i m t h a t it

c o u l d n o t b e s o w n , b u t h e w a n t e d t o b r e a k his c o n t r a c t a n d i g n o r e d u s ; a n d h e d o e s n o t g u a r a n t e e t h e v a l i d i t y of t h e b o u n d a r i e s w h i c h w e a g r e e d o n in t h e c o n t r a c t . W e b e g y o u , o u r k i n g , t o order D i o p h a n e s

the

strategos to write

t e l l i n g M e l e a g r o s t h e e p i s t a t e s of t h e v i l l a g e of B o u b a s t o s t o s u m m o n D e m e t r i o s t o D i o p h a n e s t h e s t r a t e g o s , a n d , if t h e a l l e g a t i o n s m a d e in t h i s c o m p l a i n t are correct, t o m a k e h i m p r o m i s e t o g i v e u s o u r r i g h t s . If t h i s c o m e s a b o u t , w e s h a l l h a v e obtained justice. Farewell. (The

r e s o l u t i o n of t h e s t r a t e g o s ) T o M e l e a g r o s . If possible, reconcile t h e m . If

n o t , s e n d t h e m t o m e for e x a m i n a t i o n . Y e a r 25, L o i o s 26, C h o i a c h 1 3 . (Endorsed)

Y e a r 25, L o i o s 26, C h o i a c h 1 3 . T h e o d o t o s , G a d d a i o s , P h a n i a s

versus D e m e t r i o s a b o u t t h e r e n t of a h o l d i n g .

1. 'Ovlas (Jouguet and Lefebvre); 0avlas (Wilcken). The names of the three farmers, considered one b y one, are not sufficient t o prove the Jewish origin of their bearers, b u t their connexion can serve as evidence i n favour of this supposition. Theodotos is a theophoric name c o m m o n a m o n g J e w s . Gaddaios, it is true, is a c o m m o n Semitic name (cf. Bar-Gad, a b o v e , p. 132, n. 1 ) ; y e t Gad is Biblical, and in L X X w e find the forms f a S S e i , f a S S t , rdSoclv, and f o S S t ' s , which correspond, like J a S S a f o s in the present document, t o "HI or ''mi, t h e Aramaic form of *75. J e w s bearing this n a m e are mentioned in inscriptions (CIJ 535; B u l l e t i n of J e w i s h P a l . Exp. S o c . x . 105 sqq. [Hebrew]). Phanias sounds Greek, b u t there is n o such name in P a p e - B e n s e l e r , though it occurs in the Papyri (e.g. P . Mich. Zen. 57). The Hebrew n a m e OrHD is transcribed in L X X &etvees or awl is also used b y Josephus (bell. 4. 155), and this approaches closely the form given in our document. A consideration of a general nature m a y b e put forward. T w o of t h e three farmers are neither E g y p t i a n s nor Greeks; t h e y are Semites, b u t t h e third n a m e , Theodotos, points to a J e w , n o t t o a Syrian. S o t h e m o s t likely suggestion is t h a t all three were J e w s . Demetrios is probably a supervisor (Trpoear-qxcos) of the estates of Nikias and Asklepiades (Gueraud). 2. Herakleia: a village in the F a y u m ; see P . Tebt. ii, p p . 377 sq. 3. The figures for 25th a n d 26th year are written backwards (ex a n d SK in place of KC and KS). Wilcken (Arch. ii. 390, cf. Arch. i. 557) saw therein additional evidence in favour of t h e Semitic origin of t h e farmers. I would not stress this argument, since the evrcv£is was certainly written b y a

JEWISH

PEASANTS, SHEPHERDS,

AND ARTISANS

185

professional scribe. Cf. for t h e same mode of writing S B 8118, where t h e authors were persons of Greek c u l t u r e (ol eK TOV

yvpvaolov).

4. F o r t h e d*aVoWos-clause Wilcken refers t o W a s z y n s k i , Die Bodenpacht, Taubenschlag, i. 271 n. 19. 8. For t h e /Je/JatWis of a contract see above, N o . 2 3 , 1 . 2 1 , note.

i. 129 sqq. Cf. n o w

Verso. T h e resolution of t h e strategos w a s deciphered for t h e first time b y GueVaud. T h e order, directed t o t h e epistates of t h e village, t o reconcile t h e parties is t h e usual formula of resolutions of t h e strategoi in t h e ivrevgcis. oir(tos) im(oKet/ii6fj.eda) means that t h e strategos reserves for himself the right t o consider t h e case a n d t o give t h e sentence. Cf. Gueraud, introduction t o P . E n t . , p. l x x i v ; B e r n e k e r , Sondergerichtsbarkeit,

65 s q q . ; B e n g t s o n , Die

Strategie,

iii, 35 s q q . ,

77 s q q .

N o . 38. A petition concerning a purchase of wool Krokodilopolis ( F a y u m ) . io>5X32 c m . P . E n t . 2 ( = P . Magd. N . S . 18). L I T . : W i l c k e n , Arch. schaft,

x . 242.

B e r n e k e r , Kritische

3. F o l g e , x x v i , 1933, 385.

tionenrecht,

n t h May, 218 B.C.

P r e a u x , 96 s q .

1 9 3 2 , 1 4 . N a b e r , Archives

d'hist.

Vierteljahrschrift

Seidl, Ptol.

du droit

jur

Rechtsgesch.

oriental,

Gesetzgeb.

u.

44 n. 3 9 ; 6 1 .

Rechtswissen-

Weber,

1937, 239-40. Wolf, TAP

Obliga-

A lxxii, 1941,

432 n. 46. Taubenschlag, i. 228 n. 5, 309 n. 2 ; ii. 50 n . 2. A complaint of Harmiysis (here written Harmeusis), dealer in wool, against a shep herd, Seos the Jew. Harmiysis purchased from Seos a q u a n t i t y of wool before the sheep-shearing and paid a certain sum in advance, stipulating t h a t the rest should be paid after the shearing. B u t Seos himself sheared the sheep and took the w o o l ; he refused to hand over the wool to Harmiysis when asked b y him to do so, and so the wool-dealer was obliged to bring the case before the authorities. T h e complaint is written in the usual form of an eWet>£i? (see N o . 3 7 ) .

BaaiXel

a

IlroXepiaLcoL

KpoKobeiXcov dSt/cov/xat

vodcov

yap

].

ra

epia,

Kal

aov,

Sejoitat

ftaaiXev,

£v AXafiavdCbi.

d[7ro]-

(St^ctA/cov),

et

<JWTjy6[p]aKa

OVS

f$a[oiy

( S p a ^ t t d s ) os', ecf>

COL

TO

avrcoL

Eecbs

eireXdcov

enl

rr)v

TT[oi\p,vav

7T£TT\X\VK€

KOL

avrov,

dirairovpLevos

re

VTT epiov ra

epia

[OVK drro-

ovv

o*ot S o / c e t ,

[ypd<j)r)L rdrr)

ev

K€KapK€

dTT€VT]V6KraL irpos SLSCOLTL.

S (nevrcbpoXov)

] . . . e t a v drro rrjs

d]7ToScoaco

e[

rcbv KaroiKOVvrcov

rcbv KaroiKovvrcov

Kal Xaficov Trap* epiov dppaficb\ys is a n E g y p t i a n n a m e . O n J e w s bearing E g y p t i a n names cf. above, p . 4 3 . AXaflavQis: a village in the F a y u m , cf. P . Tebt. ii, p . 3 6 6 ; Calderini, Dizionario, i. 49. 3. A m y n t a s was probably a n important personage residing in Alexandria (cf. 1 . 1 0 ) , perhaps a great dealer in wool. Harmiysis, w h o bought wool 'for A m y n t a s ' , m a y have been his agent. 4. W h a t fiaoiXiKT] •napa.floXri means is n o t clear enough. Cf. Gueraud, c o m m e n t a r y a d l o c , a n d Preaux, 97. T h e sense seems t o be that t h e wool, bought b y Harmiysis in A m y n t a s ' behalf, w a s destined t o release, or redeem, the latter from the flaoiXiKT) TrapapoX-q. W a s that a n interdict, imposed b y the authorities on the private goods of A m y n t a s , which h a d to be lifted only when a fixed quantity of wool h a d been delivered b y A m y n t a s t o the g o v e r n m e n t ? 4 . P e r h a p s T O Xonro[v Ke<paX(aiov)

a\jrooaivrj\rai. B a t a i l l e ; epioTL Kal Nexdavovm

5* !• cw/tieTeêiv

1 3 . I. coêAeia, KOLVTJ, doiatperos

14.

2 3 . 1.

TO

above the line

paprvpto.

S a b b a t a i o s son of H o r o s a n d his son D o s a s , J e w i s h p o t t e r s f r o m

t h e S y r i a n v i l l a g e , t o P e t e s o u c h o s a n d his sons N e p h e r o s a n d N e c h t h a n o u p i s , g r e e t i n g . W e a g r e e w e s h o u l d share w i t h y o u t h e p o t t e r y a t N e i l o u p o l i s

at

p r e s e n t b e l o n g i n g t o P a o u s son of S a b b a t a i o s , f r o m T y b i 25, Y e a r 7, till M e s o r e 30 in t h e s a m e y e a r , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e d i v i s i o n \ share t o m e a n d f of t h e q u a r t e r for m y son. W e shall p a y t h e t a x t o g e t h e r , e a c h a c c o r d i n g t o h i s s h a r e ; a n d if t h e r e is a n y loss or profits, i t shall b e in c o m m o n a n d d i v i d e d u p . W e m a y n o t l e a v e t h e p o t t e r y u n t i l t h e a f o r e m e n t i o n e d y e a r is o u t , n o r m a y y o u t u r n us o u t of t h e p o t t e r y . A n d if w e d o n o t a c t as is here set d o w n , w e shall p a y i n t o t h e t r e a s u r y 40 silver d r a c h m a i . T h i s c o n t r a c t shall b e b i n d i n g e v e r y w h e r e . W r i t t e n o n b e h a l f of t h e c o n t r a c t i n g p a r t i e s b y C h a i r e m o n son of K a l l i k r a t e s a t t h e i r r e q u e s t , since t h e y declare t h a t t h e y are illiterate. Y e a r 7, T y b i 25. W i t n e s s e s : S a b a i d o n son of N i k o n . N i k o d r o m o s son of P h i l i p p o s . 1. Auio&s

is a n abbreviation from Aioaapliov

2. Zvptov Kiopvq:

(Schubart).

a village in the F a y u m ; cf. P . Tebt. ii, p . 402. On Syrian villages cf. a b o v e , p. 4 .

192

SECTION

I V : N O S . 46-47

6. If P a o u s was t h e son of Sabbathaios mentioned a b o v e , it would m e a n that in this Jewish family the grandfather a n d t h e grandson bore E g y p t i a n n a m e s . 7. Neiloupolis: a village in t h e F a y u m ; cf. P . T e b t . ii, p . 391. 10. TO (17/uov) (riraprov) are written a s abbreviations, a n d Schubart notices that t h e first abbrevia tion m i g h t b e read also as TO a(wrd). T h a t would m e a n , according t o Schubart, 'a quarter too'. H e t h e n suggests t h e deletion of the words T O V rerdprov, written in full, a n d s o reaches t h e conclusion t h a t father a n d s o n h a d t w o equal shares in t h e use of t h e pottery, a n d t h a t each share w a s a quarter of the whole. This suggestion is v e r y t e m p t i n g indeed, since in this case t h e shares b o t h of J e w s a n d E g y p t i a n s would be equal, each party controlling a half of t h e whole. Y e t T O airo reraprov does n o t m e a n 'a quarter t o o ' , b u t 'the same quarter', and t h a t makes n o sense. T h e deletion of rov rerdprov is also rather arbitrary. I prefer, therefore, t h e reading given a b o v e , which would mean that t h e share of t h e s o n w a s J of J , i.e. whereas t h e share of t h e father w a s £. So t h e total share of t h e J e w s would h a v e been ^ , a n d t h a t of t h e E g y p t i a n s W e d o n o t know w h y t h e Jewish family g a v e a greater share t o their E g y p t i a n partners. T h e J e w s , perhaps, h a d n o t enough m o n e y a n d sought partners, a n d o n account of this were obliged t o b e content with a minor part. 11. ri; unfortunately the meaning 4

of this term is not quite clear, and in the two cases where it is mentioned in our ostraka (Nos. 7 3 and 96) it can h a v e the simple sense of 'assessment'. Y e t whether the t a x w a s imypa^ri or not, it is obvious t h a t it was a t a x imposed on land-production, and as it has no name in the ostraka it m u s t h a v e been the sole t a x imposed on land, i.e., the l a n d - t a x par

excellence.

N o w , as far as I know, the l a n d - t a x , whether imyparj or

iK6piov, whether paid b y fiaoiXucol yecopyot or b y cleruchs, or b y somebody else, w a s never farmed o u t ; it was the d u t y of the government officials (or the owners of the 4

Wilcken in his Ostraka (i. 197) thought t h e t o be a land-tax ('Grundsteuer'); he changed his opinion in t h e Grundziige, 171 n. 1, and restricted t h e meaning of emypar) t o additional t a x e s ('Zuschlage'), according t o P . Tebt. i, p . 39. Kiihn ( B G U v i , p . 135) hesitates between imypaipri

t h e land-tax ('Bodenabgabe') a n d crown landduties ('Dominialgefalle'). Mile Preaux speaks of 'taxe s u p p l e m e n t a l ' (p. 414 n. 5 ; p . 132). Cf. also Heichelheim, R E , s.v. Sitos (Supplement, v i . 868): Preaux, Chr. d'figypte, lvi, 333.

198

SECTION

V

yrj iv Scoped a n d their representatives) t o fix the amounts for p a y m e n t (sometimes after long and quarrelsome negotiations w i t h the peasants, cf. the well-known p a p y r u s P S I 502) and t o see t o the regular delivery of these amounts t o the king's granaries. So it m a y b e assumed t h a t in our ostraka, too, the payers are simple peasants deliver ing their q u o t a s of grain t o the granaries according to the rate imposed on each of them. T h i s statement cannot be disproved b y N o . 90, where the payer, Simon son of Jazaros, ,

is styled e'£eiAr/v ApSiovros, Elpwv 'Iat,dpov, and Elpcov Eappadalov, it m a y be inferred t h a t Simon w a s a common Jewish name in U p p e r E g y p t in the second century B . C , so t h a t all other Simons (such as ELpojv 'Epfiiov or Elpwv 'Qpalov) were probably J e w s as well. I t goes without saying t h a t on this question strict evidence cannot be adduced. T h e following list contains all the names which might be regarded as belonging to Jews. I t has t w o purposes: first, to give the necessary commentary as to some difficult names, and secondly, to distinguish the social status of every person as far as it can b e ascertained. T h e list contains the names of c. s i x t y persons. JljSStou?, N o . 1 0 9 . T h e former reading b y W i l c k e n was Aflaiovs; the correct reading was established b y Viereck, BL ii. 1 . 9 7 . A farmer of an unknown t a x , acting in partnership with t w o other people. AfiSiovs Kapovpis, N o . 6 5 . T h e second name seems to be E g y p t i a n , cf. Crum, Coptic Dictionary, p. 1 1 7 a . I d e n t i t y w i t h his namesake of N o . 109 cannot be established. According to W i l c k e n (Ostr. 6 3 6 sq.), he was a Tpaire&TTrjs, since his signature a p pears on the receipt issued b y the bank, though the signature of TlroXepaXos TpaTreivT-qs, known to us from m a n y other ostraka, precedes t h a t of ApSiovs. I t m a y be t h a t the line containing his name has no connexion with the t e x t of the ostrakon (so BL ii. 1 . 1 1 6 ) . Y e t t w o signatures of bankers, though unusual, are possible (see, for example, N o . 4 9 ) . AfiirjXos, N o . 6 6 . Perhaps a false reading for the more usual A^LT)TOS. Probably a tax-farmer of T4XOS o-Kvriuiv, acting in partnership with his colleague Tlaiwv. Afivr)TT)s, N o . 1 0 5 . A tax-farmer, probably of reXos irpo^drwv. APtfros, N o . 4 8 . A tax-farmer of T4XOS otvov, acting in partnership with other people. AfiifJTos, N o . n 8 . P r o b a b l y a peasant. See note to N o . 1 1 8 . mfSpapos, N o . 5 0 . A tax-farmer of iwoptov, acting in partnership with his colleague AIOKXTJS.

Airo^Xoivios AuiaiQdov, Nos. 7 0 - 7 2 , i n . P r o b a b l y a tax-farmer of €oS[.]., N o . 121. In the same ostrakon AeXXalas is mentioned. Perhaps a J e w . T h e contents are not clear. Qeoxprjoros UaXaplvios, N o . 85. T h e patronymic is Semitic, b u t not necessarily Hebrew. W h e t h e r ©eoxprjo-Tos is a translation of the Hebrew r P H I D , as sug gested b y Delitzsch (Wilcken, Ostr. i. 523), m a y be doubted. A peasant from the district of Thebes. 'Iaetprjs, N o . 109. T h e usual transcription of the Hebrew T i C is 'Ideipos (so in L X X [Ez.], Josephus, and inscriptions: CIJ 1367/8, ZDPV x l i v , 1921, 113 sq.). A payer of an unknown t a x . '/aêu's-, N o . 98. T h e name derives probably from the Hebrew SPD* (Jos. 10. 3 ; 1 Chron. 3. 7; 14. 6). A payer of chaff. Iacov, too, was a name common among Jews, this m a n might well h a v e been a Jew. A land owner or a shepherd p a y i n g taxes for his cattle. *Qpos EOVXLOS, N O . 99. EovXios is perhaps an abbreviation iorEaovXis y e t the name does not occur in the papyri, so t h a t the Jewish origin of the man is v e r y doubtful. A payer of chaff. [ ] EappaOalov, N o . 97. P r o b a b l y a payer of chaff. Some Jewish names are recorded in a demotic ostrakon of 167 B . C . published as B G U 1454. O n e of them, Aristomenes son of Josephos, is included in our list. T h e others are: Toubias son of Simeon, Sabbataios son of Abdaios, and Dositheos son of . m . n t o s ; the remaining names are Greek. A l l these men seem to be peasants.

faND);

(g)

Chronology

Nearly all the ostraka collected in this section refer to the reigns of Philometor (180-145) and Euergetes I I (145-116). T h e question whether the regnal years of the

JEWISH

TAX-COLLECTORS,

OFFICIALS,

AND PEASANTS

203

former or of the latter are meant is not easily settled in every single case, Euergetes reckoning his regnal years from 169 (the first y e a r of joint reign of both), so t h a t the difference between the regnal years of the t w o brothers was eleven years only. I n the majority of cases W i l c k e n left the question unsettled, and the problem was solved b y later scholars, especially b y T a i t . T h e criterion for fixing the chronology of e v e r y ostrakon is based on the main fact t h a t e v e r y date earlier t h a n 25 refers to Philometor (because Euergetes did not really reign until 145, so t h a t the reckoning in the docu ments according to the years of his reign begins only with the 25th year of his formal reign), whereas every date later than 36 refers to Euergetes, the regnal years of Philo metor being 36 in all. I t follows t h a t ostraka dated between the 25th and the 36th year only are subject to doubt. Y e t there are w a y s of fixing the chronology of these docu ments too. F o r t u n a t e l y the great bulk of the ostraka is chiefly connected with one place only, Diospolis M a g n a (Thebes); the names of the officials of the T h e b a n b a n k and granary, as well as the tax-farmers operating in the T h e b a n district, are well k n o w n to us. N o w , it is obvious t h a t when the name of an official appears on a set of ostraka dated with numbers lower t h a n 25, and continues to appear on those d a t e d w i t h the 26th and 27th years, and so on, t h e y all belong to the reign of Philometor; and the same principle, applied to a set of ostraka dated b y years lower and higher t h a n 36, fixes the whole set as belonging to the reign of Euergetes. A n investigation of the names based on this principle has shown t h a t the great majority of ostraka are d a t e d b y the years of Philometor. T h e banker Ptolemaios, as well as the officials of the granary, Apollonios, Ptolemaios, A m b r y o n , and Hermokrates, whose names appear regularly in our ostraka, lived in the reign of Philometor. A s to the reign of Euergetes, only Herakleides, the official of the granary, issuing a receipt in year 49, m u s t be assigned to it. T h e question remains open as to receipts signed b y Asklepiades, the banker (Nos. 66-68), as well as to receipts coming from places outside T h e b e s : here the names of the officials appear on single documents only, as, for example, on N o . 69 from K o p t o s , a receipt signed b y the banker Dositheos and dated the year 30. A s to the ostraka assigned to the regnal years of other kings, I h a v e adopted the dates given b y scholars in previous editions. I h a v e also followed the suggestion of T a i t who assigns N o . 50 to the 5th year of the joint reign of Philometor and E u e r getes (this joint reign lasted for seven years only). A l l the exact dates (including the d a y of the month) were checked b y me with the help of the chronological tables published b y Mr. Skeat in Mizraim, v i (1937). L I T . (sel.): Wilcken, Ostraka,

i. 5 2 3 ; id. Antisem.,

788 s q . Juster, ii. 257 n. 3 ; 295 n. 2.

Fuchs,

14, 52, 63 sq., 107.

N o . 48 Thebes. 0 . Bodl. 46.

171-170 B.C.

[("Erovs)

rpdfreâv)

ta

] S.reraKTai y

i]tj> rjs

| [reXos

ATTOXXCOVLOS v

fjLoyros Kal r&v pe(roxo) ) (yivovrai) 4. [reXos

Tvrj. oivjov:

(Translation.)

| [erri rr)v £v\ Aids

x&{XKOV)

olv\ov

laovo(pov)

ta (erovs)

rroXa,

| [rrji

Aftifjros

| [£]vaKoaias

pe(ydXrji) | 5 | [.....]

7revrr\Kovra

| 77

'HpaKAetorjs.

supplied b y m e .

5. / c a t TCOV n inserted above the line. 1. ol e

fieroxot.

Y e a r 1 1 , . . . 4 . P a i d i n t o t h e b a n k a t D i o s p o l i s M a g n a of w h i c h

A p o l l o n i o s is t h e h e a d , a s w i n e - t a x for t h e n t h y e a r , b y A b i e t o s . . . s o n of . . . m o u s a n d his p a r t n e r s , nine h u n d r e d a n d fifty e i g h t (drachmai) in c o p p e r a t par, t o t a l 9 5 8 .

Herakleides.

SECTION

204

V : N O S . 49-55

N o . 49 Thebes. 0 . Strassb. i o .

4th May, 161 B.C.

K &app.ovdi

"ETOVS

TTJV

^ S " I AfJL(flO))vLOS, TeXoS

Tpd(TT€âv), XCL(XKOV)

| irrl

8. T e ( T a f C T a t )

lcro(v6piov)

|5 | ^ e i A t a ? itxarov

AppL. Ap,(pLU))vios • IlToXepbalos (Translation.)

iv Aids

TT6(X€L)

OiVOV \ K (cTOVs)

Te(raKTat)

ApLOTOp.€VrjS

(yivovTdC)

Teaaapd\KOVTa (Spaxp>ds)

p,e(ydiXrj)

rfj

lao(v6pbov)

App,. | ( 2 n d h a n d ) ACT.

Y e a r 20 P h a r m o u t h i 4. P a i d i n t o t h e b a n k a t D i o s p o l i s M a g n a of

w h i c h A m m o n i o s is t h e h e a d , a s w i n e - t a x for t h e 20th y e a r , b y A r i s t o m e n e s , o n e t h o u s a n d o n e h u n d r e d a n d f o r t y d r a c h m a i of c o p p e r a t p a r , t o t a l a t p a r 1 1 4 0 . Ammonios. P t o l e m y : p a i d 1140 d r a c h m a i . (2nd h a n d ) 1,200.

No. Thebes. Sayce, Proc. BL ii. 1. 1 7 .

Soc. Bibl.

"ETOVS

e Metropf)

10th September, 165 B.C. xxiii (1901), p . 2 1 5 , N o . 9 ; p . 302. S B 1093. 0 . Bodl. 49. S P 3 7 6 ; cf.

y

i rjs AvTtyevqs Se/ca

vy.

Te(Ta/crat)

iiri

a

K

x ft °v)

| iv Aids

TTJV

\ els TO e (eTOs) iwopuiov

|51 eTTTa (ylvovTai)

(Translation.)

50

\ Kal ALOKXTJS

Af$pap,os

ov dX(Xayr))

pit,.

jpdfaeâv)

7jp(Aet)

AvTiyevrjs

e/carov

\ pXe.

Y e a r 5, M e s o r e 1 3 . P a i d i n t o t h e b a n k a t D i o s p o l i s of w h i c h

A n t i g e n e s is t h e h e a d , a s p a s t u r e - t a x f o r t h e 5 t h y e a r , b y A b r a m o s a n d D i o k l e s one hundred a n d seventeen drachmai, t o t a l in copper a t a discount 117. A n t i g e n e s . 135.

No.

i

S

Thebes. 0 . Bodl. 53.

155/4 B-C.

("ETOVS) p,e(ydXr)i)

KI, 0 a Tpd(7ret av) )

2JapLâd(atos) (TT€ÎTTJS)

ov

j8. | T e ( T a / c T c u ) icfS

dX(Xayr))

r)s

irrl

\ IlToXepLaios

eâ\Koalas

TTJV

iv

Aids

TropdpilScov

(ylvovTai)

X'

7rd(Aet) 151

/c£

IJ(ToXepLaios)

| TT\I (erovs) jpa-

\ x?1. T h e n a m e of t h e m o n t h m a y b e $ a [ w ^ i ] , or &a[pevv

| 5 | etjrjKOvra

rpa(7ret,irif)s).

TIroXepaios

22nd February, 154 B.C.

ice. re(raKrai)

y

\ e r)s TIroXepiaios

1,000.

ertrd

| /c£ (erovs) (yivovrai)

rrji

p,e(ydXrji)

Eapfia(9aios)

0$

ov

dX(Xayrj)

a>££. j

A.

Y e a r 27, T y b i 25. P a i d i n t o t h e b a n k a t D i o s p o l i s M a g n a of

w h i c h P t o l e m y is h e a d , a s f e r r y - t o l l for t h e 2 7 t h y e a r , b y S a m b a t h a i o s e i g h t h u n d r e d a n d s i x t y - s e v e n d r a c h m a i a t a d i s c o u n t , t o t a l a t a d i s c o u n t 867. Ptolemy, Banker.

No.

S4-

Thebes. W O 335 ;cf. £ L i i . 1, p . 55. ("Erovs)

(daios)

15th April, 154 B.C.

K £ 0apev<x)9 rpd(7ret av)

pe(ydXrji)

>

0$

dX(Xayrj)

1,000.

t £ . re(raKrai)

erri

e tfs TIroXepaios OKraKoaias

rrjv

[ev Aios

Tropdp,i8a)v

e£y)\Kovra

eirrd

Tr6(Xei)]

|

2ap,f$a-

\ /c£ (erovs)

(yivovrai)

0$

rfji

dA(Aayi7)

TIro(Xepaios). (Translation.)

Y e a r 27, P h a m e n o t h 17. P a i d i n t o t h e b a n k a t D i o s p o l i s M a g n a

of w h i c h P t o l e m y is t h e h e a d , a s f e r r y - t a x for t h e 27th y e a r , b y S a m b a t h a i o s e i g h t h u n d r e d a n d s i x t y - s e v e n d r a c h m a i a t a d i s c o u n t , t o t a l a t a d i s c o u n t 867. Ptolemy.

No.

SS

Thebes. Sayce 74. W O 1507; cf. BL ii. 1, p . 1 1 6 . "Erovs rpd(rrel av) i

K £ TIavvi eft

1 . re(raKrai)

r*)s \ TIroXepaios

7th July, 154 B.C.

erri

\ rr)v ev Aios

rro(Xei)

7rop9p,ioaiV /c£ (erovs)

rfji

pe(ydXr)i)

| Eapf$a9aios

0$

206

SECTION

dX(Xayr))

(rdXavrov)

ev

rerpaKia\S

reaaapas

(yivovrat)

ov dX(Xayr))

(rreîrrjs)

(rdXavra)

'B.

(Translation.)

V : N O S . 55-61

\xiXias

(rdXavrov)

rerpaKoaias a 'AvX8.

rpiaxovra

| IJroXepiaios

\ rpa-

Y e a r 27, P a y n i 10. P a i d i n t o t h e b a n k a t D i o s p o l i s M a g n a of

w h i c h P t o l e m y is t h e h e a d , as f e r r y - t a x for t h e 2 7 t h y e a r , b y S a m b a t h a i o s o n e t a l e n t four t h o u s a n d

four hundred and thirty-four drachmai at a discount,

t o t a l 1 t a l e n t 4,434. P t o l e m y , Banker. 2 talents.

N o . £G Thebes. 0 . Bodl. 54.

n t h August, 154 B.C.

K £ Êrreltj) le. re(raKrai)

"ETOVS

rpd(rret,av) dX(Xayr))

itjS rjs TlroXepiaios ^ t A i a ? | errraKooias

[TlroXepiaios

rpa(rret irr)s)

TTJV

\ iv Aids

7 r o ( A e t ) rrji

\ TropOpblScov AC£ (erovs) rpidtxovra

reo\S\ga[p]as

p,e(ydXrji)

Eap,f$a(9aios) (yivovrai)

ov

AxjiXh. |

'5.].

)

(Translation.)

irrl

Y e a r 27, E p e i p h 1 5 . P a i d i n t o t h e b a n k a t D i o s p o l i s M a g n a of

w h i c h P t o l e m y is t h e h e a d , as f e r r y - t a x for t h e 2 7 t h y e a r b y S a m b a t h a i o s one thousand seven hundred and thirty-four drachmai at a discount, total a t

a

discount 1,734. P t o l e m y , B a n k e r . 2,000.

No.

si

Thebes. Sayce 58. W O 1508; cf. BL ii. 1, p . 1 1 6 .

"Erovs

KZ,

rpd(Tret av)

'Errelcf) id. re(raKrai)

dX(Xayr)) o / c r a | 5 \iv

|

ov

irevre

\

r(p)a(Treiîrrjs)

y.

(Translation.)

Y e a r 28, Mesore 20. P a i d i n t o t h e b a n k a t D i o s p o l i s M a g n a of

w h i c h P t o l e m y is t h e h e a d , as 25 per c e n t , fisher's-tax for t h e 28th y e a r ,

by

S i m o n t w o t a l e n t s t h r e e t h o u s a n d six h u n d r e d a n d f o r t y - f i v e a t a d i s c o u n t , t o t a l 2 t a l e n t s , 3,645. P t o l e m y , Banker. 3 talents.

208

SECTION

V : N O S . 62-68

N o . 62 Thebes. W O 3 3 9 ; c f . B L i i . 1, p . 56. "Erovs

K B ABvp

pe(ydXr)i)

S. re(raKrai)

rpd(rre£av)

Zipwv

etfi* r)s

I od dX(Xayrj)

TIr(oXepaios)

2nd December, 153 B.C.

oia%iXias

'B v£.

erri

TIroXepaios eKarov

| {rr)v}

£v Aids

\ rerpaKias

reaaa

( 2 n d h a n d ) Ziputv 3. 1.

(Translation.)

rr)v {erri}

dXieoiv

|5 \paKovra

• • • vrj.

Trd(Aet) KB

rrji

(erovs)

0$ dX(Xayr))

*B

pp.

rj.

Terdpr-qs.

Y e a r 29, H a t h y r 4. P a i d i n t o t h e b a n k a t D i o s p o l i s M a g n a of

w h i c h P t o l e m y is t h e h e a d , as 25 p e r c e n t , fisher's-tax for t h e 29th y e a r , b y S i m o n t w o t h o u s a n d one hundred a n d forty d r a c h m a i a t a discount, t o t a l a t a d i s c o u n t , 2,140. P t o l e m y . 2,460. Simon . . .

N o . 63 Thebes. W O 340. "Erovs

27th March, 152 B.C.

K B Mexeip

rpd(rreâv) dX(Xayr)) paios)

K B . \ re(raKrai)

\ £' r)s TIroXepaios rrevra\5\Koaias

rpa(ireîrr)s).

(Translation.)

erri rrjv ev Aios

(rerdprrjs)

SyBorjKovra |

rro(Xei)

p,(eydXr)i)

| K B (erovs)

dXieajv

\ (yivovrai)

rrji

a

x {Xfr)v)

TTJV

| jjfiLcrv

els

Pete (irvpov)

'

pLeydXrji

|51

IJlpnov

a

(rjpnov)

|

ArroXXcovios

[a (yjpaov)

reraprov)].

Y e a r 1 9 , P a c h o n 27. M e a s u r e d i n t o t h e g r a n a r y a t

Diospolis

M a g n a o n b e h a l f of t h e d i s t r i c t , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e a s s e s s m e n t for t h e 1 9 t h y e a r , b y S i m o n son of A b d i o u s one a n d t h r e e - q u a r t e r s (artabai) of w h e a t , t o t a l w h e a t if. Panas. (2nd h a n d ) . I , A p o l l o n i o s , m e a s u r e d one a n d t h r e e - q u a r t e r s , t o t a l of w h e a t i f .

No. 74 Thebes. 0 . Bodl. 156. "ETOVS

Ka Meaopr)

dr)(o~avpdv) reraprov HavloKos rov)

22nd September, 160 B.C.

j vrrep

TOV

Kg. p,e(p,erprjKev) TOTTOV

| 5 | (ylverai)

(rrvpov)

pie(pierprjpLai)

(ylverai)

(Translation.)

(rrvpov)

id (erovs)

| els

TOV

'IvScbs

iv Aidsrrd(Xei) \ AfSirjarov

a (r)pnav) (reraprov).

Kaddri

irpo(Keirai)

(rjpiiav) a

\ (rrvpov)

TTJL

pie(ydXr)i)

(rrvpov)

Ilavas. pilav

pilavr\pnav

| (2nd hand)

(rjpiiav)

(rerap

(reraprov).

Y e a r 2 1 , Mesore 26. M e a s u r e d i n t o t h e g r a n a r y a t

Diospolis

M a g n a o n b e h a l f of t h e d i s t r i c t , for t h e 1 9 t h y e a r , b y I n d o s son of A b i e s t o s one a n d t h r e e - q u a r t e r s (artabai) of w h e a t , t o t a l w h e a t i f .

Panas.

(2nd h a n d ) I P a n i s k o s m e a s u r e d , as s t a t e d a b o v e , one a n d t h r e e - q u a r t e r s (artabai) of w h e a t , t o t a l of w h e a t

if.

212

SECTION

V: NOS.

No.

75-81

js

Thebes. WO 721.

160/159 B . c

"Erovs

K[f$]

p,e(yd\r)i) (rrvpov) fipvajy

0a

[p,e(p,erprjKev)

9r)(aavpdv) piav

/cj8 (erovs)

(r)p.iov)

els

\ 'Iojarjrros

(reraprov)

rov]

J ev

Afihiov

(yiverai)

a

|51

(rjp,iav)

J dX\as

(8a>8eKarov)

(yivovrai)

(Translation.)

j8 (rjpiav)

(8a)8eKarov).

Y e a r 22, P h a

Aios

vrr(ep)

rr6(Xei)

'Iep[as (reraprov).

(rrvpov)

|

rrji

Nrjaov]

\ Ap-

8vo

(rjpiav)

Apfipvwv.

Measured into the granary at Diospolis

M a g n a , for t h e 22nd y e a r , b y J o s e p o s son of A b d i o u s on b e h a l f of H i e r a N e s o s , one a n d t h r e e - q u a r t e r s (artabai) of w h e a t , t o t a l

if. Ambryon.

A n o t h e r t w o a n d s e v e n - t w e l f t h s a r t a b a i of w h e a t , t o t a l 2^.

Ambryon.

N o . 76 Thebes. O. Petrie 50.

159 or 92 B.C.

("Erovs)

K@

pe(ydXrji)

[|

0r)(aavp6v).

(Translation.)

. |_.p,e(perprjKev) a

0appgy0i

els

TOV

¥ \_W

Aa)]aideos

\ rroXei

AIOS]

£V

rrji

[N]-'[-

Y e a r 22, P h a r m o u t h i . . . M e a s u r e d i n t o t h e g r a n a r y a t D i o s p o l i s

M a g n a b y D o s i t h e o s , son of P s a

. . . .

N o . 77 Thebes. 0 . Bodl. 158. "Erovs

Ky Mexelp

6rj(aavp6v) (rjpiav)

30th March, 158 B.C.

\ vrrep (rpirov)

pe(perprjpai)

X. \ p.e(perpr]K€v)

rov

(rrvpov)

(Translation.)

rorrov

(yivovrai)

Kj8

els rov

(erovs)

s" (rjpiav)

s* (rjpiav)

ev Aios

Urpdr[a)v] (rpirov).

Trd(Aet) rrji

| Urpdroj(vos) | 5 | TIavas.

pe(ydXr)i) (rrvpov)

\

s"

ArroXXuivios

(rpirov).

Y e a r 23, M e c h e i r 30. M e a s u r e d i n t o t h e g r a n a r y a t D i o s p o l i s

M a g n a on b e h a l f of t h e district for t h e 22nd y e a r , b y S t r a t o n son of S t r a t o n six a n d f i v e - s i x t h s (artabai) of w h e a t , t o t a l 6 | . P a n a s . I , A p o l l o n i o s , m e a s u r e d 6 | (artabai) of w h e a t .

N o . 78 Thebes. 0 . Bodl. 1 6 3 . "Erovs pey(dXrji)

Kg <Papevdj9 9r)(aavpdv)

30th March, 155 B.C. d . p,e(p.erpr]Kaoiv) K€ (erovs)

\ Zrpdrarv

els

j rgy

Erpdraivos

ev

Aids

rrg(Aet)

/cat 'Ia\aKis

rr\i (rrvpov)

JEWISH

TAX-COLLECTORS,

e £ (rjfJLiav) (yivovrai) (yivovrai)

(rrvpov)

(rrvpov)

(Translation.)

OFFICIALS,

s" (r)p,iav).

6 (reraprov).

AND

|51 K8 (erovs)

PEASANTS

j8 (r)p,iav)

213

(reraprov)

Ap^pvatv.

Y e a r 26 P h a m e n o t h 1. M e a s u r e d i n t o t h e g r a n a r y a t D i o s p o l i s

M a g n a for t h e 25th y e a r b y S t r a t o n son of S t r a t o n a n d I s a k i s , s i x a n d half (artabai) of w h e a t , t o t a l 6£ of w h e a t . F o r t h e 24th y e a r 2 | . T o t a l of w h e a t , 9 J . A m b r y o n .

N o . 79 Thebes. 0. Bodl. 164. "Erovs

19th June, 151 B.C.

A Ilaxcbv

9r)(aavp6v)

A (erovs)

(yivovrai)

8

p,e(p,erprjKev) \ 'IaaKis

(reraprov).

f

EppipKpd(rrjs)

Kp(idrjs)

icy.

Erpdratvos |5-6|

p,e(p,erpr}pai)

8

els rov

| ev Aios

rr6(Xei)

\ Kpidrjs

reaaapas

(Demotic)

Kp(idrjs)

illegible

reaaapas

rrji

(reraprov) |

(reraprov)

pey(dXr)i)

(2nd hand) |

(yivovrai)

(reraprov).

(Translation.)

Y e a r 30, P a c h o n 23. M e a s u r e d i n t o t h e g r a n a r y a t D i o s p o l i s

M a g n a for t h e 30th y e a r b y I s a k i s son of S t r a t o n , f o u r a n d a q u a r t e r (artabai) of b a r l e y , t o t a l 4^. (2nd h a n d ) I , H e r m o k r a t e s , m e a s u r e d f o u r a n d a q u a r t e r (artabai) of b a r l e y , t o t a l 4^.

N o . 80 Thebes. 0. Cambr. 10. "Erovs

K8 Xoia%

6r)(aavpdv) 8ip,oipov prjpiai) fi'

n t h January, 157 B.C.

vrrep |51 (rrvpov)

I (yivovrai)

t/5. p.e(perpr)Kev)

\ rov

rorrov

(yivovrai) yf$'. {rrvpov)

yfi'. |

Ky

\ els rov (erovs)

IJavas

(3rd h a n d )

ev Aids

IIoXXovs \

(2nd

TIroXep.aios

rroiXei)

| Ap8aios

hand)

rrji

ArroXXatvios

pie(perpr)p.ai)

pe(ydXr)i)

(rrvpov)

rpeis p>e(p,er-

rrvpov

rpeis

yfi'. 4.1. ApSatov

(Translation.)

Y e a r 24, C h o i a c h 12. M e a s u r e d i n t o t h e g r a n a r y a t D i o s p o l i s

M a g n a on b e h a l f of t h e d i s t r i c t for t h e 23rd y e a r , b y P o l l o u s son of A b d a i o s , t h r e e a n d t w o - t h i r d s (artabai) of w h e a t , t o t a l 3 § . P a n a s . (2nd h a n d ) I , A p o l l o n i o s , m e a s u r e d 3 § (artabai) of w h e a t . (3rd h a n d ) I , P t o l e m y , m e a s u r e d t h r e e a n d f of w h e a t , t o t a l of w h e a t 3 § .

N o . 81 Thebes. W O 7 2 3 ; cf. BL ii. 1. 74. "Erovs

K8 Mex(elp)

6th March, 157 B.C.

£. | p,e(p,erpr)K€v)

els rov iv Aids

rrd(Aet) | rrji

p,e(ydXrji)

214

SECTION

6rj(aavpdv)

vrrep

rov

[ • • • • ] etSocrt avrov (Translation.)

V: NOS.

\ Korr(rlrov) | [

Ky

81-86

(erovs)

|5j [A]oooldeos

IJaxpdrov

\

] e/e[.. . ] .

Y e a r 24, M e c h e i r 7. M e a s u r e d i n t o the g r a n a r y a t D i o s p o l i s

M a g n a on b e h a l f of t h e K o p t i t e n o m e for t h e 23rd y e a r , b y D o s i t h e o s son

of

Pachrates . . . .

N o . 82 Thebes. 0 . Bodl. 160. "Erovs

29th January, 157 B.C.

K S Xolax

Orjoavpov

vrrep

htpboipov

^* P>e(p.erpr]K€v)

rov

rorrov

15 j {(yivovrai))

(rrvpov)

(Translation)

(rrvpov)

rov

ev Aids

\ "EXXrjv

navas.

SlpiOipov

\

(yivovrai)

(2nd

rroXeu rrji

AtogtBeov

£j8', root S e rrporepov

pur) xP'h ] '

errrd

\ els

(erovs)

07 1

I (pierprjpiai)

Ky

yp(a<j>evri) hand)

(rrvpov)

pLeydXrji

(rrvpov)

j

errrd

| rov

avrov

ArroXXoovcos

fte-

£j5'.

Y e a r 24, C h o i a c h 30. M e a s u r e d i n t o t h e g r a n a r y a t D i o s p o l i s

M a g n a on b e h a l f of t h e d i s t r i c t for t h e 23rd y e a r , b y H e l l e n son of D o s i t h e o s , s e v e n a n d t w o - t h i r d s (artabai) of w h e a t , t o t a l 7 § of w h e a t . T h e (receipt) p r e v i o u s l y m a d e o u t for t h e a b o v e . . . is n o t v a l i d . P a n a s . (2nd h a n d ) I , A p o l l o n i o s , m e a s u r e d s e v e n a n d t w o - t h i r d s (artabai) of w h e a t , t o t a l 7 § of w h e a t .

N o . 83 Thebes. 0 . Cambr. 137. "Erovs

Ke

25th November, 157 B.C.

&aootf>L K?. pLe(pLerpr)Kev) els

drjaavpdv

\ vrrep

Atoaideov

S t d rov

(rrvpov)

/xsy'

(rrvpov)

rov

(

K S (erovs) |51

|

(2nd

hand)

(yivovrai)

pLS"y'.

e£ y

ev \

\r\eaaapaKovra

rroXei

ALOS

Ac^v(rjs)

rrvpov

Ap,j3pvoov.

reaoapaKovra

(Translation.)

Korrrlrov

rrarpds

rov

rrju

vp..... e£

pbeydXrp, |

rplrov

"EXXrjv (yivovrai)

[IJroX]efjLatos

fie(pierprjpbai)

Y e a r 25, P h a o p h i 26. M e a s u r e d i n t o t h e g r a n a r y a t D i o s p o l i s

M a g n a on b e h a l f of t h e K o p t i t e n o m e for t h e 24th y e a r , L i b y

, b y Hellen

son of D o s i t h e o s t h r o u g h his f a t h e r , f o r t y - s i x a n d a t h i r d (artabai) of w h e a t , t o t a l of w h e a t 46^. A m b r y on. (2nd h a n d ) I , P t o l e m y , m e a s u r e d f o r t y - s i x £ (artabai) of w h e a t , t o t a l 46

N o . 84 Thebes. WO 724.

14th July, 157 B.C.

"Erovs

K S IJavvL

(Jr)(o;avpdv) errrd

vrrep

| reraprov

(rjpuav)

t £ . pue(p*erprjKev) els

rov

rorrov

(yivovrai)

t'j8' (yivovrai)

K S (erovs) (rrvpov)

K^ptdrjs)

rov

ev | Zlto? Tro(Aet) rrjc

\ AooolOeos K£

(reraprov),

tS (rjpuav)

if$'.

IIvppov KpuOrjs

\ S\ aXXas

pLe(ydXrji)

rrvpov

et/coat

(dprdfiai)

{rrvpov)

tS

eiKocrc

JEWISH

rpeis

TAX-COLLECTORS,

(rjpiav)

(yivovrai)

p,e(perpr)pai) (rjpiav)

(rrvpov)

if?

(yivovrai)

ctAAa? (rrvpov) Kpi8(rjs)

10

eiKoai

(rrvpov) eiKoai

Ky (rjpiav).

errrd

(rrvpov) rpeis

OFFICIALS, AND PEASANTS

/c£ (reraprov),

rjpiav

Apj3pva>v.

reraprov,

(yivovrai)

Kp(idrjs) K(pidrjs)

\

IIroXep,aios

oeKa

reaaapas

10 (rjpiav)

(rrvpov) v (rjpiav)

215

ifi',

|

(reraprov),

\

(rjpiav)

(Translation.)

Year

24, P a y n i 1 7 . M e a s u r e d i n t o t h e g r a n a r y a t

Diospolis

M a g n a o n b e h a l f of t h e d i s t r i c t for t h e 24th y e a r , b y D o s i t h e o s son of P y r r h o s , t w e n t y - s e v e n a n d a q u a r t e r (artabai) of w h e a t , t o t a l 27J, 1 4 ^ a r t a b a i of b a r l e y , t o t a l of b a r l e y 1 4 ^ . A n o t h e r t w e n t y - t h r e e a n d a half of w h e a t , t o t a l of w h e a t 23^. A m b r y o n . I , P t o l e m y , m e a s u r e d t w e n t y - s e v e n a n d a q u a r t e r of w h e a t , f o u r t e e n a n d a half a n d ^ of b a r l e y , t o t a l of w h e a t 27^, of b a r l e y 1 4 ^ a n d ^ , a n o t h e r t w e n t y t h r e e a n d a half of w h e a t , t o t a l of w h e a t 50I, of b a r l e y 1 4 ^ .

N o . 85 Thebes. W O 1 3 5 0 ; cf.

"Erovs

7 t h J u l y , 156 B.C. BL

ii. 1. 104.

K€ Uavvi

1. pe(perprjKev)

6r)(aavp6v)

vrrep

rov

|51 rpiaKovra

rrvpov

| rov rorrov

TIroXepaios

pe(perprjpai)

( 3 r d hand)

ArroXXcovios

el[s] \ rov ev Aios

/cS (erovs)

(yivovrai)

®eoxpr)aros

(rrvpov)

(rrvpov)

(yivovrai)

(rrvpov)

pie(ydXr)i)

\ UaXapivios

X. \ Ap(3pva>v.

rpiaKovra

pe(perprjpiai)

rr6(Xei) rrji

| (2nd hand) (rrvpov)

rpiaKovra

X.

|

(yivovrai)

rrvpov X. (Translation.)

Year

M a g n a on behalf

25, P a y n i 10. M e a s u r e d i n t o t h e g r a n a r y a t

Diospolis

of t h e d i s t r i c t for t h e 24th y e a r , b y T h e o c h r e s t o s

s o n of

S a l a m i n i s . . . t h i r t y (artabai) of w h e a t , t o t a l of w h e a t 30. A m b r y o n . (2nd h a n d ) I , P t o l e m y , m e a s u r e d t h i r t y (artabai) of w h e a t , t o t a l of w h e a t 30. (3rd h a n d ) I , A p o l l o n i o s , m e a s u r e d t h i r t y (artabai) of w h e a t , t o t a l of w h e a t 30.

No. Thebes. 0 . Bodl. 162.

"Erovs dr)(aavpdv)

27th and 29th N o v e m b e r , 156 B.C. and 30th March, 155 B.C.

KS" &ai7xf>i k~rj. pe(perprjKev) KS" (erovs)

0aa>(f)i X 6 avros ayrgs

8 6

NoyfSicpv

\ rrvpov

rrypgy rrevre rjpiav

(Translation.)

'Qvlov

rpeis

(yivovrai)

els rov ev |^dt6?TrdAet rfji | rrvpov rpeis

(yivovrai) (rrvpov)

(rrvpov) e (rjp,iav).

(yivovrai) y. \

pey(dXr)i) (rrvpov)

0apevd)0

y.

a |51 p

Apftpytoy.

Y e a r 26, P h a o p h i 28. M e a s u r e d i n t o t h e g r a n a r y a t D i o s p o l i s

M a g n a for t h e 26th y e a r b y N o u b i o n son of O n i a s t h r e e (artabai) of w h e a t , t o t a l of w h e a t 3. P h a o p h i 30, t h e s a m e person, t h r e e (artabai) of w h e a t , t o t a l of w h e a t 3. P h a m e n o t h 1, t h e s a m e person, five a n d a half of w h e a t , t o t a l of w h e a t 5^. Ambryon.

216

SECTION

V : N O S . 87-92

N o . 87 Thebes. W O 1505; cf. "Erovs

K£> 0apevd)6

0rj(aavp6v) rrevre

y

9th April, 154 B.C. ii. 1. 1 1 6 .

BL

id. pe(perprjKev)

I /c£ (erovs) i'j8 (yivovrai)

pLe(perpr)pai)

K(pidrjs)

Kpid(rjs)

(^Translation)

| els rov evAios

Eapfiaraios

oeKa

Aftirjrov

le y

tj8. | Apfipvarv.

\ rrevre

y

rr6(Xei)

\ IJoavepovv

rrji

| ( 2 N D hand)

tj8 (yivovrai)

p,ey(dXrji)

Kpidrjs

ic(pidrjs)

|51 S e / c a ArroXXa>vios

ie y

t/5.

Y e a r 27, P h a m e n o t h 1 1 . M e a s u r e d i n t o t h e g r a n a r y a t D i o s p o l i s

M a g n a for t h e 2 7 t h y e a r b y S a m b a t a i o s son of A b i e t e s P o a n e m o u n , fifteen a n d ^

of b a r l e y , t o t a l of b a r l e y 1 5 ^ . A m b r y o n . (2nd h a n d ) I , A p o l l o n i o s , m e a s u r e d fifteen a n d ^ of b a r l e y , t o t a l of b a r l e y 1 5 ^ .

N o . 88 Thebes. W O 728.

16th June, 154 B.C.

"Erovs

K £ IJaxdjv

6rj(aavp6v) (i)p.iav) (2nd

(rpirov) hand)

(yivovrai)

(yivovrai)

(rrvpov)

(rjpiiav)

Elpojv

ArroXXwvios

p,e(perprjpai)

3. [rod

id. pe(perprjKev)

| #c£ (erovs)

| els rov evAi6srr6(Xei)

'Epp.iov

(rrvpov)

vrr(ep)

y

p.e(perprjpiai) y

(rrvpov)

(rjpiav) rpeis

(rjpiiav)

(rpirov). \ rpeis |

(3rd

(rpirov)

|

T(r}i)

rorr(ov)]

(rrvpov) (rpirov).

(rjpiav)

[rov

p.(e)y(dXr]i) \ rrvpov

|5|

rpeis

ApfSpvwv.

(rjpiav)

|

(rpirov)

hand)

'EppoKpdnqs

(yivovrai)

(rrvpov)

y

(rpirov). T6TT(OV)]

(Translation)

restored b y m e . Y e a r 27, P a c h o n 19. M e a s u r e d i n t o t h e g r a n a r y a t D i o s p o l i s

M a g n a for t h e 2 7 t h y e a r , b y S i m o n son of H e r m i a s , on b e h a l f of t h e d i s t r i c t , t h r e e a n d f i v e - s i x t h s (artabai) of w h e a t , t o t a l of w h e a t 3$. A m b r y o n . (2nd h a n d ) I , A p o l l o n i o s , m e a s u r e d t h r e e a n d f i v e - s i x t h s (artabai) of w h e a t , t o t a l of w h e a t 3^. (3rd h a n d ) I , H e r m o k r a t e s , m e a s u r e d t h r e e a n d f i v e - s i x t h s (artabai) of w h e a t , t o t a l of w h e a t 3§.

N o . 89 Thebes. W O 7 2 9 ; cf. BL ii. 1. 74. LIT. : Juster, ii. 67 n. 4. "Erovs 6r)(aavp6v) 8vo

K £ IJavvi

8. p,e(perpr)Kev)

/c£ (erovs)

(yivovrai)

pe(p,erprjpai) (Translation)

1st July, 154 B.C.

Kporatvos Kpora>vos

els

TlvOdyyeXos j3. 8vo

rov

\ ev Aids

\ *Ia>ar]rrios Apifipvcov.

(yivovrai)

|5|

ra

rr6(Xei)

rrji

p,ey(d\r]i)

ei. . p . . .Kporwvos

( 2 N D hand)

\

ArroXXwvios\

j3.

Y e a r 27, P a y n i 4. M e a s u r e d i n t o t h e g r a n a r y a t D i o s p o l i s M a g n a

JEWISH

TAX-COLLECTORS,

OFFICIALS,

A N D PEASANTS

217

for t h e 2 7 t h y e a r , b y P y t h a n g e l o s s o n of J o s e p i s . . . t w o . . . of . . . c a s t o r - o i l seeds, t o t a l of castor-oil seeds 2. A m b r y o n . (2nd h a n d ) I , A p o l l o n i o s , m e a s u r e d t w o (artabai) of c a s t o r - o i l seeds, t o t a l 2.

N o . 90 Thebes. Sayce, JQR ii. 1890, 400 sqq. W O 1255. LIT.:

R o s t o v t z e f f , Wochensckr.

J. Klass.

12th February, 153 B.C.

Philol.

1900, S p . 124.

O t t o , Priester

und

Tempel,

ii. 88.

Wilcken, Ant. 788, A n m . 3. Juster, ii. 67 n . 4. "Erovs

KYJ

( y i v o v r a i ) (rrvpov)

Tvfii

KTj

6r)(oavpov)

f.

(rrvpov)

evevrpcovra

evevrjKovra

| Elpuov

*I

{ a ) t

(Api)j3pvojv. ( y i v o v r a i )

( y i v o v r a i )

(Translation.)

els r(d)v

i d . pLe(pLerprjKev)

(erovs)

|5

>

| evAids

j (2nd hand)

(rrvpov)

..

6rj(aavpdv) (rrvpov)

*jf.

evevrjKovra

(rrvpov)

v i i (1884), p p . 1 1 s q q . ; v i i (1885), p p . 8 9 , 1 9 5 s q q . W O 1 5 1 1 .

pie (pierprjKev)

KTJ (erovs)

| Eipiajv

Apifipvtov.

evevrpcovra

els rov

'Qpaiov

(rrvpov)

(yivovrai)

\ ev Aids

. . . rrvpov

\5 \ ( 2 n d h a n d )

( y i v o v r a i )

(Translation.)

Arch,

ArroXXwvios

7rd(Aei) rrji

pLe(ydXrji)

\ ivevqKovra

(yivovrai)

pie(pierpr)piai)

*/. \ ( 3 r d h a n d ) 'EppioKpdrrjs

(rrvpov)

[pie(pierpr]piai)]

(ia)

(yivovrai)

(Translation.)

$ (yivovrai) pK.

\ els

154/3 B.C.

T O av(ro)

£. | 'IdtarjTros.

TIAdra}(v)

(eros)

"Eppiwv

|5 | 'Idawv.

Tlepiyevovs

\ Â(Aas') £

\ &1A0-

Aiayvos-

Y e a r 28. H a n d e d o v e r for t h e a b o v e y e a r b y H e r m o n son of

P e r i g e n e s , 60 j a r s of chaff, t o t a l 60. Josepos Jason A n o t h e r 60 t o P h i l o n a u t e s , t o t a l 120. P l a t o n son of D i o n .

JEWISH

TAX-COLLECTORS,

OFFICIALS,

AND PEASANTS

221

N o . 103 Upper E g y p t . 0 . Strassb. 326. "ETOVS TOTTOV]

E n d of second or first century B.C.

Ky Ilaxoov UlpLtov

KOL

1 ? . rrapa8€\8ooK€V Xdprjs

/xco(ta) KfS (rjfiLcry). (Translation.)

dyvpov

|5|

els

avTo

TO

\ pubca

vrrep

(CTOS)

eiKoai

8vo

j

TOV

(rjfALcry)

[avTov

(ylvovTai)

EapLâd[atos.

Y e a r 23, P a c h o n 16. H a n d e d o v e r for t h e a b o v e y e a r in r e s p e c t

of t h e ( a b o v e district) b y S i m o n a n d C h a r e s , t w e n t y - t w o a n d a h a l f j a r s of chaff, t o t a l 22^. Sambathaios.

N o . 104 Upper E g y p t . 0 . Ashmol. Mus. 2. "ETOVS

Xovpaos

27th J u l y , 156 B.C.

rrevrrTov

| Kal

|51 TrpofiaTOiV

Ilavvi

CIKOOTOV

Kal

alytbv

I . 1. 7rcfnrrov

(Translation.)

| A. T e r a t / c r a t

\ e^rJKovTa

8vo

| Eaufiadatos

(ylvovTai)

EoX-

^j8. |

ASacos.

3. 1. r e V a / f r o i

T w e n t y - f i f t h y e a r , P a y n i 30.

Paid b y

S a m b a t h a i o s son

of

S o l l o u m i s in r e s p e c t of c a t t l e a n d g o a t s , s i x t y - t w o d r a c h m a i , t o t a l 62. Adaios.

No.

l o g

Upper Egypt. 0 . Bodl. 1 1 8 . "ETOVS

Ilaxtbv

155 or 144 B.C.

KS" Tlavvi TOV

avTov

(Translation.)

vy.

| r e x a / c r a t Tayyovpiis

•

(CTOVS)

|51

\

(2nd hand)

TO

TCXOS

TOV

&ap[i,ov9t,

| Kal

A^ciJTrjs.

Y e a r 26, P a y n i 1 3 . P a i d b y T a c h n o u m i s , t h e t a x for P h a r -

m o u t h i a n d P a c h o n of t h e a b o v e y e a r . (2nd h a n d ) A b i e t e s .

N o . 106 Upper E g y p t . 0 . W i l b . Brk. 3. "ETOVS

dp(vas)

n t h J u n e , 152 B.C.

K$ IJaxtbv A, alyas

le.

| drreypd^saTo

t e , cpLtfroi

Tpv\tf>a>v

e |5| (ylvovTai)

©r)8a>pov

rrp(6âTa)

rrt, \

pXt, cov K O L r d TeXrj r e V a / c r a t S t d

A\8alov. 7. 1. ipl<j>ovs (Translation.)

Y e a r 29, P a c h o n 1 5 . D e c l a r e d b y T r y p h o n t h e s o n of T h e o

d o r o s , 87 c a t t l e , 30 s h e e p , 15 s h e - g o a t s , 5 k i d s , t o t a l 137. T h e t a x for t h e s e w a s also paid, t h r o u g h A d a i o s .

SECTION

222

V : N O S . 107-113

N o . 107 Probably Thebes. Sayce, JQR ii, 1890, 400 sqq. W O 1233. BL ii. 1, p p . 97-98. L I T . : Juster, i. 365 n . 2. F u c h s 1 1 7 . ( 2 n d h a n d ) MeTelXrj(a). TeTaprrjv

I

aov

\

et?

dXirjcov

TCOV

TO

TeXos

/ctcr^tAtas" (ylvovTai) ( T O ) pr) etSeVat

els

'A.

OVTOV

TO KT) (CTOS)

(1st

Iat,dpov

| 5 | Meagrjpei

TCOV

vlcdv \ ev rcoi

eypaifrev

| AeXXovs

Tvfii

6 e£ei\Ar)cbs ^;a(t/)etv).

p*(r)vl)

ELptovos

rr)v

eâ) Trapd

xa(A/co£)

Terpaj-

| 1 0 | d£tcbaavTOS

old |

ypd(ppaTa). 4. 1.

(Translation.)

9

| ( 1 s t h a n d ) Zlpcov

aov /cat

154/3 B.C.

aXUiov.

(2nd h a n d ) I h a v e r e c e i v e d . . . .

h a n d ) S i m o n s o n of J a z a r o s , t a x - f a r m e r c o n t r o l l i n g t h e 25 p e r c e n t , of

fisher's-tax f o r t h e 28th y e a r , t o Mesoeris, g r e e t i n g s . I h a v e r e c e i v e d f r o m y o u , in r e s p e c t of t a x for y o u a n d y o u r sons, in t h e m o n t h of T y b i , four t h o u s a n d d r a c h m a i i n c o p p e r , t o t a l 4,000. W r i t t e n b y D e l l o u s a t t h e r e q u e s t of S i m o n , b e c a u s e h e is illiterate.

N o . 108 T

Thebes. Sayce 4. W O 1510. BL ii. 1 , p . 1 1 6 . x&{lpet74.

N o . 109 Upper E g y p t . W O 1 2 3 1 ; cf. BL ii. 1, p . 97. ("ETOVS)

â(tpetv).

Ke Mexelp exopev

Trapd

Ptolemaic period.

e. \ ©eoScopos

Kal Afihiovs

| aov xa(A/co£)

(opaxpds)

7revT7]/covTa ( y t v o v r a t ) A T v { v } . | eypaxfjev (Translation.)

Kal

EKV\PVOS

'Iaelprj

^ e t A t a ? evaKoalas

|51

Afibiovs.

Y e a r 25, M e c h e i r 5. T h e o d o r o s , A b d i o u s , a n d S k y m n o s t o

Jaeires, g r e e t i n g s . We

h a v e r e c e i v e d f r o m y o u o n e t h o u s a n d n i n e h u n d r e d a n d fifty d r a c h m a i

in c o p p e r , t o t a l 1,950. Written b y Abdious.

JEWISH

TAX-COLLECTORS,

OFFICIALS,

No.

AND PEASANTS

IIO

Upper E g y p t . Sayce 57. W O 1536.

(Spaxpial)

| âtpetv.

aWfj^ctf

irapa

GOV]

|

c o t ? ] | oivtKcov ^ a A [ / c o u S p a ^ / x d ? ] | 5 |

pL[EPLLOD(copL€vcov) TAI)

Second century B.C.

Eav\fiaricoi\

Arj/xeas

*B

(Translation.)

223

[KOV64V

croc]

| e W a A c o irepl

TOV

6pov

(ylvov

S«rj£tAtas'

(eTovs)

[TOVTCOV.]

TCOV

.[

D e m e a s to Sanbatios, greetings.

I h a v e r e c e i v e d f r o m y o u , as t a x on t h e d a t e - t r e e s w h i c h y o u r e n t ,

two

t h o u s a n d d r a c h m a i i n c o p p e r , t o t a l 2,000 d r a c h m a i , a n d h a v e n o c l a i m a g a i n s t y o u in r e s p e c t of t h e m . Year . . . .

No. in Apollinopolis Magna.

89/88 or 86/85 B.C.

O.E. 367. "ETOVS 6T€S

MeGo[pr)

KB

[TTJV

s'

| . . IlToXepLaTos

a.Kpo(8pvcov)]

TCOV

I

TOV

els

A7TO(XACOVO)TTOX(ITOV)

15 I Acoaideov')tâl(peiv).

[ATTOXXCOVLCOL]

|

K[OL

Tera(/cTat)

TO

ol

eêiXrj-

at)(TO)

(CTOS)

T6Te]Xos[rcbvvTrapx6vTCOV

aVTCOL OLKpoSpVCOV Kal tf>OlVLKCOV €V TCOI Arro(XX covo)TTo(XiTr]i)

. . . .

4-5. For Apollonios son of Dositheos cf. N o s . 70-72. (Translation.) t h e \th.

T h e 2 9 t h y e a r M e s o r e . . . P t o l e m a i o s a n d . . . t h e f a r m e r s of

of t h e fruit-trees of t h e A p o l l i n o p o l i t e n o m e for t h e

same year to

A p o l l o n i o s t h e son of D o s i t h e o s g r e e t i n g . H e h a s p a i d t h e t a x o n f r u i t - t r e e s a n d d a t e - p a l m s b e l o n g i n g t o h i m in t h e A p o l l i n o p o l i t e . . . .

No. 112 Upper E g y p t . 0 . Bodl. 340. Ovapcvt

Third century B.C.

(rjpiiav)

[0LXovpiivT]L

a [\ KaXapccoL jS [| AKpdaTcoi

[ | Sap,orp\coL

[|

(YLVOVTAI)

Distribution of wheat t o some persons, one of w h o m a t least (Translation.)

j8 [| Kal

TTJL

d8eA^t[|5|

rrvpcbv [ (UafwrjXos)

is a J e w .

T o O u a r i s 1 a n d a half, t o K a l a m o s 2, t o A k r a s t o s 2, a n d t o

his sister P h i l o u m e n e . . ., t o S a m o e l o s . . ., t o t a l of w h e a t . . . .

No. 113 Upper E g y p t . 0 . Bodl. 285. e. 6-7

Third or second century B.C.

I Ilepiyevrjs.

\ 'IgXas.

\ Ulpicov

AoXgv

|5|

'IcbtrrjTros

MrjvgScpppy.

illegible. (Translation.)

doros . . . .

P e r i g e n e s , I o l a s , S i m o n son of L o l o u s , J o s e p o s , son of M e n o -

224

SECTION

V: NOS.

114-123

N o . 114 Second century B.C.

Upper E g y p t . 0 . B o d l . 301. ( y t v o v r a t ) t e . | UafiâraLCOL (Translation.)

Aalftios

\

Tavptvos.

A t o t a l of 15 d r a c h m a i , (paid to) S a m b a t a i o s son of A s i b i s b y

Taurinos.

No.

II£ Second century B.C.

Upper E g y p t . 0 . Strassb. 590 TIaxv vrj. j UapLâOe

6.

| tee 1...

.rvvi

j8 j EapfiaQov

...

|5 J . . . ] . . .

N o . 116 Upper E g y p t . B G U 1474. [.]

Second century B.C.

Ap,pcbvios

A.7roXka)[

rav

.Ei>rvx[

(Translation.)

|

\.K.€tf>aka>v

rav

|.iVarav

|.TlroXepiaLos

$.[?]

|5| .

...[.

Ammonios, Kephalon, Natan, Ptolemaios, Apollo . . . E u t y c h . . .

N o . 117 c. 154 B.C.

Upper E g y p t . 0 . Bodl. 300. £apfSa]daios

TOV

Af$i,r)Tov.

(Translation.)

S a m b a t h a i o s son of

Abietos.

N o . 118 Upper E g y p t . 0 . Bodl. 252.

Second century B.c.

iVi/aaVa>[t] y . >

Ir)aovji

ypap,p4vous

Aîrjjoy

| Af3irJTLpL jS. j iAcovt j8. | Eipco(vi) y.

| ( y t v o v r a t ) t y . | Acovvatos^

e K a c r | r a > t TO TrapaKeipevov

TrArjdos.

Eapfia(dalov) r

r

crov

p4( P ) ) \ Avalp.axos'

TOLS

y. \

|5j

npoye-

p4(rprjaov).

A n order t o assign t o five persons a quantity of a n unknown produce. Three persons (11. 2,4,5) are J e w s , a n d so it is possible that t h e whole group w a s Jewish. T h e y were probably peasants, or fieldhands, w h e n w e assume that t h e produce given o u t t o t h e m w a s wheat or barley in artabai. (Translation.)

T o N i k i a t o s 3, t o A b i e t o s 2, t o P h i l o 2, t o S i m o n son of

Sam

b a t h a i o s 3, t o J e s o u s son of A b i e t o s 3, t o t a l 1 3 . D i o n y s i o s : m e a s u r e o u t t h e a b o v e - m e n t i o n e d q u a n t i t i e s for e a c h of t h e a b o v e named. L y s i m a c h o s : measure out.

JEWISH

TAX-COLLECTORS,

OFFICIALS,

AND PEASANTS

225


16th August, 191 or 190 B.C.

9

("Erovs)

t e Eirei

Eaprradaios

els

ypa(pparevs),

id.

Kg*

els

TO te (eros)

\ (rjpiav)

|5[ Bid Aio8d>pgv

eiKoai (rjpiav)

\ K

/cat AaKXcovias

(yivovrai)

(r)piav)

/c.

\ /cat AIOKXTJS

K .

3. T h e meaning of KSC is n o t clear. (Translation.)

Y e a r 1 5 , E p e i p h 1 1 . F o r t h e 1 5 t h y e a r . ( P a i d b y ) K . . ., A s k l o -

n i a s a n d S a m p a t h a i o s for t h e 26th(?), t w e n t y a n d a half, t o t a l 20^. D i o k l e s , scribe, t h r o u g h D i o d o r o s , t w e n t y a n d a half.


Second or first century B.C.

*Iap,arjXov

tepecos.

(Translation.)

. . . O f t h e priest I s m a e l o s . . . .

N o . 121 Upper E g y p t . 0 . Ashm. 12.

Second or first century B.C.

0 e o S [ . ] . i A e t I . . . t e p e t | J e A A a t a ? | Aj8 (rjpiav) (Translation.)

To Theod

(SatbeKarov)

/c'S'.

t h e p r i e s t . D e l l a i a s , 32H.

N o . 122 Upper E g y p t . WO 1161.

Ptolemaic period.

EappaOaiwi

. \ 06s

Afipodetoi

(Translation.)

T o Sambathaios.

\ (rrvpov)

(dprdprjv)

piiav

(yiverai)

a.

G i v e H a b r o t h e o s o n e a r t a b a of w h e a t , t o t a l 1.

N o . 123 Upper E g y p t , 0 . Strassb. 5 1 9 . Ae£idvr)s Ap,{$..

Second century B.C.

Aiv...

| 5 | TIroXepaios

\ Avaipaxos tov

Arjprjo.. ..

| AaaKXr)mdhr)s

The persons in 11. 3 and 6 are perhaps J e w s . (Translation.) B2909

\ £ip.tov

6. 1.

X ©ego

\

t

o

u

I

Alveas ov.

AoKXrjmdorjs.

D e x i p h a n e s son of L i n . . . L y s i m a c h o s son of D e m e o . . . 0

226

SECTIONS V - V I : NOS.

123-126

S i m o n son of . . . chios, A i n e a s son of A m b . . . P t o l e m y . . . A s k l e p i a d e s , son of Theod....

N o . 124 Upper E g y p t . 0 . Bodl. 3 2 5 . IJpos Ao(wTCtt)

Late second century B.C.

..A....( [[...]]

) a . . a . . |a.

I 5 j Elpilo(vC)

j>TT.

Ayi

v

i& )

\ virkp

A4OV(TOS)

|

61

e'x !-]]

SECTION VI

VARIOUS D O C U M E N T S OF THE PTOLEMAIC PERIOD T H I S s e c t i o n i n c l u d e s all t h e d o c u m e n t s of t h e P t o l e m a i c p e r i o d w h i c h c o u l d n o t b e i n c l u d e d in a n y of t h e p r e v i o u s s e c t i o n s .

I t is o b v i o u s t h a t t h e c o n

t e n t s of t h i s s e c t i o n are b o u n d t o b e v e r y v a r i e d .

N o . i2£. A n account of payments F a y u m . 10 x 7*5 c m . P . Tebt. 1077. An

Mid-third century B.C.

account of p a y m e n t s due to Horos, 'the carpet-weaver', for some pieces of

clothing made b y him. T h e domicile of Horos is described as being 'in the c i t y , in the apartments of A n t i p a t r o s the Jew'. W h e t h e r the J e w w a s a house-owner or the owner of a weaver's workshop we do not know. *Ev iv

rrji TO is

Tpov T

Qpos

5

TToXet, AvTma'IovSatov, TtnnSv-

OLVT7]S 1(J.Q(TIOV)

KS,

GK€7TaVLCrpLOV IS",

/cara[ (Translation.)

I n t h e c i t y , in t h e a p a r t m e n t s of A n t i p a t r o s t h e J e w . H o r o s t h e

c a r p e t - w e a v e r (is o w e d ) 24 ( d r a c h m a i ?) for a c l o a k a n d 16 for a w o v e n c o v e r ing . . . . 1. I t is not clear which city in the F a y u m is meant. Arsinoe and Philadelpheia, a s contrasted with small villages, are frequently called voXeis. 2. iv rots

m a y be translated 'in t h e house o f . . . ' . Cf. v . Groningen, A Family

N o . 3 3 , 1 . 2 : eV rots

ISlois,

'in h i s o w n

Archive

from

Tebtunis.

house'.

6. 'The word oKeiraviafiov is n e w ; probably i t means a covering of w o v e n material' (Edd.).

N o . 126. A Greek testament Krokodilopolis ( F a y u m ) .

238/7 B.C.

P . Petr. iii, N o . 7, p . 14 (cf. ibid, ii, p . 2 3 , 1 1 . 1 - 1 6 ; Revillout, Precis, ii. 2. 109. LIT. : Wilcken, Berl. Phil.

Woch.

p . 405). R o t h , 2. BL i. 3 7 8 ;

1896, 1493. Juster, i. 172 n. 4 ; ii. 17 n. 4 ; ii. 232 n. 2. Vaggi, Aeg.

xvii. 34 n. 3. A Greek will drawn u p in the form of a avyypari attested b y six witnesses, as is usual in the Ptolemaic wills of the third century B . C . (cf. S P 8 2 ; M . Chr. 301). T h e testator,

228

SECTION

VI: NO

126

a citizen of Cyrene, leaves his whole fortune, including slaves, to his wife and daughter. Following the names of the slaves, a 'stranger' (7rap67rt8r;/Ao?) bearing a 'Syrian' name Jonathas is mentioned. Unfortunately the left edge of the papyrus, comprising c. 1 2 letters, is missing, so t h a t the passage concerning J o n a t h a s cannot be restored with certainty. BaoiXevovros

TIroXepai]ov

cbv *AjbeXtp\tbv (erovs) bpov

Kal

decbv

Upaivorjs

0iXa8eXcf>ov ey]

8ieder]o

10 Keiv.

edv

rrji

pev]

rrjs]

p,e, pieXixpovs,

p,oi

vyialvovra

y]vvaiKi

drjXvKa Tlapdeviov,

]ra

Kal

xmoxpecov]

rov

ey IIroXep,a]iov

BepeviKrpv 20 /cat rd

poi

e]Trirp6rrovs

rr)]v

rovrco]v rrjs]

Kal

reKva.

v]rrep

oetjiov

dXavros,

ovXr)]

25

6daXp,6v,

decdv

rtdvra

rd

.MTTOAA-

'Icovadas pv.

aXXcoi

oe ovdevQ.)

ovdev

TIroXepaiov

ABeXcpcbv

/cat

dbeXr)v /cat

fiaaiXiaaav yvvaiKa

KXeoBrjpov

vs", XevKoxp — B L i. 378. Bepevt,Krj\v

Edd.

Drimylos T h e third B o o k of the Maccabees tells the story of an a t t e m p t on the life of P t o l e m y I V Philopator on the e v e of the b a t t l e of R a p h i a . According to this story, the king w a s saved b y a renegade J e w , Dositheos son of D r i m y l o s (AiootOeos 6 ApipvXov .... . TO yevos KTX.

3 Mace. 1 . 3 ) , w h o is said to h a v e placed another m a n in the royal tent before the

attempt. The story, and the v e r y existence of Dositheos son of Drimylos, has been disbelieved b y some scholars. Willrich (Hermes, x x x i x , 1904, 2 5 7 ; RE s.v. 'Dositheos';

Judaica,

19 s q q . ; Jud. und Griech., 1 3 1 sq.) maintained t h a t the episode was a fabrication based on the saving of A h a s h v e r b y Mordecai, and t h a t the name of Dositheos h a d been brought into the story from the time of P t o l e m y V I and K l e o p a t r a I I , when a Jewish general Dositheos

p l a y e d an important role in the dynastic quarrels (cf. above,

pp. 20 sq.). A c c o r d i n g to Willrich there never w a s a n y highly placed person n a m e d Dositheos son of D r i m y l o s a t the Ptolemaic court a t the time of the battle of R a p h i a . T h e following five p a p y r i (and a demotic ostrakon, cf. note on N o . 1 2 7 ^ ) show t h a t a t about the time to which the third B o o k of the Maccabees refers, Dositheos son of D r i m y los was an important personage a t the Ptolemaic court. Since the name of D r i m y l o s is v e r y rare ( s e e n o t e o n N o . 1 2 7 ^ , 1 . 1 ) , whereas the chronology of the p a p y r i is well in accord w i t h the story of 3 M a c e , it would seem t h a t w e can identify Dositheos son of D r i m y l o s of the p a p y r i w i t h the m a n of this name spoken of in the third B o o k of Maccabees. 1

After t h e papyri N o s . 127^ a n d e became k n o w n , Willrich admitted t h a t there was a m a n called Dositheos s o n of Drimylos, b u t adhered

1

t o his other views as stated a b o v e ; cf. Klio, v i i , 1907, 293 sq.

VARIOUS

DOCUMENTS

OF THE PTOLEMAIC

PERIOD

231

W a s the great man at the court of P t o l e m y I I I and P t o l e m y I V , Dositheos son of Drimylos, a J e w b y origin ( T O yevos 'IovSalos) as the B o o k of Maccabees has it ? W e would suspect him of being a J e w even if we had not the evidence of 3 Mace. T o be sure not every Theodotos is a Jehonathan, and not every Dositheos a M a t h a t h y a h u , but whereas most of the theophoric names are suspect in this connexion, Dositheos seems to h a v e been particularly favoured b y Jews. I t is a rare name in the Greek world (there seems to be hardly a n y Dositheos in Greece proper before the end of the fourth century B . C . ) ; there are b u t few men bearing this name who can be proved to be of non-Jewish origin, while there are m a n y Jews bearing this name (e.g. one of the high officers of Judas Maccabee, 2 Mace. 1 2 . 1 9 - 2 4 , cf. 1 2 . 3 5 ; Dositheos of Alexandria Joseph, ant. 1 4 . 2 3 6 ; the general Dositheos mentioned a b o v e ; see also I n d e x to this volume, s.v. Acoo-ldeos). T h o u g h not sufficient to establish the Jewishness of Dositheos son of Drimylos, the name itself would seem to m a k e it probable. Furthermore, it is hard to see w h y the apologetic author of 3 Mace, should invent a renegade J e w in this connexion. His intense hatred of such renegades is quite clear from 7. 1 0 - 1 4 and especially from eotoicev (sc. P t o l e m y I V ) avrots (viz. the orthodox Jews) . . . ontos TOVS

irapa&eBiqKOTas TOV 9eov TOV vopov igoAcOpevacooiv. Dositheos son of Drimylos of the papyri is attested to h a v e been an eponymdus priest of Alexander and the deified Ptolemies (Nos. 1 2 7 ^ and e). One such J e w would hardly be an appropriate hero for the rather fanatical author of the third B o o k of Maccabees. I t would seem better to suppose, in v i e w of the remarkable coincidence of the literary and the papyrological evidence, t h a t Dositheos was a renegade Jew, and that he was mentioned in 3 Mace, not because of the apologetic tendency of the author b u t because he appeared in one of his sources. T h e story of the a t t e m p t on the king's life, as told b y P o l y bios 5. 8 1 , differs in several points from t h a t in 3 Mace. T h e a t t e m p t was carried out b y Theodotos from the Seleucid c a m p , while the impression given b y 3 Mace, is t h a t it was an internal con spiracy; according to Polybios (who does not mention the name of Dositheos) the a t t e m p t miscarried since Theodotos did not k n o w t h a t the king was in the habit of taking his rest outside the royal tent, while according to 3 Mace. Dositheos, who knew of the proposed a t t e m p t , caused the king to leave his tent. T h o u g h the author of 3 Mace, was occasionally using sources of some historical value (see Bickermann, RE, s.v. 'Makkabaerbucher', col. 799), the version which has the weight of the authority of Polybios would seem to be a priori preferable. However, the fact t h a t Dositheos was, say, with the king when the unsuccessful a t t e m p t was carried out might well h a v e given rise in E g y p t i a n court circles to such a story—complimentary to Dositheos—as is told in 3 Mace. B u t the question of the historical value of the story of the a t t e m p t as told in the B o o k of Maccabees does not seem to h a v e a direct bearing on the conclusion t h a t a renegade J e w Dositheos son of Drimylos is an historical personage. His career can be traced with the help of the p a p y r i as follows: (1) In 240 Dositheos holds the office of vTTopvrjpaToypdcf>os, i.e. one of the t w o heads of the royal secretariat — N o . 1 2 7 a (in N o . 1 2 7 6 he seems to be holding the same office, see n o t e ; the date is un known) ; (2) in 225/4 Dositheos is travelling in E g y p t with P t o l e m y I I I (peTa. TOV / W I Xecos)—No. 1 2 7 c ; (3) in 222 he appears as the eponymous priest of Alexander and the deified Ptolemies, the highest priesthood in Hellenistic E g y p t — N o . 1 2 7 ^ , e; (4) in 2 1 7 Dositheos accompanies P t o l e m y I V Philopator during the battle of R a p h i a (3 Mace. 1 . 3 ) .

232

SECTION

V I : N O . 127

No. 127a Philadelpheia ( F a y u m ) . 36 x 11*5 c m . Spring of 240 B.C. P . Mich. Zen. 55. LIT. : Peremans v a n ' t Dack, Prosopogr. Ptol. (Stud. Hellen. v i ) , p . 2 n o . 8. P . E n t . , p . 52. Berneker, Prozesseinleitung,

1930,

1 2 ; Sondergerichtsbarkeit,

1935, 62. T a u b e n s c h l a g , i. 365 n. 2. A . F u k s ,

Journ.

Jur. Pap. vii-viii, 1954, 208. A letter from Philon to Zenon. Philon resided, when writing this letter, in Alexandria, b u t h a d some interests at Philadelpheia. T h e editor identifies him w i t h Philon of P S I 3 8 5 . T h e part of the letter which is of interest here is 1 1 . 1 1 sqq. One Hermokrates has been arrested on certain charges, not specified in the papyrus, and subjected to a preliminary examination (avaKpiais). Philon tells of the exertions of some of H e r m o krates' friends on his behalf (cf. Hermokrates' letter to Zenon, bearing on the same case, in P S I 3 9 2 , cf. P . Mich. Zen., p. 1 2 6 ) . T h e result of the inquiry has been favourable to Hermokrates and he is expected to be released after the documents concerning his case h a v e been submitted t o the king b y Atooideos 6 vnopvr/fiaToypttyos (11. 2 3 - 2 4 ) .

€>lXcov

Zrjvtovi

avros

re

\alpeiv.

KLtrocov 6 tPiXlrrrrov Kal rr)v avaKpioiv avrov

ae

r)p,epcov dXlycov

eaeoQai.

errereXeaev

'EpfiOKpdrov

7rerror\Kevai

h* vrrep avrov

20

yap

evrevBev.

S t d T O rjltrdrjcrOat

vepdv avrcoi hp* otopai

ra-

edv

he 001 Kal irepl

rrpdrepov, 9

irpos tva

avvrop^tos

Set drrorpexeiv eypatf/a

TTOL-

dvaarpecf>rjL

fxr) emKcoXvcopLai

S e n t dvarrXetv 10

KOXCOS

hioiKr)oas,

pie

epptoarai

IlroXepiatos

dvarrerrXevKev

ok impLeXcbs Xetos

el

ueAeis, ev av e ^ o r

Ka-

rov larpov

vlos.

rr)v vrrep

yeypapLpLevrjv, r) /cat

erreXvev

avrov

emKArjOevrcov,

rrdvrcov

rcov

c t ^ e v rjhrj

Acooi-

Oeos d vrropivr]pLaroypdcf>os,

tva

d jSacriAev? erravayvcoi

rov

dedrjvai

avrov

rrapd

rrpd

rd edos elvai

ov-

VARIOUS

DOCUMENTS

Ttos ylveaSai. Xpv

OF THE PTOLEMAIC

iv

OLKCOL

r)pas'

KOI

hi, Kav avros

hiaT7)prio\as]

233

Trpoabi-

TO, 8 ' aAAa avvropcos

Kal avrovs

PERIOD

TCOV

dXi/Srji

ip>oy rov

TOTTOV

T[

Verso. [e]ls

apivr)

].'-?''• .hiaipeaw

TCOV

Kara

Tr)v K.Xr]povo~

iv

]..[

hio\_to~\K.\_... .~\y ix^tv Kal

/cara

av]vKvpovTcov,

Aapaavrrrra

OVTOS

rrepl

AiKalov

5 pt/ceta [ . . .]ai> . . [ . ] . . [

piav Tavr\r)v\

rrpoOTaypa

pot Tr)v KXrjpovopiav

TTJL

9eapooplov ArjprjTpos

dXXov

Aapaalrrrras,

VTTO

p\ov\,

t

vrrapxovTLov Kcbprji

dhiKovpai

IIoXepco[vos]

epov ydp KeKopiKOTOs

yevovs

Aiohopos.

âtpetv

Trjs

].[

]....ev

iv Trjt Ai[Kal]ov

Kcbpuqi

Kaprrl-

[cêadat

]e

e[

Verso. ("ETOVS)[

Aiohcopos rrpos Aapaairrrrav Trepl KXrj[povopias\. (Translation.) by

T o K i n g P t o l e m y from Diodoros, greeting. I a m being wronged

D a m a s i p p a w h o l i v e s in O x y r h y n c h a in t h e d i v i s i o n of P o l e m o n . I h a d

o b t a i n e d a n order f r o m D o s i t h e o s c o n c e r n i n g t h e possessions of D i o g e n e s son of R h o d o k l e s , a r e l a t i v e of m i n e , since his b e l o n g i n g s d e s c e n d e d t o m e a c c o r d i n g t o t h e l a w ; a n d h e h a d a thesmophorion

of D e m e t e r in D i k a i o u K o m e , a n d l i k e w i s e

a n o t h e r in O x y r h y n c h a . B u t D a m a s i p p a , w h o c l a i m s t o b e a r e l a t i v e . . .

a

d i v i s i o n of t h e effects c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e i n h e r i t a n c e , w h i l e I w a s in A l e x a n d r i a . . . i n D i k a i o u K o m e h a s g i v e n (her) t o h a v e a n d e n j o y . . . (Endorsed) Diodoros against D a m a s i p p a a b o u t an inheritance. 2. Whether a special vpoarayfia was needed because the case was o n e of intestate succession or because sacred property was involved cannot be said with certainty. N o official title of Dositheos is indicated. I t is, however, clear t h a t he was a high official residing in Alexandria (11. 5-6). H e seems t o have acted in this case independently, and had the right, it would seem, t o issue the prostagma mentioned above in his own name. T h a t could be, perhaps, squared with t h e competence of a hypomnematographos, though w e have n o other evidence of his dealing w i t h such cases. 4. On private sanctuaries cf. editor's note a d loc.

No. 127c Hibeh ( F a y u m ) .

1 4 x 7-5 c m . (PI. I. 3).

P. G r a d e n w i t z 2 (ed. P l a u m a n n , Sitzb.

225/4 B.C. Heid.

Akad.,

1914, A b h .

15).

LIT. : P . E n t . , p . 52. Schnebel, 340. A . F u k s , o p . cit. 207 sq. A n official letter from Herakleides to Kleitarchos concerning the supply of 'five fat ted geese' for Dositheos, w h o is travelling in the king's entourage (the king is Euergetes

Trjs

VARIOUS

DOCUMENTS

OF THE PTOLEMAIC

PERIOD

235

I). T h e birds are to be supplied as $dvia, i.e. contributions in kind supplied b y the locali ties for the needs of the king, or of the high officials, on their travels in the chora (for contributions in connexion with the napovoia of the king, or of high officials, cf., for example, P . Petr. ii. 39(e); 3 , 1 3 ; 8, 2 4 ; W . Chr. 409, 4 1 1 ; W O 1 4 8 1 ; P . Petr. iii. 53(m) ; P . T e b t . i. 1 2 1 , 95 s q q . ; 2 5 3 ; P . Petr. ii. io(l); P . T e b t . 5. 1 7 8 s q q . ; P . H a l . 7, 5 ; cf. Wilcken, Grundz. 356 sqq.). Kleitarchos, to w h o m this letter is addressed, is known from P . Grad. to h a v e been a

TP&TTCIÎTTJS

TOV KLOLTOV

(cf. P . Grad., p p . 26 s q . ) ; the writer

m a y well h a v e been an oikonomos or an epimeletes of the district (cf. E d . , p p . 23 sq.). T h e e x a c t rank of Dositheos is not mentioned. T h a t m a y be due to the habit of dis pensing with the official title; however, Dositheos must h a v e been well known to b o t h the writer and the addressee, since no explanation was needed. T h e fact t h a t he is entitled to special $4via

when travelling with the king seems to show t h a t he was a

rather important person in the king's entourage. W h e t h e r he was still a h y p o m n e m a t o graphos we cannot tell; it is, however, worth noting t h a t the hypomnematographos accompanied the king on his journeys in the chora (Berneker, Prozesseinl.

19).

'HpaKXelbrjs KXeLTdpXLOL Xalpeiv.

rrpos TT)V

Acoacdeov 5

pcera

ftacriXecos

rov

TTtxpovalav KaXtOS

7TOLrjO€LS

aTTOGTeiXas

Xfjvas

orLjeve

[TO\S

Verso.

[&apL€]vcpd

Ky

("ETOVS)

irepl tjeyicpy coy S e t

f

'HpaKXeiSrjs

KO-TCL-

KAEITAPX[QT\

7roo-ret[Aati (Translation.)

H e r a k l e i d e s t o K l e i t a r c h o s , g r e e t i n g . P l e a s e s e n d 5 f a t t e d geese

for D o s i t h e o s ' v i s i t w i t h t h e k i n g . ( E n d o r s e d ) Y e a r 23, P h a m e n o t h 6. H e r a k l e i d e s a b o u t c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o b e sent. T o Kleitarchos.

No. 127J Arsinoe 'on t h e embankment' ( F a y u m ) . P . Tebt. 815, col. I I , fr. 3, recto, 11. 1 - 3 . L I T . : P . H i b . , p . 376. Willrich, Klio,

BaoiXevovTos €TOVS

5th February, 222 B.C.

v i i , 1907, 293. A . F u k s , o p . c i t . , 207.

/ T r o A e / x a t o u TOV TTroAe/xatou Kal Apmvorjs 7T€pl7TTOV

HXetjdvSpov

Kal

decov

cov

€LKOOTOV €<j) UpeCOS AcOOldeOV TOV

ApiplvXoV

>

Kal 9ecb[v

AbeXcficov Kal decov EvepyeTcov,

Kavrjtfiopov Apoivorjs

0iXaheX<j>ov

BepeveiKrjs

236

SECTION rrjs

TlvdayyeXov, iv

CIKOLBL,

%cbp,aros

rrjs

p.rjv6s

Apaworji Oepiorov

(Translation.)

V I : N O S . 127-128

Fopmalov

rrji

irrl

Alyvrrrlcov

Be

1 1

Xolax

i ^

1

K

a

L

r[ov

pieplBos

rov

Apaivolrov

vop.ov.

I n t h e t w e n t y - f i f t h y e a r of t h e r e i g n of P t o l e m y son of P t o l e m y

a n d A r s i n o e t h e g o d s A d e l p h o i , w h e n D o s i t h e o s s o n of D r i m y l o s w a s p r i e s t of A l e x a n d e r a n d t h e g o d s A d e l p h o i a n d t h e g o d s E u e r g e t a i , t h e k a n e p h o r o s of A r s i n o e P h i l a d e l p h o s b e i n g B e r e n i k e d a u g h t e r of P y t h a n g e l o s , o n t h e t w e n t y first, t h e m o n t h G o r p i a i o s , in E g y p t i a n C h o i a c h , in A r s i n o e w h i c h is o n

the

e m b a n k m e n t , of t h e d i v i s i o n of T h e m i s t e s in t h e A r s i n o i t e n o m e . i . ApifivXos is a Greek n a m e (from Spifivs, sharp) though a n unusual one (cf. Luc. Gall. 1 4 ; it occurs also in t w o Palestinian papyri P S I 406 and P . l a n d . inv. 413 recto, cf. N o . 3). For the e p o n y m o u s priest of Alexander and t h e deified Ptolemies a s the most important priestly office of Hellenistic E g y p t , cf. P l a u m a n n , RE, s.v. 'Hiereis', col. 1436 s q . ; Bouch^-Leclercq, iii. 42 s q q . ; see also P . H i b . , p p . 367 sqq. It w a s conferred b y t h e king a n d seems t o h a v e been a sign of special royal favour. Dositheos is mentioned a s a priest also in a D e m o t i c o s t r a k o n ; see Rev. Egypt., i v , p . 152; Spiegelberg, dent. P.

Berl.,

p . 6; cf. P . H i b . , p . 376.

No.

i2je

Tholthis (Oxyrhynchite district). P . Hibeh 90,11. 1 - 4 . L I T . : Willrich, Klio, vii. 1907, 292. [BaaiXevovros

TIro]Xep,alov

cb]v

BeXov Krjs rrjs

r[ov]

7jre[p.rrrov

[ApipxiXov KOI

J a n u a r y - F e b r u a r y , 222 B.C.

Kal

decbv

Evepyercbv,

KavrjAd]-

Tjva y lett.—

rd

— c . 45 l e t t . —

7r/>oo~r)]/covTa

ov

rrapixî,

J- ?*' iravTeXcds /xe 7

e/c rrdvTCov d S t / c e t . [Se'ojuat odv crov, /JacriAeu, TrpooTaâi Trjycot, ypdiftai

U7ro

ovvypaxjja[jievov\

— c . 45 l e t t . —

p.€ yvv\aiKa

€X€iv

'EAAaSorr)

Aiocpdvei

TCOL

aTpa-

enioTaTrji

]COL TCOI

re]Ta.xOat dirorpex^w lâ» [£]api,ap€Las a

fir) €7TLT[peiT€iv

irrl Aiocf>dvT]v 1 0 cov aveyvrjs €K\ TTjgavros yap

TOVTOV

— c . 55 l e t t . —

— c . 60. l e t t . —

OTTCO\S

fiedr)yai[

— c . 60 l e t t . —

yicovaddv

Jre.Tt. .at. ]vaav

diroGTCiXai

.pas

d/xa ot/encrav.[ ]

avTOV

y€vopidvov[

— c . 60 l e t t . —

] euTuêt.

Verso. ("ETOVS)

8,

'EXXahoTT) irepl

Alov

&api€v[cbd

0LXCOV18OV

tj>epvf]s K O L

(Translation.)

y,

/c£],

.[

iyy[

T o K i n g P t o l e m y g r e e t i n g f r o m H e l l a d o t e , d a u g h t e r of P h i l o -

n i d e s . I a m b e i n g w r o n g e d b y J o n a t h a s , t h e J e w . . . . H e h a s a g r e e d in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e l a w of t h e J e w s t o h o l d m e as w i f e . . . . N o w h e w a n t s t o w i t h h o l d , . . . h u n d r e d d r a c h m a i , a n d also t h e h o u s e . . . d o e s n o t g i v e m e m y d u e , a n d s h u t s m e o u t of m y h o u s e . . . a n d a b s o l u t e l y w r o n g s m e in e v e r y r e s p e c t . I b e g y o u therefore, m y k i n g , t o order D i o p h a n e s , t h e s t r a t e g o s , t o w r i t e t o . . . t h e e p i s t a t e s of S a m a r e i a n o t t o l e t . . . t o s e n d J o n a t h a s t o D i o p h a n e s in o r d e r . . . . F o r b y this means [ Farewell. V e r s o : Y e a r 4, D i o s 3, P h a m e n o t h 27. H e l l a d o t e d a u g h t e r of P h i l o n i d e s c o n c e r n i n g d o w r y a n d 1. Restored b y m e . Gueraud presents t h e end of t h e prescript only. T h e name of t h e plaintiff, preserved o n t h e verso, is Greek; y e t I would n o t venture t o agree with B o z z a , o p . cit. 214, t h a t w e h a v e here a case of a mixed marriage between a 'Greek lady' and a J e w : t h e Greek name alone is n o t sufficient evidence. My restoration is c. 10 letters t o o s h o r t ; it m a y be t h a t 'Iovoata stood after t h e n a m e of t h e plaintiff, or avopos pov a t t h e end of t h e lacuna.

238

SECTION

V I : N O S . 128-129

2. Some suggestions a s t o the restoration of this line were made b y Bozza and Wolff. T h e restoration of t h e former runs a s follows: 2vyypaifia[p.evov] yap avrov p,oi ey[yvrjoiv KCU epvr/v (or eyyvqoecos KOX epvi)s 6p.oXoyiav), d)p.oX6yrjoe npos T O TT]Q\ITIK6V ratv 'Iovoaicov e x yvv[aiKa yap.err)v. This restoration is made according t o t h e general opinion held b y Bozza that iyyvrjois, t h e typical Greek form of marriage, w a s brought from Greece t o Ptolemaic E g y p t . According t o the same principle, she restores the verso a s w e l l : rtepl epvrjs Kal eyy[vTJoeu>s. Y e t t h e existence of eyyvr)ois i n E g y p t is still a n open question, a n d t h e term itself does n o t occur in t h e p a p y r i ; n o wonder t h a t m a n y scholars disagree with Bozza or treat her theory with great reserve (see Schonbauer, Arch. xiii. 5 1 ; Wolff, o p . cit. 2 4 , n. 8 6 ; Taubenschlag i. 8 5 ; cf. Wilcken, UPZ i. 652 sq.). Moreover, her restoration cannot be accepted b y reason of her rather arbitrary change of e*[ into ey[: the x is quite certain, a s I a m informed b y M. Bataille, w h o w a s good enough t o revise t h e papyrus. Wolff suggests t h e following s u p p l e m e n t : € l v

ovyypaijia[p.evov]

ydp

avrov

p,oi ex[pvra

rr/v npooevexOeloav

iir* ep.ol epvrjv Kara

rov vop.ov rov

-

•n ]pAm/coi>

KTX. This restoration is also a little t o o short; a s t o its contents, there is n o reason either t o accept or t o reject them. I n m y opinion, in this case w e m u s t frankly a v o w our ignorance. T h e end of the restora tion o n l y : K a r a rov v6p.ov TTJOXITIKOV TCOV ' / o v S a t w i ' m a y be accepted as quite probable. A s t o the crucial word 7T]OAITIKOV here is Gueraud's s t a t e m e n t : 'On pense a n]o\irtK6v; mais les lettres o A sont assez douteuses. S'agit-il d'une loi o u d'un usage national d e s Juifs?' M. Bataille writes t o m e : 'le A e s t tres vraisemblable et m e m e sur . . . L ' o , lui, est beaucoup moins sur . . . Cependant il faut avouer q u e cet o ne ressemble a. aucune autre lettre.' If this reading njoXiriKov and t h e restoration Kara rov v6p.ov are right, we have here t h e only instance in the Greek papyri of Jewish national law being applied t o the legal life of members of the Jewish c o m m u n i t y (in this special case as regards laws concerning marriage). T h e v6p,os noXiriKos rd>v Iovoaicov would mean consequently the 'civil law' of the J e w s , or 'the laws of t h e Jewish TroXCrevp.a', and this term would h a v e been formed as a parallel t o t h e vop.01 -noXtriKoi of t h e Greeks (see a b o v e , p . 33, n. 85). Y e t it is worth noting that n o trace of a n y mention of Jewish law concerning marriage can be found in t h e remaining parts of the papyrus, whereas some detached words point t o Hellenistic parallels (see below). Is it because there existed no fundamental discrepancies between t h e Hellenistic a n d the Jewish law i n marriage matters, Jewish law in E g y p t being influenced b y Hellenistic? Or must another restoration, e.g. npos T O dpxetov -n^gXirLKov rG>v 'IovSalwv, be preferred ? Such a restoration would mean only that the marriage between Helladote and Jonathas w a s performed in a Jewish office, and would leave unsettled the question whether the docu ments drawn u p in this office were modelled upon a specific Jewish or a c o m m o n Hellenistic pattern. For dpxctov ITOXLTIKOV (though n o t Jewish b u t Alexandrian) see B G U 1 1 3 1 , 1 1 . 1 4 , 22. T h e question of the relations between Jewish a n d Hellenistic law is discussed above, p . 33. 1

3 . P e r h a p s vop.ov

rroXi\riKOV

or ' i o v o J c u / c o O .

5. Perhaps KOX rty olic\iav p.ov. I n marriage contracts of t h e Ptolemaic period the husband binds himself n o t t o dwell in a house over which his wife is n o t t h e mistress ( f c oi Kvpievoei); cf. M. Chr. 2 8 4 , 1 . 5 ; S P 2 , 1 . 2 1 . From one document w e m a y draw t h e conclusion that sometimes the dowry a n d the maintenance of the wife were secured upon t h e whole property of the husband, including the house, so that he w a s unable either t o sell it or t o assign it a s a surety for t h e p a y m e n t of taxes ( P . Tebt. 7 7 6 ) . rd TTpoarj\Kovra oi irapexei '• a standing clause i n Hellenistic marriage contracts; cf. S P 1, 11. 4 s q . ; S P 2 , 1 1 . 1 6 s q . ; M. Chr.

2 8 4 , 1 1 . 2 sq.

6. Perhaps e V / c A a e t re p.e 4K [rrjs o i V i ' a s p.ov. T h e obligation of the husband not t o drive his wife o u t of the house (eKôAetv) is a usual clause in every marriage contract of t h e Ptolemaic period. 8. Jonathas and his wife were obviously inhabitants of Samareia, since the strategos w a s requested b y Helladote t o order t h e epistates of this village t o investigate t h e case. 9. 'A la fin, pdprvpas pourrait etre l u , quoique tres efface et douteux. L e m o t precedent n'est p a s p . 0 1 ' (Gueraud). 1 1 . Probably t h e usual end of a n enteuxis, e.g. T O U T O U yap yevop.evov [81a ae, fiaoiXev, T € w £ o / x a t T O V SlKOlOV.

Verso, 1. 3 . T h e restoration m a y b e nepl epvijs Kal eyy[vrjs. Helladote, evidently, requests from her husband the return of her dowry (cf., for e x a m p l e , P . O x y . 281) a n d t h e fulfilment of the obligations undertaken b y h i m t o support his wife. Another restoration m a y be eyy[aiwv, since a house is mentioned in t h e plaint. On the restoration eyy[vyoeu>s see note t o 1. 2.

VARIOUS

DOCUMENTS

OF THE PTOLEMAIC

PERIOD

239

N o . 129. A complaint concerning the theft of a mantle Alexandrou-Nesos (Fayum).

1 0 x 1 5 cm.

n t h May, 218 B.C.

P . Magd. 35 (Jouguet and Lefebvre in BCH x x v i i , 1903, 199 sq.).

Melanges

Nicole,

451 s q . ( T h .

Reinach). W . Chr. 56 (Wilcken). P . Lille ii. 35 (Lesquier). R o t h , 6. P . E n t . 30 (Gueraud). L I T . : W i l c k e n , Arch. 11 Vessillo

Israelitico

iii. 309; i v . 54 sq. L u m b r o s o , Arch.

i v . 3 1 7 . Juster, i. 454 n. 6; ii. 205 n. 4.

l x x , 1922, 1 1 4 . F u c h s , 59. T r a m o n t a n o , 28.

A charge brought b y a woman in Alexandrou-Nesos against a certain Dorotheos w h o h a d stolen her mantle. In circumstances not k n o w n to us the mantle was brought into the Jewish synagogue of the village and deposited there b y Nikomachos, the vaKopos (attendant) of the synagogue. T h e w o m a n requests the summoning of b o t h Dorotheos and Nikomachos before the judge in order to recover the stolen object. I t is not clear whether all the persons involved in this case were J e w s ; this is certain for Nikomachos, less certain for Dorotheos, and quite uncertain for the offended woman. T h e complaint is written in the usual form of an evrevgis known to us from other documents of Magdola (cf. N o . 128). T h e right half only of the papyrus is preserved, and all the endeavours of Reinach to restore the missing part h a v e failed, since his restoration was based on the false assumption t h a t the number of missing letters was nearly 50, whereas their real number does not exceed 32 (the length of the lacuna can be estab lished on the basis of 11. 9 and 1 1 ) . I h a v e resisted the temptation to restore the lost t e x t , every such a t t e m p t being rather arbitrary. T h e papyrus has been edited no less than five times; I quote the various readings of the editors under the letters J - L (Jouguet and Lefebvre), R (Reinach), W (Wilcken), L (Lesquier), and G (Gueraud). The main interest of the papyrus consists in the statement t h a t there was a syna gogue in Alexandrou-Nesos. a

[BaatXet

i7roAe/xaia>i

KOVflCU

TCO\V

iv

TTJL

AXe£dvSpov

vrjtrcoi.

dSi-

VTTO

[AcopoOiov

'Iovoatov

KOLTOIKOVVTOS

cos at irpoooSoi, [

€LV

x ^P

TT)V

Kcopvqv.

\[GL]VTT)V]\

TOV

yap

e (erovs)

f

<PapL€Vtb[6]

d Acopodeos

ptov ovv

]

TTJL

avvepidcoi

npoovo'ijcras

pov,

i/xdVioV piov

(Spaxpids)

[a£iov Si

] avTO

aladopLevtis

ditêro e^tov.

piov /care[ T O lpl\dTLOV iv TT]l TTpOOeVXTJl

5

Saicov

TCOV

'IoV-

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67rt7ra/oaytVeTa[t] Se

Atj-

(eKaTOVTapovpos)

[

TO

t / x a j n o v NiKopidxcoi

TCOI

vaKopcoi

icos

Kpiaecos [

] Siopav

ovv

oov,

fiacnXev,

nrpo-

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GTpaTTjycoL ypdiftai KOL

NL-

TCOI

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TOV

AcopoOcov

240

SECTION

V I : N O S . 129-130

io [/ en

ypd<j>a)

dXrjOrj,

[irravayKaaai

avrov

drroSovvai

p,oi T O lpi\driov

r) rrjv

Kal,

npL'qv,

idv

irepl

T)L d

8c

rrjs

paioiovpylas [

rovrov S t d ae,

yap

ye.vop.ivov,

€oroixa[t]

j3acriAe[t}],

[TOU St/catou rerevxvia], (Translation.)

€vr[v\x€i,.

T o K i n g P t o l e m y , g r e e t i n g f r o m . . . w h o l i v e s in A l e x a n d r o u

Nesos. I h a v e b e e n w r o n g e d b y D o r o t h e o s , (a J e w w h o l i v e s in t h e ) s a m e v i l l a g e . I n t h e 5 t h y e a r , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e f i n a n c i a l c a l e n d a r , on P h a m e n o t h . . . (as I w a s t a l k i n g to) m y w o r k m a t e , m y c l o a k ( w h i c h is w o r t h . . . d r a c h m a i ) c a u g h t D o r o t h e o s ' e y e , a n d h e m a d e off w i t h i t . W h e n I s a w h i m (he fled) t o t h e J e w i s h s y n a g o g u e (holding) t h e c l o a k , (while I c a l l e d for h e l p ) . L e z e l m i s , a h o l d e r of ioo a r o u r a i , c a m e u p t o h e l p (and g a v e ) t h e c l o a k t o N i k o m a c h o s t h e s y n a g o g u e v e r g e r t o k e e p t i l l t h e c a s e w a s tried. T h e r e f o r e I b e g y o u , m y k i n g , t o c o m m a n d D i o p h a n e s t h e s t r a t e g o s (to w r i t e t o the) e p i s t a t e s t e l l i n g h i m t o order D o r o t h e o s a n d N i k o m a c h o s t o h a n d o v e r t h e c l o a k t o h i m , a n d , if w h a t I w r i t e is t r u e (to m a k e h i m g i v e m e t h e ) c l o a k or i t s v a l u e ; a s for t h e i n j u r y . . . . If t h i s h a p p e n s , I s h a l l h a v e r e c e i v e d j u s t i c e through you, m y king. Farewell.

1. T<SV G ; rcav KarotKovow]v R . Gudraud points o u t t h a t the designation of the domicile b y r&v iv instead of r&v eV or ru>v diro, is u n u s u a l ; y e t t h e restoration of R is t o o long and leaves n o space for the name of the petitioner. 2. Restored according t o t h e suggestion of W . [Acopodiov os Karoiicei rr)v a]vr^v][ L. \Aotpo9iov ajunjv]] G. a j u T i j v ] ] is cancelled. For u>s at irpoooSoi (the dating according t o t h e 'financial year') see t h e commentary of Gudraud a d l o c . ; cf. Wilcken, Grundz., p . l v i i ; Frank in Arch. x i . 39 s q q . 3. Restored b y W . On irpoovorjoas G. remarks as f o l l o w s : ' Trpoovorjoas ne signifie pas "s'&ant c o n certe" ( R ) , ni "il projeta" (L), mais "ayant surveilM du regard, a y a n t 6pi6, guett£".' 4. Restored b y L . Here t h e plaintiff m u s t h a v e fixed t h e value of her mantle, since in 1. n she demands 'the mantle or the value of it'. Cf. P . E n t . 83,11. 7 and 9 sq. 5. Various suggestions m a y b e made t o explain w h y Dorotheos entered t h e s y n a g o g u e : (1) if h e was a J e w h e could hope t o find friends in t h e synagogue w h o would help h i m t o conceal t h e stolen o b j e c t ; (2) if t h e theft came t o light before h e entered t h e synagogue i t m a y b e t h a t h e sought refuge in a holy place (there were synagogues in E g y p t enjoying the right of 'asylum', cf. OGIS 129); (3) if both Dorotheos and t h e injured w o m a n were J e w s , and if Dorotheos had a n y means of clearing h i m self of the charge, his intention w a s , perhaps, t o bring his case before t h e Jewish authorities sitting in the synagogue. I t is obvious t h a t the number of possible solutions m a y b e multiplied, w i t h n o hope of finding t h e correct one. 4—5. KaTe[vycv

6 AoipoBeos

R.

5-6. Gueraud suggests «nAa[/3o/x€Vij and ifioiov dvdp]cpirovs, cf. B G U 1007,1. 8. The last word is n o t c e r t a i n : ].irovs J - L , L . 6]\tyovs W. 6. Ar^fXpxs is a Thracian n a m e . I t is n o t clear w h y a Thracian appeared in a Jewish synagogue. H e was a rich military settler owning 100 arourai, a n d probably a powerful m a n i n t h e v i l l a g e ; his intervention p u t a n e n d t o t h e quarrel and t h e part played b y h i m was perhaps t h a t of a n arbiter (so L and G). W e h a v e instances in the papyri illustrating the great influence of rich settlers over t h e village p o p u l a t i o n ; t h e d o c u m e n t s mention quite arbitrary acts o n their part—as, for e x a m p l e ,

VARIOUS

DOCUMENTS

OF THE PTOLEMAIC

PERIOD

241

P . H a u n . 9 (third century. B.C.). I t m a y be that the intervention of Lezelmis w a s t h e reason for t h e mantle being left with N i k o m a c h o s ( W ) . 7. N i k o m a c h o s received t h e mantle i n order t o preserve i t ecos Kpiaecos. 'In dieser Beschrankung liegt doch, daB er nicht ein K o m p a g n o n des Diebes war [against J - L a n d R ] , sondern vielmehr eine Vertrauensperson' (W). Naxopos is a Doric form of vecoKopos. Reinach suggested that t h e plaintiff was a Greek w o m a n of Doric origin; y e t i t is likely t h a t her complaint, like all ivrevgcis of Magdola, w a s written b y a n experienced scribe: there is n o other w a y of explaining w h y all t h e evrevfas of Magdola are modelled upon t h e same pattern. Our w o m a n was n o more Doric than t h e Jewish guard Samoelis, w h o also used a Doric form i n his letter ( N o . 12, 1. 2). T h e Greek term vecoKopos is used here for t h e Hebrew hazzan QTn); t h e part played b y h i m in t h e synagogues of t h e Hellenistic-Roman period was n o t t h a t of a modern hazzan (cantor), b u t rather t h a t of a shamash (tPDW), i . e . caretaker a n d verger. F o r various meanings of hazzan in t h e T a l m u d see Jastrow, s . v . ]Tn"; S. Krauss, Syn. Altertiim., 121 s q q . ; Moore, Judaism, i. 289 s q . T h e Greek term vecoKopos, though taken from t h e pagan cult, w a s used b y Jewish authors (such as Josephus and Philo) i n reference t o t h e Jewish cult as w e l l ; see Lumbroso, Arch. i v . 317. lp.d]nov J - L . , L . ; ]8iov W . ; T O lpd]rtov G. 10. Nt,[KO^.a\ov

rov vaxopov

Koplôvra

T O lpi\drtov

L.

11. [irravayKaoai airovs KTX.] L . This restoration is hardly correct, since Nikomachos h a d t o appear before t h e court n o t a s t h e accused b u t a s a trustee, w i t h w h o m t h e mantle h a d been left. Cf. note t o 1. 7. 12. [Ato(f>dvT)V 8tayvd>vai cos av avrcot cuvT)rai\ OT the like (G).

N o . 130. Petition concerning crops Ibidn Argaiou ( F a y u m ) . P . Tebt. 793, Col. I I , F r a g m . I , recto I I .

183 B.C.

A fragment of a long p a p y r u s comprising numerous rrpoaayyeXfiara, i.e. applica tions directed t o officials and concerning matters of theft, injury, and the like. T h e fragment, the first 1 3 lines of which are lost, is v e r y b a d l y preserved. I t seems to be a complaint referring t o the crops of the years 20, 2 1 , and 22 of P t o l e m y V E p i p h a n e s , 12 artabai of which were handed over t o the scribe of the village of Ibidn A r g a i o u . A f t e r the resignation (or death) of the latter, the 1 2 artabai seem to h a v e been hidden (if this is the sense of iaKerrdudrj in 1. 27) somewhere, and the new scribe is approached b y the petitioners to deal w i t h the matter. W h a t part was p l a y e d b y the t w o J e w s (11.19-20) is not clear, b u t it seems t h a t t h e y were officials supervising the p a y m e n t of the annual q u o t a of corn, i.e. sitologoi (see note to 1. 20). A b o u t 13 lines l o s t . drrg..[...].[ imXoy.

] Tupdvtop .vros

gy KadrjKovrtps od aoi

T O V Ar)p,r\rplov

e S e t dvaXrjtf>dfjvaL rd

e/c r[o]y

rd

K (erovs)

.vf$p[. . ] • [ • • ] • 'V avrtot

vrroKeirai yevrjpara Kal rd

ravrrjs IK rov

rrypcov eypeperprjKe

els TO /C/J (eros)

K O L Utogi^loJi

ol S u o 'IovSaioi

(hv / c a [ t ] drreSodr) 'Ifiitbvos ...[...] B 2909

Apyalov

R

{'Iovoattpi} dprdfias,

7rp6(repov)

vrrep

ev o v v . . . [ . . ] . . .ypeX

ey

T>, a /cat

]OJVL

StoSe/ca

K (erei)

yrjs

(erovs)

(aprdfiais)

rcbi

.ov on

rrjs K\O\

&[

AaKXrjrndSrji iv rtbi

KaXyfi..

TO 6vop,a

rrjs

yrjs

Ktop.oypapp.arel rav[rr)s

242

SECTION

17. s of rfjs above t h e line. 21. Kojfio above the line.

(Translation.)

V I : N O S . 130-131

18. The sign for 28.

1.

ITOS

twice n o t certain.

Kcop-oypap-p-arelav.

( A p p e a l b y T i m a n o r a g a i n s t a w r o n g d o n e t o h i m in

that)

K a l y b . . . os t h e son of D e m e t r i o s , w h o s e n a m e y o u h a v e a l r e a d y , u n j u s t l y b l a m e s h i m b e c a u s e t h e t a x for t h e p r o d u c e of t h i s l a n d since t h e 20th a n d 2 1 s t y e a r s h o u l d h a v e b e e n r e c e i v e d , a m o u n t i n g t o 900 a r t a b a i of w h e a t , t h o u g h h e m e a s u r e d t h e m o u t t o P h . . . o n a n d S o s i b i o s , b o t h J e w s , (as t a x ) for t h e 22nd y e a r , 12 a r t a b a i of w h i c h . . . w a s p a i d t o A s k l e p i a d e s t h e f o r m e r scribe of I b i o n A r g a i o u in t h e 20th y e a r i n p a y m e n t for t h i s l a n d . T h i s w a s t a k e n t o

Ibion

A r g a i o u a n d h a n d e d o v e r t o t h e a s s i s t a n t of A s k l e p i a d e s t h e v i l l a g e scribe a n d H e r . . . t e s t h e chief official a n d T h e o p h a n e s a n d P s e n o b a s t i s t h e police officers. A f t e r he r e m o v e d t h e p r o d u c e w a s h i d d e n , a n d n o w t h a t y o u h a v e t a k e n o v e r t h e office of v i l l a g e scribe w e h a v e e n t r u s t e d y o u w i t h t h e i n f o r m a t i o n .

We

s h o u l d therefore b e o b l i g e d if y o u w o u l d issue a n o r d e r a b o u t t h i s , so t h a t t h e k i n g shall n o t suffer a n y loss. F o r in t h i s w a y t h e k i n g ' s scribe a n d t h e o i k o n o m o s a n d Argeios the epimeletes will receive their p a y m e n t . W e h a v e g i v e n this letter t o H a r m a i s t h e s e c r e t a r y of t h e t o p a r c h y a b o u t t h e s e m a t t e r s , (to) H a r m a i s , o n t h e 1 4 t h T y b i in t h e 2 n d y e a r . 19 sqq. The crops mentioned in 1. 17 were 'measured out' els TO *CJ8 ( I T O S ) ; that means t h a t a fixed quantity of corn (in this case 12 artabai) was paid into the king's granary as a t a x on landed property, the expression els TO eros being a standing term for such p a y m e n t s (cf. a b o v e , p . 197). A s t o iyp.ep.erprjKc, t h e expressions p.ep.erpr)Ke or elap.ep.erpT]Ke would better correspond t o t h e usual formula, y e t €Kp.€rpiLv in t h e sense of delivering corn t o or from t h e granary is equally possible (cf. WB. s.v. eKp-erpeai). The expression vnep TTJS yrjs Tavrqs in 1. 22 m a y be likened t o the standing term vnep rov TOTTOV, used for p a y m e n t s of land-taxes in kind (see a b o v e , p . 197). The concern about t h e king's profits in 1. 30 m a y also serve a s an argument in favour of the supposition that the 12 artabai referred to in 1. 20 were part of the regular income of the government, due t o it from a certain landed estate. 19. < P [ i A i t m ' ] w v i would fit the lacuna. Cf. for the n a m e N o . 21. 20. The t w o J e w s , t o w h o m the 12 artabai were delivered, could not be private individuals (peasants, workers, or the like), since the corn received b y t h e m was 'measured out' a s a land-tax for a certain year (see note t o 19 sqq.). So w e m a y infer t h a t t h e y were government officials, whose d u t y it w a s t o

VARIOUS

DOCUMENTS

OF THE PTOLEMAIC

PERIOD

243

receive the corn delivered b y taxpayers t o the king's granaries. T h e most probable suggestion, there fore, is that t h e y were sitologoi (cf. a b o v e , p . 198). 21. T h e editors print irpoKa>p.oypap,p,aTeZ. Y e t t h e y themselves declare, t h a t 'neither irpoypap.p.a.Tevs nor TtpoKo-

8evcov[ X rd

rrepl

rr)v

\[acop,a

Kco(p,rjv)

7reSta efipov

S e /xe 6VJJ, rrvvddvop,ai

5 @€o8orov

Acocnddov

pLrjKir* irriarpiijjai.

iêXOovra

cos irrl

' 0[aoporjp€L

rjcoi

eKyyoiv

aupa[ros

Kc6pLrj[s

ravra

r) avrrj.

rrpoaeridrj

84'

jSa(criAi/ca»i) yp(apLpLaret)

4. oatp.a he pê ov enclosed in round brackets. (Translation.)

e/c rrjs

dvacpipco.

AvKocppovu rorroyp(apLpLar€i) X S e Kal

\[aipt,aros]\

S e rcov

yiypa(tj>a)\_

rrepl

rcov

avrcbv.

5. OJS above the line.

4 t h y e a r , H a t h y r 6. T o Osoroeris, r o y a l scribe. O n t h e 5 t h of

t h e p r e s e n t m o n t h w h e n p a t r o l l i n g t h e fields n e a r t h e v i l l a g e I f o u n d a n effusion of b l o o d (deleted:

b u t no b o d y ) , a n d I learn from the villagers t h a t T h e o d o t o s

son of D o s i t h e o s , h a v i n g set o u t in t h a t d i r e c t i o n , h a s n o t y e t r e t u r n e d . I m a k e this report. The

s a m e t o L y k o p h r o n t h e d i s t r i c t scribe. I n a d d i t i o n : T h a v e also w r i t t e n

t o Osoroeris, t h e r o y a l scribe, a b o u t t h e a b o v e m a t t e r . ' 1. 'The 4th year m a y refer either t o t h e reign of Philometor alone or t o his joint reign with Euergetes' (Edd.). 1-2. T h e n a m e of the same j5aaiAi/cds K[OI] fiaalXcaaa KXeorrdrpa r) doeAtfrr) Kal rd reKva Kal rd irpdypar { a r } avrois eêi Kara rporrov I S e *Hpcbior)s

5

9

Ovi[ai\

K O I av vyiyaivis 77 dv cos yopev.

eTnaroXfjs

10

ris

Kal raXXd

ftovXopeda, rrjs

ficbv ovv

viroKirai

OTTCOS

copyeiv

evpeaiv,

eKaara

4. Ttpayfiara

avrois

line.

19. 1.

(Translation.)

rcbv

irpaypd-

rr)v TraKal

pr\re

7rp[o]voye-

rcbv

prjoepiav

S ' eTrireXeadfji

( L e t r o n n e ) ; rtpayp.ara

5 . 1 . vyialvcis.

SiaXa-

arropov cf>pov-

ovva-

trap-

Kara

rov 9

iv rcbi TT€p9evri aoi Trap

iv* vyiyaivrjis,

M a h a f f y ) ; I = el

rois

prjdels Kara

impeXopevos eppcoao. ravrols

(erovs)

vrror)pcbv

S e Kal

aav-

s" Mea[op]r)

( L u m b r o s o ) ; •npayp.ara

6 . 1 . Kairoi.

et-

erravr]-

rcbv dhvvarovvrcov

VTTopuvrjpari rpoTrov. rov,

rov

eKreveiav

pr)re{y}

iariv,

VTroSioiKrjrrjv

KaXcbs Troirjaeis

TrepiaTrdrai

Xoyov

S ' [{C^Kavcbs rov

irrifiaXXei

aKeTrd^rjrai

SeSeiypievov

Kara

aoi ro dvriypacf>ov.

TrpoaeveyKapevos

pevcov

aoi

cos r) Trepl [r]cbv Kara

Koivrji rraaiv

rjdeis,

15

Kalrol

Acopicova

77736?

rcov KrjSopevois, aav

xaipeiv.

n . noi-qoeis'.

r

K8. avrois

(Witkowski,

c written a b o v e t h e

vyialveis.

Herodes to Onias greeting.

K i n g P t o l e m y is w e l l a n d k i n g

P t o l e m y his b r o t h e r a n d q u e e n K l e o p a t r a his sister a n d t h e i r c h i l d r e n , a n d t h e i r

VARIOUS

DOCUMENTS

OF THE PTOLEMAIC

PERIOD

245

affairs also are a s u s u a l ; if y o u also are in g o o d h e a l t h a n d all else is i n o r d e r w i t h y o u , i t w o u l d b e a s w e w i s h ; w e t o o are p r o g r e s s i n g w e l l e n o u g h . T h e c o p y of t h e l e t t e r a d d r e s s e d t o D o r i o n t h e h y p o d i o i k e t e s is s u b j o i n e d . U n d e r s t a n d i n g t h e r e f o r e t h a t c o n s i d e r a t i o n for t h o s e e n g a g e d in s o w i n g t h e seed is a c o m m o n d u t y i n c u m b e n t o n all t h o s e i n t e r e s t e d in t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , b e g o o d e n o u g h t o use e v e r y effort a n d t a k e e v e r y p r e c a u t i o n b o t h t h a t n o n e of t h o s e u n a b l e t o w o r k i n t h e fields b e i m p r e s s e d , a n d t h a t n o n e of t h o s e w h o are a b l e b e s h i e l d e d o n a n y p r e t e x t w h a t s o e v e r ; a n d f u r t h e r t h a t e v e r y t h i n g b e p e r f o r m e d in t h e m a n n e r l a i d d o w n in t h e m i n u t e s e n t t o y o u b y us. T a k e c a r e of y o u r s e l f t o k e e p in g o o d h e a l t h . F a r e w e l l . Y e a r 6, M e s o r e 24. 'Ov([ai W i l c k e n ; [0ea>]vt. L e t r o n n e ; [ . . . ] » { . ] Mahaffy. Wilcken gives t h e following account of h i s reading: 'bei meiner letzten Revision des Originals (1913) glaube ich n u n den N a m e n ' G V [ a i ] m i t ziemlicher Sicherheit hergestellt z u haben . . . . I c h s a h vor d e m v . . . deutlich die linke u n d untere R u n d u n g d e s Omikron, hinter d e m v ein deutliches J o t a . Mit Berucksichtigung der Raumverhaltnisse kann k a u m etwas anders als ' O w ' f a i ] erganzt werden . . .' W h o was this m a n ? T h e very polite tone used b y t h e dioiketes i n his letter t o Onias (sharply contrasting w i t h t h e bitter words used b y h i m i n t w o other letters) induced Wilcken t o suggest t h a t Onias w a s a State official of high rank, probably a strategos. It w a s further suggested b y Wilcken that Onias might h a v e been the strategos of t h e Heliopolite n o m e (the district n e x t t o Memphis), since t h e strategos of t h e Memphite n o m e itself (where the papyrus was found), mentioned t h e following year, was another m a n a n d n o t Onias. This suggestion m a y be a c c e p t a b l e ; b u t it seems t o m e that from t h e tone of t h e letter w e can draw conclusions more far-reaching t h a n those of Wilcken. I t is n o t merely p o l i t e ; t h e prescript of t h e letter, mentioning t h e health of t h e king, t h e king's brother, t h e queen, and t h e royal children, i s , according t o Wilcken himself, unique in t h e whole of t h e official correspondence k n o w n t o u s . I t is unlikely t h a t a letter w i t h such a prescript would b e addressed b y t h e dioiketes t o a m a n w h o was a mere s t r a t e g o s : there were m a n y strategoi in E g y p t , one in every n o m e , a n d from t h e dioiketes' point of v i e w t h e office w a s not of such great importance a s t o call for a quite unusual formula of greeting such as t h a t used i n this case. So w e m a y conclude that Onias w a s a member of t h e court, known personally t o t h e king, a n d , consequently, t o t h e dioiketes a s well. I t m a y be recalled o n this occa sion that t h e king in question w a s t h e well-known 'philo-Semite' P t o l e m y V I Philometor (cf. above, p p . 20 sq.). T h e name Onias, in connexion with the high rank of its bearer, leads naturally to t h e suppo sition t h a t the person in question was t h e high priest, t h e founder of the well-known 'Temple of Onias' in Leontopolis. This supposition would be even more likely could w e be certain t h a t the Onias of our document was really t h e strategos of Heliopolites, since Leontopolis w a s a village i n this district. H i s high position a t the court would fit in very well with the political r61e played b y t h e high priest Onias in E g y p t after t h e death of Philometor (Jos. c. Ap. 2. 50). Y e t t h e question is n o t so easily settled. T h e identification with t h e high priest would be certain if w e could identify t h e founder of the temple of Onias w i t h t h e high priest Onias I I I , a s w a s done once b y Wellhausen a n d Willrich. Y e t , according t o 2 Mace. 4. 34, Onias I I I w a s slain b y Andronikos in D a p h n e near Antiocheia (c. 170 B.C.), a n d this evidence is n o w c o m m o n l y accepted (see, however, S. Zeitlin, The Second Jewish

Commonwealth,

p p . 26 s q q . , a n d

S e e l i g m a n n , The Septuagint

Version

of Isaiah,

91 s q q . ) .

The

founder of the temple w a s , in all probability, Onias I V , t h e son of Onias I I I . Y e t Onias I V cannot be identified with t h e Onias of our p a p y r u s : according t o Josephus (ant. 12. 387), Onias I V left Palestine for E g y p t after t h e execution of Menelaos a n d t h e nomination of Alkimos t o t h e office of high priest, i.e. after 162 B.C., whereas our document was written in 164 B.C. On t h e other h a n d , it would be very strange were w e t o find in E g y p t at the same time t w o persons b o t h called Onias, b o t h o n good terms w i t h t h e king's court, a n d b o t h connected i n some w a y with Memphis or districts around Memphis. Such coincidences are far t o o unlikely t o be credible. T h u s t h e riddle seems t o be insoluble. I should, nevertheless, like t o venture a suggestion. W e m a y assume, perhaps, t h a t Josephus wrongly placed t h e flight of Onias I V a t a later date, whereas, as a matter of fact, it could h a v e happened before 164 B.C. (perhaps immediately after the assassination of Onias I I I a n d in connexion with it). This suggestion ought n o t t o b e rejected as a n arbitrary o n e , since Josephus'

246

SECTION

V I : N O S . 132-134

chronology concerning the whole of the period preceding the Maccabaean revolt is very confused and cannot be regarded as certain. Supposing Onias I V arrived in E g y p t before 164 B.C., n o reason can be put forward against his identification with the Onias of our papyrus. See o n Onias and his temple above, p p . 44 sq. 10. The expression i r a v r c ? 01 TCOV -rpayfidriov K7)o6(ievoi is too vague t o give a n y idea of what could have been t h e real office of Onias.

N o . 133. A complaint of assault Samareia(?) ( F a y u m ) . 15*5x8-5 c m . (fr. 2). 17th July, 153 B.C. or 15th July, 142 B.C. P . Tebt. 800 (two fragments). L I T . : B e m e k e r , Sondergerichtsbarkeit, 1935, 1 1 7 . Taubenschlag, i. 332 s q . A complaint sent to a village scribe b y a J e w whose pregnant wife has been injured b y another Jewess, Johanna. According to the editors, 'it is highly probable t h a t the scene was the village of Samareia, which was concerned in another piece from the same cartonnage'. Y e t the cartonnage in question contains documents from various places in the F a y u m besides Samareia (see the lists of numerous p a p y r i belonging to carton nage N o . 80 in P . T e b t . iii. 1 , p. x v and P . T e b t . iii. 2, p. x i x ) , so t h a t the suggestion of the editors cannot be regarded as certain. T h e p a p y r u s is v e r y b a d l y preserved, and the editors h a v e not printed 11. 6 - 2 5 , where only a few words are recognizable. T h e missing part of the papyrus evidently contained a detailed description of the assault; see for similar assaults on pregnant women P S I 167 and P . Mich. 228. KCopoy\papparei Tra\pd rov

Eafifiaralov

S e t v a *Iov]oaiov ].

rcbv

puadap-

vcbv e/c rrjs avrrj]s (erovs)

KYJ riavvi\

Kcbprjs. rfji

K,

ovros

pov... r e m a i n s of 17 lines 25

. . . VTTO] rcbv rrXrjycb[v] /cat r[o]y ros

oeivcbs

/ca/co7r[a]0etv

/cat KXivo7T[erovs Kivhvvevei 30

rraihlov

yeyo]vvlas

[ o ] e'êt ey

eiv (cf. P . Tebt. 751, 10; B G U 1253, 13) avrrjv . . . OTTCOS could b e read, the participles t h e n being o u t of construction' (Edd.). 35 sqq. F o r punishments incurred b y persons guilty of assaults o n pregnant w o m e n see T a u b e n schlag, I.e. 40. T h e editors date our document 142 B.C. taking for granted that t h e 28th year belongs t o t h e reign of Euergetes I I . W h y n o t t o t h e reign of Philometor? W e h a v e seen (above p p . 202 sq.) t h a t documents of the second century, bearing the dates of the years 25 t o 36, can belong t o either of t h e t w o reigns. There is n o hint i n t h e papyrus as t o whose reign was m e a n t here, and t h e cartonnage N o . 80, t o which t h e papyrus belongs, contains various documents from t h e middle of t h e second century w i t h o u t a n y further specification of time. So t h e papyrus m a y b e ascribed t o either 153 or 142.

N o . 134. Land-survey at Arsinoe Arsinoe ( F a y u m ) . 27-5 x 29 c m . Late second century B.C. P. Tebt. 86 (11. 1 4 - 3 1 ) . L I T . : Juster, i. 428, n. 4. N e p p i Modona, Aeg. ii. 268. R o t h , p . 48. Schnebel, Landwirtschaft, 33

n

-

5> 34

Philologus,

n

-

2

>

2

1

0

n

*

S u p p l . 1 2 , 38.

2

'

Zucker, Beitrdge

z.

Kenntnis

B e r n e k e r , Prozesseinleitung,

d.

Gerichtsorganisation

in

Aegypten,

1930, 28 s q .

A part of the land-survey in the environs of Arsinoe-Krokodilopolis. See for similar surveys P . A c h m i m 6 (BIFAO Etudes de Pap.

x x x i , 1 9 3 1 , 57 sqq.) and on land-surveys in general cf.

ii. 9 1 . A Jewish synagogue on the outskirts of the town is mentioned.

T h i s synagogue, in all probability, was built in the reign of P t o l e m y I I I Euergetes and dedicated to the king, his wife, and his children, as we are told b y an inscription

248

SECTION

V I : N O S . 134-135

published b y Vogliano in Ann. d. Serv.xxxix, 692 (SB 8 9 3 9 ) . W e do not know whether this synagogue is identical with t h a t mentioned in Arsinoe in the R o m a n period (No. 4 3 2 ) : a metropolis like Arsinoe could h a v e h a d several synagogues. T h e area owned b y the synagogue was bordered on the south (and p a r t l y on the north) b y private estates, on the west (and p a r t l y on the north) b y the irtpioTams noXetos (a strip of land marking the boundary of the town), and on the east b y a canal called ApyalriSos oubpvg. W e cannot explain w h y it should stand on the outskirts of the town. I t m a y be t h a t the vicinity of the canal determined the choice of the place, a great consumption of water being, it seems, a characteristic feature in the e v e r y d a y life of the synagogues (cf. N o . 4 3 2 ) . T h e plot (or a part of it?) a t t a c h e d to the synagogue was called iepd irapdSeio-os; it amounted to c. 4 arourai and was leased to an E g y p t i a n peasant. A n o t h e r plot of 1 ^ arourai of garden land was also leased to the same person. 'A great m a n y figures in a minute hand h a v e at some later time been inserted in the margins and between the lines . . . . Their reference and meaning is often v e r y doubt ful' (Edd.). T h e y are omitted here, since t h e y h a v e , a t a n y rate, no reference to the synagogue. Col. [fio(ppa)

ixo(pevr)s)

*Eppi\6vqi

15

ArroXXtoviSov

vTroho(x€Lov)

(tov)

II Upas

(riraprov),

7rapa(Selaov), rr€piar€(ptovos)

iprj(pov) A'/r,

X€(paov)

erj.

7rpoa€v(x'fj),

yel(rov€s)

Xi(ftds)

vo(rov)

Arjpryrpiov

rrepiaraais

©pa(Kos)

7r6(Xctos),

x<E(paos),

amy) (Xitorov)

/?o(ppa) Apya(lrioos) Sitbpv(£).

(3o(ppa) Sid

[ejxipipzvys)]

pi(adtorov)

20

Upas

Trpoaevx^js

IJcTeaovxov

7rapa(o€iaov)

y€i(rov€s)

vo(rov)

rrepiaraais

rrjs

ixo(pevrj)

hid

IJeproXXov

Mapprjovs

y (rjpiav) a

Po(ppa)

'Iovoaitov

rov

(reraprov)

is"', [a]retf>d(vois)

Kal

Xaxd(vois)

(rjpiiav). 'Epp,i6vr)s

rrjs

7r6(X€tos),

ArroXXtovihov,

d7rr)(Xitbrov)

\<e\laâi(vovaa)

At(j36?)

f$o(ppa)

Apya(inhos)

rrapd

rr)v

7r6(Xiv)

(K6TOS that Menon was waiting for the mare and for some thing else in addition. A s nopeia cannot be interpreted in this w a y , I would venture t o suppose a slip of the pen o n the part of M e n o n : he probably wrote rr)v nopeiav instead of T O nopelov (for the meaning of iropeiov see WB, s.v., L S J , s.v.). The sentence would m e a n : 'he did not deliver t h e mare nor t h e carriage.' If m y suggestion is right, Menon was waiting for a mare and a carriage which were t o be sent t o him b y his brother, and t h e J e w in question was perhaps a coachman employed b y Hermo krates. W h a t happened t o him o n t h e w a y from Hermokrates' home t o Menon's w e cannot k n o w : the number of possibilities is unlimited.

N o . 136. Summons before a tribunal Herakleopolites. 7-2 x 14-5 c m . Aeg. xiii. 611 sqq. (Schafer). S B 7610.

12th August, 51 B.C.

A J e w , Alexander son of Isakis, was summoned to appear before a tribunal (prob a b l y of the strategos) a n d did not obey the order. W e do n o t know w h a t measures were taken against him, as the papyrus breaks u p before the end of the first sentence. For all the juridical questions connected with this document see the editor's c o m mentary.

(2nd hand) pcerayp( (1st hand) S t d rov

'IoaKios

eKKeKArjpievov

vrrd AXe^dvSpov BlatVOS,

pLLKev

rov

Kad* OX) K€KO-

fiaoiXiKa

[rrpoardypiara], rrjKora 10

A Kal a, ErTei t a .

rrpoyp(dpp,aros)

A\e£av8pov 5

i

) (erovs)

diro

per) drrrjvrrjs

[ye]vr)deLcrrjS avrdJL

(Translation.) (1st

(2nd h a n d ) T r a n s c r i p t . . . Y e a r 3 1 , E p e i p h n .

h a n d ) A l e x a n d e r s o n of I s a k i s , s u m m o n e d b y a p r o c l a m a t i o n b y A l e x

a n d e r s o n of B i o n t h r o u g h w h o m h e r e c e i v e d a r o y a l s u m m o n s , h a v i n g f a i l e d t o p r e s e n t himself a f t e r t h e . . . h e r e c e i v e d . . . . I. The editor gives various restorations: p.eTayp(a<jyrj), p.eTayp(deiv) or p.eTayp(a<pr)Ta>), and prefers the last. I I . The editor suggests the restorations: e V / c A i f a e w ? , irpooKXrjaecos, or napayyeXlas.

N o . 137. A Prostagma of the king and queen Probably Herakleopolites. 3 3 x 1 2 - 5 c m . Arch. viii. 214 (Kunkel). S B 7419. B G U 1730. S P 209. L I T . (selection): Kunkel, Arch. viii. 214. Heichelheim, Wirtschqftsgesch. Arch.

x i . 120 s q .

Leider, Der Handel

von Alexandr.

6th N o v e m b e r , 50 B.C. d. Altertutns,

541. W i l c k e n ,

17 s q . , 7 1 . B e r n e k e r , Sondergerichtsbarkeit,

1935,

55, 63. Taubenschlag, i. 8 n. 32. A prostagma of P t o l e m y X I I I and K l e o p a t r a V I I (so according to B G U 1 7 3 0 :

252

SECTION

in t h e editio princeps

V I : N O S . 137-138

the prostagma was referred t o P t o l e m y X I I A u l e t e s and K l e o

patra T r y p h a i n a , i.e. t o t h e y e a r 7 9 B . C . ) concerning some measures t o b e t a k e n as t o the b u y i n g a n d exporting of wheat. See t h e detailed c o m m e n t a r y of this prostagma b y K u n k e l , I.e., a n d the literature mentioned a b o v e . F o r the Ttpoordyparra in general cf. J . Modrzejewski, Journ.

Jur. Pap. v , 187 sqq. W e are interested only in t h e last

lines of the document, which h a v e no connexion with the contents of the edict itself: a c o p y of the prostagma w a s published ('hung out') somewhere in E g y p t (according to the editor—probably in the Herakleopolites)

b y a minor official, w h o bore t h e

Hebrew name Onias. T

17 (2nd hand) Qpos

rorroypapp,arevs

€Kre0€LKa

pevov

ivavrl[ov

ypap(parecos)

Trpoardyparos. (erovs)

(Translation.)

. . S t ' 'Oytov rov 7RPOE/c]/c€[t-

y

(Docketed)

Advp

.e.

I , H o r o s , d i s t r i c t scribe, a c t i n g t h r o u g h

Onias,

scribe, h a v e p o s t e d u p (this e d i c t ) o p p o s i t e t h e o n e p u b l i s h e d b e f o r e . Y e a r 3 , Hathyr (.) . 5

17. T h e official w h o ordered the publishing of the edict was a TonoypappaTevs and it is likely t h a t Onias, w h o carried out the order, was his secretary (ypap.p,a.Tevs). 18. T h e t e x t adopted here is that of Wilcken (Arch. x i . 120 sq.). The editor gives eKTedeixa ev dvri[ypa(f>ov rov 7rp]gKe[i.]p.evov irpoordypaTos. Wilcken points out t h a t the ev is incomprehensible. H i s o w n reading means t h a t the edict was 'hung out' opposite another edict published some time before the new one.

N o . 138. Resolution of a Jewish Association Provenance unknown, P . R y l . 590. LIT.:

n x 12 c m .

T a u b e n s c h l a g , Journ.

Jur.

Papyr.

T h e reign of K l e o p a t r a ? v i , 1952, 299.

P r e a u x , Chr.

aV £gypte,

N o . 5 5 , 1 9 5 3 , p . 158.

A b a d l y preserved p a p y r u s which on palaeographical grounds has t o b e attributed to t h e second half of t h e first century B . C I t seems t o refer t o a meeting of a awoSos in a -npoozvyji, and this makes it probable t h a t w e h a v e here a Jewish association, b u t the present state of t h e document does n o t allow us t o define either the nature of t h e (wvoBos or the contents of the resolution t a k e n b y it. One m i g h t perhaps think t h a t there is here (11. 1 0 , 13) some allusion t o a Jewish society which assisted the c o m m u n i t y in t h e burial of its members. I t is well k n o w n t h a t t h e Greek associations, although created for quite different purposes, displayed ever-increasing interest con cerning the burial of their members (cf. Gueraud, E n t . , introduction t o Nos. 2 0 - 2 1 , p. 5 3 ; P . Mich. 2 4 3 - 4 ) , and the same holds true also for the n a t i v e E g y p t i a n associa tions as attested b y D e m o t i c documents (cf. A . E . R . B o a k , TAP A lxviii, 1 9 3 7 , 2 1 8 ;

C Preaux, Revue internationale des droits de I'antiquite, i, 1948, 194). B u t all these documents derive from associations for w h o m arrangements for proper burial of their members constituted only one of their concerns, while here is mentioned, or so it seems from o-innai,d[oTov\ of 1. 1 3 (cf. also 1. 1 0 ) , some guild connected mainly w i t h burial (cf. t h e avw€Kpordoi of P . R y l . 5 7 4 which carries back t h e evidence for guilds of burial-workers t o the first century B . c . ) or w i t h some action preceding it. H a v e w e t o assume t h a t the needs of the Jewish c o m m u n i t y g a v e birth to a specific burial organization similar t o t h e priestly E g y p t i a n ones? N o t h i n g of this kind is

VARIOUS

DOCUMENTS

OF THE PTOLEMAIC

PERIOD

253

known to h a v e existed amongst Jews during the Hellenistic age, and the T a l m u d i c evidence attests at most the activities of associations of a m u c h more general charac ter in Jerusalem in the years before the destruction of the T e m p l e (Tos. Meg. iv. 15, Semahoth xii, cf. Buchler, REJ x l v i , 1903, 76 sq.; Baron, SRH ii, 288 sq). L . Ginzberg, A Commentary on the Palestinian Talmud, ii. 5 5 , thinks t h a t the Jerusalem societies used only to comfort mourners, b u t had nothing to do with burying the dead. A passage like b. Mo'ed Q a t a n 27b, as well as the inscriptions bearing on this question, refers to too late an age to be of m u c h help to us. Therefore in v i e w of the condition of our document and the scanty comparative material it is safer to suspend j u d g e m e n t . 2

]. — e V t

ylejyrjOetcrrjs

TTJS

iv

gyyayajyfjs

vpoaevxrji

TTJL

[(TrpcoTOjv)] i\a>v K A L D[v(PA>pd)v)]

ArjfxrjTJplcoiTCOV

( ? ) K A L elaayyeXeoov r

KAL €

T

v

dpxVV" ]P { ) [...]..[

]~KdfiaKos . . ]

5

]f[

].[.

[

.]ov

crvv

]PKO)S

TO

].PA(nos

€ . [ . ] . C t A A €jLt[. . . .]v

.][!€ S t / c a t . [ . . ]

KAL

TOt?

€V

10

€TO[S

.jet

€7TT.[

e.[.]CROV

TOV

.].t[

. . j c r e r a t [o]ts l

5

.]els lepo.[.

12 l e t t .

12

.].a7r[

[

ot)]S' [[tj]

7rppcr[7]K€L

TO]is" Aet[rou]^)[y

... ]

...TA<J)T\AGTCT>V

KAT[VOV

lett.

12 l e t t .

15

lett.

]rpy

7 lett. ]ta

TOV

DR)0€TAI

jLte[.]e

e/c

TTJS

lett.]

iv ayAcD[t 2 - 6 l e t t . ] AVVTAid[OTOV]

y]pa/x/xaTet

]crvvd8ov ].

]>aXXt,OPICOV KA [2-5

IOOFXEVOV

. ,]/xat Ev8[.

]tou

K[OLVOV(7)

. .]re are[.].7rov[ ].o

t(?X°'[']VT(1S

]•$•]••[•••

KAJ*

,]IVOJV

a[vvo8ov

TTJV

auAAeAd^tarat

]eiv icf)' cStre eVed? [.]?

[

CR]vv68ov[ .]O)L

els

]KVOV

...[

TOL[S.].

.YPAP]FJ,AT€V9

dKoX[OVDOJS]

8eA.[ TOV[ £[

(Translation.) 1

. . . A t t h e session h e l d in t h e p r o s e u c h e

2

T o D e m e t r i o s of t h e first friends a n d t h e d o o r - k e e p e r s (?) a n d t h e ushers a n d

3

. . . of K a m a x . . . s e c r e t a r y . . .

t h e chief officials 4 5

to the association with . . .

and has been incorporated

7

on condition t h a t

8

association

9

. . . every year

10

. . .

12

future new

13 14 16

the times t h e c o r p o r a t i o n of . . . t a p h i a s t a i the syntaphiastes

. . . w h o m it concerns

to the secretary according the association

SECTION

254

V I : N O S . 138-140

1. For the phrase c m rrjs yevrjddcrqs awaycoyijs cf. for e x a m p l e , BSAA, x x x i i - x x x i i i (1938-9), p . 27. It is consonant w i t h the development of the Jewish prayer-houses, which gradually became the centres of communal life, t h a t t h e meeting took place in a irpooevxTJ (cf. Baron, op. cit. i i , p p . 285 sqq.). A s t o t h e connexion between pagan temples and o w o S o i cf. R o b e r t s - S k e a t - N o c k , HTR xxix,i936, 75 s q q . 2. ' A-qpvqr]pioji is only a guess and h e is n o t identifiable' ( E d d . ) . W a s h e a J e w ? T h e n a m e Demetrios is n o t unusual for Jews a n d w a s borne b y some important personages among E g y p t i a n J e w r y : for e x a m p l e , t h e historian Demetrios, w h o wrote a book about t h e ancient kings of Judaea (Schurer, iii. 472 s q q . ) ; a n d in R o m a n times D e m e t r i o s , an alabarch and one of the leaders of t h e Alexandrian c o m m u n i t y (ant. 20. 147). Demetrios, a s it would appear from his honorary titles, w a s a person of some standing in the Ptolemaic hierarchy. For -nputroi ^t'Aoi cf. Strack, Rhein. Mus., Iv, 1900, 161 s q q . ; K . Chrimes Atkinson, Aeg., x x x i i , 1952, 204 sqq. For rcov elaayyeXecov cf. Schubart, Klio xii, 1912, 3 7 1 ; U P Z , p p . 149, 471 n. 3. T h e dpxvrrripir-qs h a s till n o w only been known in connexion w i t h Hellenistic armies. Cf. L a u n e y , p . 364. I t is difficult t o define the part played here b y D e m e t rios^) and also w h y h i s n a m e occurs in t h e dative. 2

3. KdpaKos—which might also be read K d X X a K o s — i s taken b y the editors t o be a name. ypap.p.arevs—one of t h e commonest a m o n g t h e officials of the Greek associations of all kinds (cf. San Nicolo, Vereinwesen ii. 1, p p . 73 sqq.). 4. For the various meanings of ovvoSos cf. Poland, RE iv 1420 sqq. 5. avXXeXoxtarai means here t o be incorporated in t h e owob'os. 13. avvra<j>id[arov] occurs here for t h e first time. Cf. H . C. Youtie's treatment of various words denoting professions connected with burial in TAP A , Ixxi, 1940, 654. 15. 'For Upo.[, perhaps p.epo.[ should be read' ( E d d . ) . M.S.

N o . 139. Jewish dining-club at Apollinopolis Magna Apollinopolis Magna O.E. 368.

i s t century B.C.

A list of contributions to common feasts (rroaeis) to be held on the 15th and 16th of an unknown month. A m o n g those contributing there is a Jewish priest (1. 5 : 'Iwarj-ros Upevs) and a m a n bearing the H e b r e w n a m e of Ze6d'Cs (1. 4 ; cf. note ad l o c ) . I t is possible t h a t the designation o-ocf>6s (1. 3) stands for the H e b r e w DDn while

0rjpds

(1.8) m a y be either a Semitic or a Greek n a m e ; Tevi\os (1. 10) is one of the theophoric names often borne b y Jews. I t is probable, therefore, t h a t the ostrakon records a Jewish club.

rpirrj rroais \ ©ev£ov[. ..] | Avaipaôs ao[6s? | Ue6dis iva(ya>y6s) *Iojorj7ros Upev(s) e v [ (yivovrai) A | is rerdprrj rroais \ ©rjpas 100rovr.[ j 'IwarjTTOS i€pe(vs) [ | I O | Tev(/)iXos r [ | rd i7rio6p[a\ra] >as <j> \ ii

e[ J 5 J

(Translation.)

1 5 t h . T h i r d f e a s t : T h e u x ( ? ) . . . L y s i m a c h o s , a sage(?), S e p h -

t h a i s . . . J o s e p o s , a p r i e s t ; (total) 1,000. 1 6 t h . F o u r t h f e a s t : T h e m a s , J o s e p o s , a priest . . . T e u p h i l o s . . . , t h e c o n t r i b u t i o n s . . . . 1.

rroais (cf. rerdpr-q noms in 1. 7)—for club-feasts in E g y p t lasting several days cf. W e s t e r m a n n , x i x , 1932, 23. 2. ® € u £ o i > [ . . . ] Manteuffel; perhaps OCaaov? 3.2o(f>6s m a y be perhaps taken in t h e sense of DDI! (wise m a n , scholar), a very usual designation of J e w s learned in t h e L a w . 4.2ev\al: (Jewish tribes), 14 n. 3 8 , 1 5 ; (Alexandrian tribes), 41 n . 102, 62 n . 29. 4>vXaK€s, w a t c h m e n , 17. (j>vXaKtrat, p o l i c e m e n , 17.

54Tpdireâi,

54 n . 16.

y

rpaTre LTat, Jewish managers of royal banks, 17. treason, Jewish, early R o m a n period, 55 and n. 19. tribes a n d d e m e s , Alexandrian citizens enlisted i n , 41 n. 102. tribunal, use of synagogue for, 8 n . 22. tributum,

60.

Tryphaina, personal n a m e , n o H e b r e w equiva lent k n o w n for, 29 and n . 71. Tryphon, personal n a m e , n o Hebrew equivalent k n o w n for, 29. T r y p h o n , n a m e of a m e m b e r of t h e J e w i s h gerousia

i n A l e x a n d r i a , 57 n . 22.

Tryphon, n a m e of a m e m b e r of the g y m n a s i u m in Iasos, 39 n. 99. Turbo, Marcius, R o m a n military commander, 86, 92 n. 86. Upper E g y p t : Jewish peasants in, 1 5 , 1 6 ; Jewish tax-gatherers and tax-farmers ( r c A w v a i ) i n , 1 8 19; a m o u n t of laographia paid i n , 81-82. U r b i b , J e w (5th-6th centuries): living in Alex andria, 99 n . 1 6 ; distributes food during a famine, 104-5. Ushiah ben-I(saak) (5th century A.D.), IOI. Valens, Arian emperor, 98. Valentinianus, emperor, 105. Valerius Maximus, o n P t o l e m y V I I I Euergetes I I and h i s treatment of Alexandrian Greeks, 23 n . 58.

Xavaavaiv, Semitic E g y p t i a n place-name, 4 n. 12. X e n e p h y r i s , Lower E g y p t , synagogue a t , 8; Jewish officials (•npoardrai) a t , 10, 10 n. 28. gevoi Kal i^f)Xvoes (foreigners a n d aliens), term applied t o Alexandrian J e w s in a n edict b y Flaccus, 66. X e n o p h o n , 37. XP"tp.o.Tl €iv ('to style o n e s e l f ) , 15 n . 40. r

Yiddish, discarded in favour of English b y J e w s in America, 31 n . 78. Z a d u q — J u s t u s , instance of name translation, 28 n. 69. Zakkai, R a b b i , born in Alexandria, 106. Zealots' party, patriotic a n d revolutionary fac tion in Judaea, 68-69, 90. Zedekiah, exile of, 4 n. 10. 'Zekenim' (elders), 102. Zenobia, queen of Palmyra, and her son, 94. Zenodora, n a m e of European Jewess, 29 n. 72. Zenon, emperor, 99 n. 16. Zenon of Philadelpheia, 44; Jewish vine-dressers farm a vineyard from, 16. Zenon p a p y r i : importance for s t u d y of Ptole maic Syria, 2 ; t h e n a m e Uvpta, for Palestine, frequently used in, 5 n . 1 3 ; commercial role o f Greek cities i n , n n . 30. Zeus, the Greek g o d , Jewish name derived from, Zeis

vipioros,

95 n . 4.

INDEX T O THE D O C U M E N T S i.

A L E X A N D E R

T H E

F A M I L Y

AXegavSpos

G R E A T

O F

T H E

I . 2, 1 2 ; l 8 . 2, 1 8 ; 1 9 . 2, 29; 2 2 . 2,

I I (0iAa8€Avios,

t

14.

4.

8; 85. 8; 87. 7 ; 88. 6; 89. 5 ; 90. 5 ; 91. 5 ;

a v i n e dresser, 14. 2, 1 5 ; 15. 26, 41. s. of Andronikos, 18. 4, 7, 20, 23, v .

JlAe'âvSpos,

Ap,p.d>Vl0S,

t h e 8ioiKi)rrjs

AiroXXcovios,

I.

J l A c ^ a v S p o s , 99.

4;

2.

5-1. v.

[ i l A e | a v ] o > o s , 6.

Anfipvcw,

126.

J l w o A A a J w o s , a b a n k e r , 48.

f. of Deinias, 24. 23.

Alvtas.

4.

13.

il7roAAo^dv7ys, s. of Asklepiades, 36. 2. [il7roAAo^di^s], f. of Herakleodoros, 25. 2. ^7roAAa>[, 1 1 6 . 5. AnoXXojvla, d. of asis, 28. 28. Airo\Xa)vlSr]s, f. of Hermione, 134. 14, 21. ^77oAAtovtSijs, s . of Moschion, 126. 2.

f. of . o s , I . 18.

Ayy&is,

2.

2*J. 7.

d. of Demetrios, 25. 6.

ApioTOKXrjs,

96.

ApioTOKXrjs,

f. of Hermogenes, 29. 12.

ApioroKpaTrjs,

8.

6.

2.

P E R S O N A L Apiarofiaxos,

19- 7-

ApioTop.ev7}s,

49*

A-qp.'qrpios, 134' [ J i j / x ^ T J p i o s , I38.

4-

27. 6.

^ / j 7 r a A p [ s , 23.

A-qpoKpdr-qs,

16.

Qpoevs, f. of Hariotes, 22. 7, 24. Apaivorj, d. of Solon, 22. 4, 21. 2d. 13.

Aprepihoipos,

9a. 2, 5*

AprepiScopos, Aprepiocopos,

141* 7s. of Asklepiades, 36. 3.

Aioyevqs,

ftpreploiopos,

f. of D o s i t h e o s , 30. 18.

Ai68copos,

Uptfiis,

s. of Harseus, 22. 7, n , 24, 31.

f. of Sambathaios, 114. 2.

.. .aats,

AarKXrj7fid8ris,

^ l a K A i j j T t a S i ; ? , 130.

21, 25.

^ I f f i f A i j m a S ^ ? , a banker, 6 6 . 3 , 7 ; 67. 3 , 7 ; 6 8 . 1 .#o-KAi77ud877?, f. of E i r e n e , 126.

n.

s. of T h e o d . . . , 123. 6.

/Iff/cAoivtay, H9.

2.

d. of Chrysermos, 24. 6.

^ T I / C O ? , 4.

7. 2

AvafjXos, 3' ' Av8opx>s, 4. 7^ p o S i o r ' a , 135.

A..a.ios, BepevUt),

3, 13.

f. of Orsenouphis, 22. 7, 25. d. of P y t h a n g e l o s , I27d. 2, e. 2.

BepeviKt], d. of Sosipolis, 19. 30. Bltov, f. of Alexandros, 136. 6. B6TT]S,

f. of Timopolis, I . 8, 19.

Bovfidicqs, ra88atos,

23. 32 (cf. Zdevevs). 37. I, V . s. of Philistion, 19. 29. f. of Adaios, 22. 2, 18.

[FaAeaJTij?,

Topyias,

50.

AIOKXTJS,

1 1 9 . 4.

4.

29. 26.

[J]ipvv(wos, 18. v .

3^' 2

Aorraota,

127b. 1, v .

AIOKXTJS,

J t o / i i j ' 8 i j ? , 19. 5.

I.

AoicX'qtTido'-qs, 37' »

AoK\r)md8-qs,

s. of R h o d o k l e s , 127b. 2.

J t d S c o p o ? , 119. 5.

Aiop.fi...,

f. of Apollonia, 28. 28.

^lffKAij7na8[ij?], 33.

22. 15, 35, V .

AtipoorpaTos, s. of D i o n y s i o s , Aspendian, 1. 9, 20. Arjpoj, d. of Philon, 126. 12. Ai8vp.os, 41. 3AUaxos, 33. 9.

AprepiScopos,

Apvibrrjs,

2.

Arjp,rJTptos, f. of Angais, 28. 19. [J?7/M7T]/?IOS, f. of Aristokleia, 25. 6. Atip.-qrpi.os, f. of K a l y b . . . o s , 130. 16. Arjp-qrpios, f. of Sarapion, 30. 17.

Apfuus, 130. 33, 35. App.evots, 38. 1 (cf. 38. v ) . AppuGois, 38. v (cf. 38. 1). Apvovipis,

281

N A M E S

Aap.a[s,

8. 3. 127b. I, 4, v . Aapeios, S. of Ionas, 35. 18. A ape t o s , f. of T h e o d o t o s , 3 1 . 70. Aapeios, s. of T h e o d o t o s , 31. 70. Aeivias, s. of Aineas, 24. 23, 28, 31. AeXXaias, 1 2 1 . 3. AeXXovs, 107. 9. Ae£i 7 « 4> i l l . 5. 1

2

Acoaideos, s. of Artemidoros, 30. 18. AcooWeos, s. of Drimylos, 127a. 23, b . 2, c. 4, d. 1, e. 1. Acoaideos, Acoaideos,

f. of Hellen, 82. 4 ; 83. 4. f. of J a p h e a s , 95. 3.

J c o f f i ' f o o s , f. of J u d a s , 43.

Acoaideos, Acoaideos,

3.

s . of K a i m i o n , 29. 6. f. of K a r . [ . . ] , 29. 1 1 .

282

PERSONAL

[A]tooldeos,

s. of P a c h r a t e s , 81.

[Aaijaideos,

s. of P s a . . 7 6 . 3.

Ai8r)S,

[Au>ol]6eos,

s. of T h e o d o t o s , 28.

8.

'H(paior[ia>v,

Atoaldeos,

I2JC.

I, V.

'HpaKXelSrjs, f. of Philon, 126. 6. 'HpaKXetros, s. of Philippos, A t h e n i a n , I . 8, 20. 'HpaKXeobtopos, s. of Apollophanes, 25. 2.

78.

AcoaWeos,

Au)o(C)deos,

' H p o ( / c A « ' 8 i j s ) , 9 3 . 5.

5.

s. of Pyrrhos, 84. 3. f. of Seuthes, 31. 63. f. of Theodoros, 28. 5.

Acootdeos,

NAMES

132.

I.

f. of Ptolemaios, 25. 8.

f. of T h e o d o t o s , 131. 5.

Awo-Weos,

f. of Theophilos, 21. 8.

Oeoyevris,

Acpgldeos,

s. of T y c h o n , 28.

@ e [ o ] y 6 ^ j , f. of T h e o g e n e s , 29.

18.

0eo8...,

'EE,eiKias,

s. of T h e o g e n e s , 29.

f.

of A s k l e p i a d e s ,

s. of Ezeikias, 29. 2. 'EîKias), f. of Ezeikias, 29. 2. E l p r j v q , d. of Asklepiades, Cyrenean, 126. n , 12. Elfrqvr), d. of P t o l e m y , 24. 8; 25. 7.

© e o 8 [ . ] . i A i s , 1 2 1 . 1.

' £ A A a 8 o T i j , d. of P h i l o n i d e s , 128.

©e68or[os,

"EXXrjv,

[

s. of D o s i t h e o s , 82.

1, v .

4; 83.

4.

] e o s , s. of Sambathaios, 28. 9.

'Emp-evr),

©edSoro?,

©eoboros,

141. 10.

'Eppias,

f. of S i m o n , 88.

'Epp,i6vrj,

©eoodoios,

0e68oros,

3.

©eoSoros,

d . of A p o l l o n i d e s , 134.

14, 21.

©eoSoros,

1.

123.

6.

s. of A m m o n i o s , 29. 8. s. of Zoilos, 29. 22.

®eoSd(rios,

©eoSoros,

1.

37.

1, v .

f. of A l e x a n d r a s , 47.

2.

s. of Alexandras, 47. 2. s. of Dareios, 31. 70. f. of D i o p h a n t o s , 22. 14, 35. f. of Dositheos, 28. 8. s. of Dositheos, 131. 5. s. of J a s o n , 22. 14, 34. s. of Kassandros, Paionian, 22. 6, n ,

'i?pô[y€V77s], s. of Aristokles, 29. 12.

©eoSoros,

'Epp.oKp6.rris,

127a.

II.

'Epp.OKpa.rris,

135-

I> V .

'Epp-oKpar-qs,

a sitologos,

©eoboros, 23. 3 i ©eoboros, s. of Theodoras, 47. 8. ©eoboros, f. of Theomnestos, 32. 3.

79. 7 ; 88.

8; 90.

6;

91.

6 ; 95-5-

s. of Perigenes, 102. 2.

"Epp.o)v,

' 2 ? p . . T T J S , 130.

Evicts,

4.

12. 3.

EvdvdrjS,

96. 130.

7. 3.

s. of E u m a c h o s , 29. 3. f. of E u m a c h o s , 29. 3. £v,

17.

24. I I . 2.

f. of A b i e t o s , 48. 5. s. of Simon, 20. 17.

Movaaios, Mvpivtj,

126.

IJaaVTis,

13.

21.

nepiyivys,

113- 2.

nepiyerqs,

f. of H e r m o n , 102. 2.

IJfproXXos,

I l 6 . 3.

NaravfldaX,

5.

i V e f A o s , s. of Apollonios, Macedonian, 30. 20. [ J V e o 7 r T ? ] d A e / « > ? , 28.

10.

NeoirroAepLos, f. of Sostratos, 23. 10. Nfepu>s, s. of Petesouchos, 46. 4. iVex^ *' ' s, ' ° f Petesouchos, 46. 4. NiKdvtop, s. of Jason, 24. 26. Nixdvcop, s. of X e n o k l e s , Knidian, 1. 3 , 1 4 . aV0

fl

Nixlas,

l

s

2

37'

NiKiaros,

134.

18.

9J.

2.

IJereooCxos, s. of Marres, 134. 19. llfTcoovxos, f. of Nepheros, 46. 3. Ilivas, f. of Sambathaios, 42. 8. IJtaiKXijs,

Tliaros,

9a.

4.

s. of Menelaos, 35. 18.

/7tTt?, f. of Pachrates, 42. 9. FIXdro)(v),

s. of D i o n , 102. 6.

Jloavepuovv,

87.

4-

noX4p.u>v, s. of Ptolemaios, 29. 13. IloX4niXa, 36.

riaxpar-qs, f. of Dositheos, 8l. 5. IJaxp(drrjs), s. of P h a r . . . , 42. I I . TIaxp{dT7}s), s. of Pitis, 42. 9.

76.

f. of A p o l l o n i d e s , 126.

.. .fiovs,

NAMES

34.

J7oAAot>s, s. of A b d a i o s , 80.

l l S . I.

NiKofiios, Chalkidian, 18. 12, 29, v . Nt.K6Bpop.os, s. of Philippos, 46. 23.

IIoXvBfVKijs,

NiKop,axos,

77[. ..]3- 13Tlpoirias, f. of Aristides, 19. 38.

I.

s. of Onias, 86. 2.

Novp.yvios,

JJoXvKXrjs, 10.

IJordficov,

NiKLov, f. of Sabaidon, 46. 22.

3.

I9« 6, 8, 32.

JJpcoToyevqs,

9-

IlToXep.atos,

f. of Apollonios, 23. 9. 27.

5'

[/TrjoAe/xafos', Macedonian, 30. 5, 6, 7, 8. SevoKXfjs,

f. of Nikanor, 1. 3, 14.

"OKa.ip.os,

4« 7'

]o/cAe«t>v, 28.

12.

' O w a s , 137.

17.

'Opoevovfas,

s . of A . p h . s . i o s , 22.

'Opvas,

6.

7 , 1 2 , 25, 32.

I, v .

JtlroXefiatos,

47*

TlToXep.atos,

111.

TIroXep.atos,

1 1 6 . 4.

TlroXepLatos,

123.

nroXep-atos,

12*]3L. 4.

nToXep,atos,

14I> ! •

TlToXep.atos,

a banker, 49. 6; 5 1 . 4, 6 ; 52. 2 , 4 ;

28. I I . ] . o s , s. of A g a t h o n , Persian, I . 18. . . . o s , s. of Ananias, Persian, 1. 6, 17. 3' 8.

' Oaopofjpis,

66.

IlavaflijXos,

4. 3. 3.

i7ova?, a sitologos, 82. 7. S . of

JJayexdrrjs, TIavloKOS,

7 3 . 6; 74. 5 ; 77. 5 ; 80. 5 ; ..eteaios,

69.

4.

74* 6-

s. of Sabbatios, 46. 6.

Tlaovs,

napaifJdrrjs,

s. of P a r a i b a t e s , 29.

riapaifldrris,

f. of P a r a i b a t e s , 29.

IlapdivLOs, IJaais,

9a.

126.

13.

2, 7, b .

80.

7 ; | 8 3 . 7 ; 84.

5.

5.

TlroXep-atos,

s. of Ananias, 35. 13.

TlroXeyiatos,

s. of Asklepiades, 36. 3.

6;

85.

IlToXep.atos,

f. of Dositheos, 3 1 . 78.

nroXefiatos,

f. of Eirene, 24. 8; 25. 7.

nroXep-atos,

s. of Hephaistion, 25. 8 , 1 2 , 1 5 , 1 6 , 20,

23IlTo(Xep.atos), f. of P o l e m o n , 29. 13. TlToXep,atos, f. of Sabdaios, 96. 5. IJvddyyeXos, f. of Berenike, I27d. 2, e. 3. IlvddyyeXos, S . of Josepos, 89. 2. 77

6ll.

a sitologos,

7. iTroAe/mios, f. of Agathokles, 24. n .

O u a / H ? , 1X2. I .

IJaicov,

63- 3 , 7 ; 64. 2 ; 65. 3, 5. TlroXepatos,

1 3 1 . 2, 9.

5-

53- 3, 6; 54. 2, 4 ; 55. 3, 7 ; 56. 2, 6 ; 57. 3, 7 ; 58. 2, 5 ; 59. 2, 4; 60. 3 , 6 ; 61. 2, 7 ; 62. 2, 5 ;

[.. . ] o s ,

'Oaatos,

2.

IJvppos,

u'/xis, f. of K a t y t i s , 22.

f. of Dositheos, 84. 3.

8.

P E R S O N A L 'PayeaopdaX,

36. 4.

'POOOKMJS,

f. of D i o g e n e s , 127b. 2.

SafiaOLs,

34* 1*

285

N A M E S

Elpuov,

s. of A b d i o u s , 7 3 . 5.

Eip.oiv,

s. of A b i e t o s , i o i . 2, 6.

Eip.oiv,

s. of . . . c h i o s , 123. 3.

Eip.tov,

s . of D e x i p h a n e s , 99. 8.

EapaOcois,

f. of I d e l l a s , 39. 49.

Eip.tov,

f. of D i o s k o u r i d e s , 32. 5.

EafLaiooiv,

s. of N i k o n , 46. 22.

Eip.tov,

s . o f H e r m i a s , 88. 3.

Eaparais,

f. of H o r o s , 44. 61.

Eip.tov,

s. o f H o r a i o s , 9 1 . 3 ; 92. 3.

Eipaav,

s. of I a z a r o s , a t a x f a n n e r , 61. 3 ; 62. 3, 5 ;

[iTJajSjSaflaros, 30. 9. EaPPadaios,

S . o f K . . , 22. 1 5 , 36, V .

6 3 . 4 5 9 0 - 3 ; 107. 2, 9.

EaPPdOiov,

d. of A r i s t i p p o s , 47. 6.

Eip.o)v,

s. of L o l o u s , 1 1 3 . 4 .

Eappddiov,

d . of S a b b a i o s , 47. 7.

Eip.cov,

s. of M n a s i s t r a t o s , 3 1 . 76.

Elp.tov,

f. of M o u s a i o s , 20. 1 7 .

EapPaTos,

f. of S a b b a t h i o n (cf. Mdpios),

47. 7.

EaPParaios,

1 3 3 . 2.

Eip.io(v),

EaPParaios,

S . of H o r o s , 46. I .

ELpLotv,

s. of S a m b a t h a i o s , 1 1 8 . 4.

EapParaios,

f. of P a o u s , 46. 6.

Eip.tov,

f. of S i m o n , 32. 1.

EaPoaXos,

s . of P t o l e m a i o s , 96. 5.

Eip.cov,

f. of S o l o k t o s , 94. 2.

s. o f S i m o n , 32. 1.

•TaAd/wvis, f. o f T h e o c h r e s t o s , 85. 4-

Eioivrjs,

28. 24.

EdXap.is,

EiolvTjs,

f. of S e n e u s , 28. 4.

f. of A p o (

ZdXpcov,

) , 68. 4.

45. 8.

EtrdXiOfs,

36. 5. 2

2Jap.dr}Xos,

s. of J o a n e s , 24. 24.

Exvpvos,

Zap.dj)Xos,

f. of T h e o d o r o s (cf. © e d S c o p o s ) , 24. 25.

27oAAafo?, f. of A p o ( . . . ) , 67. 4.

Eap.pa80.ios, EapPa8[aios,

109* *

ZoAAou/xu, f. o f S a m b a t h a i o s , 64. 4 ; 104. 4.

97' 4 -

EOXOKTOS,

IO3. 5.

s. of S i m o n , 94*

Zapfiadaios,

122. I .

EOXOJV,

EapPaOaios,

a t a x farmer, 5 1 . 5 ; 52. 3 ; 5 3 . 4 ;

27o/uoi}A[t?, 1 2 . 1.

54- 3 ; 55- 4 5 5 6 . 3 ; 57- 4 ; 58. 3 ; 59- 3 ; 60. 4 . Eap.padaios,

s. of A b i e t o s , 87. 3 ; 1 1 7 . 1.

ZapfiaOaios,

f. of

Eappadatos,

s. of P i n a s , 42. 8.

Eap.pa(6aios), Eap-PaOaios, UapPadaios, Zap.pdOiov, Hdppados,

e o s , 28. 9.

f. o f S i m o n , 1 1 8 . 4.

Sdpxvos,

EovXis,

f. o f H o r o s , 99. 5.

EirdpraKos,

s . o f A l e x a n d r a s , 25. 26.

ETpdnirnos,

f. of S t r a t i p p o s , 28. 2 1 .

Erpdrnrnos,

s. of S t r a t i p p o s , 28. 2 1 .

Erpdrcov,

6. 3, 5.

[iriTpaVcov, M a c e d o n i a n , 30. 3 , 4.

s. o f T h e o d o r o s , 28. 16.

Erpdrcov,

s. o f . . . k l e s , E r y t h r i a n , 18. 13, 30, v .

Erpdrcov,

f. of P o l e m o n , 1. 7, 18.

d. o f J o n a t h a n , 28. 26.

s. of A s i b i s , 1 1 4 . 2. f. o f A r i s t o b o u l o s , 93. 3.

Erpdrcov,

s. of S t r a t o n , 7 7 . 3 ; 78. 3.

Erpdrcov,

f. of S t r a t o n , 7 7 . 4 ; 78. 3 ; 7 9 . 3.

Evp.p.axos,

f. o f Z o p y r o s , 19. 34.

Sap.or]Xis,

a v i n e dresser, 14. 2, 1 5 ; 1 5 . 26, 4 1 .

Evpiwv,

Eap.6i}Xos,

112. 6.

Ecppayis,

I . 5>

ECOVIKOS,

19* 6.

Eaprradaios,

#

s . o f S o l l u m i s , 64. 3 ; 104. 4.

1 1 5 . 2, 4.

EapParaios,

2

f. o f A r s i n o e , 22. 5, 22.

119- 3«

f. o f . . . . l i s , 28. 7.

27av[/3d-uos], IIO. I .

Ecoirarpa,

23. 16.

2 7 o w o i o s , 3 . 10.

Ecpgipios,

130. 20.

Edpa,

Ecoaipios,

f. of T h r a s e a s , 24. 24.

d . o f A p o l . . . , 26. 13.

[Eapanias],

d . of A p o l l o n i o s , 25. 5.

27cucrMroA[is], f. of B e r e n i k e , 1 9 . 30. Ecoarrparos,

1 4 . 3, 5, 1 7 , 20; 1 5 . 26.

[iTjopamW, s . of D e m e t r i o s , M a c e d o n i a n , 30. 1 7 .

Ecoarparos,

26. 18.

Edppa,

Ecoarparos,

s. of N e o p t o l e m o s , 23. 10, 1 7 , 18, 2 1 ,

Eapamcov,

Eevdys, EetpddTs,

2

134- 5 -

d . of M e n n e o s , 4 1 . 3. s. o f D o s i t h e o s , 3 1 . 63. 139. 4.

2 7 e c 3 ? , 38. 2, 5, 8 , v . ETJP€VS,

26,28,35.

T a v p i w s , H 4 « 3'

S . of S i s i n e s , 28. 4.

Edevfvs,

23. 32 (cf.

EipvXos,

2d. 16.

BovpdK-qs).

Taxvovpus, .[ TeXeoapxos,

105. 2. ].7pa,

1 4 1 . 10.

s. of A l e x i m a c h o s , 126. 22.

Eipchv,

2e. 22.

TeXovcpis,

Elp.cov,

103. 3.

Te'os, 2 1 . 1, 2, v .

Eipcov,

108. I .

TeviXos,

Eip.to(y),

124. 5.

f. of T i m a i o s , 21. 9.

IO

I39» *

7f.[, f. of T h e o d o t o s , 3 1 . 80.

286

PERSONAL s. of Telouphis, 21. 9.

Tifiatos, Tifidvcop,

130.

Tlpapxos,

27.

Tip.apxos,

f. of Z e n o n , 1. 9, 20.

[v,

14. 8.

0lXcov,

18.

TXr)Tr6Xep.os, Tovpias,

6, 7, 8 , 1 4 , 1 7 , 1 9 ;

2b.

127a.

1.

s. of Herakleides, Cyrenean, 126. 6. 4>iXtovt8r)s, f. of Helladote, 128. 1, v . v ; 5 . 1, 9, v . TovfSLas,

17.

Tpv(x)va,

141

Xd apos,

• IO.

] , s. of Dorion, Macedonian, 30. 21. ...d.vr)s, s. of Nikias, Thracian, 19. 34.

.Xdpijs, I O 3 .

3.

Xapp-oyevr/s,

JO.

0[

<Pavias,

37.

&avoi<Xrjs,

I,

f. of T h e b o n , 24.

f. of Menekrateia, 126. 10.

v,

21.

Xpvoepp,os,

s. of H o r o s , 100. 3.

Vevoi

, 42. I I .

WevofldoTis,

QiXtas,

0iXimros,

8.

130.

'flw'[as], I 3 2 .

'Qpatos, *Qpos,

^ I A O V O W T T J J , 102.

*Qpos,

6.

112.

2. 5.

I.

f. of S i m o n , 91. 3 ; 92. 3. 21.

• f l p o s , 36.

[0lAdffT/3GtTOs], 24.

26,

f. of N o u b i o n , 86. 2.

'Qvlas,

0 i A « m W , f. of Galestos, 19. 29.

QiXovp.e'vi},

6.

f. of Simon, 123. 3. f. of Aspasia, 23. 6.

24.

f. of P a c h r a t e s , 42. 1 1 . 0 e ! > 0 . . . . , f. of Philinis, 8. 6.

0iXt,mros,

125.

* P p o , 137. ?

10. 6. 4. 17.

'Qpos,

f. of P s e n a m o u n i s , 100.

4>tXrr),

d. of A n t i k l e s , 22. 4, 20.

*Qpos,

s. of Sabatais, 44. 61.

0iXa}vios,

5-

vop,6s,

ig.

4, 7 , 1 6 , 3 2 ; 2 2 . 6, 23; 23.

8;

24. 10; 25. 5 ; i27d. 3. AanevStos,

I . 9, 20.

Ba.iTtdya.Ta,

2a. I O .

Bovftdaros,

(vopos),

K6TT(TOS),

69.

4> 83.

3-

KpoKooiXcov

•JTOXIS, 19. 4 , 1 6 ; 23. 8; 38. 18. 12, 30.

1; I26.

5.

2a. 11. 126.

Kojirrjs

32.

8l.

2.

Kptop,viTrjs,

Kvprjvaios,

15,

9, 28.

I . 9, 20.

KOTTTLTTIS

KvSiaos,

B i p r a , I . 3, 13. B O I W T I O S , 18.

22.

1. 3, 14.

6, I I .

(vop.6s?),

18. 3, 19.

37« 9* /ld/cacra, 2a. 7*

rdXiXa, 2e. 18, 22. MaKeoibv, AtKaLov

Ka>p.r),

4ids iroXis,

127b.

50.

2.

Mep.is,

Si5 2 . 1 ; 53. 2; 5 4 . 1 ; 5 5 - 2 ; 56. 2557. 2 58.

J i d ? 7rdAis 17 p.eydXr),

59. 66. 77. 84. 91.

2J.

4; 48.

I . 7, 1 8 ; 30.

3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 17, 19,

20, 21.

3, 6.

2 ; 49.

2

2;

9a. 5 ; 141. 2.

MiXr\aios,

I . 8, 19.

2;

1 ; 60. 2J 6 l . 2; 62. 2; 63. 2 ; 64. 2 6 5 . 2 ;

NeiXov

2 ; 67. 2 ; 6 8 . 3 ; 73. 2 ; 74. 2 ; 75. 2

Nor),

76.1;

TTOXIS, 46.

7.

2a. 8.

2 ; 78. 2; 79. 2 ; 80. 2; 81. 2 ; 82. 2 8 3 . 2 ; 2 ; 85. 2 ; 86. 2 ; 87. 2; 88. 2 ; 89. 2 90.2;

'OPPLTTJS

2 ; 92. 2 ; 94. 2.

["cv]£o , 96.3.

(vop.6s),

96.

4-

S

Elroyi,

2a.

'0£vpvyxa, 9.

127b. T

'£/)iXo[f], 2a. 'EpvBpiTrjs,

['0£upvyx(] '?s

4.

18. 13, 30.

TJaiiov,

22.

I , 4.

1 2 7 c 3.

(vofios),

6, 24.

/Tepees, I . 6, 17, 1 8 ; 19. 34. ' / / p . . . . , 4 1 . 3. 'HpatcXea,

37*

2

RIOXEPTO\YOS] -

p.epis,

TlToXep.ais,

'HpaKXeoTToXiTrjs,

24.

Eapdpeia,

22.

[ Z x S o t y , 2e. pepis,

23.

1 4 ; 24. 9 ; 37. 2 ; I 2 7 d . 3.

6, 23; 28.

I

EiSibvios,

I . 5> 6 -

2.

ZovpafiiT..

© f l j B a f e , 27.

5.

Z V p c t T t o v f o ] ? TTvpyos,

@ p c u | , 19. 34; 25. 127c

3.

9.

Evptov

2 ; 128.

18.

©TJ/JCU, 108.

@X6is,

I.

12.

'H«£ai[e*Tias], 25. 7OepLiarov

127b.

2a. 12.

., 2a.

K(I>pr),

46.

)> 9 3 - 2.

6 (cf. 2d.

2.

2a.

2.

14).

8.

288

G E O G R A P H I C A L

27O>H3I'TT[ . . . , 2d. 14 ( c f . 2a. 6).

N A M E S

0iAaSe'A *4J 27.

138.

3.

2.

i e p d irapdScioos, ('epetfc,

2 ; 99. 4, 5; 100.

2; I 0 X . 3 ;

102.

125.

innapxia, yewpyoi,

22.

fSaoiXiKOV ( T O ) , 46.

8,

26.

18; 25.

ypapparev's,

21.

imrets,

9-

J 7$-

2

>

0

* 2, 29; 22.

2,

18;

24.

5J I 3 ° *

15.

5; 21. I O , 40, 42, 43, 44; 23.

1 9 . 39, 41. 1 9 . 31, 32, 47.

S i K a a n j y , I . 18; 1 9 . 5, elaayyeXevs,

138.

cloaytayevs,

19* 6, 32.

27,

46.

Ktpapxvs,

Sucaorypiov,

27; 25.

21; 27.

8.

46.

43.

14. 2, 7, 16.

4. K ^ P ° S ,

SiKaiibpaTa,

8.

3*>

Kcpapxlov, 10; 36.

2, 3 ; 1 4 1 .

5; I 2 9 . 3, 5, 7, 10, I I .

I . 6, 7, 8, 14, 17, 19; 1 2 . 8.

KaXafios,

y e c o p y o ' ? , 12. 8; 25.

19.

2

lnTroKop.05, 2 d . 17.

I , 17; 27.

131. 9. Pajccav, 65. 3.

hidypap.p.a,

2

4>

2, 18; 1 9 .

I , e . 1; 139.

Ifidriov,

Se/cavt/cd?, l8.

I

134*

I . 2, 12; l 8 .

I27d.

3J I O 3 . 3 .

fiaoiXiKOS

J 75'

23. 2 ; 24. 2 ; 25. 2 ; 1 2 0 . 1; 1 2 1 . 2 ; 126. 2 ;

22.

o x u / ) o v , 97. 4 ; 98.

PCLOIXIKOI

2

3J 74'

7.

aroKOs, 23. I I . OWATJTIJS, 28.

64.

1 2 . 9, I I ; 73.

77. 2; 78. 2; 79. 2; 80. 2; 81. 3 ; 82. 3, 83. 2; 84. 2; 85. 2; 86. 2; 87. 2; 88.3; 89. 2; 90.2; 91. 2; 92. 2; 94. 2; 95. 2; 96.3.

x

dirtptTurjTOS, 4« 5> 4 d w o S o x i a , 33.

T E R M S

20.

2

37-

>

*9' 8

xXijpovxos,

1 . 6 , 7 , » 14, i7>

*tfpioy, 18.

I I , 28; 1 9 . 37; 22.

!913, 34; 23.

31;

24.

i ; 3 *

1

63;

14, 34; 24.

23;

23,31; 26.14,16; 46.19. K(ap.dpxj]S, 130. 26. Ka>p.oypap.fiarfvs,

10.

21.

2, 5; 27.

6; 28.

43. 10; 130. 21, 25, 28; 133.

I.

2. A e t r o u p y d s , 18. 14, 15, 31, 33. Xlvvfos,

eKarovrdpovpos, 129. 6.

95.

3.

eKôpiov, 37. 3; 43. 6, 8, 12. fidprvpes,

cvaycoyos, 139* evixvpa,

6.

two piov, 50. 3 ; 108. I . « < T « ; f i f f , 16. 5; 19-9J e(ciXr) 4; 55- 4 , 5 ; 56.35 57- 4 , 6 ; 60. 4, 5; 61. 4, 6; 62. 4, 5; 63.4-

19* I ; 130.

7.

d y S o i j / c o v r d p o v p o t , 24* 27; 28.

3*

«UfcaTaj3oAij, 23«

12, 29; 22.

-

16; 1 5 . 42; 90.

139*

H4TO OI, X

37-

iiripyos, 19. 34. e m y o v ^ , 18. 4,14, I S , 20, 31,32; 19.13, 35,38; 20. 17,18; 2 1 . 1 1 ; 23. 9,10; 24.11,20,25; 26.15; 126. 21, 23, 25. imyparj, 73. 4 ; 96. 3. imBopLara,

1. 6, 18; l 8 .

25. 20; 126. 20.

4.

32. 8

emordTi)s, 33- 9; 37- 95 3 « 7J129. 9. emardrTjS Vnirapxios, 2f. 8. iirirporros,

epyaaia e p i a , 9a.

126.

iraiodpia,

/tera/SoAi/aj, 2, 7; 38.

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avvra

Corpus Papyrorum Judaicarum, Volume 1: The Ptolemaic Period

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