Judea Hellenistic period

model of herod s temple (renovation of second temple) in israel museum

during hellenistic period, judea became frontier region between seleucid empire , ptolemaic egypt , therefore frontline of syrian wars, changing hands several times during these conflicts. under hellenistic kingdoms, judea ruled hereditary office of high priest of israel hellenistic vassal. period saw rise of hellenistic judaism, first developed in jewish diaspora of alexandria , antioch, , spread judea. major literary product of cultural syncretism septuagint translation of hebrew bible biblical hebrew , biblical aramaic koiné greek. reason production of translation seems many of alexandrian jews had lost ability speak hebrew , aramaic.

between 301 , 219 bc ptolemies ruled judea in relative peace, , jews found working in ptolemaic administration , army, led rise of hellenized jewish elite class (e.g. tobiads). wars of antiochus iii brought region seleucid empire; jerusalem fell control in 198 , temple repaired , provided money , tribute. antiochus iv epiphanes sacked jerusalem , looted temple in 169 bc after disturbances in judea during abortive invasion of egypt. antiochus banned key jewish religious rites , traditions in judea. may have been attempting hellenize region , unify empire , jewish resistance led escalation of violence. whatever case, tensions between pro , anti-seleucid jewish factions led 174–135 bc maccabean revolt of judas maccabeus (whose victory celebrated in jewish festival of hanukkah).

modern interpretations see period civil war between hellenized , orthodox forms of judaism. out of revolt formed independent jewish kingdom known hasmonaean dynasty, lasted 165 bc 63 bc. hasmonean dynasty disintegrated in civil war, coincided civil wars in rome. last hasmonean ruler, antigonus ii mattathias, captured herod , executed in 37 bc. in spite of being revolt against greek overlordship, hasmonean kingdom , herodian kingdom followed gradually became more , more hellenized. 37 bc 4 bc, herod great ruled jewish-roman client king appointed roman senate. considerably enlarged temple (see herod s temple), making 1 of largest religious structures in world. style of enlarged temple , other herodian architecture shows significant hellenistic architectural influence. son, herod archelaus, ruled 4 bc 6 ad when deposed formation of roman judea.